Shadowman 13x

[Donovan]

No one has posted about this yet?

Very short overview of Shadowman's history. Did a good job recapping the previous issues and adding a few new twists to Jack's character.

The art wasn't suited to this story, IMO.

[Aomalle27]

not sure what you're talking about. As far as I know, 13 hasn't come out yet.

[BugsySig]

not sure what you're talking about. As far as I know, 13 hasn't come out yet.

13X, not 13. It's the free issue that came with last week's Bleeding Cool Magazine.

[Aomalle27]

Ahh, cause all I read was the swamp panels from an advance preview review. It looks interesting, but there seems to be more reboot than reworking, what with Jack looking a lot more Caucasian than he has ( which is a shame, cause a good African American hero from New Orleans is what this book
Should be (well comblinasian like tiger woods to be more exact) and there seems to be a big gap between the end of the Darque arc, and 13, since Jack has been having a lot of blackout episodes, or so the preview says.

[Chiclo]

not sure what you're talking about. As far as I know, 13 hasn't come out yet.

Are you sure? I have read 13 but not 13X.

[lorddunlow]

not sure what you're talking about. As far as I know, 13 hasn't come out yet.

Are you sure? I have read 13 but not 13X.

You nanny-boo-boo *SQUEE*!

[AnthonyF]

Just picked it up, GREAT cover!
A good recap that didn't overwhelm with background on Shadowman's origin and the Darques. In stead just focused on Jack. Wish they explained Shadowman powers...

And the dialog on the first panel was wonky. Why call it an "Extraordinary meeting"?

[swtor1091]

Just got it in the mail and I loved it... Did anyone read the intervew inside when he says they approached him for a diifrent title that may or may not happen.... He also makes me very excited when he talks about it. Though I have to ask how long will his run be?

[ThatDarnCabbage]

This issue actually makes me wish for a Shadowman/Quantum & Woody crossover. Who better to understand what Jack is going through mentally than Woody, another Valiant hero who has been passed around many different foster families as a child, and grown troubled over it. Those two could develop a surprisingly meaningful relationship. I just want to see more Valiant heroes developing friendships instead of just fighting each other all the time.

[leonmallett]

This issue actually makes me wish for a Shadowman/Quantum & Woody crossover. Who better to understand what Jack is going through mentally than Woody, another Valiant hero who has been passed around many different foster families as a child, and grown troubled over it. Those two could develop a surprisingly meaningful relationship. I just want to see more Valiant heroes developing friendships instead of just fighting each other all the time.

Although I like the principle of heroes getting along when circumstances and characterization dictate, until there are some radical changes in Quantum & Woody I hope that book stays away from the rest of the VALIANT Universe.

I think re-framing the mythos in terms of Jack's past could be useful, it just depends on how it is handled; if the source of the outbursts is connected to the Loa then that would be interesting. If it is for darker, more heinous reasons such as abuse, as seemed to be alluded to, then it will have to be handled with sensitivity.

Good to see the Abettors side of the mythos expanded too. In all quite satisfying for me, and I enjoyed the art, but the Shadowman title has seen so many art styles through its life that it has a very unclear visual identity I feel, which is something i would like to see VEI get on top of.

[ThatDarnCabbage]

This issue actually makes me wish for a Shadowman/Quantum & Woody crossover. Who better to understand what Jack is going through mentally than Woody, another Valiant hero who has been passed around many different foster families as a child, and grown troubled over it. Those two could develop a surprisingly meaningful relationship. I just want to see more Valiant heroes developing friendships instead of just fighting each other all the time.

Although I like the principle of heroes getting along when circumstances and characterization dictate, until there are some radical changes in Quantum & Woody I hope that book stays away from the rest of the VALIANT Universe.

I think re-framing the mythos in terms of Jack's past could be useful, it just depends on how it is handled; if the source of the outbursts is connected to the Loa then that would be interesting. If it is for darker, more heinous reasons such as abuse, as seemed to be alluded to, then it will have to be handled with sensitivity.

Good to see the Abettors side of the mythos expanded too. In all quite satisfying for me, and I enjoyed the art, but the Shadowman title has seen so many art styles through its life that it has a very unclear visual identity I feel, which is something i would like to see VEI get on top of.

Well I think Quantum and Woody is one of Valiant's best books, at the least the first arc was one of the best arcs the company has put out yet, I didn't love issue five. In fact, due to how different they are from the rest of the universe they're the characters I most want to see interact with other Valiant heroes.

I'm guessing the outbursts might actually be a mix of both the loa and the abuse, which could be very compelling.

I also hope Robert De La Torre will be the unifying visual identity this book needs, at least for one arc, since no Valiant book can have a consistent artist longer than that. Although even one arc tends to be too much to ask from Valiant.

Anyway, very much looking forward to Shadowman 13 this week.

[blujay]

This issue actually makes me wish for a Shadowman/Quantum & Woody crossover. Who better to understand what Jack is going through mentally than Woody, another Valiant hero who has been passed around many different foster families as a child, and grown troubled over it. Those two could develop a surprisingly meaningful relationship. I just want to see more Valiant heroes developing friendships instead of just fighting each other all the time.

+1 I've been hoping for this too, mostly cuz these are the two most isolated books. Although I see a SM/EW crossover first.

Also I have no idea what this 13x businesses is. Will it be available through other means anytime in the near future?

[leonmallett]

This issue actually makes me wish for a Shadowman/Quantum & Woody crossover. Who better to understand what Jack is going through mentally than Woody, another Valiant hero who has been passed around many different foster families as a child, and grown troubled over it. Those two could develop a surprisingly meaningful relationship. I just want to see more Valiant heroes developing friendships instead of just fighting each other all the time.

+1 I've been hoping for this too, mostly cuz these are the two most isolated books. Although I see a SM/EW crossover first.

Also I have no idea what this 13x businesses is. Will it be available through other means anytime in the near future?

Well 13X was bagged with an issue of Bleeding Cool, very recently released; so maybe try LCS, or online comics shops?

Eternal Warrior and Shadowman could prove a great vehicle to explore past Shadowman lore/history.

[lorddunlow]

This issue actually makes me wish for a Shadowman/Quantum & Woody crossover. Who better to understand what Jack is going through mentally than Woody, another Valiant hero who has been passed around many different foster families as a child, and grown troubled over it. Those two could develop a surprisingly meaningful relationship. I just want to see more Valiant heroes developing friendships instead of just fighting each other all the time.

+1 I've been hoping for this too, mostly cuz these are the two most isolated books. Although I see a SM/EW crossover first.

Also I have no idea what this 13x businesses is. Will it be available through other means anytime in the near future?

Well 13X was bagged with an issue of Bleeding Cool, very recently released; so maybe try LCS, or online comics shops?

Eternal Warrior and Shadowman could prove a great vehicle to explore past Shadowman lore/history.

sonicdan also has them for sale (actually free with a purchase I believe).

[mateo107]

This issue actually makes me wish for a Shadowman/Quantum & Woody crossover. Who better to understand what Jack is going through mentally than Woody, another Valiant hero who has been passed around many different foster families as a child, and grown troubled over it. Those two could develop a surprisingly meaningful relationship. I just want to see more Valiant heroes developing friendships instead of just fighting each other all the time.

what if Jack and Woody had met each other in the fostercare system? hmm what if one of them was almost adopted by the Archers?

[agent_graves]

I had the first arc of Shadowman, so I was pretty familiar with what was going on beforehand, but this was a nice little prologue to Peters first arc, nice way to get those new readers caught up without them having to go back and get all the back issue's...

[tchalla8]

On its own it doesn't do a whole lot, but in conjunction with issue #13 I think it makes for a nice extended story.

[jmatt]

On its own it doesn't do a whole lot, but in conjunction with issue #13 I think it makes for a nice extended story.

I enjoyed it and think it helped make a little more clear the actions of the Senior Abettors we see in 13.

[sonicdan]

sonicdan also has them for sale (actually free with a purchase I believe).

Yep!
http://sonicdan.com/VALIANT/SHOP.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Tannerman]

Any word on if 13X will ever get a digital release?

[Keith]

Just tore open one of my Bleeding Cool copies to read this. What a great intro, and wish I'd read it prior to #13. Really hope this gets put on Comixology, or gets included with the trade.

[Shadowman99]

Wish they explained Shadowman powers...

I remember reading that with the original Shadowman back in the 90's, Bob Hall (the primary writer of the series) intentionally kept Jack Boniface's ([note for n00bs]a different Shadowman, but with the same name) powers vague and unexplained, as he never wanted the Shadowman's full abilities to be precisely pinned down so that the character maintained a certain mystery.

It seems to me that one of two things is happening with the current Shadowman comic:
1) More likely - Due to constant changes in the creative team, the Shadowman's abilities simply have yet to be established for definite, both in the VEI office and in public knowledge.
2) Less likely - Bob Hall's approach is being adopted for this contemporary incarnation of the character.

Obviously, I'm more inclined to guess it's the former option, and as Milligan's establishing the character and its relationship heavily in the comics at the moment, it seems as though it might be a little while longer yet before we get a bit more of an idea as to what the Shadowman's abilities are precisely.

Having said that, it seems more interesting to me that Bob Hall's approach may have been adopted, and an element of mystery is being maintained with the character...

[vaevictis]

For me, it seems like Shadowman is the only book that doesn't really feel like its part of the universe.

[lorddunlow]

For me, it seems like Shadowman is the only book that doesn't really feel like its part of the universe.

Shadowman at least feels like it could be in great same universe, but it just hasn't crossed paths with the rest of the universe. Quantum and Woody, on the other hand, just doesn't belong (and I hope they never cross over with any of the other books. Ever.

[jmatt]

Quantum and Woody, on the other hand, just doesn't belong (and I hope they never cross over with any of the other books. Ever.

I agree, QW would have to have some pretty serious moments before they could fit in with the rest of the cast. I was pretty surprised VEI resurrected this title before EW, Rai and Ninjak. I mean, if your gonna throw resources at a title in your first few years, do it with the pillar titles.