WONDERCON '08: THE TOP COW PANEL

**MattBrady** · 02-23-2008, 07:45 PM

A sparse collection of fans joined the Top Cow panelists on Saturday afternoon at WonderCon, which was hosted by editor Josh Cozine. Panelists included Mike Choi, Ebas, Josh Fialkov, Tyler Kirham and newcomer Sheldon Mitchell.

Cozine started the panel with a Pilot Season recap, announcing that both Fialkov and Pilot Season: Cyblade artist Rick Mays will return to Cyblade later this year, while Joe Casey will be returning to write a Velocity project, although Kevin Maguire will not be able to return with him on the upcoming book.

Cozine also announced that the plans for Pilot Season 2008 are already in the works with six books coming. Two of the titles are: Lady Pendragon, originally created by Matt Hawkins (which will feature a cover by Drew Struzan), and Twilight Guardian written by Troy (Common Grounds) Hickman and new artist Risa. The remaining four will be announced in the coming weeks.

When asked by Cozine, Ebas said that he’s just finished Witchblade/Devi #1, and isn’t sure what he has coming next. Currently, he said, he’s working on covers.

Cozine then moved on to introducing Sheldon Mitchell who was found at WizardWorld Philadelphia last year. Mitchell said that he wasn’t planning on submitting anything, but was carrying a couple of pages he’d done from the Witchblade script that Top Cow had on its website. Mitchell’s upcoming work was not named, but Cozine said that he’s currently working with Marc Silvestri and will have published work out soon, including a backup story starring the Darkness in a “Tales of the Darkness” style. Mitchell’s first book will be coming out in the summer.

Artist Dale Keown’s work at Top Cow will not be limited to covers of Darkness, Cozine said, announcing that the acclaimed artist will illustrate a flashback in issue #3 which goes back to the period of Jackie Estacado’s life chronicled in Darkness vol 2 , issues of which were originally drawn by Keown.

Cozine then spoke about Broken Trinity, the publisher’s event for this year, and showed a cover by Kenneth Rocafort which showed the Witchblade and other Top Cow female characters. Cozine closed the shilde show portion of the panel by showing a slide which appeared to be Aphrodite IX. “That’s something coming up too that I can’t say much about,” Cozine said.

Asked about more Hunter-Killer, Cozine said they hope to be able to do more, but are waiting to hear from Mark Waid, as they have committed to continuing the series with him. Cozine did suggest that Top Cow may move forward with the property without Waid if his schedule doesn’t permit him to return to Hunter-Killer.

There will be more Top Cow video games coming, Cozine said.

Asked if there are plans for a Marc Silvestri project from Top Cow, Cozine said of course, but it’s up to Marc.

There will be more Magdelena coming in the future, Cozine said.

TheWay · 02-24-2008, 12:30 PM

Wow, There wasn't much detail provided was there? Glad to hear Keown will be doing some more work. Always love his stuff. Other than that meh...

The Pilot stuff isn't doing much for me, and Witchblade lost me long ago. Every time I try to get back in I just don't feel it.

I love Rocafort and I'm interested in Broken Trinity. Would love to see Aphrodite IX again and Hunter-Killer, so hopefully there is something to those.

bebopeva88 · 02-24-2008, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheWay

Wow, There wasn't much detail provided was there? Glad to hear Keown will be doing some more work. Always love his stuff. Other than that meh...

The Pilot stuff isn't doing much for me, and Witchblade lost me long ago. Every time I try to get back in I just don't feel it.

I love Rocafort and I'm interested in Broken Trinity. Would love to see Aphrodite IX again and Hunter-Killer, so hopefully there is something to those.

What the 'Rama report failed to mention is that the Aphrodite IX image was her in posession of the Witchblade, from the cover of Witchblade #119 by Seijic. Image provided by CBR:

Aphrodite IX is also supposed to be getting a mini with Basaldua on art some time this year (which is why it never got a Pilot Season issue after it was originally supposed to...it was a "default winner"), though if Basaldua doesn't know what he's doing next, that may have changed.

Reliant · 02-24-2008, 01:19 PM

Holy buckets!

Aphrodite IX with the Witchblade? Just when I thought things were settling down with Sara and Dani...

holeycrullers · 02-24-2008, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheWay

Wow, There wasn't much detail provided was there? Glad to hear Keown will be doing some more work. Always love his stuff. Other than that meh...

The Pilot stuff isn't doing much for me, and Witchblade lost me long ago. Every time I try to get back in I just don't feel it.

I love Rocafort and I'm interested in Broken Trinity. Would love to see Aphrodite IX again and Hunter-Killer, so hopefully there is something to those.

I hope you'll give this year's Pilot Season a shot. There's a great variety of stuff included, and some very talented creators (present company excepted

).

jccalhoun · 02-24-2008, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Cozine did suggest that Top Cow may move forward with the property without Waid if his schedule doesn’t permit him to return to Hunter-Killer.

Waid isn't co-owner of Hunter-Killer?

Marc_Spector · 02-24-2008, 04:03 PM

Aphrodite IX w/ the Witchblade would be a great story/mini.

CaptainTemerity · 02-24-2008, 06:42 PM

Be nice if Kevin could at least do cover work or something with Velocity, since his art was a big selling point (for me at least) on the book.

I'll pick and choose through the next Pilot Season same as I did this one. Always looked for an excuse to try Lady Pendragon, though, so this may be what finally does it.

EMeadow · 02-24-2008, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reliant

Holy buckets!

Aphrodite IX with the Witchblade? Just when I thought things were settling down with Sara and Dani...

LOL guys, its not Aphrodite IX.

Its probably Aphrodite IV.

The same one we saw at the end of Cyberforce I bet.

brucehappy · 02-24-2008, 08:54 PM

is it just me, or is the model for that lady pendragon cover Olivia d'Abo?

Supreme Convoy · 02-25-2008, 03:58 AM

Holy hell... that Struzan Lady Pendragon cover looks awesome. I'll have to check that out.

boomboom · 02-25-2008, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EMeadow

LOL guys, its not Aphrodite IX.

Its probably Aphrodite IV.

The same one we saw at the end of Cyberforce I bet.

good point. Forgot about that!!

Anyway...

EBAS not knowing what is next besides covers is NOT a good thing to hear...

NOT in regards to the foretold Ebas/AIX-miniseries, NOT in regards to the foretold Ebas@Marvel-project and NOT in regards to the foretold DE/TopCow-interaction "the devillers"...

AAANNNDDD not good in regards to having such a great artist JUST doing coverwork!!.

I do hope Sablik finds a way to find this threat here and respond to this and take my worries off it!!

stlfan79 · 02-25-2008, 05:46 PM

I am pumped for more Hickman, Common Grounds was fantastic and anyone who hasn't read it should check it out.

holeycrullers · 02-26-2008, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stlfan79

I am pumped for more Hickman, Common Grounds was fantastic and anyone who hasn't read it should check it out.

Thank you very much, amigo. I am equally pumped for more Hickman (which sounds much dirtier than it really is...).

DaVeO · 02-26-2008, 07:32 PM

I will definitly try Lady Pendragon's Pilot Season. As long as they don't make her out to be a 90's bad grrrl.

Drewr15 · 03-13-2008, 05:13 PM

I was so psyched when I opened this month's preview guide to see Lady Pendragon's return. I totally missed this news out of wondercon. I really hope alot of people give this book a try, this was one of the best comics I have ever read.