Broken Frontier

After months of careful planning, Top Cow Productions and Marvel Comics have slated many of the pieces of their ongoing packaging agreement. The appearance of Top Cow artists on Marvel books and crossover specials are planned.

The crossovers start in August with a Darkness/Wolverine one-shot, pairing Top Cow's supernatural mobster with Marvel's mutant warrior. Frank Tieri, who has written both The Darkness and Wolverine, handles scripting chores, while Tyler Kirkham, who's already drawn Amazing Spider-Man #530 and #531 as part of the packaging deal, handles art.

Next up, a Witchblade/Punisher one-shot will grace shelves in December. Ongoing Witchblade writer Ron Marz will tackle the script, aided and abetted by Witchblade artist Mike Choi.

Kirkham and Choi will also contribute art to two Marvel Comics series, with announcements coming from Marvel and Top Cow at the Wizard World Philadelphia convention, June 2-4, 2006.

“This partnership with Top Cow is one that everyone here at Marvel is thrilled to be a part of,” said Marvel Publisher Dan Buckley. “The character interactions and artistic possibilities on the books opens up many new doors and all add up to one thing-better product for the fans.”

“We're very excited about our business with Marvel, and the positive ripple effect it will have at home at Top Cow,” remarked Top Cow President Matt Hawkins. “We're riding a great wave of new and building interest in a title like Witchblade, and relaunching old favorites such as Cyberforce. Putting our artists on the high-profile platform of some of Marvel's great characters will allow everyone to see just how great they are.”