This is one of those series that seems to be flying under the radar of most comics readers that I’ve been talking too, lately. Admittedly the first issue of the series was only worth picking up because it was a dollar; if it was a full priced comic then it would have been easy to pass on. But as the series has progressed, Cullen Bunn has settled into a rhythm writing the pulp vigilante, and the quality has steadily increased.

When I first started this review, I was thinking that this issue didn’t quite measure up to the previous one, but I couldn’t think why, so I read the comic again and promptly decided that my first conclusion about The Shadow Vol. 2 #4 wasn’t what I was thinking when I finished the comic the second time.

Especially when I took a look at the work of artist Giovanni Timpano who has some wonderful page construction here with the individual panels blending into the page’s artwork in some truly creative ways; and when you add Mario Lesko‘s colouring work into the mix to give some really solid art. I really enjoyed the way the sepia tones were used for the flashback sequences, which juxtaposed very well with the vibrant colours in the present day which, in the comic, is still at least 70 years ago so we get to see some primitive(ish) technology in action.

The story thus far has been focused on the Shadow attempting to preserve the dying secret of the legendary Harry Houdini. A secret that he has, apparently, passed on from beyond the grave. A secret that nobody except the Shadow knows. The past few issues have dealt with various factions of those hunting the secret, giving each issue a unique sense while still flowing very well into the over all story.

I’ve been a fan of many of the older pulp era heroes from the early 30’s for some time, and I’ve loved Dynamite‘s comics over the past few years featuring those characters, and The Shadow Vol. 2 has been a favourite of mine on the weeks it is released.  Yes, the series didn’t start out as strongly as I’d have liked, but a lot of that was down to issue #1 being the second issue in the series (issue #0 being released several months before), and needing to fill readers in on previous events. Since the initial stumble the series has gone from strength to strength, and if you’re not reading the series now, I’d keep an eye out for the trade.

Story: Cullen Bunn Art: Giovanni Timpano
Story: 8.5 Art: 9 Overall: 8.75 Recommendation: Buy

Dynamite provided Graphic Policy a FREE copy for review.