Shadowman returning in December

[Shadowman99]

...I'm still really looking forward to what comes up next for Shadowman. They made a respectable and wise decision to pull him out at his lowest point, and I really hope that they've been able to evaluate just what they want to do with him. The original VH1 Shadowman was one of my favorites in the entire Valiant Universe, and I want to see his potential fully realized.

Yeah, it was like a boxer's trainer throwing the towel in at the time, you're right.

Sadly I think it's probably fairly unlikely we'll see any kind of incarnation of VH1 Jack Boniface at this point in time, but like that character, I don't think the VEI JB (or his entire corner of the universe) was ever truly realised either, so hopefully they'll be able to take a better shot at that this time around.

Oh, as far as I'm concerned, Jack Boniface is completely and permenantly tarnished as a character. Unless they pull the mother of all redemption arcs any attempt to salvage him is going to fail.

Best thing they can do right now is to get rid of Boniface and have someone else take the mantle, such as someone from VH2 (don't know the names). Maybe if Valiant hits it out of the park with the movie universe and makes Boniface a household name they could pull a Spawn and try to give it back to him then, but right now Boniface needs to go.

I can see your point of view here, and that's fair enough. I suppose there's no way to tell where the story was originally going to go following from End Times - could have been that JB was getting close to MD and luring him into a false sense of security to stab him in the back later? My memory's hazy on what actaully happened now 'cos it's been a while, but I think I recall some kind of spell where Shadowman became MD's minion? So maybe not... But whether the original plotline remains in place, or whether it's been re-written may never be known: but either way, if a quality and entertaining story comes out of it, that's the main thing right? I think it's worth giving VEI a chance and seeing what they do with him next before totally writing 'current JB' off as a charcter, but that's just me

I'd love to see Mike LeRoi from VH2 in the VEI comics as a new Shadowman. Always loved that character, so badass But again, VEI don't seem too keen on directly re-treading pre-VEI ground, so again I'd guess that's unlikely too

Maybe MD grinds JB into the ground somehow through treatment as his minion, and Josiah hops in and reclaims the Shadowman mantle? I'd be up for that too.

Or a totally new Shadowman? Again, hit me with it

Hwen Mirage as Shadowman? Yep, go for it.

I'm just interested to see how the continuation of the series happens. But I'll reserve judgement on it until it's happened

Understand that I don't like saying that Boniface is unusable. I loved VH1!Boniface, and while the new one doesn't have the jazzy insanity of the old he still wasn't bad. I'm just trying to be impartial and stating what Valiant will probably have to do to maintain quality of the story and the product.

Admittedly I might be projecting some frustrations I've gone through as a part of other fandoms, but if there's anything I've learned over the past couple of years it's how vital the relationship of creator and fanbase is for how well a story is received. If the Valiant fanbase is actually willing to give Boniface another roll after all the stuff in End Times, then yeah, Valiant just might be able to bring him back to the fold. If, however, the fanbase is sick of Boniface and wants to see him jettisoned to the sun, then anything short of perfection is completely *SQUEE*, regardless of how well it's done.

Just to note, it's been a while since I've read End Times, but from what I remember part of Darque's deal to help was that Jack completely serves him afterwards, and Jack's so grief-stricken by revenge-killing his dad that he goes along with it. Don't know if he's popped up at all in Book of Death, but I'll be catching up on that soon.

And Hwen as Shadowman? Jeez, you guys and your theories.

Jack killed Josiah in End Times? Man, looks like I need to fit a re-read in soon, I didn't even *slightly* remember that! I guess that rules Josiah out then!

Haha, yeah, Hwen was a long and unlikely shot I know I was just thinking "If he returns to his corporeal form in the next Dr. Mirage miniseries and he's in that 'magic' corner of the universe anyway, maybe that'll give him something to do once he has a body again!" (aside from giving Shan a damn good rogering of course, that's probably the first thing he'll want to do once he has a body again if we're realistic!)

[grendeljd]

Hope this proves to be more than a rumour. Really missing a (good) Shadowman series in the line-up.

I'm down with bringing back Jack - I wonder if he'll become the crowbar wielding, suited luchador-looking version we've been catching glimpses of? That would be awesome.

[ShadowTuga]

Hope this proves to be more than a rumour. Really missing a (good) Shadowman series in the line-up.

I'm down with bringing back Jack - I wonder if he'll become the crowbar wielding, suited luchador-looking version we've been catching glimpses of? That would be awesome.

Everything +1

[dornwolf]

Hope this proves to be more than a rumour. Really missing a (good) Shadowman series in the line-up.

I'm down with bringing back Jack - I wonder if he'll become the crowbar wielding, suited luchador-looking version we've been catching glimpses of? That would be awesome.

I was thinking about that recently. What if tonally they are aiming for Shooter era Shadowman to Layton Era.

Going from basically Shooters clean cut clean suited Shadowman to the crazy wild haired biker look.

[Ras the future fan]

Whens the next Bloodshot arc starting? I remember seeing a Shadowman tease for that book coming soon.

[Shadowman99]

Whens the next Bloodshot arc starting? I remember seeing a Shadowman tease for that book coming soon.

Yeah, I seem to remember that the arc is set in a future timeline, or features glimpses of a future timeline or something, where some kind of cult has formed around the whole Shadowman theme. Really none the wiser than you on that one though I'm afraid. Will be interesting to see what that's all about when the time comes.

[Bl00dsh0t]

Whens the next Bloodshot arc starting? I remember seeing a Shadowman tease for that book coming soon.

Yeah, I seem to remember that the arc is set in a future timeline, or features glimpses of a future timeline or something, where some kind of cult has formed around the whole Shadowman theme. Really none the wiser than you on that one though I'm afraid. Will be interesting to see what that's all about when the time comes.

I think the preview pages for that tease was from Bloodshoot Reborn #10, so perhaps in the next after the current one which runs #6 through #9.