Where does the time go? That question immediately came to mind, as I saw a recent Facebook post from Crusade Comics’ owner/publisher Billy Tucci (creator, writer, and artist of Shi, the female warrior character he introduced during the 1990s’ “Bad Girl Era” in comics) that August 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the publication of Shi/Cyblade: The Battle for Independents; according to the invaluable research site Mike’s Amazing World of Comics, it went on sale August 17, 1995.
Plotted by Tucci, scripted by Gary Cohn and Tucci, and drawn by Tucci, Nelson Ascenio, and Jimmy Palmiotti, Shi/Cyblade was the second half of a two-part crossover between Crusade and Image’s Top Cow Comics—the first half naturally titled Cyblade/Shi: The Battle for Independents (comic collector note: Cyblade/Shi features the first appearance of Top Cow’s most popular character, Witchblade).
In it, the two heroines awaken in a world blocked by a giant wall—according to the introductory note by Image executive director Larry Marder, the story is an allegory for the indie comics market trying to break through the wall built by bigger publishers (in other words, DC and Marvel) and the distributors that were all battling one another in a war that was destructive to the comics market. (The 1990s’ Distributor Wars in real life would ultimately end with Diamond Comics being the last company standing, after all its competitors had been wiped out—mostly due to Diamond cutting exclusive distribution deals with Marvel and DC, to start. And look what’s become of Diamond now…)
In order to defeat the forces of darkness and break down the wall, Shi and Cyblade call in the troops for backup. And the “troops” are a strike force formed from what seems like just about every indie comics character in print at the time—from Dave Sims’s Cerebus the Aardvark to Marder’s own Beanworld characters, to Don Simpson’s Megaton Man, Evan Dorkin’s Milk and Cheese, and Jeff Smith’s Bone…to my own creation, the soul-stealing succubus Lorelei!
Yes, Lori got to make an on-screen cameo, in a two-page spread that saw the indie force charging into battle. Lori and her unmissable red locks are on the left-hand page, surrounded by characters I don’t believe are around these days—according to the key printed in the back of the comic, they’re: Archangel (flying guy); Dark Prophet (blue ninja guy); Snap the Punk Turtle; and Bianca (in the white outfit). (By the way, Rich White’s werewolf character, Nightwolf, from Troubleshooters, Incorporated, is also on hand, toward the upper left-hand corner.)
How Lori got there—how any of those characters got there, really—is a mystery for the ages. Me, I like to think of it as the indie version of the original Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars miniseries of the 1980s: some weird doorway device appeared in front of Lori one day and, curious, she stepped through to join in on the Comics War. (Hmm, there’s an idea…)
I had no idea she’d made the appearance, though, and only found out when a fan asked me how I’d managed to get Lori into the new Shi comic (whaaat…?). I’m pretty sure a bunch of other creators were just as surprised—and honored that they’d made the cut!
Curious about that massive crossover event? You can track down print copies of Shi/Cyblade cheaply enough (the Witchblade appearance makes Cyblade/Shi a bit pricier), and both it and Cyblade/Shi are available in digital form through DriveThru Comics. Go check ’em out, if you have a chance.
So, Happy 30th Anniversary, Shi/Cyblade, and thanks for including Lori. Maybe one day I can return the favor!
