Shadowman #7
Written by CULLEN BUNN
Art by JON DAVIS-HUNT
Colors by JORDIE BELLAIRE
Letters by CLAYTON COWLES
Cover A by JON DAVIS-HUNT
Horror Movie Homage Variant Cover by DAN BRERETON
Pre-order Cover by CHRISTIAN WARD
On sale March 16th | 32 pages, full color | $3.99 US | T+
The world has been invaded. The Deadside spills through. Shadowman, Punk Mambo, Alyssa and the Arbettors struggle to keep the horrors of the Deadside at bay, but are they in a losing battle?
Shadowman #7
Written by CULLEN BUNN
Art by JON DAVIS-HUNT
Colors by JORDIE BELLAIRE
Letters by CLAYTON COWLES
Cover A by JON DAVIS-HUNT
Horror Movie Homage Variant Cover by DAN BRERETON
Pre-order Cover by CHRISTIAN WARD
On sale March 16th | 32 pages, full color | $3.99 US | T+
The world has been invaded. The Deadside spills through. Shadowman, Punk Mambo, Alyssa and the Arbettors struggle to keep the horrors of the Deadside at bay, but are they in a losing battle?
The Year of Valiant, continues as the publisher has announced three brand-new titles!
Shadowman. Punk Mambo. Eternal Warrior. Doctor Mirage. And [CLASSIFIED]. The supernatural protectors of the Valiant Universe unite for the very first time to stand against a terrifying ancient threat. No one is safe as Exarch Fane has his cold hands on the Book of Shadows. From the master of horror Cullen Bunn and rising star artist Riccardo Latina, Book of Sadows is a supernatural event that forms a brand-new team in the Valiant Universe… but will they be enough to stop Exarch Fane’s wrath? The all-new team arrives this July.
When living weapons break out of a top-secret facility, the nanite-infused supersoldier Bloodshot must journey across the United States to stop these twisted and lethal creations from unleashing more bloodshed and devastation on the neglected small towns and forgotten corners of the country. Will Bloodshot need to kill all of them… or can some of them be redeemed just like he was? From Ringo Award-nominated writer Deniz Camp and acclaimed artist Jon Davis-Hunt comes Bloodshot Unleashed, the popular character’s first mature readers story that truly lives up to its name. The mayhem begins this September.
Aric of Dacia is X-O Manowar, a relentless and brave warrior torn from the past who wields the most powerful sentient armor in the universe. When X-O’s latest battle brings him into uncharted cosmic territory, he encounters a powerful enemy that will rip open old wounds and force Aric into treacherous, uncertain waters. Fan-favorite co-writers Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad are joined by blockbuster artist Liam Sharp to present X-O Manowar Unconquered, a gripping sci-fi epic that embraces the beloved character’s history while challenging him in a whole new way. X-O’s next battle begins this November.
The next chapter of the critically acclaimed Shadowman series has arrived! With the epic event Deadside War poised to sweep across the Valiant Universe, Shadowman is going to need some help to take the fight to the Deadside. As the battle begins to heat up, only the new group of Abettors and the fan-favorite Punk Mambo herself can stand against the impending war alongside Shadowman. But will they be enough?
Shadowman #6 opens right where the previous issue ends, with Shadowman trying to talk his way out of the seemingly invitable war between the Deadside and the live side. This approach to the conflict is something we’ve rarely seen (or at least something I’ve rarely seen) when it comes to comics, and so with Cullen Bunn‘s approach to the story there’s oddly more tension with the attempted diplomacy than I’d have expected.
I’ve said it before, and it’s still true, but Shadowman – written by Bunn, with art by Pedro Andreo and colors by Jordie Bellaire – is by far and wide the best thing Valiant is currently publishing, and for my money it’s also among the top echelon of comics that are being published right now.
When it comes to the art in Shadowman #6, I found myself genuinely impressed by how dynamic Pedro Andreo’s work was. He layouts and line weights are interesting, and I’m low key obsessed with how Shadowman’s face has taken on more of an unnatural skull-like visage with the overly pronounced cheekbones, which gives the hero more of an otherworldly sense about him. Compounding on this otherworldly sense, though, is Jordie Bellaire’s colouring. She elevates already compelling artwork to the next level with a mostly low key colour palette of muted greys, and murky shadows infusing the other backgrounds. It’s amongst this backdrop that the bursts of colour stand out so effectively.
The second part of The Deadside War reinforces the stakes that Shadowman is facing, and reintroduces a couple of familiar faces that readers will recognize from earlier volumes of Shadowman published since Valiant’s relaunch in 2012 (that it was ten years ago is slightly blowing my mind, I won’t lie). Bunn pulls on threads that make the comic feel much more connected to the Valiant universe than we’ve seen in awhile as more than a few of the miniseries released could have existed in their own world. That Shadowman is bucking this trend with a story that, we’re told, will have huge implications for the publisher’s comics as a whole whilst still being a fantastic read for anybody who picks the comics up has me feeling really excited for what comes next.
Story: Cullen Bunn Art: Pedro Andreo
Colors: Jordie Bellaire Letters: Clayton Cowles
Story: 9.7 Art: 9.9 Overall: 9.8 Recommendation: Buy
Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: comiXology/Kindle – Zeus Comics – TFAW
Wednesdays (and Tuesdays) are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in
Each week our contributors choose what they can’t wait to read this week or just sounds interesting. In other words, this is what we’re looking forward to and think you should be taking a look at!
Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this week.
Baloney & Friends: Dream Big! (First Second) – The series is goofy fun that kids will love and parents can enjoy.
Batman: Knight #2 (DC Comics) – The first issue was interesting but not exciting. This though has us interested in seeing what’s next. Bruce has moved on from Gotham hanging out in Paris where he meets a burglar who shows him a thing or two.
Chronophage (Humanoids) – A single mother’s past is being rewritten and the mysterious man she met isn’t who he says he is.
Fictionauts #1 (Red 5 Comics) – A team must preserve the balance between reality and imagination which feels like that’s just open to a lot of potential fun.
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Saturday Morning Adventures #1 (IDW Publishing) – We have fond memories of watching G.I. Joe growing up and we’ll admit nostalgia has us excited to check out this series that picks up on the original cartoon.
Iron Fist #1 (Marvel) – New Iron Fist? We’re listening…
Lion & Eagle #1 (AfterShock) – Garth Ennis and P.J. Holden doing a war comic. Nuff said.
Maniac of New York: The Bronx is Burning #3 (AfterShock) – The series has been an amazing take on the slasher film genre grounding it in what it’d be like if it happened in our reality.
Mother Russia Winter Special (Comics Experience) – We remember this series from WAY back when and we’re always excited to see something new that takes war comics and delivers a zombie mix. Add in this is a silent issue and we’re excited to check it out.
The Princess Who Saved Her Friends (BOOM! Studios) – This graphic novel for kids is fantastic. As backers of the Kickstarter, we’ve had it for a while and that means a lot of repeat reads.
Putin’s Russia: The Rise of a Dictator (Drawn & Quarterly) – This one should be interesting to read to see how even handed it is and considering current news.
Quad #1 (Behemoth) – A solar storm has destroyed all technology and four generations later a mechnaic takes a job that’s a bit odd. It’s never really simple.
Shadowman #6 (Valiant) – The series has been consistently solid and the “Deadside War” feels like it’s going to be a major storyline for the Valiant Universe.
Until My Knuckles Bleed #1 (Behemoth) – We’re fans of Victor Santos and a series about a retired hero now a bouncer is an intriguing debut.
SHADOWMAN #6
Written by CULLEN BUNN
Art by JON DAVIS-HUNT
Colors by JORDIE BELLAIRE
Letters by CLAYTON COWLES
Cover A by JON DAVIS-HUNT
Horror Movie Homage Variant Cover by ADAM GORHAM
Pre-order Cover by PEDRO ANDREO
On sale February 16th | 32 pages, full color | $3.99 US | T+
When the horrors from the Deadside spill into the world of the living, Shadowman is going to need some back up…
…PUNK MAMBO returns!
I first read this book around Halloween last year which was probably the first treat I’ve received around that date in…. oh far longer than I care to think about. Although if I’m honest I only went trick or treating the once when I was around 14 because it wasn’t a thing that we did in my home town (which was in England, where Halloween wasn’t celebrated the same way as it is in the US and Canada twenty odd years ago – it may still not be as big a deal, but I haven’t lived there in fifteen years so I don’t honestly know). Regardless, when I read the early version of Valiant’s Shadowman #5, I was pretty damn excited.
Shadowman #5 kicks off the Deadside War, something we’ve seen writer and horror extraordinaire Cullen Bunn build toward over the previous four issues of Shadowman. What I found interesting, and kinda cool, was how Bunn used the dialogue between Alyssa and Jack to gently remind readers of the events in previous issues as it has been some time between the fourth and fifth issues (at least three months given that I read a rough version of this back in October and forgot to review it).
Of course, being an early version, the colouring work of Jordie Bellaire hadn’t been applied to the pages, so I didn’t get to see the finished product until this week. It was a long wait, I won’t lie, but it was well worth it.
The comic, written by Bunn, with art by Pedro Andreo and colors by Jordie Bellaire, is by far and wide the best thing Valiant has published in a while, but it’s also among the very best of comics that are coming out right now. For my money (and despite getting review copies, I’m still buying this) Shadowman tops everything being published right now. It’s hard for me to overstate how much I love this book, and even harder to stay away from too much hyperbolic wording, but flipping through this book will give you an idea. Andreo’s art in this comic is breathtaking, and while no small part of that is because of Bellaire, Andreo gives the colourist a great base to build from as she plays with layers of subtle colouring and shades to pull your eyes across the page.
I’m also super happy that Cullen Bunn is back; his approach with Shadowman’s character has been remarkably enjoyable. Despite this being a fifth issue, you’re still able to pick it up and enjoy the story even with only minor knowledge as to who the character is because of how Bunn frames the story within the comic. There’s a little bit of politicking involved, a bit of action, and a good chunk of intrigue. More than anything, however, is the sense that there’s a little more than we see going on. It’s almost uneasy, and it works to keep you paying attention.
If you’ve never read a Shadowman comic, then this is a better place than most to start what has been one of Valiant’s better series in recent years. Shadowman #5 is simply amazing in every way. There’s not much else to be said.
Story: Cullen Bunn Art: Pedro Andreo
Colors: Jordie Bellaire Letters: Clayton Cowles
Story: 9.7 Art: 10 Overall: 9.8 Recommendation: Buy
Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: comiXology – Kindle – Zeus Comics
Wednesdays (and now Tuesdays) are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in
Each week our contributors choose what they can’t wait to read this week or just sounds interesting. In other words, this is what we’re looking forward to and think you should be taking a look at!
Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this week.
Almost American #4 (AfterShock) – The true story of defecting Russian agents. It’s been an amazing read to see how dysfunctional the system is.
Animal Castle #2 (Ablaze) – A new take on Animal Farm, the first issue sold out so expect this one to do so as well!
Arrowsmith #1 (Image Comics) – Kurt Busiek returns to Image with a whole bunch of series launching and this is the first. Wizards and Dragons during World War I? Yeah, we’re in for it.
Art of Sushi (NBM) – Learn all about sushi!
Batman: The Knight #1 (DC Comics) – Chip Zdarsky doing Batman, nuff said.
Bolero #1 (Image Comics) – Read our early review praising it. Everything is said there as to why it’s on the list.
Cloaked #2 (Dark Horse) – A vigilante hero was here and then gone. This is the story of the detective hired to figure out who he was.
My Date With Monsters #3 (AfterShock) – A pretty interesting series about a world where dreams can come over into the real world and the people tasked with trying to stop it, which means getting someone to fall in love.
Search for Hu #5 (AfterShock) – We really want to find out how this one ends and it the person we think is behind it all really is.
Shadowman #5 (Valiant) – The Deadside War begins here! A solid jumping on point for the series.
X Lives of Wolverine #1 (Marvel) – “Destiny of X” is coming and the next era of the X-Men begins here.
Your Turn to Die: Majority Death Game Vol. 2 (Yen Press) – This Saw-like series has been interesting so far and has us scratching our heads as to who’s behind it all.
SHADOWMAN #5
Written by CULLEN BUNN
Art by JON DAVIS-HUNT
Colors by JORDIE BELLAIRE
Letters by CLAYTON COWLES
Cover A by JON DAVIS-HUNT
Cover B by JONATHAN MARKS BARRAVECCHIA
Pre-order Cover by ADAM POLLINA
On sale JANUARY 19th | 32 pages, full color | $3.99 US | T+
DEADSIDE WAR begins here as terror takes over the Valiant Universe!
The critically acclaimed series returns as master of horror Cullen Bunn unleashes a twisted tale for Shadowman and Deadside…
Featuring haunting artwork by rising star Pedro Andreo!
There’s a lot of comics that come out every week and we’re kicking off a new regular feature where we highlight some of the interesting comics and debuts coming each week!
We want to hear what you want with this so let us know your thoughts in the comments.
This week’s highlights:
