Tag Archives: shadowman

Review: Shadowman #4

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SM2018_004_COVER-A_ZONJICFor years, Jack Boniface believed that he knew the true story of the Shadowman loa – the true story of the curse inside him. He was wrong.

For the first time, Jack Boniface is about to discover the long-hidden history of the supernatural power that became his birthright… Unmoored in time and space, the loa is about to reveal its untold dimensions…and now, the last defender of the wall between our realm and the Deadside is falling backwards through the astral void, finding himself face to face with his forebears across the centuries – from the paranoia-addled alleyways of 1940s New York to the fire-scorched plantations of the Civil War…all the way back to the primeval height of the African savannah in 40,000 B.C.!

The fourth issue of Shadowman is both a continuation of the previous issue’s surprise ending that left us with the dead body of Jack Boniface, and a standalone story set before the USA joined the Second World War that focuses on Jack’s grandfather. In doing this we get a near perfect blend of a comic that is the perfect jumping on point for those who want to give the series a shot as well as a compelling read for those who had to pick their jaw up after the third issue. Andy Diggle takes what could easily be a story used to fluff out an arc simply for the trade paperback and weaves it into an arc as an essential piece of the puzzle. It’s something that’s seldom done as effectively as it is here as Jack Boniface’s spirit becomes a passenger in his ancestor’s body, and subsequently proceeds to act as narrator for the duration of the book. It’s a simple touch, but oh so effective.

Artistically, Shawn Martinborough and Stephen Segovia adopt an Art Deco style that perfectly suits the time period and noir style pulp-hero feeling of the story. The lines are thick and chunky, and the comic is heavily steeped in deep blues, solid blacks and shades of grey, all of which add to the feeling that you’re being immersed in the shadowy worlds that the Shadowman of 1940 inhabits in New York.

If this is the style of story that we’re going to get with this arc, with Jack bouncing through various historical Shadowmen (and the cover certainly indicates this is the case) then I’m even more excited to see where Diggle takes the Shadowman.

Story: Andy Diggle Art: Shawn Martinborough and Stephen Segovia
Colors: Jose Villarrubia Letters: Simon Bowland
Story: 8.8 Art: 9 Overall: 8.9 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Andy Diggle Talks Shadowman along with an Exclusive Preview of Shadowman #5

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Shadowman is back in his own solo series at Valiant and Andy Diggle is in charge writing! The series is a perfect jumping on point for new readers but also has a lot for long time fans of the character as Diggle explores past lives.

We chat with Diggle about the series and have an exclusive look at Shadowman #5 out July 18th!

Graphic Policy: How did you come on board to write Shadowman and who is the character to you? How familiar with the character were you before?

Andy Diggle: The short answer is, they asked! I’d actually been invited to write something else for Valiant previously, but in the end I decided I wasn’t the right guy for that particular job. But when Shadowman came up, I jumped at the chance. I hadn’t read the original ‘90s run, but I could see what it could be – which elements were core to the character, which elements to jettison, and which new elements to bring in. It just seemed so rich with potential. Shadowman had taken a pretty crooked path by the time I got my hands on him, and I wanted to dust him off and put him back on his feet. Make him a hero again. And I knew I wanted to put voodoo lore back at the centre of the book. Voodoo makes him unique, but somehow it had been lost or diluted along the way.

GP: Do you approach writing Shadowman differently than any of the other characters you’ve handled over the years? Has the voodoo element been an interesting aspect to research?

AD: It’s been fascinating. Voodoo is a rich and complex folk religion and oral tradition, with a great deal of regional variation. So I’ve tried to be respectful of that, while embracing the fact that this is a supernatural action comic, not a history textbook. For me, research is a source of inspiration; a springboard for ideas rather than something to be constrained by.

GP: The fourth issue takes us back to  explore the loa’s history, and that of the Shadowman mantle. You’re essentially creating a new mythology here – do you feel any pressure? How do you even start something like that?

GP: We’re really just showing brief snippets of past Shadowmen’s lives – each of them could easily sustain an ongoing series of their own. It’s an education for Jack Boniface, finding out that his predecessors found different ways of dealing with the burden of the shadow loa. Jack’s always been struggling against that burden, and I’d like to see him embrace it as a force for good in the world.

GP: The third issue saw Jack Boniface ending up dead at the hands of (presumably) Baron Samedi, but this being Shadowman and the Deadside, I’m sure there’s more to the death than initially meets the eye. How do you go about avoiding the “Comic Book Death” trope that so many fans claim to be fatigued with?

AD: Travelling to and from the realm of the dead is literally part of Shadowman’s core concept. He guards us from the Deadside, and the ghosts and spirits of the dead have been a part of his world since the very first issue. So it’s not like we’re coming out of nowhere with this. Jack’s voyage through the astral realm to the past lives of his predecessors isn’t accidental. He was sent there, for reasons he will only later come to understand.

GP: When exploring the past incarnations of Shadowman, which was the one you wanted to spend more time with? Any plans for a spin off featuring on or more of those characters?

AD: Marius Boniface – the “first” Shadowman – was the one I couldn’t wait to get ahold of. We learned that Sandria Darque first bound the shadow loa to him in 1865, but what happened next? I was curious about what that would do to their relationship moving forward. How did Marius feel about becoming Shadowman? Did he stay with Sandria? How did he die? It raises all sorts of questions, and we can’t answer all of them in one issue.

GP: You’re working with a lot of great artists on this series; does that impact the way you write your scripts if you want to play to one artist’s strength over another?

AD: I’ve been incredibly lucky to work with such great artists. It always helps to know who’ll be drawing which story, so I can play to their strengths. Fortunately they each have multiple strengths! Stephen Segovia is a master of dynamic action, Shawn Martinbrough literally wrote the book on noir comics, Doug Braithwaite brings a wonderfully soulful, emotional depth to the characters, and Renato Guedes is bringing a beautifully lush, painterly style to the ancient origins of the loa.

GP: The series as a whole has been quite easy for new fans to pick up whilst still building on his previous appearances. How difficult was, or is, that to achieve?

AD: It was planned as a fresh start, but I didn’t want to just throw away the past continuity and start afresh. Ultimately it’s about redeeming Jack and giving him some hope for a better future. All you really need to know is that this guy has a powerful voodoo spirit bound inside him, and he was lost in the land of the dead for a while. Now he’s back!

GP: Dead And Gone has been billed as a new jumping on point for fans. What, if anything, do new readers need to know when they pick up Shadowman #4?

AD: Jack Boniface’s soul has been cast adrift in time. As he falls, he’ll grab onto the past lives of his predecessors and get a glimpse of how they handled being Shadowman.

GP: One of the strengths of the Valiant Universe is that each series can work on their own and are new reader friendly and also come together to build a richer experience. Has it differed for you working in this comic universe than others?

AD: It’s certainly more narratively coherent that some universes I’ve worked in in the past. Valiant editorial have a great sense of story, and they communicate well, so everyone’s on the same page. I can ask specific continuity questions and get specific answers. That gives me a good, solid foundation to build a story on. And ultimately that’s all I really care about. Is it good?

GP: Thanks so much for chatting!

SHADOWMAN (2018) #5

Written by ANDY DIGGLE
Art by DOUG BRAITHWAITE
Cover A by TONCI ZONJIC
Cover B by DAVID MACK
Interlocking Variant by DAVID LAFUENTE
Shadowman Icon Variant by DOUG BRAITHWAITE

“DEAD AND GONE” – PART 2! At last – the untold tale of Marius Boniface…the first Shadowman!

As roving gangs ravage the landscape of post-Civil War America, there’s little hope and even fewer chances of escape for those caught in their clutches…except in the shadows! Enter: Marius Boniface – first bearer of the Shadowman loa and Jack Boniface’s own great-great-great grandfather! But as the sun sets, the Shadowman’s coming will lead to more than just a rebellion… Unstuck in time, Jack is about to come face-to-face with the first to bear his curse, and will finally learn the truth about the Shadowman legacy’s connection to his family’s doomed bloodline!

Superstar artist Doug Braithwaite (X-O MANOWAR, Justice) joins writer extraordinaire Andy Diggle (Green Arrow: Year One) for a must-read moment in the history of Valiant’s supernatural icon!

$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On Sale JULY 18th (FOC – 6/25/18)

Preview: Shadowman (2018) #4

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SHADOWMAN (2018) #4

Written by ANDY DIGGLE
Art by SHAWN MARTINBROUGH
Cover A by TONCI ZONJIC (APR181846)
Cover B by DAVID MACK (APR181847)
Interlocking Variant by DAVID LAFUENTE (APR181848)
Shadowman Icon Variant by DAVE JOHNSON (APR181849
Pre-Order Edition by HANNAH TEMPLER (APR181850)
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On Sale JUNE 20th

ALL-NEW ARC! ALL-NEW JUMPING-ON POINT! “DEAD AND GONE” – PART ONE!

For years, Jack Boniface believed that he knew the true story of the Shadowman loa – the true story of the curse inside him. He was wrong.

For the first time, Jack Boniface is about to discover the long-hidden history of the supernatural power that became his birthright… Unmoored in time and space, the loa is about to reveal its untold dimensions…and now, the last defender of the wall between our realm and the Deadside is falling backwards through the astral void, finding himself face to face with his forebears across the centuries – from the paranoia-addled alleyways of 1940s New York to the fire-scorched plantations of the Civil War…all the way back to the primeval height of the African savannah in 40,000 B.C.!

In the shock-inducing aftermath of the “FEAR OF THE DARK” story arc, master storyteller Andy Diggle (Green Arrow: Year One) leads a rotating cast of superstar artists – including Shawn Martinbrough (Thief of Thieves), Doug Braithwaite (Justice), and Renato Guedes (Wolverine) – to reveal the full scope and power of the Shadowman mythos…and how three of its forgotten champions stoked its earliest embers…with a legend-fueled odyssey into eons past as “DEAD AND GONE” tells all!

Shadowman #5 Sets the Past Ablaze with Andy Diggle & Doug Braithwaite – In Stores This July!

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Valiant has released a first look at Shadowman (2018) #5, the next jaw-dropping installment of the powerful ongoing series of 2018 and the second chapter of “Dead and Gone!” On July 18th, renowned writer Andy Diggle teams up with sensational artist Doug Braithwaite to expose Jack Boniface to the deeper truths behind the Shadowman legacy – and to the violent lives of his long-dead ancestors!

As slave catchers roam the scorched landscape in the closing days of the Civil War, there is little hope and even fewer chances of escape… except in the shadows! Enter: Marius Boniface, first bearer of the Shadowman loa and Jack Boniface’s own great-great-great grandfather! But as the sun sets, the Shadowman’s coming will lead to more than just a rebellion. Unstuck in time, Jack is about to come face-to-face with the first to bear his curse, and will finally learn the truth about the Shadowman legacy’s connection to his family’s doomed bloodline!

Featuring covers by Tonci Zonjic, David Mack, David Lafuente, and Doug Braithwaite!

Review: Shadowman #3

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SM2018_003_COVER-B_GUEDES“After years of purgatorial exile, Jack Boniface – the newly returned Shadowman – is back in the one place he thought he’d left behind for good: the damned dimension known as Deadside! His mission? To recover a lost relic of the Shadowman legacy that could redefine the eternal balance of power between the living and the dead. If he fails, the vengeful voodoo god called Baron Samedi will exact a terrible toll on the souls of humanity… But – back among the monsters, back among the cursed – can Jack stand resolutely against evil incarnate without succumbing to the call of the literal demons within himself?”

I’ve been really enjoying this series thus far, which I’m somewhat surprised at seeing as how I’ve had minimal exposure to the character over the past few years. Despite owning the entire 2012 relaunch, I’ve never actually read all of it (the downside to obsessive collecting, I suppose). Shadowman #3 finds our hero full of impotent rage as he discovers that, once again, he is trapped within the Deadside with only one option to return to the land of the living; stealing the Shadow Scythe back from Baron Samedi.

What follows is a fairly standard, albeit well presented, distract and steal story as Shadowman’s ally in our world offers him a chance to steal back the Scythe that will return him to full power. The dialogue between Alyssa and the newly arrived Abettors, the group/cult/whatever that assist the Shadowman, is a particular highlight and balances the Deadside sequences remarkably well as we dip back and forth between the two in a fluidly orchestrated dance through the comic’s music (incidentally, I was listening to Ghost’s BC album while reading this comic. It was an interesting combination, to say the least).

Although I wouldn’t suggest avoiding the previous two issues in the series and starting to read Shadowman with the third issue, it is possible for you to pick up the gist of what’s going on with the events depicted here in conjunction with the recap page. The creative team have produced a comic where musical tones permeate every facet of the art and dialogue, often in very subtle ways, and the song carries you along through the pages to the conclusion in a way that doesn’t allow for any external distractions. Shadowman #3 is a creepy and atmospheric issue with colourful musical undertones that swirl together into a cacophony of emotional brilliance (forgive the constant musical references; the album I’ve been listening to along with the 90’s era Shadowman I read as part of the Unity crossover left me with an impression).

Although it’s not a perfect comic, it is still very enjoyable.

Story: Andy Diggle Art: Stephen Segovia with Adam Polina
Colours: Ulises Arreola and David Baron Letters: Simon Bowland
Story: 8.3 Art: 8.8 Overall: 8.6 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Preview: Shadowman (2018) #3

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SHADOWMAN (2018) #3

Written by ANDY DIGGLE
Art by STEPHEN SEGOVIA with ADAM POLLINA
Cover A by TONCI ZONJIC (MAR181998)
Cover B by RENATO GUEDES (MAR181999)
Interlocking Variant by JUAN JOSÉ RYP (MAR182000)
Shadowman Icon Variant by GREG SMALLWOOD (MAR182001)
Pre-Order Edition by RAÚL ALLÉN (JAN182006)
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On Sale MAY 23rd

Every sin casts a shadow…

After years of purgatorial exile, Jack Boniface – the newly returned Shadowman – is back in the one place he thought he’d left behind for good: the damned dimension known as Deadside! His mission? To recover a lost relic of the Shadowman legacy that could redefine the eternal balance of power between the living and the dead. If he fails, the vengeful voodoo god called Baron Samedi will exact a terrible toll on the souls of humanity… But – back among the monsters, back among the cursed – can Jack stand resolutely against evil incarnate without succumbing to the call of the literal demons within himself?

Superstar writer Andy Diggle (Green Arrow: Year One) and high-octane artist Stephen Segovia (Action Comics) present a long-awaited moment in the epic saga of a comics icon and bring Shadowman raging back to the forefront of the Valiant Universe as the “FEAR OF THE DARK” story arc unleashes a finale of unthinkable cosmic proportions!

Andy Diggle & Shawn Martinbrough Launch “Dead and Gone” in Shadowman (2018) #4 – In Stores June 20th!

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Valiant is proud to reveal your first look at a selection of lettered pages from Shadowman (2018) #4, the start of a BRAND-NEW ARC and NEW JUMPING-ON POINT in this POWERFUL ONGOING SERIES! On June 20th, renowned writer Andy Diggle and distinguished artist Shawn Martinbrough launch the next thrilling story arc, “Dead and Gone,” as they investigate the seedy underbelly of a bygone age and uncover the secrets of Jack Boniface’s long-forgotten ancestor, Max Boniface – the Shadowman of 1940s New York!

For years, Jack Boniface believed he knew the true story of the Shadowman loa – the true story of the curse inside him. He was wrong.

For the first time, Jack Boniface is about to discover the long-hidden history of the supernatural power that became his birthright. Unmoored in time and space, the loa is about to reveal its untold dimensions…and now, the last defender of the wall between our realm and the Deadside is falling backwards through the astral void, finding himself face to face with his forebears across the centuries – from the paranoia-addled alleyways of 1940s New York to the fire-scorched plantations of the Civil War…all the way back to the primeval height of the African savannah in 40,000 B.C.!

In the shock-inducing aftermath of “Fear of the Dark,” master storyteller Andy Diggle will lead a rotating cast of superstar artists – beginning with Shawn Martinbrough and continuing with Doug Braithwaite and Renato Guedes – to reveal the full scope and power of the Shadowman mythos…and how three of its forgotten champions stoked its earliest embers…with a legend-fueled odyssey into eons past as “Dead and Gone” tells all!

Review: Valiant Free Comic Book Day Shadowman Special

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VALIANT_FCBD_2018_COVER_DELATORRESuperstar writer Andy Diggle and high-octane artist Stephen Segovia present an all-new introduction to Shadowman as Jack Boniface reemerges from the Deadside to reclaim his birthright… and forges a new legend of magic, might, and malice for the long-awaited return of Valiant’s most-demanded hero! Then, New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt and legendary artist Ariel Olivetti return Aric of Dacia to Earth in X-O Manowar – just in time for the seismic comics event of 2018! Finally, Academy Award-nominated writer Eric Heisserer and artists Raúl Allén and Patricia Martín plunge the whole of the Valiant Universe into an epic power struggle in the prelude to Harbinger Wars 2!

If you pick up Valiant‘s 2018 Free Comic Book Day release on May 5th, you’ll be treated to snippets from three different Valiant series. Snippets from comics already published, but none of which have more than two issues out in the arc you would be starting with if you were to look further into the respective series after picking this taster up, and aside from the first issue of Shadowman all the comics this Free Comic Book Day Special encourages you to pick up have been released within the last couple of weeks.

Regardless, on to the stories.

The first taster you will get comes in the form of Shadowman. With seven pages from the first issue you get juuuuust enough to encourage you to go hunting for the first and second issues in the newly relaunched series, but not quite enough of the story that will make you feel like paying for the first issue is a waste of money. Andy Diggle (writer), Stephen Segovia (art) and Ulises Arreola (colours) have already delivered two issues of a high quality, and the seven pages you’ll see here are indicative of that. You can find reviews of the first issue here and the second here. For those interested, the first half of Black Sabbath’s first album makes an excellent audio companion (I say first half because I was listening to it on vinyl).

VALIANT_FCBD_2018_004

Up next is an excerpt from X-O Manowar #14, which was reviewed here. This arc finds Aric of Dacia returning to Earth after a lengthy absence (possibly around two years) only to discover that things have moved on without him. But you don’t get that in this six page preview, you only get to see part of his journey from deep space back to Earth. Matt Kindt‘s  script is given a stunning visual treatment by Ariel Olivetti, and although there were some questionable backgrounds in the rest of the comic, what you get here is an utterly fantastic piece of art. Audio companion: the second half of Black Sabbath’s first album.

Finally there are the first six pages of Harbinger Wars II: Prelude #1, a comic that was released May 2nd (yes, this week), which you can find a full review of here. Valiant’s big summer event will kick off next month, and this preview will give you a perfect taste of what Eric Heisserer, Raul Allen and Patricia Martin have in store for you in the rest of the prelude comic. Audio companion: silence, because the record player doesn’t repeat the album. It was oddly fitting, however.

For those hoping for a new short story starring Shadowman in the same vein as last year’s X-O Manowar FCBD Special you will be disappointed as the comic is essentially just an extended print based preview of three of Valiant’s current series. Which, ironically enough, is perfect for Free Comic Book Day and those who may not already be reading all three of these series like myself. If you see this in your comic shop on Saturday, and you’re at all curious about Valiant, then this is a must… uh… pick up.

Preview: Valiant FCBD 2018 Shadowman Special – On Sale May 5th!

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VALIANT FCBD 2018 SHADOWMAN SPECIAL

Written by ANDY DIGGLE, MATT KINDT, AND ERIC HEISSERER
Art by STEPHEN SEGOVIA, ARIEL OLIVETTI, MJ KIM, and RAÚL ALLÉN with PATRICIA MARTIN
Cover by ROBERTO DE LA TORRE (JAN180046)
FREE! | 32 pgs. | T+ | On Sale MAY 5th (FOC – 2/5/18)

Superstar writer Andy Diggle and high-octane artist Stephen Segovia present an all-new introduction to SHADOWMAN as Jack Boniface reemerges from the Deadside to reclaim his birthright… and forges a new legend of magic, might, and malice for the long-awaited return of Valiant’s most-demanded hero! Then, New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt and legendary artist Ariel Olivetti return Aric of Dacia to Earth in X-O MANOWAR – just in time for the seismic comics event of 2018! Finally, Academy Award-nominated writer Eric Heisserer and artists Raúl Allén and Patricia Martín plunge the whole of the Valiant Universe into an epic power struggle in the prelude to HARBINGER WARS 2!

Review: Shadowman #2

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SM2018_002_COVER-A_ZONJIC“Baron Samedi calls!

Jack Boniface has only just returned home to New Orleans…but the Deadside won’t let him stay gone! From across the veil of life and death, the malignant presence of Baron Samedi – a ravenous voodoo deity bent on consolidating power at all costs – now seeks to infiltrate the mortal plane and claim the legacy of Shadowman for himself! But even as Jack and Alyssa marshal a defense to Samedi’s inhuman agenda, a monstrous new force – driven by killer instinct and a rabid hatred of the Shadowman – is about to turn the Big Easy’s back alleys into a hunting ground…”

Of all the Valiant characters I’ve read about over the last three years I’ve been obsessed with a fan of the publisher, Shadowman is one of the ones with which I am not as familiar with. That hasn’t been a concern with this series, however, as despite the storied history of the character, Andy Diggle crafts a tale that can be read by newcomer and long time fan alike.

As a newly returned Jack Boniface struggles to adjust to life in the living world after spending months, if not years, in the Deadside, the responsibilities of the Shadowman continue to pull. Shadowman #2 opens the conflict between Shadowman and the antagonist in an organic way that doesn’t feel forced or contrived. In doing this, Diggle gives Stephen Segovia the ability to sink his teeth into some brilliant action scenes whilst also crafting an incredible visual journey with each page.

At the end of the day, Shadowman #2 is a really solid comic, but unfortunately I really don’t have much to say about it other than you should read it if you’ve even half an interest in the character or publisher. You don’t need to know everything about Shadowman to enjoy this comic, though I’m sure it helps, because Diggle, Segovia and colourist Ulises Arreola have delivered a comic that is a wonderful addition to any pull list.

You can’t go wrong reading Shadowman.

Story: Andy Diggle Artist: Stephen Segovia Colourist: Ulises Arreola
Story: 8.4 Art: 8.8 Overall: 8.6 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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