Top Cow’s biggest series presents its first-ever annual issue

[ENGLISH] Top Cow tells us: Top Cow Productions, Inc. announced today that fan favorite Witchblade will get a long deserved, first-ever, annual issue in Witchblade Annual 2009, something diehard fans have been waiting for since the series debut in 1995. « I had a great time working with all the guys at Top Cow during Pilot Season, so when they asked me to pitch ideas for the Witchblade Annual, I jumped at the chance. I love what Ron Marz is doing with the book, so I tried to remain true to the tone he set, » commented writer Jay Faerber.

This 40-page epic will include a supernatural detective story, featuring everyone’s favorite Witchblade bearer, Sara Pezzini and her partner, Patrick Gleason. The talented Jay Faerber, writer of Noble Causes and Pilot Season: Urban Myths, delivers this first tale, alongside Top Cow’s very own Eric Basaluda, the innovative artist behind Magdalena and Witchblade/Devi.

« I think Eric’s one of the best guys working in the Top Cow stable and I was thrilled when I found out he was going to be illustrating this story, » explained Faerber, « I think it really plays to his strengths, and Witchblade fans are going to love what he brings to the table. »

Upcoming writers Joshua Cozine and Joe Henderson bring back fan favorite character Ian Nottingham in a second tale. Accompanied by Sheldon Mitchell, the artist of Freshmen: Summer Vacation Special, who puts pencil to paper to show what happens to cellmates who have the misfortune to be incarcerated with the dangerous Nottingham.  
« Witchblade has been around for almost 15 years and we’ve never done an Annual, » commented Filip Sablik, Publisher of Top Cow, « We had a great story from Jay Faerber and this seemed like the ideal way to present it. Add in some stunning artwork by Eric and it’s sure to leave an impression with fans. » 
   
About Top Cow Productions Inc.
Top Cow Productions, Inc. (www.topcow.com), a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, was founded in December of 1992 by artist Marc Silvestri, who also co-founded Image Comics earlier that same year. Top Cow currently publishes its line of comic books in 21 languages in over 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and two licensed) in the industry’s Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two decades. Its flagship franchise, WITCHBLADE, was TNT’s #1 original film of 2000 and the subsequent TV series was released on DVD on July 29, 2008. A feature film, co-produced by Platinum Studios, Inc. and Arclight Films, is slated to begin production in Australia with director Michael Rymer. WITCHBLADE is also the first American property to be fully adapted in Japan as an original anime and manga by Studio GONZO in 2006. Top Cow’s other flagship property, THE DARKNESS, was developed into a major next-generation video game release by Starbreeze and 2K Games and achieved platinum sales status. WANTED, an Eisner-nominated miniseries published by Top Cow from 2003-2005, is now a major motion picture from Universal Pictures starring Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman. Virtually all of Top Cow’s other properties are in development as feature films, live-action television, animation or video games. Top Cow has also successfully licensed and merchandised its franchises into toys, statues, clothing, lithographs, puppets, posters, magnets, shot glasses, lighters, lunch pails, wall scrolls, mouse pads, die-cast cars, calendars, Christmas ornaments, Halloween masks, trading cards, standees, video games and roleplaying games