ShadowMan!

[tchalla8]

This page seems to reveal alot.

Holy crap, that's cool...

[SJS4]

I am both excited and very worried by what I am seeing. Shadowman is starting to look like a costumed super(anti)hero that I would expect from Marvel or DC. There isn't anything necessarily "wrong" with that, but it doesn't really fit the Valiant universe from what we have seen so far (and the Valiant universe most of us expect, which is much more "down to earth" then Marvel or DC).

I could be wrong, but the skin-tight costume with the insignia on the chest, along with the belt pouches and specialized weapon, do not give me much hope. I don't want to seem negative (believe me I will be definitely be adding the title to my pull list) but I want to be honest. I hope I am wrong...

[grendeljd]

I am both excited and very worried by what I am seeing. Shadowman is starting to look like a costumed super(anti)hero that I would expect from Marvel or DC. There isn't anything necessarily "wrong" with that, but it doesn't really fit the Valiant universe from what we have seen so far (and the Valiant universe most of us expect, which is much more "down to earth" then Marvel or DC).

I could be wrong, but the skin-tight costume with the insignia on the chest, along with the belt pouches and specialized weapon, do not give me much hope. I don't want to seem negative (believe me I will be definitely be adding the title to my pull list) but I want to be honest. I hope I am wrong...

Its always tough to see something different than what you are hoping for, especially when a lot of guys like us have a big attachment to the original version. I liked the one interview with Justin Jordan where he speaks a lot about being worried he might *f* things up for long time fans. Thats a good sign.

I remain hopeful & open minded that these guys know what they're doing and have some really cool ideas for the character. I personally am trying to let go of expectations for what remains intact from the original - so far they've had the right mix of nods to the old & solid new ideas in the other books...

Man, waiting until NOVEMBER is going to be painful all over again!

[Crow331]

Well that is definitely Master Darque! And they kept the tattoos That is a pretty revealing page though. I'm kind of surprised they released that one and now I wish I hadn't seen it!

[Daniel Jackson]

Odd how the shirt in the battle page has a large centered logo on it, but in the other pics it's smaller and on the side.

[Crow331]

Odd how the shirt in the battle page has a large centered logo on it, but in the other pics it's smaller and on the side.

It's speculated by someone here, and it makes sense, that the one with the centered logo is Shadowman's Pops (flashback?) .... the one with the logo on the side is our guy Jack Boniface, son to pops and heir to the darque thrown

[BugsySig]

Odd how the shirt in the battle page has a large centered logo on it, but in the other pics it's smaller and on the side.

That's because that would appear to be Jack's father and this is the opening battle sequence Zircher references. Jack apparently will take on the mantle of Shadowman and likely come up with his own version of the costume. So far the only look we have had of Jack as Shadowman is the cover image and Zircher's character design.

[Daniel Jackson]

OK, makes more sense that way. I thought maybe they were still testing the waters with different logos or something....

[BugsySig]

OK, makes more sense that way. I thought maybe they were still testing the waters with different logos or something....

It is definitely a little confusing at first, but once you put together some of the interviews and the solicit, it starts to paint a clearer picture.

I do wonder, however, what Shadowman as a legacy character will mean to Rai? Rai (and in a reverse manner, Bloodshot) was always Valiant's legacy hero. Legacy was such an important element to Rai, I hope this won't diminish their eventual take on that amazing character.

[MarrowMan]

I'm thinking that the "ShadowMan" with the long coat and centered Logo is NOT Jack Boniface, but Max St. James. In my Opinion, He's Fighting Master Darque, but in the Past (Much Like ShadowMan #0)

[grendeljd]

OK, makes more sense that way. I thought maybe they were still testing the waters with different logos or something....

It is definitely a little confusing at first, but once you put together some of the interviews and the solicit, it starts to paint a clearer picture.

I do wonder, however, what Shadowman as a legacy character will mean to Rai? Rai (and in a reverse manner, Bloodshot) was always Valiant's legacy hero. Legacy was such an important element to Rai, I hope this won't diminish their eventual take on that amazing character.

What I'm kind of liking about how this is shaping up, is that there is a legacy to the past of the Valiant universe at play. It's cool that all the 'super heroes' and whatnot aren't all just springing up as of the second all the new books are launching - there are going to be a few characters such as Jack Boniface's predecessor (dad?) or Harada who have been around in the world for years... Maybe there will be previous 'generations' of Bloodshot prototypes too?

[BugsySig]

OK, makes more sense that way. I thought maybe they were still testing the waters with different logos or something....

It is definitely a little confusing at first, but once you put together some of the interviews and the solicit, it starts to paint a clearer picture.

I do wonder, however, what Shadowman as a legacy character will mean to Rai? Rai (and in a reverse manner, Bloodshot) was always Valiant's legacy hero. Legacy was such an important element to Rai, I hope this won't diminish their eventual take on that amazing character.

What I'm kind of liking about how this is shaping up, is that there is a legacy to the past of the Valiant universe at play. It's cool that all the 'super heroes' and whatnot aren't all just springing up as of the second all the new books are launching - there are going to be a few characters such as Jack Boniface's predecessor (dad?) or Harada who have been around in the world for years... Maybe there will be previous 'generations' of Bloodshot prototypes too?

I definitely like that aspect as there are also the Eternal Brothers and the possibility of past or future Rais to all interact with. And it's not like there werent previous Shadowmen in the original universe...cause there was at least one I remember from colonial times, right?

[grendeljd]

That should be the book's tagline: "This ain't your daddy's Shadowman!"

Or Jack's daddy's Shadowman either, apparently...

[BugsySig]

That should be the book's tagline: "This ain't your daddy's Shadowman!"

Or Jack's daddy's Shadowman either, apparently...

Or perhaps, "This ain't your daddy, Shadowman"

[etos45]

I had a thought (that totally won't work if that's Jack in the belly), but what if the fight we see happening is a previous incarnation of Shadowman (say, Mike LeRoi) and this is the always talked about 1999 battle to bring an end to the Darque Power? So basically, you get to kill Shadowman like what was supposed to happen, that cool story finally gets to be told, and the 13 years later Jack becomes Shadowman when the Darque power returns. The baby could turn out to be Mike's son who grows up resenting him for what he did and, even more, resents Jack for "stealing" the legacy that should have been his. Enter a new villain with some Darque power in him.

I doubt that's where it's going, but it sure would be cool if it was.

[grendeljd]

That should be the book's tagline: "This ain't your daddy's Shadowman!"

Or Jack's daddy's Shadowman either, apparently...

Or perhaps, "This ain't your daddy, Shadowman"

As long as it doesn't de-volve into 'who's your daddy, Shadowman!'

[BugsySig]

That should be the book's tagline: "This ain't your daddy's Shadowman!"

Or Jack's daddy's Shadowman either, apparently...

Or perhaps, "This ain't your daddy, Shadowman"

As long as it doesn't de-volve into 'who's your daddy, Shadowman!'

Maury: "And the results are in...Mr. Boniface , you are NOT the father! Master Darque...You ARE the father!"

[Xtianhardy]

If you guys get a chance to pick up Luther Strode in TPB or singles I recommend it. Great story and art. Jordan and Zircher should be a great team so i'll have this and the Legend of Luther Strode to look forward to later this year.

Seconded. Luther Strode was a real punch to the gut of a comic. Fist of the North Star meets Kick-*SQUEE*. Word is that there will be sequel coming out something later this year.

[Crow331]

That should be the book's tagline: "This ain't your daddy's Shadowman!"

Or Jack's daddy's Shadowman either, apparently...

Or perhaps, "This ain't your daddy, Shadowman"

As long as it doesn't de-volve into 'who's your daddy, Shadowman!'

Maury: "And the results are in...Mr. Boniface , you are NOT the father! Master Darque...You ARE the father!"

[Crow331]

The more I look at this page, the more I think that the necklace that Daddy Shadowman is wearing protects him in some way. So then he takes it off and puts it around his wife's neck, thereby protecting her and their unborn son, Jack. Now she is crying because he is leaving to go off to fight (Darque?), without the necklace, and she knows that she will probably never see him again.

[grendeljd]

Not for me, I like new twists. What if it's something that only (and always) appears on his face after sundown, or midnight, or when the Shadowman power kicks in? What if he can't control it, like Hulk's appearance changes when he gets angry? New possibilities...
.

Looks like jmatt had a spot on idea about the mask, considering that transformation panel as seen above.

Cool idea about the necklace, Crow331... Kinda looks like he can change at will though...

[jmatt]

I'm doing everything I can not to see too much in the way of spoilers, but from what I gather it sounds like Jack Boniface meets Defiant's Dark Dominion.

[Blood of Heroes]

From the ifanboy website:

"...featuring the all-new villain Mr. Twist! Aptly named, aptly terrifying."

Mr. Twist?

I suppose Mr. Watusi could be worse....

Mr. Mashed Potato?

[400yrs]

It kind of looks like in this page that he "transforms" into Shadowman, Why does she cry? Is that a vine baby in her belly?

I don't care for these character designs. They look like they came from the VIP ashcans. The art is fantastic. I just don't like the design.

[400yrs]

No! Jack Boniface is the only Shadowman!!

No he's not! What about Maxim St. James?


What I liked about the original series is that there was a few Shadowmen. With the patch being off-centered rather than right in the middle of the outfit, that almost lends itself to being a uniform worn by others. I wouldn't mind seeing a bunch of Shadowmen running around.