Shadowman: End Times #2 Discussion

[leonmallett]

The whole series has been a big head ache. I think that going with a new Shadowman at this point is probably a good idea and I also hope it's a chick. The series has had some huge swings in quality and story telling, most is so inconsistent I don't even want to bother figuring it out anymore. The 'End Times" title sounds like a promise haha, like we all hope to see this story end and pick up somewhere else. I am kind of tired of learning new revelations that are forgotten or abandoned an issue later, of this flash fire romance that makes little sense and was literally like "you scumbag murderer....I love you". Shadowman's mission seems to change issue to issue, between panels. It seems like so much is being condensed that you can't get a true sense of where the characters are, and when you finally start settling on who they are they change things up again.

I would love for them to stick with just supernatural tales involving Shadowman, each issue a new unique story, kind of like an episode of Tales from the Crypt wherre Shadowman is the cryptkeeper tying them all together. The ongoing story is just not working very well. I hate that they have to just go to that Mambo chick to fix everything (meanwhile we still don't know what the real deal is with her). So lazy.

I wouldn't mind them going with Josiah for a while as Shadowman. I'm just kind of over the current nonsense.

I wonder if the book will be rested for a while after End Times?

Maybe Jack (or indeed another Shadowman/woman) needs to have some cameos in other titles to better integrate with the VALIANT universe? A stint in Unity maybe after Bloodshot?

As for Josiah; well they DO seem to be setting him up for something, but as much as I think Milligan has been unfortunately a bit heavy-handed, Josiah is no better developed (although Josiah may offer a cleaner slate, with some continuity issues aside....).

Josiah may not be better developed, but that clean slate could count for a lot. Give him some BIG goal/purpose to work towards and hang the story on that. He obviously had some good reason that was important enough for him to sacrifice the love of his wife and son to disappear (I hope at least). Fold that purpose into him becoming Shadowman again, or put Josiah's big purpose at odds with the Shadowman loa's desires and let the stories spool out from that. See, how hard was that?!

I jest. I'm sure that writing this kind of thing is immensly more difficult than my un-thought out blurb. I just wish they could get something solid going and let it play out for awhile.

If Josiah did replace Jack soon (or soon-ish), wouldn't that really render 13X and issues 13-16 pretty much redundant?

[BugsySig]

The whole series has been a big head ache. I think that going with a new Shadowman at this point is probably a good idea and I also hope it's a chick. The series has had some huge swings in quality and story telling, most is so inconsistent I don't even want to bother figuring it out anymore. The 'End Times" title sounds like a promise haha, like we all hope to see this story end and pick up somewhere else. I am kind of tired of learning new revelations that are forgotten or abandoned an issue later, of this flash fire romance that makes little sense and was literally like "you scumbag murderer....I love you". Shadowman's mission seems to change issue to issue, between panels. It seems like so much is being condensed that you can't get a true sense of where the characters are, and when you finally start settling on who they are they change things up again.

I would love for them to stick with just supernatural tales involving Shadowman, each issue a new unique story, kind of like an episode of Tales from the Crypt wherre Shadowman is the cryptkeeper tying them all together. The ongoing story is just not working very well. I hate that they have to just go to that Mambo chick to fix everything (meanwhile we still don't know what the real deal is with her). So lazy.

I wouldn't mind them going with Josiah for a while as Shadowman. I'm just kind of over the current nonsense.

I wonder if the book will be rested for a while after End Times?

Maybe Jack (or indeed another Shadowman/woman) needs to have some cameos in other titles to better integrate with the VALIANT universe? A stint in Unity maybe after Bloodshot?

As for Josiah; well they DO seem to be setting him up for something, but as much as I think Milligan has been unfortunately a bit heavy-handed, Josiah is no better developed (although Josiah may offer a cleaner slate, with some continuity issues aside....).

Josiah may not be better developed, but that clean slate could count for a lot. Give him some BIG goal/purpose to work towards and hang the story on that. He obviously had some good reason that was important enough for him to sacrifice the love of his wife and son to disappear (I hope at least). Fold that purpose into him becoming Shadowman again, or put Josiah's big purpose at odds with the Shadowman loa's desires and let the stories spool out from that. See, how hard was that?!

I jest. I'm sure that writing this kind of thing is immensly more difficult than my un-thought out blurb. I just wish they could get something solid going and let it play out for awhile.

I don't like that idea either. I think the problem with this version of Shadowman for the start is giving him too large of a purpose. I think Shadowman works best as the VEI "street level" hero. Dealing with magic, yes, but not on the scale we've seen.

If they were to reboot, I'd like to see access to Deadside closed off, trapping several threats in our world and forcing the Shadowman to reside in New Orleans. There could then be an over-arching plot about someone (Darque, Brethren, etc) attempting to reopen Deadside, but in the meantime Jack or whomever could go back to basics fighting crime, magical entities, escaped Loa's, etc while attempting to live a normal life.

[leonmallett]

If Josiah did replace Jack soon (or soon-ish), wouldn't that really render 13X and issues 13-16 pretty much redundant?

Pretty much; it sucks but I would be on board just to get some clarity around what is going on in this book. I've been following from the begining and really can hardly remember a lot of those issues, they just weren't good enough to commit to memory and it seems like a lot of that stuff is getting brushed aside or down played anyways. Not good for such a relatively new title.

Re-focus Shadowman's purpose, show what a GOOD Shadowman can do, like we keep hearing about how great Josiah was....show us. Maybe we need to miss Jack a little before bringing him back as Shadowman. Josiah's plan could be just as devious as Darque,s forcing Jack to enter the game again. Or even better, he confronts his dad, they take each other out, and Jack's current girlfriend becomes the new Shadowman.

It just occurred to me, what if Josiah becomes a loa? What if he successfully explores the "mysteries" and accomplishes a level of magic Darque only dreamed of. Then he can in essence become the new Shadowman loa, and then Jack could bond with that loa to create the ultimate father/son team up...but Jack will still resent Josiah for the lies and what happen with his mother.(?)

Honestly I like the idea of a female Shadowman more....at least it's easier on the eyes and there doesn't seem to be many "dark" supernatural female super heros....at least until Dr. Mirage comes out .

As much as I think Shadowman has problems, I think they are a consequence of trying to fix the previously perceived problems. My fear is that further significant fixes too soon would make the character damaged goods.