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Shadowman: Deluxe Edition, Book 1
There's a million dreams in the Big Easy. But now its worst nightmare is about to come true. As the forces of darkness prepare to claim New Orleans as their own, Jack Boniface must embrace the legacy he was born to uphold. As Shadowman, Jack is about to become the only thing that stands between his city and an army of unspeakable monstrosities from beyond the night. But is the mantle of Shadowman a blessing, or a curse? And what is the true cost of his otherworldly power?
From rising star Justin Jordan (The Strange Talent of Luther Strode), comics superstar Patrick Zircher (Captain America, Hulk) and an all-star cast of visionary creators-including Roberto De La Torre (Daredevil), Ales Kot (Suicide Squad), Christopher Sebela (Captain Marvel), Miguel Sepulveda (Red Lanterns), Jim Zub (Skullkickers), and more.
Collecting: Shadowman 0-12
From rising star Justin Jordan (The Strange Talent of Luther Strode), comics superstar Patrick Zircher (Captain America, Hulk) and an all-star cast of visionary creators-including Roberto De La Torre (Daredevil), Ales Kot (Suicide Squad), Christopher Sebela (Captain Marvel), Miguel Sepulveda (Red Lanterns), Jim Zub (Skullkickers), and more.
Collecting: Shadowman 0-12
300 pages, Hardcover
Published November 11, 2014
39 people want to read
About the author
Justin Jordan
528 books98 followersJustin Jordan is an American comic book writer. He is known for writing and co-creating The Strange Talent of Luther Strode, Spread, Dead Body Road, Deep State, Dark Gods and Savage Things. He has also written Green Lantern: New Guardians, Superboy, Deathstroke and Team 7 for DC Comics and the relaunch of Shadowman for Valiant Entertainment.
In 2012, he was nominated for the Harvey Award for Most Promising New Talent.
In 2012, he was nominated for the Harvey Award for Most Promising New Talent.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 1, 2017
What a fantastic story and characters.
Jordan writes a good introduction into shadowmans' world with some great enemies and the artwork is very good as well.
A real shame Jordan left this series.
Jordan writes a good introduction into shadowmans' world with some great enemies and the artwork is very good as well.
A real shame Jordan left this series.
September 8, 2018
I've always had a fascination with voodoo/vodou and other Afro-religions, not necessarily to practice it myself, but I've always been interested in learning more. So the fact that Valiant has a character with roots based in Louisiana voodoo is pretty damn cool. And it's also an awesome way of introducing and developing the dark supernatural sector of the Valiant universe.
Jack Boniface is in New Orleans searching for more information about his parents, especially his dad, who died mysteriously before he was born. What Jack doesn't realize is that he is the latest in a line of men who bond with a voodoo loa (spirit) to become Shadowman, the last line of defense against the parallel dark dimensions that exist just outside reality. It's his destiny to stop a powerful necromancer named Master Darque from conquering life on Earth.
There's a lot of potential for cool stuff in this book and it's successful at times, really standing out from other superheroes by featuring many elements and references from voodoo: from gris gris and other talismans, and even spirits like Baron Samedi. The art is also a pleasure to look at.
But overall it falls flatter than the other great books I've read from Valiant so far. The fact that Jack is the only Shadowman to be totally unprepared for his mission is never really fleshed out here and he falls right in line with the superheroics as if he's been doing it for years. Not only does this make the story less absorbing but it also misses the opportunity for heavier world-building and for us to learn about the mythology along with our protagonist.
Jack Boniface is in New Orleans searching for more information about his parents, especially his dad, who died mysteriously before he was born. What Jack doesn't realize is that he is the latest in a line of men who bond with a voodoo loa (spirit) to become Shadowman, the last line of defense against the parallel dark dimensions that exist just outside reality. It's his destiny to stop a powerful necromancer named Master Darque from conquering life on Earth.
There's a lot of potential for cool stuff in this book and it's successful at times, really standing out from other superheroes by featuring many elements and references from voodoo: from gris gris and other talismans, and even spirits like Baron Samedi. The art is also a pleasure to look at.
But overall it falls flatter than the other great books I've read from Valiant so far. The fact that Jack is the only Shadowman to be totally unprepared for his mission is never really fleshed out here and he falls right in line with the superheroics as if he's been doing it for years. Not only does this make the story less absorbing but it also misses the opportunity for heavier world-building and for us to learn about the mythology along with our protagonist.
November 28, 2014
Birth Rites (1-4). A good new start to Shadowman. I like the cosmology that's being created, with Deadside and Lyceum, and I like the new Jack Boniface. His big foe was a bit icky and the fights with him a bit dull, but overall this was still a nice introduction [7/10].
Darque Reckoning (5-9). Building on the previous arc, this one offers a nice confrontation with Master Darque. It's also got great artwork and more interesting cosmology. But I just didn't love something about it. I think he characters were too distant, and the story was too focused on the plot, making the result just OK [6/10].
Masters of the Art (0, 10). Jordan's last two issues, detailing the origins of the Darques and the Shadowman are terrific: his best work on the book. #0 is particularly good with its heavy focus on horror, but the introduction of Boniface in #10 is quite interesting as well. The only problem is that the art gets really erratic in the last issue, with some of it being quite bad [8/10].
I'd a bit offended that Valiant opted to exclude issues 11 + 12 from their Deluxe editions, but if they're as bad as a heard, no great loss, I suppose.
Overall, Shadowman is one of the weaker Valiants that I've read to date, but I still love the concept, and this is an interesting new rendition.
Darque Reckoning (5-9). Building on the previous arc, this one offers a nice confrontation with Master Darque. It's also got great artwork and more interesting cosmology. But I just didn't love something about it. I think he characters were too distant, and the story was too focused on the plot, making the result just OK [6/10].
Masters of the Art (0, 10). Jordan's last two issues, detailing the origins of the Darques and the Shadowman are terrific: his best work on the book. #0 is particularly good with its heavy focus on horror, but the introduction of Boniface in #10 is quite interesting as well. The only problem is that the art gets really erratic in the last issue, with some of it being quite bad [8/10].
I'd a bit offended that Valiant opted to exclude issues 11 + 12 from their Deluxe editions, but if they're as bad as a heard, no great loss, I suppose.
Overall, Shadowman is one of the weaker Valiants that I've read to date, but I still love the concept, and this is an interesting new rendition.
January 1, 2017
Shadowman is probably one of the more underrated and surprisingly good books to come out of the new Valiant Entertainment. Far superior to the original, which I got bored with rather quickly, and engaging. Characters are fun, and each a piece of the tapestry woven therein.
This is a book series that NEEDS to become a Netflix Original Series.
This is a book series that NEEDS to become a Netflix Original Series.
February 19, 2021
rather enjoyed this deluxe edition of Shadowman which covers 1-12 of the comics. It's 300 pages of action packed in with voodoo, magic, death, fighting, history, gore, love. It finished up with opening for the next volume in the series. Artwork is well done.
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion from NetGalley.
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion from NetGalley.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews