ShadowMan!

[400yrs]

Another Shadowman article is up at MTV Geek. Including some sweet Zircher character designs.

http://geek-news.mtv.com/2012/07/26/shadowman-valiant/

Ughhh. These designs are AWESOME. I just don't like them for Shadowman. If they wanted to manga-ize a character, it should've been Ninjak. Everything I've seen so far for Shadowman is perfect....... for Ninjak.

I'm sure I'll like this, but it looks like a huge departure from the original..... moreso than any of the other books thus far.

[MarrowMan]

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.

I said this about 10 posts ago and was all but ignored.

[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.

I said this about 10 posts ago and was all but ignored.

Welcome to my club.

I don't really read all the posts. I mentioned it as soon as I saw the orignal image, but no one seemed to comment then either. I guess we are alone in thinking this, but I'd love to see this being the team book from the universe. It would make perfect sense and you wouldn't have to mish-mash all the different characters together.

I mean hell, if the book is being changed this drastically from the original Valiant, you may as well go all out and change it.

[MarrowMan]

I don't hate the idea of a Daddy Boniface before Jack, but I'd prefer if it was something Similar to the VH1 timeline, like with Max St. James etc. But please, only 1 shadowman at a time!

[400yrs]

I don't hate the idea of a Daddy Boniface before Jack, but I'd prefer if it was something Similar to the VH1 timeline, like with Max St. James etc. But please, only 1 shadowman at a time!

Don't worry, I'm sure that's what we'll get. And it's probably not going to be as awesome as it could be if it was "Shadowmen," but not everyone can have as awesome ideas as I have.

[MarrowMan]

Well, as the pages suggest to me, Perhaps Daddy Boniface ShadowMan and Darque fought and killed each other (Daddy Boniface dies) but Darque of course comes back, that's what he does.

[Newton]

I have faith in Valiant, but I have reservations about a ninja/Batman Shadowman.

One of the things I really loved about Jack Boniface was that he was a fly by the seat of his pants guy and out of his league at times. This design has him wearing a utility belt and wielding collapsible weapons

I love the Master D. look though

[manga4life]

Everything I've seen for Shadowman has just got me more and more excited for this book to hit stands, I seriously can't wait to see what he's all about. I love his design, the weapons he's going to wield, the general idea of the character, and even the name is badass, this book (if done right) could become my favorite Valiant title in time, not that I have a true favorite yet since everything I've read from them has been absolutely stunning.

[MarrowMan]

I love the current books, X-O, Bloodshot and Harbinger (and soon to be A&A)

But ShadowMan will always be my #1

[greg]

Another Shadowman article is up at MTV Geek. Including some sweet Zircher character designs.

http://geek-news.mtv.com/2012/07/26/shadowman-valiant/

The baton should be a red/pink color so that we can call it "Baton Rouge".

[MarrowMan]

I'm not so keen on the weapon.

VH1 Shadowman didn't need no weapons, he had *SQUEE* & vinegar and two bloody fists.

[BugsySig]

I have faith in Valiant, but I have reservations about a ninja/Batman Shadowman.

One of the things I really loved about Jack Boniface was that he was a fly by the seat of his pants guy and out of his league at times. This design has him wearing a utility belt and wielding collapsible weapons

I love the Master D. look though

I think the look they were going for was a look reminiscent of the original Bob Hall ShadowMan and a modern urban vigilante. Like the guys who put on "costumes" or "uniforms" and go around patroling their cities or crime ridden areas in real life. In the end, isnt that who ShadowMan was? He was driven by some extra-natural urge to go out and fight evil at night, not so different from those who do it now and get called crazy.

Also, this idea of a traditional African weapon makes me think they will be tying the character in over time from Africa to the Americas. Just as the African slaves brought their religion and it evolved into American Voodoo, they bring the ShadowMan--the vessel for Papa Legba (or another Loa) on Earth.

[Heath]

Ughhh. These designs are AWESOME. I just don't like them for Shadowman. If they wanted to manga-ize a character, it should've been Ninjak. Everything I've seen so far for Shadowman is perfect....... for Ninjak.

I'm sure I'll like this, but it looks like a huge departure from the original..... moreso than any of the other books thus far.

I don't hate the idea of a Daddy Boniface before Jack, but I'd prefer if it was something Similar to the VH1 timeline, like with Max St. James etc. But please, only 1 shadowman at a time!

I have faith in Valiant, but I have reservations about a ninja/Batman Shadowman.

One of the things I really loved about Jack Boniface was that he was a fly by the seat of his pants guy and out of his league at times. This design has him wearing a utility belt and wielding collapsible weapons

I'm not so keen on the weapon.

VH1 Shadowman didn't need no weapons, he had *SQUEE* & vinegar and two bloody fists.

The more I process everything, the more I agree with those quoted comments. I have a lot of faith in Dino and VEI, and I like some of what has been revealed, but I'm not crazy about most of it for those same reasons those have said.

I think the look they were going for was a look reminiscent of the original Bob Hall ShadowMan and a modern urban vigilante.

Actually, I think they are going for the pre-Bob Hall Shadowman look. The Jim Shooter/Steve Englehart/David Lampham blue jumpsuit look. With a utility belt. And a Bat-Scythe.

[BugsySig]

I think the look they were going for was a look reminiscent of the original Bob Hall ShadowMan and a modern urban vigilante.

Actually, I think they are going for the pre-Bob Hall Shadowman look. The Jim Shooter/Steve Englehart/David Lampham blue jumpsuit look. With a utility belt. And a Bat-Scythe.

I stand corrected, it should say pre-Bob Hall. I actually think it is quite similar thematically/stylistically.

And what's with the hate for the belt? Batman and Captain America both rock similar, if not more unrealistic, belts. It makes more sense than wearing cargo pants, a back pack or a man-purse (sorry Aram) if you are going to be running around at night fighting baddies.

[Patch]

Hey Valianteers,
I'm Patch Zircher the co-writer and artist for Shadowman. Hi! I'm really excited about our upcoming stories and think you're going to dig them. Though I had read some Shadowman issues years ago, I've recently been tearing through many more. They're rich with ideas and great characters. Justin, Warren, and I are inspired by them but we won't be simply copying them. I do think you'll feel that there are a lot of similarities between the classic character and today's Shadowman.
I also want to share with you the inspiration for a new Shadowman weapon, the Sengese Blade. Here are pics (photos copyrighted by T.Hamilton) of actual, traditional Sengese weapons, used in dances and rituals in West Africa:

[greg]

Welcome to the board!

Thanks for the details and pics... the guys here are (usually) very excited to hear from creators.

That said, I'm sure you'll get at least one reply (or private message) that has you scratching your head in disbelief.

The ability to provide great (and not-so-great) ideas with absolutely no possibility of making them happen is the Harbinger power of many guys here.



What other secrets of the Valiant universe would you like to share with us? (We promise not to tell Dinesh and Warren.)

[Crow331]

Hey welcome Patrick! How did you get the nickname Patch?! I'm Dan, the guy on twitter who was already trying to hit you up for some Shadowman art ... ha! We are glad you are here and we're all very excited with what we've seen so far. It's also really cool when artists and writers sneak on this board to see what the fan reaction is and maybe even get some ideas directly from the fans about what's working and what's not. There are a few crazies on this board ... tread lightly .... LOL!


Greg how about a new custom for our friend Patch .... "VALIANT ... I am HERE!"

[greg]

Greg how about a new custom for our friend Patch .... "VALIANT ... I am HERE!"

I was thinking about something like, "I work at Valiant and you don't"

[Crow331]

"I work at Valiant .... Na-na Na-na Boo-Boo"

[dbngaa]

"I work at Valiant .... Na-na Na-na Boo-Boo"

Yes, he needs a membership card stat! I guess he could just slap down a copy of Shadowman #1 anytime someone asked for ID though.

Also, welcome to the boards, Patch! Can't wait for Shadowman, and thanks for sharing the weapon info.

[MarrowMan]

Holy crap! welcome to the board indeed Patch! thanks for the quick explanation, I really look forward to the New ShadowMan!

[BugsySig]

Welcome, Patch! I think your presence here on the boards alone will alleviate some fan concerns about the new take on Jack and ShadowMan.

Thanks for sharing the weapon info. As a Caribbean Studies teacher I can see you are drawing the connections between the origins of Vodun in West Africa and the Western version which has developed in the Americas and which ShadowMan is a part of in NOLA. That should make for some intriguing possibilities of seeing past ShadowMen.

I have been a big fan of your work for some time and genuinely enjoy your designs (I especially loved your Mystery Men designs at Marvel). Can you let us in on some of your process for the redesign?

Always great to see creators slumming it with us trolls. Keep up the good work.

-Bugsy

[Patch]

Thanks for the welcome.
I'm only going to be dropping in from time to time because, frankly, it takes a HEAP of hours to make the book.
Also, I don't want to change the conversational tone of the board. Praise, pan, rave, rant, make guesses, shoot 'em down; carry the fandom torch-- it's the same stuff I'd do if I wasn't making the books.

On the process of the redesign-- everything's there for a reason (between myself and other artists, we created a dozen designs). If you'll look at the angles of the mask, they reflect the angles in the chest emblem-- and the emblem is there because it's an icon of the character and will continue to be over time.
Those angles are repeated in the triangular pouch buckles. The pouches aren't superfluous. Think of them as modern Gris-gris.

Anyway, I'll say too much if I keep going.
I love that you're excited about Shadowman and here's to a long, long run!

[grendeljd]

Thanks for the welcome.
I'm only going to be dropping in from time to time because, frankly, it takes a HEAP of hours to make the book.
Also, I don't want to change the conversational tone of the board. Praise, pan, rave, rant, make guesses, shoot 'em down; carry the fandom torch-- it's the same stuff I'd do if I wasn't making the books.

On the process of the redesign-- everything's there for a reason (between myself and other artists, we created a dozen designs). If you'll look at the angles of the mask, they reflect the angles in the chest emblem-- and the emblem is there because it's an icon of the character and will continue to be over time.
Those angles are repeated in the triangular pouch buckles. The pouches aren't superfluous. Think of them as modern Gris-gris.

Anyway, I'll say too much if I keep going.
I love that you're excited about Shadowman and here's to a long, long run!

Cheers to that!! Welcome aboard!!!

[MarrowMan]

Thanks for the welcome.
I'm only going to be dropping in from time to time because, frankly, it takes a HEAP of hours to make the book.
Also, I don't want to change the conversational tone of the board. Praise, pan, rave, rant, make guesses, shoot 'em down; carry the fandom torch-- it's the same stuff I'd do if I wasn't making the books.

On the process of the redesign-- everything's there for a reason (between myself and other artists, we created a dozen designs). If you'll look at the angles of the mask, they reflect the angles in the chest emblem-- and the emblem is there because it's an icon of the character and will continue to be over time.
Those angles are repeated in the triangular pouch buckles. The pouches aren't superfluous. Think of them as modern Gris-gris.

Anyway, I'll say too much if I keep going.
I love that you're excited about Shadowman and here's to a long, long run!