Questions about Top Cow Universe

[Elric of Grans]

I have just started reading some Top Cow comics and, well, I like what I see! I have read The Darkness (issues 1-6), Madam Mirage and Witchblade (issues 1-8). So far, The Darkness is my favourite of these. I just love the main character

Looking around, it is (very) obvious that certain other titles fit into the same universe as The Darkness and The Witchblade. According to the Top Cow webside, the other titles are: Cyber Force, Artifacts, Angelus, Broken Trinity, Hunter-Killer, Magdalena, Velocity and V.I.C.E.

Do all of these titles intermingle (eg Artifacts obviously ties closely to The Darkness and Witchblade), or are some more incidentally associated (eg same universe, but the stories/characters never cross over)?

Could someone provide me with a rough guide on where along reading The Darkness/Witchblade I should pick up other titles to best follow the story?

[GrifterWC]

The first 13 issues of Artifacts ties into the Darkness and Witchblade and needs to be read with them.
The Darkness and Witchblade for the most part can be read individually (they do make cameo's in each other's books and there are several mini's where they do interact together) but for the most part you can get the gist of the story without going to crazy.
Angelus ties into both but her story has been told in the Witchblade book. Magdalena also makes some cameo's in Witchblade but her solo series can be read without the other two (witchblade and Darkness).

[Dark-Flux]

Some are more related than others despite taking place in the same universe.
Witchblade, Darkness, Artifacts and Magdalena are the titles that intertwine the most. Though Witchblade and Darkness can be read pretty much independently. They obviously crossover during the event books, but even then its kinda seperate from the main titles. (until recently anyway)

But in either case:

Witchblade 1-10
Darkness starts around here.
Family Ties Crossover (WB 18, D 9-10, W19)
Could start the first Magdalena series anytime after Darkness 18
Darkness/Batman is a good one to read. After Darkness 27 iirc. Quite important to Jackies arc.
Witcblade/Darkness Crossover (WB36, Witchblade/Darkness, Darkness/Witchblade, Darkness 28)
After Darkness Vol 1 ends (issue 40), read Tom Judge: The Rapture
Darkness Vol 2 starts around Witchblade 60.
After Darkness Vol 2 (#24) the First Born event starts.
Darkness Vol 3 starts after FB.
Broken Trinity starts.
Magdalena Vol 1-2 can be read around here.
War of the Witchblades (WB 125-130)
Angelus Vol 1
Artifacts starts around here.

Then the current "Rebirth" starts (WB 151, D 101, Artifacts 14)

No other titles really have ties to WB/Darkness.

Some character show up during Artifacts (Cyberforce, Hunter Killer, Necromancer) but their own series are pretty much completly independant and can be read anytime.

Cyberforce also just recently relaunched and is a complete reboot. (first 5 issues are free! Check it out) and it will have ties to the upcoming reboot of Aphrodite IX launching in May. (issue 1 is or FCBD)

Hope this helps.

Basically, the trades youd be wanting are:

Witchblade Compendiums (or Origins and the Ron Marz trades)
Darkness Compendiums (or Origins and the Accursed trades)
Magdalena Origins Vol 1-2
Magdalena Vol 1-2
Angelus Vol 1
Tom Judge: The Rapture
First Born (artifacts Vol 0 in later prints)
Broken Trinity
Broken Trinity 2: Pandoras Box
Artifacts Vol 1-4
Witchblade Rebirth
Darkness Rebirth

[Elric of Grans]

Thank you, that is exactly what I was looking for!