I’m curious: I’ve enjoyed Shadowman more than you have so far. What did you think of this issue that introduces the new, much more female Dr. Mirage?
Brandon: This was a very enjoyable issue. Dr. Mirage is most certainly a lady and not a shabby looking one either. I felt this was my favorite issue of the series this far. It had great character moments as well as some awesome action.
What about you my good sir?
David: Oh, I really dug it too. I thought it was a really, really solid issue. Before jumping into the meat of the book, I have to say I didn’t have any previous experience with Dr. Mirage. That’s the big news of this issue, and I have to say man: I really dig her. That opening scene with her was one hell of a hook into the character, and I love the way this part of the Valiant Universe is coming together with Dr. Mirage and the Baron being introduced. What’d you think of her introduction?
Brandon: I also have no experience with her just like the rest of the Valiant universe so I can’t really speak on the difference either but I thought it was strong. You got a nice view of her powers and a little of her backstory to wet your appetite for more. It was very well done.
I also really liked whoever the hell that was that busted through the window toward the beginning who drank up the murdered peeps beer and uttered, “Indamndeed”. That guy got my attention on the spot. Do you know who that guy was?
David: It’s funny. When I read “indamndeed” I thought, “oh man, Brandon is going to dig this guy.” He was either the real world manifestation of the Baron guy from the end or his right hand man. Either way, I dig the hell out of him. One thing I give both Jordan and Zircher a lot of credit for is making this book very cinematic, and his introduction was a straight up, amazing action scene.
Meanwhile, they continue to bolster the leads AND Master Darque. Really, I have to say it is pretty incredible how they are keeping so many threads moving forward in this book. A lot of books struggle with bigger casts and keeping the main story moving forward while introducing new characters, but Jordan and Zircher have deftly balanced that out. I am a fan.
Brandon: Whoever that unmasked man is I hope he is a recurring character. He was awesome as hell. Indamndeed.
Jordan and Zircher really did a great job with this issue. The action was on the money and cinematic is a great description of how this book felt when reading it. I’m really hoping the title keeps rolling with the momentum it has built up to this point. After this issue I am for sure on board with the next issue. If this is how the 4th book in my Valiant Power Rankings comes in swinging it is possible it won’t be sitting in 4th place all that longer. I’m primed for the rest of the books for this month! Bring em on!
David: This finished third for me last month, and it has a good shot at finishing there or higher with an issue like this.
One more thing I wanted to add before moving on about the writing: I really love the world Jordan and Zircher are creating. They are excellent at using the deep south and its ideals and history in conjunction with the Shadowman myth, and I think it adds a really awesome vibe to it. Totally rules.
Now here’s the million dollar question: did having three artists on this issue distract you at all? Patrick Zircher normally does it himself, but in this issue Garbett and De La Toree joined in. Did it add something, take something away, or did it not really make a difference to you?
Continued belowBrandon: Truthfully, I didn’t even notice. So I guess the answer is that it really made no difference to me at all. I am now interested to go back and see who did what pages because some of the pages I did like more than others. The first page I believe with the voodoo stuff was very nice looking and the scene where Indamndeed busted through the window was also a high point for the art in this issue in my mind. I can’t really think of anything that stood out as being bad compared to anything else though. What about you? Did it bother you at all?
David: Given that it was Zircher, Garbett and De La Torre, three very, very talented artists, I never expected it to be bad. More jarring, given that De La Toree especially has a hugely different style than the other two. That said, they did a good job switching through them. If I had to guess, Zircher opened the issue, Garbett told the middle stuff with Jack and the team, and De La Torre (100%) was the one who told Master Darque’s story. Zircher and Garbett were the only ones I couldn’t precisely place.
Either way, it wasn’t jarring because they managed to separate their art in a way that fit the story. That’s about as good as you can ask for there, and I have to wonder what role Stefano Gaudiano played in ensuring that? Maybe not much at all, but he’s a great artist in his own right, and he was in the mix.
So, anything else to add before the grade, or are you down with going straight to it?
Brandon: That issue was badical.
David: Indamndeed. So what would you give it on a good ol’ 10 point scale?
Brandon: I’d have to give it a 7.9. Big step up from last issue’s enjoy ability in my opinion Excited for the next issue. What about you senor?
David: I’ll give it an 8. Jordan and Zircher have quickly developed their little slice of the Valiant world, and in doing so they’ve created what amounts to one of the more unique superhero books out there. It’s damn good, and they keep setting up the pieces for something big when Master Darque returns.
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