Comic Character Relations at their Best
As I mentioned in the thread I made about this volume, this Angelus volume was an extremely enjoyable read and a powerful continuation of the overall plot of the Top Cow universe. Ron Marz has done so much good for the company, and his writing never ceases to deliver. What makes the Angelus so great other than an engaging plot is its focus on character relationships and Danielle Baptiste's constant search for her direction in life. This being said, I believe that this issue above the rest truly highlights the relationships between different characters that have spilled over from Witchblade.
Starting from the beginning of the issue, the scene between Dani and her father was a beautiful character interaction. All the emotion delivered in the dialogue and artwork in these pages really drove the scene and showed a pivotal point in Dani's relationship with her father, which is well addressed since around the time when Dani first got the Witchblade.
Moving on, I see the reason why this is the first Top Cow comic I've ever seen with a 'rated M' label on the recap page. I could see why many would complain about the love scene between Dani and Finch and think it was just shallow, filler, or a cheap way to sell the comic. However, the artwork once again pours emotion from the pages and highlights the relationships that had been building between the characters over time. While I could say I would've NEVER seen this coming when I first saw Dani's character in my first issue of Witchblade four years ago, I find that the relationship with Finch has been one of her greatest character developments for the long run.
Finally, Sabine's inevitable entrance as the villain of the story poses an impressive threat and adversary for Dani and a new artifact bearer for the Top Cow universe. The final scene of this issue smoothly builds to a compelling cliff hanger that perfectly sets the stage for the final issue.
While maybe not being the most philosophical or professional review, I've explained why I chose to review this issue, and would recommend this entire volume to anyone. I hope we see more of Dani in the near future and that she continues to find her purpose and build relationships with the well-developed characters around her.