Reactions to SHADOWMAN: SOUL EATERS's MATURE rating and that NSFW scene

[EarthToneKing]

Reposted from Reddit:

"Hey gang, AJ Ampadu here. Writer of NINJAK VS ROKU, SHADOWMAN:SOUL EATERS and SHADOWMAN & PUNK MAMBO: TALES FROM THE DEADSIDE.

As some of you may or may not know, SHADOWMAN:SOUL EATERS carries a mature rating.

LIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD

The first issue has a sex scene where some nudity is shown. This has caused some mixed reactions. Many people were unaware of the mature rating.

I posted in the Valiant FB group the following message and I wanted to post it here as well.

"I didn't know that nudity was on the table when I wrote the script. When I got the pages back, I was as surprised as you guys! I think it was a bold move for Alien to go Mature. I think the "HBO-style" presentation works for a sophisticated character like Shadowman. However, everyone should know what they're buying, especially if they have kids. I have a 2-year-old at home and haven't shown him a single page of anything I've written for Valiant. Nudity aside, it's all too mature for him. Shadowman is a character who interacts with themes of Voodoo, witchcraft, and dark magic. These themes may not be suitable for people with varying religious sensibilities. I will leave that up to you to decide.

That said, the books are rated mature, and you should be aware of that moving forward. Shadowman #1 is definitely the most nudity you'll see in Shadowman: Soul Eaters; I don't think there will be any more (I have not seen all the artwork just yet, so don't sue me!), but that was the one and only sex scene in the series. Tales from The Deadside has one panel with a touch of nudity, but it's non-sexual and so small you can easily miss it.

Once again, given his supernatural aesthetic and mature subject matter, I believe this is the right approach for the character. Any nudity is done to make the book feel more authentic and not for gratuitous or exploitative reasons. I hope you guys understand that. If this choice isn't for you, we totally understand. It was done to enhance the story and only that. Hope this clears things up. Happy reading, and thanks for supporting Valiant/Alien." -Cheers AJ

[ManofTheAtom]

Reposted from Reddit:

"Hey gang, AJ Ampadu here. Writer of NINJAK VS ROKU, SHADOWMAN:SOUL EATERS and SHADOWMAN & PUNK MAMBO: TALES FROM THE DEADSIDE.

As some of you may or may not know, SHADOWMAN:SOUL EATERS carries a mature rating.

LIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD

The first issue has a sex scene where some nudity is shown. This has caused some mixed reactions. Many people were unaware of the mature rating.

I posted in the Valiant FB group the following message and I wanted to post it here as well.

"I didn't know that nudity was on the table when I wrote the script. When I got the pages back, I was as surprised as you guys! I think it was a bold move for Alien to go Mature. I think the "HBO-style" presentation works for a sophisticated character like Shadowman. However, everyone should know what they're buying, especially if they have kids. I have a 2-year-old at home and haven't shown him a single page of anything I've written for Valiant. Nudity aside, it's all too mature for him. Shadowman is a character who interacts with themes of Voodoo, witchcraft, and dark magic. These themes may not be suitable for people with varying religious sensibilities. I will leave that up to you to decide.

That said, the books are rated mature, and you should be aware of that moving forward. Shadowman #1 is definitely the most nudity you'll see in Shadowman: Soul Eaters; I don't think there will be any more (I have not seen all the artwork just yet, so don't sue me!), but that was the one and only sex scene in the series. Tales from The Deadside has one panel with a touch of nudity, but it's non-sexual and so small you can easily miss it.

Once again, given his supernatural aesthetic and mature subject matter, I believe this is the right approach for the character. Any nudity is done to make the book feel more authentic and not for gratuitous or exploitative reasons. I hope you guys understand that. If this choice isn't for you, we totally understand. It was done to enhance the story and only that. Hope this clears things up. Happy reading, and thanks for supporting Valiant/Alien." -Cheers AJ

I have no problem with Shadowman becoming a mature readers title.

Up to this point people, understandably, had no reason to expect nudity in this series since, until now, it had the same rating as the Faith comic...