Is This Gratuitous: ECCC 2008 Exclusive Edition

Witchblade #117 - ECCC Exclusive Edition
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

Today let's take a break in my convention recap, shall we? I got home late tonight and I have been wanting to post this cover all week, so it is time.

In the past I have said I wasn't going to pick on Witchblade, but for this I am making an exception. Emerald City Comicon had this cover of issue #117 as an exclusive variant for the show and it just feels right to have a bit of a discussion about it.

Artist Eric Basaldua has put a tattoo in our cover girl's very prominent butt cheek for all to see. She is obviously a fan of the show, otherwise she wouldn't have made such a serious commitment in ink.

The hat is cute and sporty, and the finger to the mouth is eerily reminiscent of a pose I saw Kendra, one of Hef's girlfriends, do on the cover of Playboy. Clad in Daisy Dukes and a half t-shirt, it looks like Sara (I am assuming it is new mother Sara Pezzini) is ready to show the fanboys how to party.

Enough about my opinions though. I have got to just ask this once:

Is this gratuitous?

I will be back tomorrow to wrap up the show and give you some great links. For tonight, enjoy!