Comic Review: Shadowman (2018) #4

Shadowman #4

Valiant Comics

Writer: Andy Diggle

Artist: Shawn Martinbrough

If you have not been following Shadowman, it is a book about Jack Boniface who gains strength, speed, and slight invulnerability thanks to his loa – A spirit of Haitian Voodoo that resides within Jack and often has an urge to kill. Jack has been trapped in exile for years in a dimension called the Deadside that was ruled over by Baron Samedi. Baron Samedi is another loa of Haitian Voodoo who acts as Jack’s nemesis and wants to keep him in the Deadside. Jack recently escaped thanks to his ex-girlfriend who is a Haitian sorceress. After returning Jack was tricked by Baron Samedi and his soul launched over time. Now he is jumping through time unsure where he will end up.

In issue four Jack’s consciousness is in 1940’s New York. He is a passenger in the mind of his ancestor Maximus Boniface. Jack is able to feel and see what Max experiences, but has no control. The story is a standard golden age detective story. It resembles a Shadow or Batman story from the time period. A small Nazi terrorist group is trying to assassinate a Senator who is raising support for American involvement in the war. The Shadowman is out to stop it.

Jack learning from the adventure is what makes the story more unique. He sees how Max is in greater control of his loa. Jack realizes he can do better to work with the loa instead of fighting for control. The issue is a launching point for him.  But it is Max that was the character that really caught my attention.

Max is an amateur musician that is fighting crime in the city. He wears a grey gentlemen’s suit complete with fedora. He has connections and enough money to get by based on his car and apartment. Jack works in New Orleans stopping creatures from the Deadside from escaping. Meanwhile, Max seems to work in New York fighting crime. The book does not explore whether he too has to stop creatures from the Deadside. We also do not know Max’s relationship with Baron Samedi. We see just a brief glimpse of Max’s life with little context around that moment. Before we really get to know Max, Jack again launches to another moment in time. I was sad to see Max go, but hopefully, we see him again some time.

The art has two different styles. The first half of the book uses heavy shadows to create details and atmosphere. It is very fitting for the time period and makes everything look great. The use of sound effects seems to only be in guns and the use of cars. There is a lack of sounds that would have helped some of the scenes. The second half of the book uses less shadow. The lines in each panel are emphasized to create more detail. Scenes that I believe take place at night look as if they are taking place during the day. The second half also felt a bit more modern to me. It was noticeable enough to make me look back at the begging to make sure I was right in the change. Both styles of art did not merge well but still did a good enough job of displaying that action.

This issue is a starting chapter in a new story arc for the ongoing series which makes it a good time to jump on if you a curious. There is plenty of exposition in the narration to catch the reader up on what Shadowman is all about. The art can be a little distracting, but not enough that you will not enjoy the story. If you do not know much about the Valiant universe this is a good place to start without getting in too deep. It does not include other characters in the universe that might make you feel lost. This issue gets a recommendation from me.