Why are you under whelmed by Shadowman?

[lorddunlow]

[The Dirt Gang]

Now that I'm caught up with Shadowman (thanks in large part to KXXX ), I've changed my tune. I'm really enjoying Shadowman. I think the current arc is good and sort of erased a lot of my fears and then I was really blown away by #0. I look forward to seeing what Justin does going at it alone. Shadowman was one of my favorite Valiant characters but from the start, I wasn't sold on the VEI version, however, I'm beginning to change my mind. I love the way VEI is blending elements of VH1 and Acclaim.

[Shadowman99]

... I love the way VEI is blending elements of VH1 and Acclaim.

I think they're doing a good job of it too, it was one of the first things I noticed about the comic

[Burrito Boy]

OK people, and that’s a wrap… I want my agent, a makeup artist, a blind one-armed masseuse, three hits of black tar heroin, a Siberian tiger (also known as the Amur tiger) and a Thai hooker in my dressing room in 10 minutes. Bali, bali make that $#!t happen. What are ‘you’ looking at ? Jeff, I want you to fire that New Jack City pimp looking MFer and get him off my set. If you don’t make it happen, yer @$$ will be in Denmark, making midget porn by the end of the week. Speaking of midgets, change that a Thai hooker to a midget Thai hooker with a Mr. Pibb and some Red Vines.

Every time I think I'm done with this forum someone mentions midgets and I come running back.

[leonmallett]

... I love the way VEI is blending elements of VH1 and Acclaim.

I think they're doing a good job of it too, it was one of the first things I noticed about the comic

I think they have managed to keep the best while avoiding some of the worst (such as avoiding the evident visual aspects of Acclaim Shadowman with mask in embedded in chest which just was very 'meh' to me).

[Knightt]

Uhhh, did someone say midgets?

[Chiclo]

Uhhh, did someone say midgets?

Just once and the listener reaction was not positive.

[Baramos]

I'm most upset by Shadowman #0. If they can make something that good, why not do that with every issue?

I think it's just a question of the amount of time it takes. They had four artists working on that issue, probably overtime. Now this month's Shadowman's art is pretty bad in comparison to what we are used to because they spent so much time on issue zero.

I think it was worth it and I'm willing to "take a hit" on Shadowman #7 but it's obvious there are reasons why the art can't be that amazing every month.

[lorddunlow]

I'm most upset by Shadowman #0. If they can make something that good, why not do that with every issue?

I think it's just a question of the amount of time it takes. They had four artists working on that issue, probably overtime. Now this month's Shadowman's art is pretty bad in comparison to what we are used to because they spent so much time on issue zero.

I think it was worth it and I'm willing to "take a hit" on Shadowman #7 but it's obvious there are reasons why the art can't be that amazing every month.

Well, for me my statement above was more of a story-related criticism. I am definitely not an "art guy". Good art adds so much to a great comic, but I would read a story like what was told in Shadowman #0 if it was told via stick figures - seriously. The art was phenomenal, which just increased my enjoyment that much more, but the majority of Shadowman has just been so below the other VEI books as far as story goes. I still like it, and I enjoy it every month. I just wish the story could be as meaty as #0 was. I have hopes that it will get there eventually. Some set up is necessary. Perhaps the story is being held back for editorial reasons (i.e. Unity?).

[Knightt]

Uhhh, did someone say midgets?

Just once and the listener reaction was not positive.

Oh yeah, I think I remember something about that...

[Shadowman99]

... I love the way VEI is blending elements of VH1 and Acclaim.

I think they're doing a good job of it too, it was one of the first things I noticed about the comic

I think they have managed to keep the best while avoiding some of the worst (such as avoiding the evident visual aspects of Acclaim Shadowman with mask in embedded in chest which just was very 'meh' to me).

Each to their own - I thought the mask embedded in the ribs was really cool

[leonmallett]

... I love the way VEI is blending elements of VH1 and Acclaim.

I think they're doing a good job of it too, it was one of the first things I noticed about the comic

I think they have managed to keep the best while avoiding some of the worst (such as avoiding the evident visual aspects of Acclaim Shadowman with mask in embedded in chest which just was very 'meh' to me).

Each to their own - I thought the mask embedded in the ribs was really cool

Yep, each to their own!

[String]

I'm going to try out every Valiant title and while I labor to not have any major preconceptions that might influence my enjoyment of them, I think Shadowman might be low on my list since magic-type books have never been one of my favorite comic genres to begin with.

I have found some notable exceptions over the years, a good story is a good story but I'm still a bit confused over Shadowman himself. Is this more a dark horror book in the same vein as Hellblazer or more a dark version of Doctor Strange? How would you classify it?

[Shadowman99]

I'm going to try out every Valiant title and while I labor to not have any major preconceptions that might influence my enjoyment of them, I think Shadowman might be low on my list since magic-type books have never been one of my favorite comic genres to begin with.

I have found some notable exceptions over the years, a good story is a good story but I'm still a bit confused over Shadowman himself. Is this more a dark horror book in the same vein as Hellblazer or more a dark version of Doctor Strange? How would you classify it?

Hm, well, this has kind of been the main 'problem' with the comic so far Nobody in this forum can really seem to put their finger on quite what kind of comic Shadowman has been so far.

The book starts with Patrick Zircher drawing it, and it looks very much like a kind of dark atmosphered superhero comic, as some of the dialogue is a little... 'quirky', shall we say? Then the #o issue was released which bore no resembelence to any of the preceding comics, as it was most definitely more like a horror/noir comic in style. And then, going back to the 'regular' style, at about issues 6/7 it's looking as though the comic is losing the superhero type feel and shifting more towards a grittier, darker style. And to top it all off: Looking at a few preview pages that were released for issue 10 (I think), the horror/noir style reappears, so it's possible that that may be the future look for the comic, although that's just speculation at the moment as nobody outside the Valiant offices truly knows for sure.

Still, I've enjoyed the series to date, so I'd recommend giving it an open-minded read before finding your own opinion on the book. All I can say is that I know for certain that the Shadowman comic is currently undergoing a period of drastic change in order to improve the series for the readers. On that note, I'd have to recommend people follow the book (if they have the initial interest of course!) until at least the end of the fourth arc to see how the series looks like it'll be as an ongoing read, as I predict it'll have settled on and grown into its ongoing style safely by that point.

[FormerReader]

Good post Shadowman99!

[tchalla8]

I'm a fan of the character of Shadowman, but anyone who can deny the tonal inconsistencies we've seen so far hasn't been looking real close. I believe this is VEIs first real challenge to course correct what they've started, and while I think they can do it, it's very hard to do on the fly since they've already set things up a certain way and established certain rules. It's like making a sharp left turn with the Titanic. I'm thinking issue #10 must be when they finish making that turn.

If I had my wish on the kind of book I wish Shadowman could be, if anyone has read the amazing late '90s run of DC's The Spectre by John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake, that is the sort of feel I wanted to get out of this book. A sort of gothic horror feel with elements of deep thought and moral conundrums that challenge both our protagonist and the readers.

[leonmallett]

I'm a fan of the character of Shadowman, but anyone who can deny the tonal inconsistencies we've seen so far hasn't been looking real close...

Or simply has different tastes.

[tchalla8]

I'm a fan of the character of Shadowman, but anyone who can deny the tonal inconsistencies we've seen so far hasn't been looking real close...

Or simply has different tastes.

fair enough

[String]

I'm going to try out every Valiant title and while I labor to not have any major preconceptions that might influence my enjoyment of them, I think Shadowman might be low on my list since magic-type books have never been one of my favorite comic genres to begin with.

I have found some notable exceptions over the years, a good story is a good story but I'm still a bit confused over Shadowman himself. Is this more a dark horror book in the same vein as Hellblazer or more a dark version of Doctor Strange? How would you classify it?

Hm, well, this has kind of been the main 'problem' with the comic so far Nobody in this forum can really seem to put their finger on quite what kind of comic Shadowman has been so far.

The book starts with Patrick Zircher drawing it, and it looks very much like a kind of dark atmosphered superhero comic, as some of the dialogue is a little... 'quirky', shall we say? Then the #o issue was released which bore no resembelence to any of the preceding comics, as it was most definitely more like a horror/noir comic in style. And then, going back to the 'regular' style, at about issues 6/7 it's looking as though the comic is losing the superhero type feel and shifting more towards a grittier, darker style. And to top it all off: Looking at a few preview pages that were released for issue 10 (I think), the horror/noir style reappears, so it's possible that that may be the future look for the comic, although that's just speculation at the moment as nobody outside the Valiant offices truly knows for sure.

Still, I've enjoyed the series to date, so I'd recommend giving it an open-minded read before finding your own opinion on the book. All I can say is that I know for certain that the Shadowman comic is currently undergoing a period of drastic change in order to improve the series for the readers. On that note, I'd have to recommend people follow the book (if they have the initial interest of course!) until at least the end of the fourth arc to see how the series looks like it'll be as an ongoing read, as I predict it'll have settled on and grown into its ongoing style safely by that point.

Well, either style is acceptable to me but I can't see at the moment how a title can support both or alternate between both styles. Sounds as if they are aiming more towards horror/noir though but I will still check out the title for myself.

Although some of the art previews I've seen reminds me of Jaime Delano's early work on Hellblazer..........

[leonmallett]

I'm a fan of the character of Shadowman, but anyone who can deny the tonal inconsistencies we've seen so far hasn't been looking real close...

Or simply has different tastes.

fair enough

[Shadowman99]

I'm going to try out every Valiant title and while I labor to not have any major preconceptions that might influence my enjoyment of them, I think Shadowman might be low on my list since magic-type books have never been one of my favorite comic genres to begin with.

I have found some notable exceptions over the years, a good story is a good story but I'm still a bit confused over Shadowman himself. Is this more a dark horror book in the same vein as Hellblazer or more a dark version of Doctor Strange? How would you classify it?

Hm, well, this has kind of been the main 'problem' with the comic so far Nobody in this forum can really seem to put their finger on quite what kind of comic Shadowman has been so far.

The book starts with Patrick Zircher drawing it, and it looks very much like a kind of dark atmosphered superhero comic, as some of the dialogue is a little... 'quirky', shall we say? Then the #o issue was released which bore no resembelence to any of the preceding comics, as it was most definitely more like a horror/noir comic in style. And then, going back to the 'regular' style, at about issues 6/7 it's looking as though the comic is losing the superhero type feel and shifting more towards a grittier, darker style. And to top it all off: Looking at a few preview pages that were released for issue 10 (I think), the horror/noir style reappears, so it's possible that that may be the future look for the comic, although that's just speculation at the moment as nobody outside the Valiant offices truly knows for sure.

Still, I've enjoyed the series to date, so I'd recommend giving it an open-minded read before finding your own opinion on the book. All I can say is that I know for certain that the Shadowman comic is currently undergoing a period of drastic change in order to improve the series for the readers. On that note, I'd have to recommend people follow the book (if they have the initial interest of course!) until at least the end of the fourth arc to see how the series looks like it'll be as an ongoing read, as I predict it'll have settled on and grown into its ongoing style safely by that point.

Well, either style is acceptable to me but I can't see at the moment how a title can support both or alternate between both styles. Sounds as if they are aiming more towards horror/noir though but I will still check out the title for myself.

Although some of the art previews I've seen reminds me of Jaime Delano's early work on Hellblazer..........

Insofar as the difference in art style is concerned, there have been two distinct styles: Issues #1-7 (haven't read #8 yet) have had a fairly 'regular' sort of modern-day style, and the #0 issue alone had the darker, noir-type style. The reason that this one particular issue had a darker style is that it was purely a 'flashback' issue, set back around 1810.

As for the difference in the tone of the comic... I think that Valiant probably intended to start out with the comic being a sort of magic/superhero comic, and have since found that for whatever reason, this hasn't proved popular with the readership, and so are currently drastically changing it to a darker style comic of one sort or another. Obviously we'll only know for sure when we're perhaps 4/5 issues down the line from now. But like I said, it's a fact that Valiant are currently trying to change the comic for the better, so we can only wait and see what happens.

[CallMeBloodshot]

Just thought of this and never seen it explained anywhere (let alone in the comic) but what do these people (like Devereaux) get by helping Master Darque? As of right now it makes absolutely no sense.

[Carson]

Just thought of this and never seen it explained anywhere (let alone in the comic) but what do these people (like Devereaux) get by helping Master Darque? As of right now it makes absolutely no sense.

I have to agree here. If the world ends when Darque is freed, then why would those that have everything on earth want earth to be decimated?

[CallMeBloodshot]

Just thought of this and never seen it explained anywhere (let alone in the comic) but what do these people (like Devereaux) get by helping Master Darque? As of right now it makes absolutely no sense.

I have to agree here. If the world ends when Darque is freed, then why would those that have everything on earth want earth to be decimated?

Yeah seems like a pretty big oversight. I hate in movies and comics and stuff where villains are evil just for the sake of it. I'm sure it'll be explained later as to their motivation, but it seems like many things have yet to be explained. I often surmise these things will be handled "later". But how often can I use that excuse for a comic that has had 8 issues to shore up all these things. We should be seeing the benefits of issues worth of character development by now. Instead it feels like this book has just gotten started.

If I sound like a hater I'm not, seriously. I just want this comic to be all that I know it could be.

[Heath]

I'm underwhelmed by Shadowman because I feel like I've read (or seen) all of this before. It's unoriginal and written to a formula just to sell the movie rights. They took away everything that was great about Jack and Darque and replaced it all with stereotypes. Jack is not exciting. Darque is not creepy. I only keep buying it because it's Valiant. But if I drop a title, this will be the first to go.