Shadowman #1 (2018) –
Valiant Entertainment
Written by Andy Diggle
Art by Stephan Segovia
Colors by Ulises Arreloa
Letters by Simon Bowland
Cover by Tonci Zonjic
What is a normal life exactly? I guess the answer is different for everyone. For some it’s more simple, and for others, it seems impossible. Then there is Shadowman, where normal really isn’t an option. Shadowman always seems to be that character that, when he shows up, you know things have reached another level. Now it’s time to put the spotlight back on him in this new solo series from Valiant Entertainment.
Obviously it’s no spoiler to say we will see Shadowman, but we see someone else who is very familiar with Jack Boniface that I cannot tell you about. Who she is (and what she is) will matter a great deal in the story going forward. She actually plays a big role in this story, because without her, there may be no future issues at all. Jack has to come to terms with a lot, and actually drops a pretty big personal bombshell at one point. The central theme here seems to be, can he have a normal life? Can he finally rid himself of the loa that has tormented him? Since this is only the first issue, of course those answers aren’t nearly clear enough right now. What we do get is our first twist and at least the starting line of what is likely a marathon.
Shadowman is kind of a tricky character. It’s hard to say we don’t see him enough, because that may be the very thing that makes that character special. What I do love is that, he will no longer be the secondary or tertiary piece of a larger story. We finally get to open this character up a bit, and not only explore his past, but discover his present in greater detail. I feel like Andy Diggle and company are off to a good start. Those first few pages, even without Shadowman, really set a tone and made me feel like Diggle gets it. The art team is top notch, as always with Valiant, but I feel like the best is yet to come. I hate to make this seem so simple, but all I really need is more. At the same time, I’m not sure I want them to peel the onion. Whatever the slightly faster equivalent is, that’s what I want. Let’s see how well that goes.
RATING: PULL / BUY