Announced today over at USA Today, the replacements for Valiant’s “Shadowman” have been announced — and I think you’re going to like the way this will look. Starting with issue #13, the series will be handled by Peter Milligan and Roberto De La Torre with #13 serving as both a continuation of what came before as well as a brand new place for new readers curious about the book to come check it out. As one of Valiant’s most critically acclaimed new books both from previous Valiant fans and non-Valiant readers, this is a pretty amazing deal for the publisher.
Obviously Milligan coming to the title is a big deal, but personal I’m more excited that Roberto De La Torre is handling the ongoing art of the book. I’m a big fan of De La Torre’s work as an artist thanks to his work on “Daredevil.” If there is anyone at all who can perfectly create the neo-noir moodiness that a dark title like “Shadowman” needs, it’s certainly him; not to disparage the previous great work done on the series, but man, what a fantastic get.
Take a look at some design work and a short preview of what to expect:
If you can look at that and not want to check out the entire issue, you may need to get glasses because wow — De La Torre puts the shadow into “Shadowman.”
For the full press release from Valiant, please see below.
Valiant Press Release
This December, comics icon Peter Milligan (Hellblazer, X-Statix) and visionary artist Roberto De La Torre (Daredevil, Age of Apocalypse) are honing Shadowman to a razor-sharp point aimed straight at the jugular of the Valiant Universe!
As revealed today in USA Today, Milligan and De La Torre will begin their run as Valiant’s newest ongoing creative team in Shadowman #13 – the FIRST ISSUE of all-new story arc exposing the malignant roots of Shadowman’s superhuman abilities…roots that began in Jack Boniface’s own tortured past…and now extend through the bloodied back-alleys of 21st century New Orleans.
When a troubled young man with a history of violence and a penchant for blackouts meets an overwhelming source of power with a mystical scythe, the results are doomed to be destructive. A voodoo loa has possessed Jack Boniface – or so he believes. But after Jack awakens in an alleyway covered in blood, he embarks on a journey across lands of shadows and death to discover if he can expel the dark force that’s seized control of his life…and which may be responsible for a violent rampage through the city he swore to protect.
“My first arc will be an attempt to dig up some dirt, dislodge a few skeletons, and find out what the Hell is really going on with Jack. I’m not throwing everything out with the bath water, I’m just making the bath water a bit more grimy and, hopefully, unpleasant,” Milligan told USA Today. “Something is wrong with Jack and to find out what it is he’ll need to face some terrible truths about himself and make some big changes in his life.”
Featuring a standard cover by De La Torre, alongside Pullbox and incentive variants by Miguel Sepulveda (Red Lanterns), Ben Templesmith (Ten Grand), and Shane Davis (Superman: Earth One), Shadowman #13 is also the first title in the MUST READ VALIANT initiative – a new series of self-contained stories and easy jumping-on points across the Valiant publishing line from some of the brightest talents in comics today.
“As a publishing company, our number one priority is always accessibility. With that in mind, we’ve built MUST READ VALIANT to showcase a handful of new, exciting entry points across all of Valiant’s monthly series,” said Valiant Publisher Fred Pierce. “Valiant is among the most talked-about publishers in comics today, and we are constantly being approached by new readers looking for clean introductions to our characters and our universe. Start reading in UNITY #1 this November – then explore the rest of what we have to offer when MUST READ VALIANT kicks off with Shadowman #13.”
You’ve heard the buzz. You’ve seen the reviews. Now, find out why VALIANT has been heralded as the MUST READ publisher in comics today when Peter Milligan and Roberto De La Torre drag Jack Boniface to his blackest depths yet in Shadowman #13 – in stores December 4th!
Continued belowAnd get a sneak peek at things to come in Shadowman #13X – a special standalone prelude to Shadowman’s all-new story arc from Peter Milligan and newcomer Diego Bernard (Witchblade) – bagged exclusively with Bleeding Cool Magazine #7 and available in comic stores everywhere on October 23rd!
For more information on Shadowman and the rest of the Valiant Universe, visit Valiant on Facebook, on Twitter and at ValiantUniverse.com.
SHADOWMAN #13
Written by PETER MILLIGAN
Art & Cover by ROBERTO DE LA TORRE
Pullbox Exclusive Variant by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA
Variant Cover by BEN TEMPLESMITH
Variant Cover by SHANE DAVIS
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE 12/4/13 (FOC – 11/11/13)
