Valiant Comics does a very interesting thing with their titles where they’ll have a limited, short form story line about one of their existing characters and once that story line is done they’ll put the character on ice for a bit and move on to the next one.
It’s an interesting way of doing things and I see it as a solid business move that keeps lesser known characters fresh and interesting while not putting a whole lot of strain on the editors and marketing departments.
Right now, it’s Shadowman’s turn. Let’s see what’s in store for Valiant’s master of voodoo.
Written by Cullen BunnCover by: Jon Davis-Hunt
Illustrated by Jon Davis-Hunt
Colored by Jordie Bellaire
Lettered by Clayton CowlesFrom the bestselling master of horror Cullen Bunn (Venom) and bone-chilling artist Jon Davis-Hunt (Clean Room) comes a shocking supernatural odyssey.
Jack Boniface is SHADOWMAN, a powerful protector who keeps humanity safe from the demons that claw at the fabric of our reality.
The forces of darkness are awakening and they are hungry for life. Will Shadowman be able to save us all, or will the darkness devour the world as we know it?
Jack Boniface is a man caught between two worlds. On one side is the ordinary human world where he is an ordinary New Orleans musician just trying to live his life and get by. On the other side, he is the hero known as Shadowman, possessed by a being called a loa that allows him to access a brutal and nasty realm outside our reality known as the Deadside. The Deadside is a nasty place, filled with all sorts of monsters and vicious creatures that would love to invade our mundane reality and rip us all to shreds. Fortunately for us, Jack is here to protect us from all the horrors that lay beyond.
Unfortunately, sometimes the most terrifying creatures aren’t in the Deadside and walk among us looking suspiciously human. In this case, we’re introduced to Elsbeth Martinique, a rich New Orleans widow with a taste for the bloody and diabolical.
“Shadowman” #1 is written by Cullen Bunn, a name that is familiar to anyone with even a passing interest in modern horror comics. “Shadowman” #1 is a story with some pretty deep and intense Southern Gothic horror elements and themes, which play right into Bunn’s wheelhouse. In fact, it’s the kind of story that is so synonymous with someone like Cullen Bunn that it feels like Bunn was almost coasting when he wrote it. That’s not to say the story is bad, it’s just something we all know that Cullen Bunn can do really well.
Where Bunn shines in “Shadowman” #1 is in the characters and details of the story. The titular hero is portrayed very well as an ordinary man who wields incredible power, but is caught between powerful forces in both dimensions. On the Deadside there is the infamous Baron Samedi, the voodoo god of the dead who is unnervingly friendly, relaxed, and is probably hiding some sinister motive. On the human side is Elsbeth, a modern update on New Orleans’ favorite daughter Madame LeLaurie and somehow even more twisted and depraved. The highlight of the issue is how Bunn makes the gross and terrifying monsters of the Deadside sympathetic and more human than the actual humans, who seem to be the real villains of the story.
The artwork on “Shadowman” #1 is gorgeous. Artist John Davis-Hunt has a wonderful eye for detail and it absolutely shines in a world filled with gribbly, nasty monsters that aren’t afraid to get violent. Of particular note is how Davis-Hunt designs Shadowman himself. There’s a very real sense that Shadowman feels like a creature made out of solid smoke, and Davis-Hunt has this cool effect where we see constant wisps of shadow and haze coming off his body. It’s a great bit of character design and adds a lot of mystery and personality to the character.
However, the real stars of “Shadowman” #1 are the monsters and the gore. Davis-Hunt’s use of tiny lines and bits of shading allow for incredibly intricate and almost delicate inking that allows him to show off some very interesting and original monster designs and costumes. Also, without giving too much away, there’s a scene where a person has their skin ripped off and Davis-Hunt shows that he isn’t afraid to get incredibly bloody and nasty. The creatures of the Deadside look like a lot of fun and hopefully we’ll get to see more of them.
Continued belowSpecial mention goes to colorist Jordie Bellaire, who elevates the fantastic pencils and inks with a great combination of muted colors punctuated with some incredibly crisp and rich blacks for Shadowman and a really interesting glow effect around some of the magic that allows Bellaire to add layers of depth and really help the hero to stand out. It’s a great compliment to some fantastic artwork and really helps make the entire comic a treat to look at.
“Shadowman” #1 is a bloody, violent, and gorgeous return to the magical side of the Valiant superhero universe and while the script and story tread on familiar ground, the possibilities for Valiant’s supernatural universe are fascinating and beautiful.
Final Verdict: 7.7- While it’s not Bunn’s best work, it’s still a very well made book with gorgeous artwork and great horror imagery.
