Favorite Female Characters #21: Sara Pezzini and the Witchblade

Wtichblade 10
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Originally, Sara Pezzini and her Witchblade were higher on my countdown, but I kept thinking about how poorly the Top Cow Editorial staff cared for her continuity and cohesiveness, and I just couldn't put her any higher.

Presented as a bad girl with a good heart, Sara Pezzini enconters the Witchblade, a mystical weapon that has been passed down many generations to be wielded by only the most worthy women. Sara has been hunted and beaten for her possesion of the Witchblade, and has even tried to rid herself of it several times, to not avail.

Witchblade is a comic book that has always been visually stunning. From Michael Turner's star making turn on the title to Michael Choi's current tenure, Sara is always displayed as quite gorgeous and curvaceous. It is too bad that the consistency of the story has not been treated so kindly.

When David Wohl and Christina Z left the title, past events were shelved, and the book was taken over by Paul Jenkins, who shoved all continuity aside and told his version of the character's story. Around this time, the television show came out, and the book went to crap. There was no consistency at all. One issue Sara would hate her sister Julie. In the next, Julie is dating Jake. Next thing we know it she is a drug selling ho. Come on people, figure it out already. Make a time line and a spec sheet.

All this mess aside, Sara Pezzini is a compelling character. She is a hero by birth, not by her weapon. As a cop by trade, Sara would fight for justice no matter what. The Witchblade has at times been a hindrance, at other times a crutch. What always emerges is Sara's heroic personality.

Ron Marz has taken over the writing chores on the title after several missteps and authors. He has taken an interest to finding the dangling storylines and fixing them, and clarifying other issues left hanging for years. As Witchblade celebrates her 10th year, she is probably in the safest hands she has ever been in.

I look forward to seeing what the future brings for Sara Pezzini and her Witchblade. I am crossing my fingers for tighter continuity and a renewed sense of making publishing deadlines.

Required Reading: Witchblade 1-25, 80 and up.