The graphic novels loved by children and adults alike
Mar 23rd, 2011, 1:39 pm
Artifacts by Ron Marz and Michael Broussard - C -
Requirements: CBR reader, about 24 Mb each
Overview: The fate of this world balances upon thirteen objects of power. Thirteen artifacts, each in the possession of a bearer. Separately, 13 Artifacts guide the fate of the universe. Together, 13 artifacts will end the universe. The 13 artifacts that exist in the Top Cow Universe.
There are 13 artifacts that reside in the Top Cow Universe. For centuries the 13 Artifacts were unknown, until the events of Broken Trinity. The Curator finally lists all but two of the 13 artifacts and gives Michael Finnegan the task of keeping them separate. An unknown being captures and reprograms Aphrodite IV with the task of procuring all the artifacts for himself. This unknown figure lists all 13 artifacts and tells Aphrodite IV that he intends to unite all the artifacts and destroy the world with the intent to bring about a new world.

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By Ron Marz (writer), Michael Broussard (pencils), Rick Basaldua, Joe Weems and Sal Regla (inks), Sunny Gho of IFS (colors) and Troy Peteri (letters)

The Story: The bearers of the thirteen Artifacts begin to take their place and forage alliances as Armageddon approaches. In the meantime, two bearers in particular—Sara Pezzini, wielder of the Witchblade and Jackie Estacado who contains the Darkness—must deal with an additional, and very personal, crisis: their daughter has been kidnapped.

What’s Good: What a fantastic story Ron Marz is building here. Well written, perfectly paced, and new-reader friendly without insulting the intelligence and knowledge of people who have been following the Top Cow Universe for some time. This is what a major comic book event should look like. I don’t need a bunch of crossovers, I don’t need every single huge big-name character in the company worked into the first issue, and I don’t need the entire plot spelled out for me. Especially in issue two of a 13-issue event, all you need to do is hook me with good storytelling, and give me a general sketch of where you’re going with the event. This is exactly what Marz delivers. He doesn’t flood us with information, but he doesn’t hold back and play coy either. It is very, very effective, and falls squarely within my own personal Goldilocks Zone.

And then there’s the artwork. Like last week’s Witchblade issue, the pages are absolutely gorgeous. From the terrifying darkness of Estacado’s shadow demons to Celestine’s angelic throne room to a gritty New York crime scene, everything is pitch-perfect. More impressive even than these individual elements is how masterfully Broussard combines them when necessary (the scene of Celestine descending into a dark, rainy New York night is particularly memorable.) “Epic” is the only word for artwork like this; Top Cow certainly cut themselves a gem when they signed this young man.

What’s Not So Good: I absolutely love the little two-page summaries of the different Artifacts and their bearers that are included in the back of every Artifacts issue. I do wish they had released them all at once, as a quick one-shot primer in anticipation of this event though. Not that everything you need to know isn’t already contained within the Artifacts story itself, but it would had been very nice for new readers—or readers like myself who follow the Top Cow Universe but don’t read every single issue—to have a quick, compiled reference for when all the other Artifact bearers and their kin start showing up.

Conclusion: If Top Cow has been on your radar but you’ve been putting off looking at what they have to offer, this event is an excellent way to dip your toe in. If Top Cow isn’t on your radar, this event should put it there. Either way, this is worth the cover price.

Download Instructions:
#0: (Closed Filehost) https://ul.to/hlof7cyl/Articfacts_00.cbr
#1: (Closed Filehost) https://ul.to/bvj6auem/Artifacts_01.cbr
#2: (Closed Filehost) https://ul.to/o69nd2g7/Artifacts_02.cbr
#3: (Closed Filehost) https://ul.to/jki1hol8/Artifacts_03.cbr
#4: (Closed Filehost) https://ul.to/hvp83wah/Artifacts_04.cbr
#5: (Closed Filehost) https://ul.to/k9pn1qxh/Artifacts_05.cbr
#6: (Closed Filehost) https://ul.to/x1kg8in2/Artifacts_06.cbr
#7: (Closed Filehost) https://ul.to/xay0owzg/Artifacts_07.cbr
#8: (Closed Filehost) https://ul.to/bbvvrh6r/Artifacts_08.cbr
#9: (Closed Filehost) https://ul.to/evwe5cs7/Artifacts 09.cbr
#10: (Closed Filehost) https://ul.to/7uei1wxv/Artifacts_10.cbr
#11: (Closed Filehost) https://ul.to/m8gm2n0w/Artifacts 11.cbr
#12: (Closed Filehost) https://ul.to/qlga8d1z/Artifacts 12.cbr
#13: (Closed Filehost) https://ul.to/pgcjtwrm/Artifacts_13.cbr

Mirrors MU:
#0: http://uploading.com/files/949cdme1/Articfacts_00.cbr/
#1: http://uploading.com/files/6823bdea/Artifacts_01.cbr/
#2: http://uploading.com/files/46ad234d/Artifacts%2B02.cbr/
#3: http://uploading.com/files/bbb61514/Artifacts_03.cbr/
#4: http://uploading.com/files/975b3736/Artifacts%2B04.cbr/
#5: http://uploading.com/files/1243be4m/Artifacts_05.cbr/
#6: http://uploading.com/files/cb6fc8f4/Artifacts_06.cbr/
#7: http://uploading.com/files/m3c37455/Artifacts_07.cbr/
#8: http://uploading.com/files/19483c98/Artifacts_08.cbr/
#9: http://uploading.com/files/c7161dmd/Artifacts%2B09.cbr/
#10: http://uploading.com/files/8a54e515/Artifacts_10.cbr/
#11: http://uploading.com/files/3cfd31a2/Artifacts%2B11.cbr/
#12: http://uploading.com/files/7c3f438f/Artifacts%2B12.cbr/
#13: http://uploading.com/files/856f4f92/Artifacts_13.cbr/
Mar 23rd, 2011, 1:39 pm
Mar 23rd, 2011, 1:51 pm
Nice release! 6x5 + 3 WRZ$ Rewards. Category: Comics
Mar 23rd, 2011, 1:51 pm
May 11th, 2011, 8:35 am
#7 and mirror added.
May 11th, 2011, 8:35 am

Post rewarded by Ojay on Jun 3rd, 2011, 3:34 pm.
+ wrz$ for update. Thanks!
Jun 3rd, 2011, 12:52 pm
thanks for sharing :)
Jun 3rd, 2011, 12:52 pm
Jun 3rd, 2011, 2:11 pm
jojoeee wrote:thanks for sharing :)

:) ... Sooo glad to hear that. I so much hope your pleasure of reading these comics equals at least the joy I have to post them. Heh... while checking for updates, I realized issue #0 was missing. I added it right now. MU mirror only, as ul.to looks down atm. Will add that link later.

Thanks for your comments. ;)

edit: ul.to link for issue #0 added.
Jun 3rd, 2011, 2:11 pm

Post rewarded by merry60 on Jun 3rd, 2011, 2:50 pm.
+ 5 WRZ$ for update # 0
Jul 5th, 2011, 10:37 pm
#8 and mirror added.
Jul 5th, 2011, 10:37 pm

Post rewarded by Ojay on Jul 6th, 2011, 10:41 am.
5 WRZ$ for update. Thanks!
Aug 13th, 2011, 5:59 pm
#9 and mirror added.
Aug 13th, 2011, 5:59 pm

Post rewarded by Ojay on Aug 13th, 2011, 6:29 pm.
5 WRZ$ for update. Thanks!
Oct 3rd, 2011, 7:19 am
#10 and mirror added.
Oct 3rd, 2011, 7:19 am

Post rewarded by Ojay on Oct 3rd, 2011, 3:56 pm.
5 WRZ$ for update. Thanks!
Dec 30th, 2011, 6:02 pm
Dec 30th, 2011, 6:02 pm

Post rewarded by Ojay on Dec 31st, 2011, 12:51 pm.
Nice update, Thanks Zach!
Jan 6th, 2012, 8:22 am
#13 and mirror added.

Artifacts series is complete now.

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This series will be followed by Artifacts: REBIRTH... Stay tuned!




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Jan 6th, 2012, 8:22 am

Post rewarded by merry60 on Jan 6th, 2012, 10:27 am.
Thanks for the update!