Re-Reading: Shadowman #8
Moderators: Daniel Jackson, greg
Re-Reading: Shadowman #8
I thought we could do a book a day (that way people can read one every day or catch up on weekends), talk about it on its own, in the context of whats next, in regards to what expectations it creates and vote on how good it is. I don't have to be the one that posts everyday. If I miss a day or if someone wants to take over please do
For voting think of your single favourite comic book (not just VALIANT) as the benchmark - thats a 10 - and grade according to that.
The voting (I'm hoping) will help new readers make more educated descisions. If this turkey files maybe we can even do a list of the books according to average voting grade.
Make sure to mention what you like'd about the book, what you didn't, what you wish they would have done, your favourite panels, lines of dialogue, little bits of trivia etc.
Shadowman #8
For voting think of your single favourite comic book (not just VALIANT) as the benchmark - thats a 10 - and grade according to that.
The voting (I'm hoping) will help new readers make more educated descisions. If this turkey files maybe we can even do a list of the books according to average voting grade.
Make sure to mention what you like'd about the book, what you didn't, what you wish they would have done, your favourite panels, lines of dialogue, little bits of trivia etc.
Shadowman #8
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Todd Luck
- Doomed to forever roam the black halls
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To be truthful, this issue didn’t click with me the very first time I read it back when it was released. I didn’t have issue 7 and bought this issue to see Master Darque. The violence and bleakness in the story seemed too much and I didn’t know what to make of Darque.
After getting the rest of the plotline, I appreciate this issue a lot more. The violence is disturbing, but it’s also unforgettable. The blood runner in the park will forever be engrained in my memory just like the ending resurrection ceremony. Very ominous, very cool stuff. Great art.
The only flaw here, and I think this what threw me the first time I read it, is it’s too mysterious about Darque. It was too hard to see how we get from this issue to 9/9/99. We don’t know why he kills, what his goal is, and why his followers are so devoted to him. Those are the things that make Darque who he is. Here’s he’s just a voodoo boogieman in the dark. Scary and cool but not that really epic, awesome villain we were waiting for. We have to wait for issue 10 for that but it’ll be worth it.
Anyway, the issue is a good one and it’s only going to get better. An 8
Continuity Notes: In the interesting goof category, notice that one panel at the end Darque appears to radiating blue energy (a la Solar). When asked Yvel Guichet said, according to his memory, this was supposed to be the first attempt to do a visual representation of necromantic energy. They must have changed their mind about since we never see Darque radiate energy that looks like that again.
Also interesting to note is that Darque’s in shadow the whole issue and yet we can see everything about what he looks like (his tattoos, hair, baldness, his albino skin, ect). We can see everything EXCEPT his facial features. They saved that for BWS to do in Eternal Warrior. I wonder if the finished design wasn’t ready yet or if they wanted to reserve “the first appearance of Master Darque’s facial features” for the EW story?
After getting the rest of the plotline, I appreciate this issue a lot more. The violence is disturbing, but it’s also unforgettable. The blood runner in the park will forever be engrained in my memory just like the ending resurrection ceremony. Very ominous, very cool stuff. Great art.
The only flaw here, and I think this what threw me the first time I read it, is it’s too mysterious about Darque. It was too hard to see how we get from this issue to 9/9/99. We don’t know why he kills, what his goal is, and why his followers are so devoted to him. Those are the things that make Darque who he is. Here’s he’s just a voodoo boogieman in the dark. Scary and cool but not that really epic, awesome villain we were waiting for. We have to wait for issue 10 for that but it’ll be worth it.
Anyway, the issue is a good one and it’s only going to get better. An 8
Continuity Notes: In the interesting goof category, notice that one panel at the end Darque appears to radiating blue energy (a la Solar). When asked Yvel Guichet said, according to his memory, this was supposed to be the first attempt to do a visual representation of necromantic energy. They must have changed their mind about since we never see Darque radiate energy that looks like that again.
Also interesting to note is that Darque’s in shadow the whole issue and yet we can see everything about what he looks like (his tattoos, hair, baldness, his albino skin, ect). We can see everything EXCEPT his facial features. They saved that for BWS to do in Eternal Warrior. I wonder if the finished design wasn’t ready yet or if they wanted to reserve “the first appearance of Master Darque’s facial features” for the EW story?
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shadowmite
- Get those scissors away from my coupons
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depluto
- [custom level vored]
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- Valiant fan since: Yes
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A 9 and almost a 10. Better on the second read, though.
Darque's creepiness is outstanding. He's very believable as an evil bastich, and Shadowman finally has a bigtime nemesis. I remember this was one of the first VH1 books that the great unwashed were starting to speculate on.
Er, I've got a bunch.
Darque's creepiness is outstanding. He's very believable as an evil bastich, and Shadowman finally has a bigtime nemesis. I remember this was one of the first VH1 books that the great unwashed were starting to speculate on.
Er, I've got a bunch.
The VCB synopsis:
In the middle of a park, a hotdog vendor has suddenly become the latest in a series of “BloodRunners”. He makes it all the way to a church before he bleeds himself out on the altar. Hearing the news, the mysterious man behind the Blood-Runners muses that when 27 blood-runners have died, then the spell they are a part of will reach its fruition.
Later at Devon’s place, Shadowman pays a visit to the young voodoo scholar. He wants to see Devon’s pictures of the cemetery grave-robbery. In the shadows of the pictures, Jack sees a watching figure he didn’t notice that night. Abruptly, Jack leaves Devon’s place. He plays his sax gig, then tells Marty that he’s changed his mind and would like to hook up with Marty’s drug connection. Marty is encouraged and also promises not to reveal Jack’s secret identity as Shadowman. But Jack only wants to take down Marty’s connection.
A few nights later, Marty takes Jack to meet Mr Clemenceau in a warehouse. But instead of a drug deal, it is a trap. With Clernenceau are twenty armed goons. And, standing in the shadow; the mysterious figure behind it all (Master Darque) commands them to attack. A battle royal results and Shadowman escapes the warehouse. Darque commands Clemenceau to run Jack down with the limo. So, as he drives after Jack, Clemenceau begins transforming into a Blood-Runner. But he becomes careless and crashes into a gas tanker truck. Clemenceau dies in a fiery explosion.
Later, Shadowinan goes to warn Devon that the same people who came after him might come for the voodoo tour-guide. Devon notices that someone has cut a hank of hair from Shadowman’s pony-tail.
Elsewhere, Clemenceau’s mysterious boss is preparing ritual. With Clemenceau’s burned body, Shadowman’s lock of hair, and the sacrifice of a young girl’s blood, Clemenceau is revivified as a zombie.
/Magnus
In the middle of a park, a hotdog vendor has suddenly become the latest in a series of “BloodRunners”. He makes it all the way to a church before he bleeds himself out on the altar. Hearing the news, the mysterious man behind the Blood-Runners muses that when 27 blood-runners have died, then the spell they are a part of will reach its fruition.
Later at Devon’s place, Shadowman pays a visit to the young voodoo scholar. He wants to see Devon’s pictures of the cemetery grave-robbery. In the shadows of the pictures, Jack sees a watching figure he didn’t notice that night. Abruptly, Jack leaves Devon’s place. He plays his sax gig, then tells Marty that he’s changed his mind and would like to hook up with Marty’s drug connection. Marty is encouraged and also promises not to reveal Jack’s secret identity as Shadowman. But Jack only wants to take down Marty’s connection.
A few nights later, Marty takes Jack to meet Mr Clemenceau in a warehouse. But instead of a drug deal, it is a trap. With Clernenceau are twenty armed goons. And, standing in the shadow; the mysterious figure behind it all (Master Darque) commands them to attack. A battle royal results and Shadowman escapes the warehouse. Darque commands Clemenceau to run Jack down with the limo. So, as he drives after Jack, Clemenceau begins transforming into a Blood-Runner. But he becomes careless and crashes into a gas tanker truck. Clemenceau dies in a fiery explosion.
Later, Shadowinan goes to warn Devon that the same people who came after him might come for the voodoo tour-guide. Devon notices that someone has cut a hank of hair from Shadowman’s pony-tail.
Elsewhere, Clemenceau’s mysterious boss is preparing ritual. With Clemenceau’s burned body, Shadowman’s lock of hair, and the sacrifice of a young girl’s blood, Clemenceau is revivified as a zombie.
/Magnus