Shadowman #2

SJS4 · Post by **SJS4** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 8:11 am

Little late to the party but...

I liked the issue. Still not one of my favorites from VEI. I enjoy "Horror" comics (BPRD/Hellboy are two of my favorite series) but so far Shadowman hasn't really struck me as horror. Its seems like more of a superhero comic with some magic elements (ie: kind of like Dr Strange). I am curious to see if it starts to tip to one side or the other in the future. Clearly superhero comics have more mass appeal, but I think I would personally like Shadowman better if it were more of a "horror" comic. We'll see how it goes...

I will say that Zircher's art is definitely the most polished art in the VEI stable. I would guess he could literally draw any series and it would look good. That being said, I tend to prefer more stylized art, so I would place him behind Nord and Garcia as my own personal favorites. The trick there is the particular art style has to "fit" with the tone of the book.

I hope he sticks around VEI for a long time, even if he gets "bored" doing Shadowman and wants to try his hand at other stories. If he stays on board with Shadowman even better.

carter3175 · Post by **carter3175** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 9:44 am

SJS4 wrote:Little late to the party but...

I liked the issue. Still not one of my favorites from VEI. I enjoy "Horror" comics (BPRD/Hellboy are two of my favorite series) but so far Shadowman hasn't really struck me as horror. Its seems like more of a superhero comic with some magic elements (ie: kind of like Dr Strange). I am curious to see if it starts to tip to one side or the other in the future. Clearly superhero comics have more mass appeal, but I think I would personally like Shadowman better if it were more of a "horror" comic. We'll see how it goes...

I will say that Zircher's art is definitely the most polished art in the VEI stable. I would guess he could literally draw any series and it would look good. That being said, I tend to prefer more stylized art, so I would place him behind Nord and Garcia as my own personal favorites. The trick there is the particular art style has to "fit" with the tone of the book.

I hope he sticks around VEI for a long time, even if he gets "bored" doing Shadowman and wants to try his hand at other stories. If he stays on board with Shadowman even better.

YES!!!! I understand what you mean!!!

Zaphod · Post by **Zaphod** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 2:28 pm

the series really won't start to take off until Rotwak is reintroduced, imo.

SJS4 · Post by **SJS4** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:37 am

Zaphod wrote:the series really won't start to take off until Rotwak is reintroduced, imo.

i lol'd

grendeljd · Post by **grendeljd** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 12:38 pm

Zaphod wrote:the series really won't start to take off until Rotwak is reintroduced, imo.

I can think of someone who wants to play the part in the new movie... lol!

LuBu · Post by **LuBu** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 12:49 pm

Really liked this issue even it there wasn't much action. I am glad they didn't have to spend all issue trying to convince him magic is real. I hate movies/shows/books when somene will see or experience something supernatural and then still spends half the story still not believing or denying what they see. Not saying I would believe right away but after the events in issue one I would keep an open mind. But i half belive in ghost now so maybe that is just me lol

Twist in his suit made me laugh, not sure how he is going to keep it white though. I really like the design of the new Shadowman costume and lok forward to him and Twist throwing down.

Also, Aerosmith just had a new album come out so why haven't they been in this book yet

pixierosa · Post by **pixierosa** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 12:53 pm

LuBu wrote:
Also, Aerosmith just had a new album come out so why haven't they been in this book yet

That's just plain evil.

KXXX · Post by **KXXX** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 1:18 pm

I sincerely hope that, if there are in fact any musical guests, it's someone who's been relevant this century.

Or all centuries. Like Monster Magnet. Which everyone should listen to, always.

LuBu · Post by **LuBu** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 1:46 pm

KXXX wrote: Like Monster Magnet. Which everyone should listen to, always.

Is that who did the space lord song? If not then who am I thinking of lol

And as much as I got a kick out of Aerosmith in Shadowman as a kid I think musical quest artists are probably best left out of comics. It's like naming the president in a book. instantly dates it.

Zaphod · Post by **Zaphod** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 4:13 pm

I prefer comics leave actual events in our reality out of stories. At least those that are current. Redress them.

Then again, those sorts of things sell books and that is the name of the game, after all.

KXXX · Post by **KXXX** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 4:44 pm

LuBu wrote:
KXXX wrote: Like Monster Magnet. Which everyone should listen to, always.
Is that who did the space lord song? If not then who am I thinking of lol

And as much as I got a kick out of Aerosmith in Shadowman as a kid I think musical quest artists are probably best left out of comics. It's like naming the president in a book. instantly dates it.

Yes! That's really the tip of the iceburg, they've been around for decades and continue to put out excellent albums.
There's a LOT of references to early Marvel/DC books in their songs. Also great if you 'partake.'

Getting many people to read Valiant, listen to Magnet and watch Fist of the North Star... these are my missions.

LuBu · Post by **LuBu** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 6:03 pm

Well I have seen both the animated movie from the 80s which blew my mind as the first "adult" cartoon and ever saw. I have also seen the live action movie, which I don't think I can recommend. And about 6-10 episodes of the animated tv series. And I have played the recent xbox game. So I have some FotNS experience

And back on topic I also really liked the beginning with Dox and the bullet and the explaining of magic in this world.

etos45 · Post by **etos45** » Sun Dec 16, 2012 1:23 am

lorddunlow wrote:
greg wrote:
Not many belief systems put a rock above a bone when it comes to 'death energy'.
Rock always beats bone. Paper beats rock though. I think bone beats Spock.

Lizard beats Spock...

etos45 · Post by **etos45** » Sun Dec 16, 2012 1:33 am

Alright, so I guess I'll address 1 and 2 since I read them together...

Shadowman (as of now) is officially replacing Bloodshot as my least favorite Valiant comic. It's just too unrealistic and that's not what I want to see in Valiant. Mr. Twist is just awful and ridiculous, I hope he dies soon. I don't like the direction of Darque so far, but I'm hoping it takes a change for the better as the story moves on. Oh, and Deadside looks a little silly, to be honest.

Okay, so done with the harsh, here's what I liked... The explanation of magic (comparing with computers) was brilliant. I could buy that. I like how they're doing the lineage of Shadowman, I think that works well. I don't totally get the amulet, but I'm sure it'll come around. I like all of the callbacks to old Shadowman. It's very subtle and blends in to the story really well.

Bottom line, much like Blooshot, I'm going to keep getting this title for now because I think it has a chance to develop in to something great, but I'm just not digging it right now. When dealing with a story that is based in voodoo, I know it can be hard to appear realistic, but much of what is going on in this comic is just to over the line and really takes me out of the story.

jmatt · Post by **jmatt** » Sun Dec 16, 2012 10:24 am

etos45 wrote: Mr. Twist is just awful and ridiculous, I hope he dies soon.

Yeah, this issue gave me pause about the tone and feel of the book. In #1, Twist was introduced like some kind of hell-spawned demon; the name was a little contrived for a creature so base -- but okay.

But watching him stand there and have a suit tailor made for him was like watching Pinhead from Hellraiser walk into a Starbucks and order a frozen mochaccino with extra sprinkles.

Again, the expectations of former readers are the bane of relaunched titles.

carter3175 · Post by **carter3175** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 11:02 am

etos45 wrote: When dealing with a story that is based in voodoo

There is nothing about this book that makes me think of voodoo. This feels like a superhero book. I was expecting this book to be the dark corner of the Valiant universe. Hey maybe some things will change and Justin is just laying down the ground work, we'll see.

These new character designs are too damn cool to go to waste...just sayin

grendeljd · Post by **grendeljd** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 2:21 pm

jmatt wrote:
etos45 wrote: Mr. Twist is just awful and ridiculous, I hope he dies soon.
Yeah, this issue gave me pause about the tone and feel of the book. In #1, Twist was introduced like some kind of hell-spawned demon; the name was a little contrived for a creature so base -- but okay.

But watching him stand there and have a suit tailor made for him was like watching Pinhead from Hellraiser walk into a Starbucks and order a frozen mochaccino with extra sprinkles.

Again, the expectations of former readers are the bane of relaunched titles.

Its a shame to hear some people aren't diggin' Mr. Twist...

To each his own, but I think I get him - there is a bit of a hip/cool cat flavour brought into the character to add something beyond just another stereotypical horned, grotesque 'demon' monster who only has stereo-typically crappy 'evil' dialogue and has little depth beyond being a simple plot device to get the main villain into the book. The fact that this guy has some over-the-top dramatic flair and an affectation for human clothing doesn't come off as silly to me. It makes him a bit more intimidating & bizarre, a confident, powerful and maliciously intelligent being who is indulging himself in luxuries he wouldn't have had in the Deadside, perhaps. He's got important things to do for his 'master', but he still takes the time to get himself a cool suit. I love it

lorddunlow · Post by **lorddunlow** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 2:57 pm

I'm definitely a fan of Mr. Twist. Shadowman keeps creeping up my VEI ladder. I'm reserving final judgement for the next issue but I think if it continues as is it will be #3 under Harbinger and Bloodshot for me.

Dallow Spicer1 · Post by **Dallow Spicer1** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 3:00 pm

On the Mr Twist/White suit thing that some people aren't into, perhaps we need to understand the back story of this character? Maybe he was human before Darque created him into Mr Twist and maybe his obsession with clothes was part of his 'human traits' which he still carries with him? Give the character a few more issues I reckon!

ShadowTuga · Post by **ShadowTuga** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 5:17 pm

Dallow Spicer1 wrote:On the Mr Twist/White suit thing that some people aren't into, perhaps we need to understand the back story of this character? Maybe he was human before Darque created him into Mr Twist and maybe his obsession with clothes was part of his 'human traits' which he still carries with him? Give the character a few more issues I reckon!

Exactly my thoughts; there's gotta be something else we haven't seen.
I think by the end of the first arc, stuff will be a LOT clearer than it is now. There are still too many questions, right now (despite all the exposition is issue 2).

pixierosa · Post by **pixierosa** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 5:47 pm

ShadowTuga wrote:
Dallow Spicer1 wrote:On the Mr Twist/White suit thing that some people aren't into, perhaps we need to understand the back story of this character? Maybe he was human before Darque created him into Mr Twist and maybe his obsession with clothes was part of his 'human traits' which he still carries with him? Give the character a few more issues I reckon!
Exactly my thoughts; there's gotta be something else we haven't seen.
I think by the end of the first arc, stuff will be a LOT clearer than it is now. There are still too many questions, right now (despite all the exposition is issue 2).

Ye gods - what if the human Mr. Twist used to be was actually Josiah? I've been asking what happened to him after he was stabbed and pulled into the portal.

*mindblown

pixierosa · Post by **pixierosa** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 5:49 pm

Also - in another thread is the link to the new teaser article about arc 2. I (and others) was thinking the returning Valiant character would not necessarily be a hero but someone else such as his sister...

etos45 · Post by **etos45** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 6:21 pm

To be clear, I don't have a problem with Mr. Twist because of the suit... I don't like him because he is an awful character. The way he looks (as a flesh bag or whatever) is just not what I want to see as a villain. I'd rather the villain look realistic. The way he turns people kind of bugs me too. Bad dialog... I just don't like him at all in any way.

hawkeyeps · Post by **hawkeyeps** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 6:46 pm

etos45 wrote:To be clear, I don't have a problem with Mr. Twist because of the suit... I don't like him because he is an awful character. The way he looks (as a flesh bag or whatever) is just not what I want to see as a villain. I'd rather the villain look realistic. The way he turns people kind of bugs me too. Bad dialog... I just don't like him at all in any way.

Chances are he was some *SQUEE* from our world, a toadie of Darque's who cut a deal with him a long time ago for some past favour from Darque.

Now he thinks he's going to come back in a big way and be chief toadie #1 when Darque comes back and takes over, the fact that he's so hateful will just make it that much more satisfying when he faces the full fury of Shadowman in #4. Judging by the Johnson cover nothing good is waiting for Mr.Twist all though he should prove to be quite a *SQUEE* in the next issue.

I like where this book is going.

jmatt · Post by **jmatt** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 7:27 pm

carter3175 wrote:
etos45 wrote: There is nothing about this book that makes me think of voodoo. This feels like a superhero book.

I agree. It could stand a little more voodoo-ish Dr Strange.

As far as Twist, I'm just saying he wasn't what I was expecting. I'm still getting a feel for the book.

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