Word Balloons: 'Witchblade' TV series is coming to DVD
Word Balloons: 'Witchblade' TV series is coming to DVD

By Matthew Price Comments 0
Published: July 25, 2008

The tale of the Witchblade, an ancient weapon first seen in comics, blazed the path for original cable TV programming, says the publisher of the "Witchblade” comic books. "Witchblade,” the television series, will be released Tuesday on DVD.

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Yancy Butler in "Witchblade.” Photo provided by TNT

"When ‘Witchblade' debuted on TNT in 2000 there weren't that many comic adaptations particularly on television,” said Top Cow publisher Filip Sablik. "In fact, in the era of ‘The Shield,' ‘Monk' and ‘Rescue Me' it's funny to remember that there wasn't much original cable television programming.”

"Witchblade” is about a New York City police detective, Sara Pezzini, who encounters the Witchblade, an ancient and powerful artifact. The Witchblade is a gauntlet that's been passed down from woman to woman throughout time and serves as a balance between the forces of dark and light. Yancy Butler starred as Pezzini in the 23 episodes that aired over two seasons.

Sablik said the "Witchblade” series stayed mostly faithful to the comic book.

"They were limited by budget as far as what they could do, but the key characters were all there,” he said. "The Witchblade is still an ancient powerful weapon, but instead of an organic-like metal it took the form of a more traditional gauntlet with a sword that came out.”

"Witchblade” remains Top Cow's most popular comic book. Sablik described "Witch Hunt,” the first story arc by writer Ron Marz, as a good jumping-on point for "Witchblade.” Comic-book stores have a special edition of the story for $4.99, collecting six issues.

"It's the entry arc for the modern era of ‘Witchblade,'” Sablik said. "Witchblade” is currently in development for a 2009 feature film.