Shadowman #1 Discussion

[SJS4]

Loved this issue. Epic start to what I joe will be a great series. A few thoughts:

1. The Shadowman spirit taking over a wounded and desperate Jack Boniface totally took me back to Ghost Rider (90s Danny Ketch). I'm thinking Jack doesn't control the spirit, it simply takes over his body and fights the evils of dead side.

I think that Jack will be able to take control of the spirit, or at least learn to work with it. I say that because in the beginning of the book Josiah seemed to be speaking for himself.

Isn't he wearing the amulet in that scene?

Nope, I checked for that on my second read through. It never shows Josiah wearing the amulet (just holding it in his hand while he gives it to Helena).

Could he have BEEN wearing it and took it off when he decided to let Shadowman take over so he could stop Darque?

Maybe the amulet kept Shadowman at bay whenever he wore it.

That would make sense. If I read the issue correctly, the amulet protects the wearer from being found by other spiritual entities (either good or bad). Wearing the amulet was probably his way of protecting himself from surprise attacks during "off" periods (ie: sleeping, eating, etc...).

[Newton]

My understanding was the amulet kept him invisible from spiritual forces when he had it on.

[pixierosa]

I believe the amulet kept served as way to make the wearer a magical null and keep the Shadowman from joining with Jack.

Anyone else notice the stained-glass window? The amulet's symbol is repeated throughout the design.

Also, what happened to Josiah? We know he may have been killed, but he was pulled over to the other side. Did he truly die, or if dead, is he inhabiting the deadside? Will Jack met up with him in the future?

Speaking of Shadowman, just what is his story? Not in relation to Jack, but as a spirit. He is a spirit, correct? Why is he battling with the other spirits? Isn't he from the deadside?

So many questions....

[greg]

At any rate it looks like a great story is about to unfold, I agree that past Shadowman and Ani-Padda brother interactions would be great universe builders.

The Boon is a swirling blue light with cryptic symbols that somehow connects death and life.
Darque is opening a swirling blue light with cryptic symbols that somehow connects death and life.
Pieces of the Boon are small and ancient, revealing Armstrong.
The amulet is small and ancient, concealing Jack.

Clear parallels in these stories, though they're thousands of years apart, right?

Let's go one step further... what if... WHAT IF... Ivar is on Deadside?

Now... a really crazy stupid one... because those comments all made perfect sense.

What if Darque is an old, evil, Ivar the Timewalker?

[Carson]

At any rate it looks like a great story is about to unfold, I agree that past Shadowman and Ani-Padda brother interactions would be great universe builders.

The Boon is a swirling blue light with cryptic symbols that somehow connects death and life.
Darque is opening a swirling blue light with cryptic symbols that somehow connects death and life.
Pieces of the Boon are small and ancient, revealing Armstrong.
The amulet is small and ancient, concealing Jack.

Clear parallels in these stories, though they're thousands of years apart, right?

Let's go one step further... what if... WHAT IF... Ivar is on Deadside?

Now... a really crazy stupid one... because those comments all made perfect sense.

What if Darque is an old, evil, Ivar the Timewalker?

Love these ideas. You should write comics. Seriously.... I'd buy em.

[Blood of Heroes]

At any rate it looks like a great story is about to unfold, I agree that past Shadowman and Ani-Padda brother interactions would be great universe builders.

The Boon is a swirling blue light with cryptic symbols that somehow connects death and life.
Darque is opening a swirling blue light with cryptic symbols that somehow connects death and life.
Pieces of the Boon are small and ancient, revealing Armstrong.
The amulet is small and ancient, concealing Jack.

Clear parallels in these stories, though they're thousands of years apart, right?

Let's go one step further... what if... WHAT IF... Ivar is on Deadside?

Now... a really crazy stupid one... because those comments all made perfect sense.

What if Darque is an old, evil, Ivar the Timewalker?

Love these ideas. You should write comics. Seriously.... I'd buy em.

I would also like to subscribe to your newsletter.

[jmatt]

What if Darque is an old, evil, Ivar the Timewalker?

Now that's just crazy talk. But I like it!

Ya know, now that I think about it I've never seen Darque and Ivar in the same room...

[drmirage]

You guys! I don't have my a copy of Shadowman #1 yet. I'm still waiting for them to get shipped

[sanman]

Just to put the panels where Jack throws the amulet into the water in to context...

The area is clearly the French Quarter bank of the Mississippi River. The river runs so fast and deep one can only assume that the amulet is gone aside from any supernatural intervention...

[Blood of Heroes]

Just to put the panels where Jack throws the amulet into the water in to context...

The area is clearly the French Quarter bank of the Mississippi River. The river runs so fast and deep one can only assume that the amulet is gone aside from any supernatural intervention...

Maybe when he goes diving for it he'll surface in the Lost Land.

[mrwoogieman]

Man, that was killer. Worth the long wait.

I have developed a deep infatuation with Patch's artwork since the new Shadowman imagery first started leaking out - its very inspiring to me personally.

After reading #1, I must say I think he has a stellar sense of sequential art, & I love his style of drawing. Great compositions [both in page & in panels] and use of perspective/camera angles, fantastic facial expressions & the details... nothing is over-rendered or crowded, but man, i love artwork that actually feels like it takes place somewhere real & solid... there are very few panels that just contain a figure with an empty color-filled background. Awesome. The deadside souls, the creature-cops, Master Darque & Mr Twist himself look absolutely amazing.

The story is a great intro, IMO. Solid characterization of what Jack is about right now, good hints of more backstory to look forward to with his parents... interesting that they have criminal records, can't wait to see what thats all about. It feels like a good dash of realism too, I imagine more vigilante type super-heroes would have run-ins with the law, even though they are trying to do something for good reasons.

I can't say I have a problem with Mr Twist's dialogue... kinda creepy & a bit sarcastic - even though he is saying things that would sound too comic-booky in the wrong writers hands, I got the sense that he is saying it all a bit tongue-in-cheek. A creature with an ego that is a bit enamoured of his own power, never mind 'The Master'. Loved the 'taste like chicken' line.

I really liked how the shadowman spirit was handled at the end, too. From the panel with Jack kneeling ahead of the shadowman symbol to the gesture of the wild and semi-abstract spirit itself, I thought that was all really cool. It's dialogue - loved the recital of past shadowmen... is it being literal or figurative in saying they are all 'son of' the last one? Obviously at this point, Jack is the son the of previous one; Josiah. I dig that last panel with the big laughter streaming across the page behind him too.

Very cool that the spirit generates the shadowman outfit. I was thinking that it should work that way [honest!!! I am going to enter that Project:Rooftop Shadowman costume redesign contest, and was basing some of my concepts on this idea].

All around impressive work, soo glad its here... can't wait for more now. I'm... gonna go re-read it now. A few times.

What a terrific review! I've signed my name to it and sent it in to the Valiant letters column.

Cheers!

[grendeljd]

Man, that was killer. Worth the long wait.

I have developed a deep infatuation with Patch's artwork since the new Shadowman imagery first started leaking out - its very inspiring to me personally.

After reading #1, I must say I think he has a stellar sense of sequential art, & I love his style of drawing. Great compositions [both in page & in panels] and use of perspective/camera angles, fantastic facial expressions & the details... nothing is over-rendered or crowded, but man, i love artwork that actually feels like it takes place somewhere real & solid... there are very few panels that just contain a figure with an empty color-filled background. Awesome. The deadside souls, the creature-cops, Master Darque & Mr Twist himself look absolutely amazing.

The story is a great intro, IMO. Solid characterization of what Jack is about right now, good hints of more backstory to look forward to with his parents... interesting that they have criminal records, can't wait to see what thats all about. It feels like a good dash of realism too, I imagine more vigilante type super-heroes would have run-ins with the law, even though they are trying to do something for good reasons.

I can't say I have a problem with Mr Twist's dialogue... kinda creepy & a bit sarcastic - even though he is saying things that would sound too comic-booky in the wrong writers hands, I got the sense that he is saying it all a bit tongue-in-cheek. A creature with an ego that is a bit enamoured of his own power, never mind 'The Master'. Loved the 'taste like chicken' line.

I really liked how the shadowman spirit was handled at the end, too. From the panel with Jack kneeling ahead of the shadowman symbol to the gesture of the wild and semi-abstract spirit itself, I thought that was all really cool. It's dialogue - loved the recital of past shadowmen... is it being literal or figurative in saying they are all 'son of' the last one? Obviously at this point, Jack is the son the of previous one; Josiah. I dig that last panel with the big laughter streaming across the page behind him too.

Very cool that the spirit generates the shadowman outfit. I was thinking that it should work that way [honest!!! I am going to enter that Project:Rooftop Shadowman costume redesign contest, and was basing some of my concepts on this idea].

All around impressive work, soo glad its here... can't wait for more now. I'm... gonna go re-read it now. A few times.

What a terrific review! I've signed my name to it and sent it in to the Valiant letters column.

Cheers!

Thanks... I think!! Did someone at Valiant HQ say something to you - 'cause right after I wrote this up, I actually did send a copy addressed to Warren, to their 'Letters' email. So if you ain't kidding, they got it twice

[ShadowTuga]

THE GOOD:
I absolutely loved the art, dark tone of the story, the plot itself (albeit this book left us with too many WTF question), YES, some of the dialogue can (and will be) improved, BUT give the guys a break. SM1 was better than 90% of my comic purchases this month. And it will get great, i feel it.

THE NOT SO GOOD
Someone has to explain me the need for a suit-change- does the SHADOWMAN entity have a preference for certain types of clothes?!
"You should wear this cool boots and jumpsuit, Jackie-boy. And look at'em glovies! They are coooool!"

These stupid thoughts came my to mind immediatly after I read the last page twice...

Still: 4.5

[grendeljd]

THE GOOD:
I absolutely loved the art, dark tone of the story, the plot itself (albeit this book left us with too many WTF question), YES, some of the dialogue can (and will be) improved, BUT give the guys a break. SM1 was better than 90% of my comic purchases this month. And it will get great, i feel it.

THE NOT SO GOOD
Someone have to explain me the need for a suit-change- does the SHADOWMAN entity have a preference for certain types of clothes?!
"You should wear this cool botes and jumpsuit, Jackie-boy. And look at'em glovies! They are coooool!"

These stupid thoughts came my to mind imediatly after I read the last page twice...

Still: 4.5

Maybe it plays off the personality of the Host when it generates the 'costume', thus it would be different every time. And in this case it would be drawing on the subconscious as Jack likely has no idea what just happened to him at the end of the issue...

[mrwoogieman]

Man, that was killer. Worth the long wait.

I have developed a deep infatuation with Patch's artwork since the new Shadowman imagery first started leaking out - its very inspiring to me personally.

After reading #1, I must say I think he has a stellar sense of sequential art, & I love his style of drawing. Great compositions [both in page & in panels] and use of perspective/camera angles, fantastic facial expressions & the details... nothing is over-rendered or crowded, but man, i love artwork that actually feels like it takes place somewhere real & solid... there are very few panels that just contain a figure with an empty color-filled background. Awesome. The deadside souls, the creature-cops, Master Darque & Mr Twist himself look absolutely amazing.

The story is a great intro, IMO. Solid characterization of what Jack is about right now, good hints of more backstory to look forward to with his parents... interesting that they have criminal records, can't wait to see what thats all about. It feels like a good dash of realism too, I imagine more vigilante type super-heroes would have run-ins with the law, even though they are trying to do something for good reasons.

I can't say I have a problem with Mr Twist's dialogue... kinda creepy & a bit sarcastic - even though he is saying things that would sound too comic-booky in the wrong writers hands, I got the sense that he is saying it all a bit tongue-in-cheek. A creature with an ego that is a bit enamoured of his own power, never mind 'The Master'. Loved the 'taste like chicken' line.

I really liked how the shadowman spirit was handled at the end, too. From the panel with Jack kneeling ahead of the shadowman symbol to the gesture of the wild and semi-abstract spirit itself, I thought that was all really cool. It's dialogue - loved the recital of past shadowmen... is it being literal or figurative in saying they are all 'son of' the last one? Obviously at this point, Jack is the son the of previous one; Josiah. I dig that last panel with the big laughter streaming across the page behind him too.

Very cool that the spirit generates the shadowman outfit. I was thinking that it should work that way [honest!!! I am going to enter that Project:Rooftop Shadowman costume redesign contest, and was basing some of my concepts on this idea].

All around impressive work, soo glad its here... can't wait for more now. I'm... gonna go re-read it now. A few times.

What a terrific review! I've signed my name to it and sent it in to the Valiant letters column.

Cheers!

Thanks... I think!! Did someone at Valiant HQ say something to you - 'cause right after I wrote this up, I actually did send a copy addressed to Warren, to their 'Letters' email. So if you ain't kidding, they got it twice

I was just kidding about sending it in under my name (thus the winking smiley ---> ).

[Xtianhardy]

THE GOOD:
I absolutely loved the art, dark tone of the story, the plot itself (albeit this book left us with too many WTF question), YES, some of the dialogue can (and will be) improved, BUT give the guys a break. SM1 was better than 90% of my comic purchases this month. And it will get great, i feel it.

THE NOT SO GOOD
Someone have to explain me the need for a suit-change- does the SHADOWMAN entity have a preference for certain types of clothes?!
"You should wear this cool botes and jumpsuit, Jackie-boy. And look at'em glovies! They are coooool!"

These stupid thoughts came my to mind imediatly after I read the last page twice...

Still: 4.5

Pretty much my thoughts overall. The costume change didn't bother me as much as "FEEL MY POWER" moment when he shouted "I AM SHADOWMAN!" but considering how the VH1 Shadowman found his mask on the street in the first issue and then physically put on his costume, it's a bit glaring how much more conventionally superheroic this was than a comic made over a decade and a half ago. Still, I enjoyed it quite a lot.

[JustinJordan]

Maybe it plays off the personality of the Host when it generates the 'costume', thus it would be different every time. And in this case it would be drawing on the subconscious as Jack likely has no idea what just happened to him at the end of the issue...

This is actually what happened. Jack would, were he trained the way he ought to have been, be able to change the costume to look like whatever he wants. Since he didn't, the Loa drew from his mind what it thought it ought to look like.

And I'm glad y'all dug it - we're pretty proud of the book.

[BugsySig]

Maybe it plays off the personality of the Host when it generates the 'costume', thus it would be different every time. And in this case it would be drawing on the subconscious as Jack likely has no idea what just happened to him at the end of the issue...

This is actually what happened. Jack would, were he trained the way he ought to have been, be able to change the costume to look like whatever he wants. Since he didn't, the Loa drew from his mind what it thought it ought to look like.

And I'm glad y'all dug it - we're pretty proud of the book.

Hey Justin! Thanks for chiming in. It is awefully refreshing to hear directly from the creator about such questions. Ahough I am sure we all could have waited a few issues to get the answer from the book, we are impatient folk who let our imaginations run wild.

Great job, by the way. I realy like your take on Jack and the legacy aspect, and I love Mr. Twist. The way he formed out of the severed body parts and evicerated intestines was brilliantly disgusting.

[hawkeyeps]

Maybe it plays off the personality of the Host when it generates the 'costume', thus it would be different every time. And in this case it would be drawing on the subconscious as Jack likely has no idea what just happened to him at the end of the issue...

This is actually what happened. Jack would, were he trained the way he ought to have been, be able to change the costume to look like whatever he wants. Since he didn't, the Loa drew from his mind what it thought it ought to look like.

And I'm glad y'all dug it - we're pretty proud of the book.

Hey Justin, thanks for chiming in. I like that you and Patch post on these boards, that's some good fan service!

I thought the first issue was great and somewhat similar to Bloodshot in that we are thrown in to the action right away before we even know what's going on, now that Bloodshot is on issue 5 things are starting to reveal and the book keeps getting better every month.

I think you planted a ton of seeds in this issue and I can't wait to see what happens

[BugsySig]

Maybe it plays off the personality of the Host when it generates the 'costume', thus it would be different every time. And in this case it would be drawing on the subconscious as Jack likely has no idea what just happened to him at the end of the issue...

This is actually what happened. Jack would, were he trained the way he ought to have been, be able to change the costume to look like whatever he wants. Since he didn't, the Loa drew from his mind what it thought it ought to look like.

And I'm glad y'all dug it - we're pretty proud of the book.

Hey Justin, thanks for chiming in. I like that you and Patch post on these boards, that's some good fan service!

I thought the first issue was great and somewhat similar to Bloodshot in that we are thrown in to the action right away before we even know what's going on, now that Bloodshot is on issue 5 things are starting to reveal and the book keeps getting better every month.

I think you planted a ton of seeds in this issue and I can't wait to see what happens

Kissass

[hawkeyeps]

Maybe it plays off the personality of the Host when it generates the 'costume', thus it would be different every time. And in this case it would be drawing on the subconscious as Jack likely has no idea what just happened to him at the end of the issue...

This is actually what happened. Jack would, were he trained the way he ought to have been, be able to change the costume to look like whatever he wants. Since he didn't, the Loa drew from his mind what it thought it ought to look like.

And I'm glad y'all dug it - we're pretty proud of the book.

Hey Justin, thanks for chiming in. I like that you and Patch post on these boards, that's some good fan service!

I thought the first issue was great and somewhat similar to Bloodshot in that we are thrown in to the action right away before we even know what's going on, now that Bloodshot is on issue 5 things are starting to reveal and the book keeps getting better every month.

I think you planted a ton of seeds in this issue and I can't wait to see what happens

Kissass

"Hey kettle you're looking a little black" said the pot

[hawkeyeps]

I thought it was very interesting what Justin said about the costume- It could be anything he wants it to be if trained.

I know Grendeljd is in a design contest- Good luck man, that would be mind blowing to design something that could potentialy show up in the book

[BugsySig]

I thought it was very interesting what Justin said about the costume- It could be anything he wants it to be if trained.

I know Grendeljd is in a design contest- Good luck man, that would be mind blowing to design something that could potentialy show up in the book

Interesting...now the "redesign a recently redesigned character" contest makes a little more sense...cool beans for the winner if it turns out to be true.

[JustinJordan]

Maybe it plays off the personality of the Host when it generates the 'costume', thus it would be different every time. And in this case it would be drawing on the subconscious as Jack likely has no idea what just happened to him at the end of the issue...

This is actually what happened. Jack would, were he trained the way he ought to have been, be able to change the costume to look like whatever he wants. Since he didn't, the Loa drew from his mind what it thought it ought to look like.

And I'm glad y'all dug it - we're pretty proud of the book.

Hey Justin, thanks for chiming in. I like that you and Patch post on these boards, that's some good fan service!

I thought the first issue was great and somewhat similar to Bloodshot in that we are thrown in to the action right away before we even know what's going on, now that Bloodshot is on issue 5 things are starting to reveal and the book keeps getting better every month.

I think you planted a ton of seeds in this issue and I can't wait to see what happens

No problem. The costume thing is one of those things that might not be mentioned in the book for while (or it might be in the next arc, we'll see if it comes up when they talk) so I figure no harm in confirming that.

With this book, we wanted people to be in more or less the same position that Jack was - dropped in with barely a clue about what was going on. So you'll be seeing this stuff the way Jack is. More or less - we obviously don't stay on him the whole time.

[hawkeyeps]

Maybe it plays off the personality of the Host when it generates the 'costume', thus it would be different every time. And in this case it would be drawing on the subconscious as Jack likely has no idea what just happened to him at the end of the issue...

This is actually what happened. Jack would, were he trained the way he ought to have been, be able to change the costume to look like whatever he wants. Since he didn't, the Loa drew from his mind what it thought it ought to look like.

And I'm glad y'all dug it - we're pretty proud of the book.

Hey Justin, thanks for chiming in. I like that you and Patch post on these boards, that's some good fan service!

I thought the first issue was great and somewhat similar to Bloodshot in that we are thrown in to the action right away before we even know what's going on, now that Bloodshot is on issue 5 things are starting to reveal and the book keeps getting better every month.

I think you planted a ton of seeds in this issue and I can't wait to see what happens

No problem. The costume thing is one of those things that might not be mentioned in the book for while (or it might be in the next arc, we'll see if it comes up when they talk) so I figure no harm in confirming that.

With this book, we wanted people to be in more or less the same position that Jack was - dropped in with barely a clue about what was going on. So you'll be seeing this stuff the way Jack is. More or less - we obviously don't stay on him the whole time.

That's exactly the feeling I got from the book, the reveal of the history is half the fun! Congrats on being a part of the VALIANT re-launch, really enjoyed the book and everything you set up (not to kiss *SQUEE* or anything ).

The mask gallery was a nice nod to the old Shadowman