Review – Shadowman #2
Review – Shadowman #2
Written by Cullen Bunn
Art by Jon Davis-Hunt
Colours by Jordie Bellaire
Letters by Clayton Cowles
Cover by Jon Davis-Hunt
Variant Covers by Caspar Wijngaard, Francesco Francavilla, Annie Wu
Synopsis
The bone-chilling team of Cullen Bunn and Jon Davis-Hunt bring forth a terrifying tale in this can’t miss a new chapter of Valiant’s hit horror series. The hellscape known as the Deadside has pried open a doorway to Earth in Enoch, Arizona! And our only chance at survival against the awakening desert beasts is SHADOWMAN, but is it a trap or something even worse?
Read BGCP’s review of Shadowman #1 here.
Writing
Cullen does a steady job with a short, focused issue here, that works well with the first issue developing the relationship between Samedi and Jack. Samedi again opens the issue with a “previously on” style update to keep readers up to date. For those used to the 90s character, this is a much pared-down version with controlled settings and characters.
The primary protagonist and antagonist (Jack and Samedi respectively) bounce off each other as Samedi sets up Shadowman for the second time in as many issues. All roads in this issue lead to Enoch, where drifters and the lost are sacrificed to the Deadside to keep a portal open, further stretching the breach hinted in the last issue. You can feel the frustration and anger within Jack as he struggles with some heavy moral issues as well as trying not to act like a puppet for Samedi.
Cullen rounds out even the smallest character and as readers, we are drawn in and to their plight. Speaking last month to Monkey Fighting Robot Cullen said:
I think the biggest changes will be in terms of tone and mood and pacing. Yes, this version of the character has a few different abilities, which will be a bit different, and he’ll be jumping around the world, but I think this book simply feels different from what you saw in the 90s. It’s still a superhero book, but it definitely goes to some dark places.
Cullen Bunn
Artwork
Jon Davis-Hunt’s artwork is the same visceral supernatural horror that the original Shadowman series is known for. The blood and viscera ooze from the panels, thanks to Jordie Bellaire, and the attention really stands out for the Horror Comic genre! The tone is dark, keeping with the 90s origin of the comic and is not suitable for younger readers. It’s dark, without being overly sadistic or gratuitous. The hitchhiker scene on the first three pages feels like a classic Twilight Zone episode.
Clayton Cowles’ lettering style add’s the final element to the artwork, a cherry on top of artwork and colouring.
Overall Thoughts
This is still trying to both please original fans while drawing in those new to the title, I personally think some of the older fans might be annoyed with the slowed-down intimate plot but for me that what makes the new take work! I give this issue a steady 4.5 out of 5 for artwork and script.
Let us know if you enjoyed our Review of Shadowman #2.
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