As Shadowman returns to New Orleans with a revelatory new understanding of the immense abilities within himself, he won’t have long to adjust…because a war for control of the ultimate magical artifact – the bones of Master Darque, his old arch-nemesis – is about to erupt out of the underground and into the harsh view of day!

On one side: The Brethren, a society of wealthy and powerful occultists obsessed with Darque’s resurrection and ushering in a millennia-long reign of darkness. On the other: Shadowman’s old allies from The Abettors…and Darque’s own sister, Sandria, who would like nothing more than to grind her brother’s bones to dust…

The overwhelming impression this comic left on me was… well. It was something special. The art, by Renato Guedes, was fantastic; blending a touch of the classical styles into a comic book script that compliments the mystical nature of the character. It’s undoutedly the highlight of this issue, and watching how Guedes moves the story along was worth my price of admission alone. Part of the reason for the delay in this review is that I needed to see the art in person, and so I waited until I had my print copy before confirming my opinion of the visual presentation.

Conversely, my love of the art didn’t quite translate to the story. Oh, it was good, but it didn’t have the same impact on me that the art did. And that’s not a complaint about Andy Diggle‘s script, but rather a testament to the quality of the imagery.

Unfortuntely, aside from trying to convey a senses of awe and wonder at the art, I really don’t have a lot to say about this comic. As I said, I’ve added it to my collection, not just for the art, but I did put my money where my mouth is. Shadowman #8 is a brilliant addition to the Valiant library – and is one of the best visual experiences I’ve had in comics in a long time.

Story: Andy Diggle Art: Renato Guedes Letterer: Simon Bowland
Story: 8.0 Art: 10 Overall: 9.4 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Who is Shadowman? It’s a question Jack Boniface has asked himself ever since he was called to protect our world from the demonic forces that lie beyond… Now, as he rides backseat in the body of a Paleolithic hunter, eons before his own birth, he will finally learn the shocking true identity of the loa spirit bound to his soul! And, as a shadow begins to spread across West Africa, Jack must defend his fellow tribesmen…or else be trapped in 40,000 B.C. forever!

This issue holds the distinction of being both the concluding part of a two issue arc, and also the fourth part of a longer story. That sounds more confusing than it is, honestly. Jack Boniface is in the middle of a multi-part arc, and while his consciousness is piggybacking with a Paleolithic hunter we see the origin of the shadow loa first bonding with a human being, which is told as a two part story (and is honestly a must read for any Valiant fan remotely curious about Shadowman). This two part story opens a vast array of possibilities for the character going forward, something that Jack seems to be aware of, and after the barrage of revelations about the shadow loa, Andy Diggle has opened the door of possibility. Dead and Gone  is poised to give Valiant fans a new era and direction for Shadowman, and I can’t wait to see where we’re taken from here.

Not all the revelations will be immediately apparent to a reader unfamiliar to the history and lore of Shadowman, but pay attention closely and you’ll notice some of the more nuanced tidbits that Diggle dangles just out of the periphery of your vision – in fact you should notice them about the same time Jack does.

But as good as the story is in this issue (and it really is), Renato Guedes is utterly fantastic in bringing the script to life. His art is haunting, and the body language and facial expressions of his figures bring forth an emotional response as you realize that the people you are reading about feel far more lifelike than most other comic characters.

Shadowman #7 is the kind of comic that you should show to new readers as an example of what can be achieved within the medium.

Story: Andy Diggle Art: Renato Guedes Letters: Simon Bowland
Story: 8.8 Art: 9.1 Overall: 8.9 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

His soul cast adrift in the astral void, “DEAD AND GONE” has led Jack Boniface across the centuries in search of the origin of the Shadowman’s curse – and now it’s taking him all the way back to the beginning of mankind! Standing beside his ancestors in the kill-or-be-killed world of primordial Africa, Jack is about to awaken something ancient, hungry, inhuman…and, as darkness descends, the long-hidden face of the Shadowman loa will be known!

Interestingly enough, as Andy Diggle takes the spirit of Jack Boniface back through time and his bloodline’s relationship with the Shadowman loa, he’s been revealing as much, if not more, about the loa itself than he has about Jack. That rings even more true with this issue as we go right back to the beginning – the Stone Age and before. Finally, we will see the origin not of the Boniface bloodline, but of the Shadowman loa.

Shadowman #6 is, by it’s very nature an easy comic for new readers to pick up; this is the ultimate of all origin series, and is probably the best place for those unfamiliar with the character to jump on board that we’ve seen thus far – and yes, I am including the first issue of this series in that blanket statement. Diggle, along with artist Renato Guedes and letterer Simon Bowland have come together to produce a stunning prehistoric story that (so far at least) stands alone from the rest of the series, and the Valiant universe in general. It is full of sweeping vistas, the odd reference to later events (that you don’t need to catch) and some evocative imagery and choreography as the characters flow across the page.

Shadowman is a very rich character, with some deep history running through his veins, and now we get to see how deep.

Story: Andy Diggle Art: Renato Guedes Letter: Simon Bowland
Story: 8.7 Art: 9.0 Overall: 8.9 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review