New Shadowman creative team

[dmezynski]

I'm not a big fan of Milligan's writing, but I'll give it a chance. The art looks fantastic.

[Heath]

Being such a huge fan of Bob Hall's version of Shadowman, I haven't been excited about the new VEI Shadowman since it was announced. Hopeful, yes. But not excited. I'm still hopeful, but now I'm even less excited. It feels too much like the Acclaim Shadowman to me and I absolutely detested that to the point that I refuse to acknowledge its existence outside of this sentence and the paragraph below.

Maybe I'll read 13x and see what I think since I already ordered that but it's a long shot because I admit I can be really petty and hold grudges and this is a big one for me. He'd still be my least favorite X-Writer if Mike Carey hadn't done what he did at the end of his run.

I completely understand the grudge thing. I still hold a grudge against Garth Ennis for what he did not only to Shadowman in the Acclaim version, but to Ghost Rider. I refuse to buy or read anything Garth Ennis writes now.

[Magnus9178]

This is incredible, I still feel bad that Jordan's run fell so short but this is exactly what we need to have the Shadowman we've all been looking for!!! Milligan's entire run on Hellblazer was exceptionally done so I have extremely high hope for this book now

[SJS4]

Wow, this is great news IMHO. So far Shadowman has been near the bottom of my pull list, but the new direction along with putting RDLT on as the full time artist has me pretty excited. Very much looking forward to issue 13!

[kjjohanson]

I am pretty sure it was meant to be symbol for what Shadowman is, a being of dark power that fights for the light, the man in the doorway between our world and the netherworld.

Great analysis Ed! I've never thought of this before. It seems so obvious now.

So what does it mean that they reversed the symbol in the new design?

[chriskay99]

Better (?) look at the tweaks to the costume. Looks like the mask is more curved and smooth like a skull, version angular and pointed. Posted on Valiant's Facebook page:

[Heath]

So what does it mean that they reversed the symbol in the new design?

I noticed that too and it really bugged me. I don't think the symbol works very well that way, whether intentional or if it carries a meaning or not. But it's right in the image that chriskay99 posted. Hopefully that's the way it stays.

The more these images soak in, the less excited (and even hopeful) I am. If I had no history with the character before VEI (or even if I came into it with Acclaim), I'd probably be excited. But it just seems that everything I loved so much about the VH1 Bob Hall version of the character is everything that has been tossed out.

[hunter_peterson]

I really like that design there. Totally WENT FOR IT in regards to the reaper look. I'm increasingly excited!

...maybe because the recent Batwoman news is making DC books less appealing to me... as is the low quality of villain's month...

Anyway! De La Torre can only do about six issues a year, yes? So he'll rotate on arcs. JH Williams III can only do about six issues a year...

(I know he's still going to be busy with Sandman, but SHHHHHH!)

[lorddunlow]

I hate to say it but I do not like this move. After his X-Men run I do not like and will not support a Milligan comic and that might be crazy of me but it's how I feel about it so sadly Shadowman will be the first Valiant book I have to drop and I was really enjoying it so far. Oh well... I can't even joke that it'll help my wallet because I get my stuff through DCBS so I can't get the bundle if they keep offering it so I don't know how that'll balance out now.

Or, since you get a bundle, give it a chance for one issue and form an opinion based on actual comic

QFT

I don't know Milligan at all, but Robert De La Torre? Woooooooooo hooooooooo!

I usually don't care about the art as much, but in my mind RDLT is THE choice as the artist on Shadowman.

Very excited!

[tchalla8]

I hate to say it but I do not like this move. After his X-Men run I do not like and will not support a Milligan comic and that might be crazy of me but it's how I feel about it so sadly Shadowman will be the first Valiant book I have to drop and I was really enjoying it so far. Oh well... I can't even joke that it'll help my wallet because I get my stuff through DCBS so I can't get the bundle if they keep offering it so I don't know how that'll balance out now.

Or, since you get a bundle, give it a chance for one issue and form an opinion based on actual comic

QFT

I don't know Milligan at all, but Robert De La Torre? Woooooooooo hooooooooo!

I usually don't care about the art as much, but in my mind RDLT is THE choice as the artist on Shadowman.

Very excited!

Ultimately I'm just thrilled to have one artist....RDLT is just the icing on the cake...

[Robert of the tower]

I really like that design there. Totally WENT FOR IT in regards to the reaper look. I'm increasingly excited!

...maybe because the recent Batwoman news is making DC books less appealing to me... as is the low quality of villain's month...

Anyway! De La Torre can only do about six issues a year, yes? So he'll rotate on arcs. JH Williams III can only do about six issues a year...

(I know he's still going to be busy with Sandman, but SHHHHHH!)

Hey! On IM I did 22 pages in less of a month for a while....I got gray hair..was killer!

No,fellas,many times the problem is by scripts delays.

About the new costume,was just a quick concept,not much time to develop it.
My idea was make him more organic and less military. A magic costume created for him,not gloves or belt that can buy on an armory,you know.
I like the actual costume as it is,but a new look can be great for the new arc.
In any case,I´m all ears to develop a costume you like to see in the comic.

We are making something cool,I hope you like it
We see you on #13

[tchalla8]

I really like that design there. Totally WENT FOR IT in regards to the reaper look. I'm increasingly excited!

...maybe because the recent Batwoman news is making DC books less appealing to me... as is the low quality of villain's month...

Anyway! De La Torre can only do about six issues a year, yes? So he'll rotate on arcs. JH Williams III can only do about six issues a year...

(I know he's still going to be busy with Sandman, but SHHHHHH!)

Hey! On IM I did 22 pages in less of a month for a while....I got gray hair..was killer!

No,fellas,many times the problem is by scripts delays.

About the new costume,was just a quick concept,not much time to develop it.
My idea was make him more organic and less military. A magic costume created for him,not gloves or belt that can buy on an armory,you know.
I like the actual costume as it is,but a new look can be great for the new arc.
In any case,I´m all ears to develop a costume you like to see in the comic.

We are making something cool,I hope you like it
We see you on #13

Welcome back , RDLT! I had always assumed doing the art took longer than writing the script, so it's good to know that's not always the case.

You have a lot of big fans out here that are really excited to see what you can do. And thanks for the insight behind the scenes.

[Big Red]

About the new costume,was just a quick concept,not much time to develop it.
My idea was make him more organic and less military. A magic costume created for him,not gloves or belt that can buy on an armory,you know.
I like the actual costume as it is,but a new look can be great for the new arc.
In any case,I´m all ears to develop a costume you like to see in the comic.

We are making something cool,I hope you like it
We see you on #13

Sounds great!

And makes sense!

[BugsySig]

I really like that design there. Totally WENT FOR IT in regards to the reaper look. I'm increasingly excited!

...maybe because the recent Batwoman news is making DC books less appealing to me... as is the low quality of villain's month...

Anyway! De La Torre can only do about six issues a year, yes? So he'll rotate on arcs. JH Williams III can only do about six issues a year...

(I know he's still going to be busy with Sandman, but SHHHHHH!)

Hey! On IM I did 22 pages in less of a month for a while....I got gray hair..was killer!

No,fellas,many times the problem is by scripts delays.

About the new costume,was just a quick concept,not much time to develop it.
My idea was make him more organic and less military. A magic costume created for him,not gloves or belt that can buy on an armory,you know.
I like the actual costume as it is,but a new look can be great for the new arc.
In any case,I´m all ears to develop a costume you like to see in the comic.

We are making something cool,I hope you like it
We see you on #13

I like what youve done with the redesign. I would like to see the Shadowman symbol be a little more prominent. Personally, I always liked the Josiah Shadowman design. Something between that and the new look you've designed would be perfect IMO.

Love your art, btw, and I think your style is perfect for the book. I hope you'll be sticking around for a long time

[Dallow Spicer1]

Great choice on the art. I'd like to see the removal of the Shadowman symbol as it serves no purpose.

[bygranddesign]

About the new costume,was just a quick concept,not much time to develop it.
My idea was make him more organic and less military. A magic costume created for him,not gloves or belt that can buy on an armory,you know.

completely agree with your take on it. Looks like something that organically came from the loa spirit. I like the old look too but I think this change is nice ... less military looking like you said with more of a gritty, voodoo magic vibe to it. And I think the emblem is the right size.

I'm really digging it ..and excited for issue 13

[hunter_peterson]

I really like that design there. Totally WENT FOR IT in regards to the reaper look. I'm increasingly excited!

...maybe because the recent Batwoman news is making DC books less appealing to me... as is the low quality of villain's month...

Anyway! De La Torre can only do about six issues a year, yes? So he'll rotate on arcs. JH Williams III can only do about six issues a year...

(I know he's still going to be busy with Sandman, but SHHHHHH!)

Hey! On IM I did 22 pages in less of a month for a while....I got gray hair..was killer!

No,fellas,many times the problem is by scripts delays.

About the new costume,was just a quick concept,not much time to develop it.
My idea was make him more organic and less military. A magic costume created for him,not gloves or belt that can buy on an armory,you know.
I like the actual costume as it is,but a new look can be great for the new arc.
In any case,I´m all ears to develop a costume you like to see in the comic.

We are making something cool,I hope you like it
We see you on #13

Mr De La Torre... your art is eyegasmic. Stay awesome! (That art speed info is awesome, too...)

[400yrs]

I like the design even though the mask makes him look like a gorilla.

I've never cared for milligans writing, but I'm interested to check this out.

[Stringer]

I am very excited about this. And the new design looks so sick!

I can't wait!

Better (?) look at the tweaks to the costume. Looks like the mask is more curved and smooth like a skull, version angular and pointed. Posted on Valiant's Facebook page:

So cool.

[ShadowTuga]

This sounds like a major improvement. The second arc, while an improvement story-wise, was a cluster *SQUEE* artistically and was obviously wrapped in a hurry leaving a lot wanting. Milligan has the pedigree for a supernatural/occult series, which is what this book should have been from the beginning. RDLT is the perfect artist for the book.

100% agree with you on the 2nd arc, the art changes were very distracting to the point it hurted the story, or the way I should have enjoyed it, if this makes any sense.

I've been a RDLT fanboy since his first panel for VEI. I love everything, Everything, he's been drawing but, boy, his Darque is a scary mf.

[CallMeBloodshot]

OMG They really must have listened to the fans about RDLT. Valiant, I applaud you!

Roberto De La Torre? Check
Writer who "gets" it? Double Check
New, badazz, more appropriate character design? Checkity Check

Milligan really seems to be addressing the problems that have plagued this series this past year. Him talking about Jack's past, his father, his own demons, him trying to reject the loa, him and the loa subsequently becoming at odds with each other, the true sense of danger of all this, the horror and danger of the deadside, the New Orleans setting, the voodoo magic as a basis for his fictional magic - all this is exactly what I've been looking for and then some. Also, much of these things he's talking about are facets of the Jack character. He's talking about different dimensions of Jack that he can explore. And right there I can already tell Jack will finally become the multidimensional character I've always wanted him to be. We need to know his past more and how it defines him now, we need to see his relationship with the loa and how he acts as Jack and as Shadowman (understanding that dichotomy), and we absolutely need to understand what drives him. That was my main gripe with the former team. JJ did not establish Jack as a compelling character because he wasn't fleshed out. We didn't understand him, and he wasn't very complex.

Shadowman #13 just became my most anticipated title! God, and that cover