Written by Michael Turner & Bill O’Neill
Art by Michael Turner; Jonathan Sibal; Jason Gorder; Peter Steigerwald; Beth Sotelo; Dennis Heisler; & Dreamer’s Design’s Robin Spehar
Cover Art by Michael Turner; Jonathan Sibal; & Peter Steigerwald
SUMMARY:
This untitled issue was released by Top Cow Productions-Image Comics for February 2002. A defenseless Cannon Hawke faces a gruesome mutation to initiate resurrecting the nefarious Vana’s son, Taras. Held captive in an underwater Arctic iceberg, Aspen Matthews and NYPD Detective Sara “Witchblade” Pezzini become fast friends, as their best hope lies with the Tomb Raider, Lara Croft. Seeking to rescue all three prisoners, Lara meets Aspen. Yet, the Tomb Raider is determined to save Hawke from a monstrous fate to repay a debt she owes him.
REVIEW:
Building likable chemistry amongst Aspen, Sara, & Lara, co-writers Michael Turner & Bill O’Neill coherently intersect their three franchises. As the cover image implies, Lara Croft energizes the story while a scantily-clad and tied-up Sara & Aspen are mostly left looking pretty. Still, it makes good storytelling sense to convey Lara’s fully-dressed mortal tenacity is just as formidable as her two far more powerful cohorts. Though much time is spent on explaining Sara & Aspen’s capture in New York City and getting them acquainted, the plot stays entertaining. For instance, Lara Croft’s defiance of Vana’s forces is well-played, as is Vana’s sinister taunting of Hawke.
Yet, it’s no surprise that the issue’s best asset really lies with the top-caliber visuals (i.e. the concluding two-page Arctic spread). Michael Turner, in particular, ensures that his Fathom # 13 boasts a vintage team-up worth re-discovery.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The front inside cover has a brief summary-to-date of this three-way crossover. Four pages is dedicated to a letters-and-answers column, with thumbnail cover reveals of Felon # 3 and Universe # 5.
BRIAN’S OODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
