Shadowman #2

[Chiclo]

I'm about to go pick up my copy. By the time I get back and have read it, I hope a lively discussion has started up. hint hint

And..... Go!

Brag, brag, brag. Not all of us are so fortunate to live less than 50 miles from his local comic shop.

[greg]

Next question:

Who is the maintenance engineer who tried to adopt Jack and give him a sister a little older?
It doesn't look like Dox. If anything, it looks like Josiah.

I think the end of the dream trailed away from the real memory. Perhaps the maintenance engineer (or janitor) ends up being Jacks adopted father and we will meet this family at some point. It would be a nice little connection if he or the "big sister" turned out to be someone we already know from another book.

What if Josiah did raise Jack for a short period of time?
Darque says that the "angel" wouldn't teach him the way back.
What if the angel taught Josiah how to get back?
(That's how Darque knows that the angel knows... he taught someone else.)

If Josiah ever came back, he would definitely find Jack... but he might not tell him who he really was.

Jack would have recognized him in the mug shot, of course... unless Josiah looked significantly different after "death".

[greg]

Did everyone catch that Dox's full name is "Alessandro Paradojo Del Verdad"? --- Alessandro is Alexander, name meaning: protector of men
Paradojo Del Verdad means "Paradox of Truth". Dox.

Protector of men, paradox of truth.

A little man with big capacity for protection. He is the paradox.

[KXXX]

Did everyone catch that Dox's full name is "Alessandro Paradojo Del Verdad"? --- Alessandro is Alexander, name meaning: protector of men
Paradojo Del Verdad means "Paradox of Truth". Dox.

Hi-five!

Very interesting. Perhaps he is far more than just a little person.

[greg]

Except for being red/orange... the sphere that Darque is in when he talks to Twist looks exactly like something that (if it was blue) would be Ivar and Boon-related.

I assume the "death head's eye" is somehow related to Darque's eyes? Possibly also related to being able to "see" both realms?

[BugsySig]

Except for being red/orange... the sphere that Darque is in when he talks to Twist looks exactly like something that (if it was blue) would be Ivar and Boon-related.

I assume the "death head's eye" is somehow related to Darque's eyes? Possibly also related to being able to "see" both realms?

With a possible connection with Necromantic "Magic" and the Boon, and what you mentioned, I feel there has to be a connection between the Ahkashic Plane and Deadside.

[ShadowTuga]

Except for being red/orange... the sphere that Darque is in when he talks to Twist looks exactly like something that (if it was blue) would be Ivar and Boon-related.

I assume the "death head's eye" is somehow related to Darque's eyes? Possibly also related to being able to "see" both realms?

With a possible connection with Necromantic "Magic" and the Boon, and what you mentioned, I feel there has to be a connection between the Ahkashic Plane and Deadside.

From the first mention of how necromantic energy works in page 1, I read the whole issue looking for connections to the Boon. Maybe Darque's recently acquired knowledge about returning to our world has something to do with what happened in A&A 4?

My general thoughts:
Despite being more of a talky/exposition issue, i liked it a lot. Already read my digital copy twice.
Right now we need answers for a lot of stuff ("What exactly is the Loa? What is the Lyceum? Who is Darque? Who is Dox and what are the Abetors, anyway? And the Brethren, their rivals? What are Demons? Why Josiah and Jack's family?") and even after this month's revelations, I still feel quite on the dark; I guess that's the downside of reading monthlies, you only get 22 pages per month. Lucky tradewaiters!

I really liked the subtle humour. The panel where we see Jack's reaction to Alyssa's "You're Shadowman" cracked me up; it just stroke me as a very "human" reaction, which made it funnier, i dunno why.
That said, I found the dialogue in this issue a lot more natural than the debut: in this aspect, Alyssa is the true gem of the book for me. It's incredible how well developed she is as a character, with such a short amount of exposure.

The art was (again) beautiful and perfectly captured the character's moods. I love Zircher's work. Love it.
All in all, I'd rate it a 4.5 out of 5. A solid ish.

[JustinJordan]

Most importantly gentlemen and lady, this issue confirms what we all were left wondering after the first issue: Dox is a little person. Tee hee.

Hah, I wasn't aware that was at all ambiguous. But yes, he is.

I wasn't 100% on it after the last issue. Seeing his little stool, though...

So is he a nod to Jaunty? You can tell me. I'll keep it secret.

He isn't, but you're going to like issue three, I reckon.

Actually a couple of things mentioned in this thread are addressed, more or less, in three.

[VEI Reborn]

Most importantly gentlemen and lady, this issue confirms what we all were left wondering after the first issue: Dox is a little person. Tee hee.

Hah, I wasn't aware that was at all ambiguous. But yes, he is.

I wasn't 100% on it after the last issue. Seeing his little stool, though...

So is he a nod to Jaunty? You can tell me. I'll keep it secret.

He isn't, but you're going to like issue three, I reckon.

Actually a couple of things mentioned in this thread are addressed, more or less, in three.

Strode and Shadowman, what an awesome week! Amazing stuff Justin! I absolutely love Strode and Shadowman after only 2 issues is shaping up to be my favorite Valiant title.

One bit of nit picking though.... You are killing me with making Strode a mini again. There better be a 3rd series my good sir!

[pixierosa]

I'm about to go pick up my copy. By the time I get back and have read it, I hope a lively discussion has started up. hint hint

And..... Go!

Brag, brag, brag. Not all of us are so fortunate to live less than 50 miles from his local comic shop.

All apologies. And neener-neener.

[swtor1091]

Great issue with a killer ending... C"MON REALLY!!!!! Though i have to say that this is quickly becmoe my fav VEI comic

[Jaknife]

Necromancy has to do with the dead, not the living.

I know. Like I said, there's a reason (actually, several, but they dovetail together) why it's called that. But that's probably the sort of thing best revealed in the book, rather than a message board.

But I can tell you it's not because I don't know what necro refers to.

Clearly I've been away from the board, and comic books in general for too long. It was only after this post that I looked at your username, 'hmmm why is that familiar'. Never expected to be discussing a comic book with the guy who wrote it.

[Jaknife]

I was thinking more of matter and anti-matter, but with energy.

I guess I was picturing "death energy" as building up during the life of an individual (or plant, whatever)... but building up in an "anti-life" realm.

So, as someone lives, grows, gets older in "the world outside my window", their death energy would be building, growing on the other "dead side".

The way necromantic energy is created is on "that side" by the life on "this side".

sorry for the double post, but greg, whether you're right or wrong on this, i think that concept is brilliant.

[hawkeyeps]

Next question:

Who is the maintenance engineer who tried to adopt Jack and give him a sister a little older?
It doesn't look like Dox. If anything, it looks like Josiah.

I think the end of the dream trailed away from the real memory. Perhaps the maintenance engineer (or janitor) ends up being Jacks adopted father and we will meet this family at some point. It would be a nice little connection if he or the "big sister" turned out to be someone we already know from another book.

Dude! Maintenance Engineers are not Janitors!! At least not in Canada!

Loved the issue though, I was inspecting a property today and the agent recognized me from my LCS he is a fellow comic guy. I asked him what he was reading and he said mostly DC and some horror, I told him he should totally check out Shadowman. He has heard the buzz about VALIANT and is curious, hopefully he comes on board

I was lucky enough to get the Johnson cover at another LCS and asked the owner if he had checked it out yet, he said no so I showed him the page where Shadowman is punching through the Demon Cop's head and he said that reminded him of another book that came out this week and showed me the other panel of the punch through the head...it was Luther Strode

We had a good laugh, it seems to be a theme for JJ this week.

[grendeljd]

I was thinking more of matter and anti-matter, but with energy.

I guess I was picturing "death energy" as building up during the life of an individual (or plant, whatever)... but building up in an "anti-life" realm.

So, as someone lives, grows, gets older in "the world outside my window", their death energy would be building, growing on the other "dead side".

The way necromatic energy is created is on "that side" by the life on "this side".

Nice.

+1

Brilliant idea, Greg. Curious to see how your idea compares to JJ & PZ's concept.

[KXXX]

Most importantly gentlemen and lady, this issue confirms what we all were left wondering after the first issue: Dox is a little person. Tee hee.

Hah, I wasn't aware that was at all ambiguous. But yes, he is.

I wasn't 100% on it after the last issue. Seeing his little stool, though...

So is he a nod to Jaunty? You can tell me. I'll keep it secret.

He isn't, but you're going to like issue three, I reckon.

Actually a couple of things mentioned in this thread are addressed, more or less, in three.

I'm damp with anticipation reading that. Jaunty was one of the funniest things about the Shadowman games, which is what got me started on collecting Valiant (and only Valiant) comics.

So about three... you can send me an early copy. Once again... I won't tell. Pinky swear.

Seriously, though, keep up the great work!

[greg]

Actually a couple of things mentioned in this thread are addressed, more or less, in three.

To borrow a quote from our pal Dox...

"Once again JustinJordan says something that is entirely the truth and utterly useless."

(...at least until we get our hands on #3.)

[greg]

I was thinking more of matter and anti-matter, but with energy.

I guess I was picturing "death energy" as building up during the life of an individual (or plant, whatever)... but building up in an "anti-life" realm.

So, as someone lives, grows, gets older in "the world outside my window", their death energy would be building, growing on the other "dead side".

The way necromatic energy is created is on "that side" by the life on "this side".

Nice.

+1

Brilliant idea, Greg. Curious to see how your idea compares to JJ & PZ's concept.

Continuing my thought (no idea if it compares to Shadowman or not)...

I was thinking last night that the exact moment of death would be the point when the energy would switch sides.
The necromantic energy building on the "dead side" would cross over into the "real world", because the death occurs and "brings it over".
At the same moment, the living person would cross over to the "dead side", leaving only the physical body behind, perhaps obtaining a non-body (incorporeal) body on that side.

Darque and Josiah (and Twist, etc.) appear to be able to travel in both realms, without having to die (or at least, without having to stay dead).

[Chiclo]

Actually a couple of things mentioned in this thread are addressed, more or less, in three.

To borrow a quote from our pal Dox...

"Once again JustinJordan says something that is entirely the truth and utterly useless."

(...at least until we get our hands on #3.)

Is JustinJordan a vorlon?

[greg]

Actually a couple of things mentioned in this thread are addressed, more or less, in three.

To borrow a quote from our pal Dox...

"Once again JustinJordan says something that is entirely the truth and utterly useless."

(...at least until we get our hands on #3.)

Is JustinJordan a vorlon?

I know nothing about Babylon 5 except that I won't watch it because of those stupid bald guys with comb-outers (not comb-overs).

[Chiclo]

Actually a couple of things mentioned in this thread are addressed, more or less, in three.

To borrow a quote from our pal Dox...

"Once again JustinJordan says something that is entirely the truth and utterly useless."

(...at least until we get our hands on #3.)

Is JustinJordan a vorlon?

I know nothing about Babylon 5 except that I won't watch it because of those stupid bald guys with comb-outers (not comb-overs).

That one guy from Ancient Aliens? George Tsoukalos or whatever?

[greg]

Actually a couple of things mentioned in this thread are addressed, more or less, in three.

To borrow a quote from our pal Dox...

"Once again JustinJordan says something that is entirely the truth and utterly useless."

(...at least until we get our hands on #3.)

Is JustinJordan a vorlon?

I know nothing about Babylon 5 except that I won't watch it because of those stupid bald guys with comb-outers (not comb-overs).

That one guy from Ancient Aliens? George Tsoukalos or whatever?

Londo or something?

[Tim]

I'm probably going to end up dropping my first Valiant title with this one. There's nothing wrong with the book as far as the way it's written and drawn, but it's just too dark for me. Not into horror or gore and the scene with all the mutilated bodies in the first issue was just not something I want to see and I don't see it toning down. Honestly, it probably shouldn't tone down to be the kind of book it's trying to be, but it's just not a book for me. Zircher's art is great, though.

[KXXX]

I'm probably going to end up dropping my first Valiant title with this one. There's nothing wrong with the book as far as the way it's written and drawn, but it's just too dark for me. Not into horror or gore and the scene with all the mutilated bodies in the first issue was just not something I want to see and I don't see it toning down. Honestly, it probably shouldn't tone down to be the kind of book it's trying to be, but it's just not a book for me. Zircher's art is great, though.

I'm interested in this line of thought. Is it really that far removed from the violence we've seen of the re-launch to date?

[Tim]

I'm probably going to end up dropping my first Valiant title with this one. There's nothing wrong with the book as far as the way it's written and drawn, but it's just too dark for me. Not into horror or gore and the scene with all the mutilated bodies in the first issue was just not something I want to see and I don't see it toning down. Honestly, it probably shouldn't tone down to be the kind of book it's trying to be, but it's just not a book for me. Zircher's art is great, though.

I'm interested in this line of thought. Is it really that far removed from the violence we've seen of the re-launch to date?

I think it is. Some of the scenes with Ninjak in X-O were pretty harsh and I was pretty vocal about my dislike for some of the scenes in Bloodshot, but this book is looks like it's just going to push it farther than I care to read, based on the two issues I've read.