Comics: Charmed Issue #12 The Charmed Offensive

[StoryGirl83]

Issue #12
The Charmed Offensive

Release date:
June ??, 2011

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Summary: The Charmed Ones and Leo face down impossible challenges in a battle to reclaim the Heavens, conquer the Underworld, and save the Earth. It's a fight that's been brewing since long before the prophecy of The Charmed Ones was foreseen and building since the first issue of the comic book. When this battle ends the Charmed universe may never look the same.

Written by: Paul Ruditis

Cover A: David Seidman
Cover B: Photo Cover
Cover C: Unknown

Artwork by: Unknown

Colors by: Milen Parvanov

Letters by: Jim Campbell

Edited by: Ralph Tedesco & Paul Ruditis

[joshingabout]

This was a wonderful issue! Possibly my favourite. The story was simply amazing, and the twists were perfect. When Patty and Penny told the girls that Prue's soul had been reincarnated to its next life, I was thinking: "What a cop out! ARGH! Now we'll never get to see Prue =[" but Patty's revelation to Cole of her missing daughter on the last frame made my jaw hit the floor!

I think I'm in love with Paul Ruditis. He's doing SO much justice to Charmed. I cannot wait to find out what is happening with Prue! The next arc looks to top this one!

With the Angels of Destiny absolving the prophecies on the Charmed Ones' children, I'll be slightly disappointed if Wyatt loses his advanced Twice-Blessed powers (as the force-field was always a favourite of mine, although I suppose he doesn't need it now that Paige has her own force-field), but I'll be glad if Melinda loses her orbed telekinesis, as I didn't like that too much However, I still want Wyatt to be the wielder of Excalibur, as I'm sure they can use it again in future storylines, moreso than the show did...

[Esmeralda, I can imagine you jumping for joy now that the kids are just normal witches with no special extras, especially Melinda, since Issue #7 was your least favourite ]

I want to know what exactly happened to Leo. He seems to have ascended to a higher state of white-lighter, literally an angel, much like the demons did when Neena shared the Source's power and made them stronger, and more demonic in appearance.

The pencils were okay (Dean Kotz still isn't a favourite) but they were better than Issue #9. The likenesses were decent enough and the scenery was gorgeous. Jorge Maese's colouring really makes the issue stand out. I REALLY want him to be the colourist of the entire series xD

[StoryGirl83]

Technically, it doesn't mean they will loose their powers and it's more likely Wyatt will than either of his siblings, since their powers are basically just whitelighter mixed with witch, where as Wyatt's got some extra stuff in the mix. Which isn't to say I wouldn't have a problem with all three of them loosing the ability to orb. We really don't need all these characters who can transport away.

I forgot about the whole Excalibur thing. I try hard to blot that from my mind and I usually succeed, but based off the Angels of Destiny's words, I imagine that it probably is included in the taking away of prophesies and lessening of danger. As you can tell by how I began this paragraph, I hope so.

Issue #7 was also my least favorite, even if I did think the Melinda thing was cute, I didn't think it was appropriate for her character, but I think for the most part Paul has redeemed himself. I have been playing wait and see this entire story arc, and I think of this issue as my reward for my patience. I am hoping that whatever happened to Leo it includes him being able to have some charges or someone outside the family who he can interact with and teach (magic school not counted). On the note of magic school, this should help with that, too, and hopefully he will be involved as more than a house husband/magic school teacher.

I agree on the art. It was an improvement, but I personally hope that we get to see more of Tess Fowler (who has said she isn't currently contracted for any additional stories) and Reno Maniquis (who is doing more). Colorist wise, I do agree that I like Jorge Maese's coloring best and I definitely hope we will see more of him. I suspect that it might end up being him and Milen Parvanov trading off on the colors and then Reno Maniquis trading off with Dean Kotz, which would mean we get to see Reno's art with Milen's colors in the next issue, but we'll see.

[joshingabout]

If Tess Fowler and Reno Marquis could trade work on the art every other issue and Jorge Maese did the colouring, I think the series would be perfect!

What do you think of the twist about Prue and her absense? I was thoroughly enjoyed and thrilled! The potential for story has been blown wide open. I'm so psyched to find out what's happened with her.

[CharmedFaith]

Wait...so Prue is already reincarnated? For serious? Or are they trying to cover up that her spirit has gone missing?

Edit: ok just read a review of the issue. Happy to see Prue being reincarnated was false and she has somehow gone missing for god knows how long (hopefully they will address this and say she has been gone since Charmed Again). But we better be able to finally see Prue and bring her back into the fold!

[joshingabout]

I have a feeling that Prue's spirit has been lost since she died in "All Hell Breaks Loose", and that's the in-universe reason as to why we never saw her in the rest of the series. I really hope that's the case, as it gives SO much potential to the resolution of Prue's storyline.

My guess would be that Charon, the soul collector from Season 1, stole Prue's soul when she died, and has had it trapped for all these years!

[SimplyAretha]

I liked this issues fight scene. I think this fight scene is what a series finally should have ended with.

I think Prue's spirit either ran away to find herself or was stolen.

[CharmedFaith]

I really wish they would get better artists for this book since whenever I do deciede to read this it always turns me off. Inside and out.

[joshingabout]

There have been some good artists, and the David Seidman's front covers are generally very good Issue #12's front cover is the best yet, in my opinion.

But I agree with the interiors for #12, Dean Kotz isn't that great (and he's doing #14... le sigh), but the colouring by Jorge Maese really saved this issue. I want him as the full-time colourist, as it gives Charmed the depth, realism and a kind of darkness that the show deserves.

[CharmedFaith]

Im tired of them always taking the lazy route and just use previous promo pictures isntead of actually making an all original piece.

[joshingabout]

You should enjoy Issue #13's and #15's Seidman covers, as they are completely original in composition. Have a look (scroll down to the bottom):

charmedcomicfan.jimdo.com/covers/

[Esmeralda]

Funny, I found David Seidman's the worst. I really didn't like any of the covers, since I prefer ones that actually act as a teaser for the issue. None of these ever did.

Funny, I've reached the point where I really miss Dave Hoover's art. It was the most comic-like, the ones that looked the least like the actors, but I actually liked that. Now, if someone *doesn't* look *exactly* like the actor, it bugs me. Dave's weren't supposed to and I actually liked that.

Yes, Joshingabout, you're right that I was happy about the no-predestination stuff, but I would've been much happier if they had taken away the powers Melinda should've never had. She should very simply be the witch - the only one of the next generation who was just a witch, and I would've liked to have seen someone who needs spells and potions, not powers, especially not whitelighter powers. One of the Warren powers, especially premonitions, that would be great, but not all of the extra ones.

It's also set up so that so many RPGs now have Mary Sues for Melinda, something that wouldn't happen had That Heir Up There never happened. Unlike you, I'd also love it if Wyatt lost all of his Twice Blessed powers, since that's what sets him up to be the Gary Stu of RPGs.

I'm very nervous about this search for Prue. I'm afraid that they'll try to turn *her* into the next Big Bad. So many fans would like that. I wouldn't.

[SimplyAretha]

Turn Prue into the next big bad? I see a riot in the future if that's the case. That would be the most worst possible story line.

[Esmeralda]

Yes, but you'd never believe how many fanfics that include Prue coming back have that as its plotline, with the climax being the scene where the sisters have to decide if they can vanquish their own sister...

It's always because Prue is upset at being dead and more upset at Paige for taking over her spot, and at Piper and Phoebe for letting her.

Personally I don't think Prue would react that way at all, but... And there's just something about that conversation between Patty and the Charmed Ones and then between her and Cole that makes me wonder...

Lord knows I hope I'm wrong, but Lord knows I wouldn't be surprised if I wasn't.

[joshingabout]

I really don't think that Paul Ruditis would go down that route. He's taken such good care of the Charmedverse up until this point, I don't think he'd go and ruin it with a storyline like that.

If Prue was ever evil, I think it'd be against her own will, much like in "Bride and Gloom" where she was forced into evil via marriage. I'm still betting on a kidnapping storyline, in which her soul has been missing since the day she died.

[Esmeralda]

Actually thinking about it, I think we're both wrong. In both cases that would say that Leo was lying in "Something Wicca This Way Goes?" when he said that Prue showed him how to teach them how to astral project.

I can imagine Grams lying about Prue in that horrible tip of the cap to her during "Forever Crap", but not Leo, especially not something like that. Like you said, Paul's done a *very* good job of taking good care of the Charmedverse (Melinda getting whitelighter powers notwithstanding), the reason I'm glad that he's the main writer, so I don't think he'd go against that. Of course, if he comes up with a reason for Leo lying and that the sisters *didn't* "learn" their sister's power, he'd make me one of the happiest Charmed fans alive because it would make what could've been the best Charmed episode ever even better.

But if that was indeed Prue, then that means that something has happened to her since *that* episode.

[Reality Bites]

I thought Prue taught Leo how to astral project BEFORE she died, seeing as Leo was mortal in the season seven finale and wouldn't have been able to contact Prue then. So, why would this issue of the comic make it seem like Leo is lying about learning that from Prue?

[Esmeralda]

Someone will have to check the script, but I was certain that Leo had made it heseem as if Prue had taught him at that time - that she had appeared to him as a ghost. Otherwise, he certainly would've taught them that little trick earlier.

But if she was either reincarnated or missing since she died, neither of those would be possible, hence Leo would've lied.

[Reality Bites]

In the episode Phoebe claims Prue was very protective of her power, and that she was glad she showed Leo how to do it. There was never a reference when, but seeing Leo was mortal during the season seven finale if Prue showed up to teach him how to astral project, it would have been through the sisters' magic. If that was the case, she may as well have taught them directly. After all, Leo had no way of contacting Prue on his own. That's why it makes sense that she would have taught it to Leo before she died. Hence him not lying about Prue.

[Esmeralda]

Ah, if that's the case, then definitely my bad. I still don't think that Leo should've been able to teach that power anymore than he could teach Phoebe how to freeze or Paige how to explode stuff, but you're right - either of our possibilities for Prue in the upcoming story arc would still fit.