To the masses Top Cow may not be a well known juggernaut like DC or Marvel but comic book fans know the company intimately. I remember when the publisher began releasing its first line of titles and spawned from Image. Operated by Marc Silvestri, Top Cow launched its most popular comic, Witchblade, in 1995. The series went on to be very successful with a continued release, a short-lived TV series, and rumored film in the works. About a year ago the franchise quietly jumped across the ocean and landed in Japan.

Last year GONZO worked with director Yoshimitsu Ohashi and designer Uno Makoto to produce an anime series based upon the Witchblade universe. If you were ever a fan of the comic book then you should know going in that this Witchblade is very different. Sarah Pezzini is nowhere to be found and the show takes place in a dilapidated Tokyo rather than New York City. This change in venue and focus may be jarring at first for fans but like many other franchise if you look at this anime as simply an alternate continuity then it's easy enough to accept.

The show seemingly takes place in the future judging by some of the available technology, though they never really discuss a time period. All we know is that after a great earthquake most of Japan has been left in ruins. When the show began a woman named Masane Amaha appeared with her daughter Rihoko and there was some trouble with the Child Welfare Services. Before long we discovered the Masane was actually the wielder of the Witchblade and all went to pot shortly thereafter.

The fifth volume started the descent towards the finale as things began to grow to a boiling point. Maria became a much larger player in the grand scheme of things and she stepped forward as a main villain of sorts. With that being said much of the fifth installment kind of dillydallied with the main plot rather than builds to it or finds many conclusions. Masane and Takayama's relationship did get some nice play and everything seemed to be leading towards this final volume.

I'm always a little nervous going into a final volume because you never quite know if a series is going to end on an appropriate note. While Witchblade hasn't been the greatest series so far it has been entertaining in a mindless-fan-service-full-of-violence sort of way. I have grown to appreciate the characters and have become interested in the plot, or more to the point the "fate" of the Witchblade bearer.

That fate takes up the majority of this volume as the series begins to zone in on its inevitable conclusion. Masane has begun to loose control of the Witchblade's power and she spends a good amount of time trying to rid herself of the weapon. Of course everything seems to be foretold as events come about that make that impossible. This all leads to a huge battle to close out the series and a final confrontation with Maria that offers some nice blade on blade action.

I don't want to spoil the ending specifically but I will say that it doesn't entirely close the book on things. There is no definite finale but rather one that is insinuated which isn't very surprising. It feels appropriate given the recent events of the show though if you're looking for closure then you may be disappointed.

Overall Witchblade has been a lot of fun and it's the type of leave your brain at the door series that is easily accessible. Whether you're familiar with the Witchblade comic books or not, this variation of Silvestri's creation is definitely entertaining. If you approach the show without high expectations you'll find the experience decent enough to sit through once or twice. As I said the ending here is fitting and it helps to encapsulate the series but it was all kind of predictable.

Technically speaking the video quality on this disc is fine enough but it's nothing entirely stellar. FUNimation has included four episodes here but the compression rate once again is slightly higher than average so you're going to see blocking and artifacts nestled in darker sections of the image. Some light grain was also present in scenes where lighting wasn't designed to be the best and I spotted a few instance of aliasing here and there. There are plenty of moments where Witchblade looks brilliant though and on the whole the transfer here is better than most. I just wish FUNimation hammered some of the nitpicky flaws out of this release.

Like most recent series released here in America Witchblade comes with three audio tracks. On the lighter side of things is a pair of 2.0 stereo tracks for English and Japanese languages. The audio quality in both is exemplary with precise and flawless sound but it unfortunately doesn't pack the wallop on the soundstage that you'd hope it would. The 5.1 English track is a definite step in the right direction with a greater sense of immersion and presence on the soundstage. Some of the effects don't provide as much impact as you'd expect them to but overall the quality is very good. With regards to the dubbing quality both the English and Japanese languages offer an enjoyable experience though I feel that the English dub has a little more fun with the "sexy" part of Witchblade.

The final volume of Witchblade offers up an original Japanese interview with the voice actress for Maria. Clocking in at just under ten minutes this interview is similar to previous ones for the series and provides some information about the actress and her thoughts on the show. It's just a fluff piece really but it's always nice to have original Japanese content released here in America. Otherwise you'll find some textless animations, trailers, and TV spots in the extras menu.

Witchblade was a fun little ride that was decent for what it was. Full of T&A, gratuitous violence, and a sometimes convoluted plot it's safe to say that this series isn't for those with refined tastes. If you can appreciate an action series for what it is then chances are good that you'll find something to love about this one. Right up to the end Witchblade doesn't try to change what it is or alter your perception of it and that's a good thing. It stays steady throughout and closes on a good enough note to offer satisfaction for fans (but maybe not those looking for complete closure). Check it out if you're in the market for an action piece with loads of fan service.

Check out more of my reviews here. Head on over to my anime blog as well for random musings and reviews of anime, manga, and stuff from Japan!