▪	RELEASED BY:		FUNIMATION ENTERTAINMENT
		▪	ASPECT RATIO:		16:9 ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN
		▪	AUDIO:		ENGLISH DD 5.1 & 2.0 AND JAPANESE DD 2.0
		▪	RUNNING TIME:		100 MIN
		▪	RATING:		TV MA
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		03/11/2008
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		03/09/2008
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		HOLLY ELLINGWOOD

Wadou and his Bio Division have created an all new weapon – the Ultimate Blade. Meanwhile the police continue to investigate Doji Enterprises, inching closer to the impossible truth. Maria learns of Father’s true intentions while one of his close subordinates targets who they consider the true heir to the Witchblade  – Riko.

The penultimate volume to the series has a lot happening behind the scenes. There are revelations, more violence, and an escalating situation between Doji and the public as well as Father, Maria and Masane. A trip to the beach is a lighthearted diversion to the true horrors moving behind the scenes. “Father”, Tatsuoki, reveals his true madness, making Oedipus’s mother obsession seem almost sane by comparison to Tasuoki’s master plan. Maria makes her own plans, but will it be too late?

The upheaval at Doji leads to a dramatic decision by Takayama. A coup occurs and Wadou unleashes his unstable weapon upon an unsuspecting Masane. It also allows Masane and Takayama to have a riveting heart to heart, the topic – Riko and his connection to her. However it’s not just Doji that is facing a major internal restructuring. The N.S.W.F. suffers a bloody coup d’etat, one that puts both Masane and Riko in graver danger than ever before. Dr. Nishida, Wadou, Maria, they all make their move against Masane through her weakest point – her daughter. 

The latest disturbing developments are the stuff that Freud would have a field day with: the phallic symbol of the Witchblade that only females can bear, Oedipal and Elektra complexes everywhere. You could write a Freudian thesis on the subject matter with excess to spare. But psycho-sexual content isn’t what’s on Masane’s mind. She’s hit an all new power plateau in her battles against the increasingly powerful enemies she must face. Just how long will it be before the Witchblade’s lust for power takes her over completely? And if that happens, will that spell the end of Masane? One thing is for certain, this penultimate volume raises the stakes and the cost of messing with the Witchblade as well as raising the price to those who bear it. It ends on a killer cliff-hanger. You’ll be waiting for the next volume with baited breath.

EXTRAS:
Bonus features on the DVD include trailers, clean opening and closing animation, video interviews with Japanese voice actor Kenichi Suzumura (Hiroki Segawa) and Shinji Ogawa (Tatsuoki Furumizo), as well as the next segment of the special “Witchblade: From Page to Screen Part I1I – The Witchblade Forged”. This feature has the Top Cow staff from continue their candid interviews about the Witchblade, this time discussing the first steps and transition of the hit American comic book to Japanese animated series by GONZO.

The extra features regarding packaging include an eight page booklet holding an interview with Masanori Takumi (Music), and hold character with full color images and black and white sketches. This DVD also comes with a sharp looking silver foil slip cover featuring Top Cow Productions artist Dale Keown giving fans his rendition of the Cloneblade Maria and the mastermind Tatsuoki based off of Makoto Uno’s original character designs.

IN SUMMARY:
In the latest and penultimate volume of the Witchblade anime, Masane undergoes an all new and much more dangerous transformation. Dangerous to her enemies and herself. The entire power structure of those vying for the Witchblade behind the scenes get a major and blood-soaked shake up, and the ultimate battle for the Witchblade is at hand. Powerful, luring, terrifying. The power and lure of the Witchblade anime cannot be resisted.