“Sabrina the Teenage Witch #1” Review – Witches and Rats Up to Bat!

The Run Down

When it comes to new reboots of characters as big as Sabrina, things can get a bit dicey. New writers, new artists, new… everything. However, there’s no fear to fear anything here. Everything that makes Sabrina who she is has stayed with this new retelling that starts from the beginning. Without further ado, let’s look at Corinna Bechko’s “Sabrina the Teenage Witch #1”!

Writer: Corinna Bechko
Artists: Kano (“Life or Death”), Nick Cognetti (“Caring for Your Familiar”)
Letterer: AndWorld’s DC Hopkins

The Writing

If you’re a fan of Sabrina, this first issue from Bechko should leave you smiling from ear to ear. Here, it becomes clear that Bechko is adding to the thrills without sacrificing what makes Sabrina who she is. Off the bat, what she seems to be going for is something between the classic and the “Chilling”. While she gives us the campy humor of the early years, it also becomes clear that there’s something wicked coming this way.

To make things even better, this serves as a clean slate for those looking to get into the character. The issue sees Sabrina in her first week as a witch, her powers only having recently manifested, with Salem simultaneously entering her life. However, it’s this exact manifestation that leads a new evil to the town of Greendale. What does this evil want with her? Only time will tell, but Bechko created a fantastic setup indeed.

Lastly comes “Caring For Your Familiar,” which serves as an excellent palate cleanser. While being something that initially comes off as simply humorous, it’s chock full of positive messages. Taking care of what you love, no matter the form it comes in, should always be a top priority.

The Art

When it comes to the art, both Kano and Nick Cagnetti absolutely killed it! When it comes to Kano’s work on “Life or Death”, I’m especially digging his style. It comes off as a more modern version of the classic Archie look, and I absolutely love it. When I say that, I don’t mean just the line work but the colors as well. However, it delivers on the eeriness when it counts as well, giving everything a true Halloween vibe perfect for the season.

Secondly, there’s Canetti on his pages for “Caring For Your Familiar”. To keep in theme with the title, his art truly feels like stuff you’d see in a magazine or a “…For Dummies” book. That’s helped even more with the incredible lettering of DC Hopkins, who shares their wide range of skills throughout the issue.

Final Thoughts

This new run on Sabrina is off to a strong start thanks to Bechko and her crew. Full of spellbinding writing and enchanting artwork, “Sabrina the Teenage Witch #1” is something every fan will love! After this issue, I’m excited to see what else is cooking in the cauldron.

Overall Grade: 9/10

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Comments

Are you a fan of Sabrina? Is this new run something you’ve been looking forward to? Let’s discuss in the comments below!