Sara Pezzini returns as Witchblade in new series by Marguerite Bennett & Ariela Kristantina

Witchblade #1/2 Kickstarter exclusive cover — (Image credit: Marc SIlvestri (Image Comics/Top Cow))

The Image Comics/Top Cow series Witchblade will return in 2021, and the original wielder of the Witchblade, Sara Pezzini, will be returning to reclaim the mantle.

Writer Marguerite Bennett and artist Ariel Kristantina are relaunching the Top Cow franchise - and their debut will be in a special #½ issue available as a reward in the just-launched Witchblade Vol. 2 hardcover Kickstarter, and then after the campaign via a storefront partnership with the crowdfunding fulfillment company Crowd Ox.

"Witchblade is iconic. I'm utterly delighted to be bringing Sara Pezzini back to her stalwart fans and honored to have the chance to introduce her to a new generation of readers," Bennett says in the announcement. "We're going through a world of cosmos and mythos, horror and sensuality, romance, and danger - and I couldn't be happier to be working with Ariela and Marc Silvestri on making this impossible dream a reality."

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Bennett and Kristantina are working with colorist Bryan Valenza and letterer Troy Peteri on the new series.

"Easy to say that I'm more than thrilled to be part of Witchblade relaunch - and to be working with Marguerite and Marc as well," Kristantina adds. "Hopefully, the long time fans of Witchblade can enjoy Marguerite's fantastic writing and my visuals as well. I'm very looking forward to collaborating with Marc to bring this project to life."

The new volume of Witchblade will kick off a "new chapter" for Top Cow's flagship character - one that'll include a newly-redesigned Witchblade, as seen in the cover by Silvestri.

"After a five-year hiatus we are returning with an all-new series featuring Sara Pezzini as the Witchblade," Top Cow president Matt Hawkins says in the announcement. "This new creative team will start at the beginning and open a new chapter for Top Cow's most prominent character."

Witchblade #½ is scheduled to be available digital-first in February 2021.

Read Newsarama's interview with Witchblade co-creator Marc Silvestri about upcoming plans for The Darkness.

Chris Arrant covered comic book news for Newsarama from 2003 to 2022 (and as editor/senior editor from 2015 to 2022) and has also written for USA Today, Life, Entertainment Weekly, Publisher's Weekly, Marvel Entertainment, TOKYOPOP, AdHouse Books, Cartoon Brew, Bleeding Cool, Comic Shop News, and CBR. He is the author of the book Modern: Masters Cliff Chiang, co-authored Art of Spider-Man Classic, and contributed to Dark Horse/Bedside Press' anthology Pros and (Comic) Cons. He has acted as a judge for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the Harvey Awards, and the Stan Lee Awards. Chris is a member of the American Library Association's Graphic Novel & Comics Round Table. (He/him)