Shadowman 13

[jmatt]

Hmm. Just read 13X, wish I read it first. Kinda spells things out a little more cleanly. I liked it.

[lorddunlow]

Just read this.

1. RDLT art - duuuuuuude. I will get a commissioned sketch cover from him. I will. My favorite VEI artist by far.

2. I'm loving the new direction. Great tone - both writing and art. Can't wait to see where this goes.

3. I'm one of the few who was sad to see Justin Jordan leave, but I feel the the book is in good hands.

[erwinrafael]

3. I'm one of the few who was sad to see Justin Jordan leave, but I feel the the book is in good hands.

Combo-writing with an artist who is a first-time writer almost always does not work. I am thankful to Zircher because I believe his enthusiasm for his concept of the character is what pushed VEI to launch Shadowman. But VEI should have been adamant to making an established writer actually be the one who will write the book. We're not really privy to what happened behind the scenes but Shadowman #0 and #10 showed that Jordan's vision of Shadowman is quite different from the more superheroic version at the start of the series.

[caxiotis]

Just read the book this morning. I love the art and think that it suits the story well. I like the new writer and enjoyed issue 13.

I am uncertain as to the direction of the story. Jack's trying to get rid of the Loa? The Loa is a cast out spirit? Jack's a violent psychopath? Where is this all going to lead....

Can't wait to find out. Significantly better than the old team.

[Captain Craig]

Hmm. Just read 13X, wish I read it first. Kinda spells things out a little more cleanly. I liked it.

That being the case AND assuming that would translate for majority of readers it was a *SQUEE* poor decision to have a clarity bridging piece of narrative in such a remote and not easy to get publication.

[jmatt]

Hmm. Just read 13X, wish I read it first. Kinda spells things out a little more cleanly. I liked it.

That being the case AND assuming that would translate for majority of readers it was a *SQUEE* poor decision to have a clarity bridging piece of narrative in such a remote and not easy to get publication.

Mmm, it didn't reveal anything different, just fleshed out the senior Abettors a bit more. I bought a second copy of 13X today while at the LCS.

And I'll also say that I kind of liked Bleeding Cool, never read it before.

[Dallow Spicer1]

VERY impressed with this issue! I'd been eagerly anticipating this soft re-launch and I'm very optimistic that Shadowman can now fill its potential and maybe even give VEI a more mature, Vertigo type book. Milligan changes the course of the book for the better and immediately introduces an interesting new character in Mambo! As for the art, De La Torre delivers phenomenal work and I hope he is with the book more than 1 arc (I'm looking at you Tom Fowler!).

4/5

[lorddunlow]

As for the art, De La Torre delivers phenomenal work and I hope he is with the book more than 1 arc .

I hope he never leaves!

[Dallow Spicer1]

As for the art, De La Torre delivers phenomenal work and I hope he is with the book more than 1 arc .

I hope he never leaves!

+1

[BugsySig]

VERY impressed with this issue! I'd been eagerly anticipating this soft re-launch and I'm very optimistic that Shadowman can now fill its potential and maybe even give VEI a more mature, Vertigo type book. Milligan changes the course of the book for the better and immediately introduces an interesting new character in Mambo! As for the art, De La Torre delivers phenomenal work and I hope he is with the book more than 1 arc (I'm looking at you Tom Fowler!).

4/5

If there is anything I have learned recently it is that even a good artist is not always the right fit for a book. Fowler and De La Torre are perfect for Q&W and Shadowman, respectively, and I am afraid even with the new direction that Shadowman could suffer from a change after this arc like Q&W is.

[bygranddesign]

If there is anything I have learned recently it is that even a good artist is not always the right fit for a book. Fowler and De La Torre are perfect for Q&W and Shadowman, respectively, and I am afraid even with the new direction that Shadowman could suffer from a change after this arc like Q&W is.

Hopefully VEI already has a strong artist (similar to RDLT's style) lined up to do the 2nd arc ... Cause I agree, they really need to think about continuing the momentum of what I expect to be a strong arc both story and art wise.

They should also lock up RDLT as an exclusive ... and perhaps alternate RDLT with another artist arc to arc on Shadowman.

Hopefully when they expand the dark corner of the VEI universe ... RDLT can be the main artist on big event crossover. I think that's a good way to sell him on being an exclusive. When we have a big HYPED Shadowman crossover - You will be the man telling the story!

[BugsySig]

If there is anything I have learned recently it is that even a good artist is not always the right fit for a book. Fowler and De La Torre are perfect for Q&W and Shadowman, respectively, and I am afraid even with the new direction that Shadowman could suffer from a change after this arc like Q&W is.

Hopefully VEI already has a strong artist (similar to RDLT's style) lined up to do the 2nd arc ... Cause I agree, they really need to think about continuing the momentum of what I expect to be a strong arc both story and art wise.

They should also lock up RDLT as an exclusive ... and perhaps alternate RDLT with another artist arc to arc on Shadowman.

Hopefully when they expand the dark corner of the VEI universe ... RDLT can be the main artist on big event crossover. I think that's a good way to sell him on being an exclusive. When we have a big HYPED Shadowman crossover - You will be the man telling the story!

I'd actually love to see him draw a big Psiot battle or Eternal Warrior battle scene. His style is naturally dynamic, so I want to see him let loose on some action.

[Dallow Spicer1]

If there is anything I have learned recently it is that even a good artist is not always the right fit for a book. Fowler and De La Torre are perfect for Q&W and Shadowman, respectively, and I am afraid even with the new direction that Shadowman could suffer from a change after this arc like Q&W is.

Hopefully VEI already has a strong artist (similar to RDLT's style) lined up to do the 2nd arc ... Cause I agree, they really need to think about continuing the momentum of what I expect to be a strong arc both story and art wise.

They should also lock up RDLT as an exclusive ... and perhaps alternate RDLT with another artist arc to arc on Shadowman.

Hopefully when they expand the dark corner of the VEI universe ... RDLT can be the main artist on big event crossover. I think that's a good way to sell him on being an exclusive. When we have a big HYPED Shadowman crossover - You will be the man telling the story!

Yeah, getting RDLT on an exclusive would be a smart move! It amazes me how a small company like VEI continue to get the calibre of writers/artists (eg Dysart). How the 'big 2' haven't already got them locked up doing their 'stuff' is a mystery?

Another good thing I noticed about RDLT is that he doesn't have Alyssa wearing glasses on top of her head in every scene. This always seemed nonsensical to me give the nature of natural movement makes this impossible when jumping around?! It seems Ming Doyle has now acquired this annoying habit of having Woody wear glasses on his head in every scene! One of my (v few) gripes with VEI is the rigid adherence to the character design.

[erwinrafael]

VERY impressed with this issue! I'd been eagerly anticipating this soft re-launch and I'm very optimistic that Shadowman can now fill its potential and maybe even give VEI a more mature, Vertigo type book. Milligan changes the course of the book for the better and immediately introduces an interesting new character in Mambo! As for the art, De La Torre delivers phenomenal work and I hope he is with the book more than 1 arc (I'm looking at you Tom Fowler!).

4/5

If there is anything I have learned recently it is that even a good artist is not always the right fit for a book. Fowler and De La Torre are perfect for Q&W and Shadowman, respectively, and I am afraid even with the new direction that Shadowman could suffer from a change after this arc like Q&W is.

I have two artists whom I would like to alternate with RDLT. John Paul Leon (of Earth X fame) and Ashley Wood. Denys Cowan also although his style might be too alternative for some VEI fans.

[Dallow Spicer1]

I have two artists whom I would like to alternate with RDLT. John Paul Leon (of Earth X fame) and Ashley Wood. Denys Cowan also although his style might be too alternative for some VEI fans.

From memory didn't Ashley Wood draw Acclaim's Shadowman? And yes that would be a great rotation artist with RDLT.

[erwinrafael]

I have two artists whom I would like to alternate with RDLT. John Paul Leon (of Earth X fame) and Ashley Wood. Denys Cowan also although his style might be too alternative for some VEI fans.

From memory didn't Ashley Wood draw Acclaim's Shadowman? And yes that would be a great rotation artist with RDLT.

yes, he was the artist in Garth Ennis' Shadowman.

[Heath]

Finally read this book while on the crapper this morning. I'm still close to dropping it. While the previous run had some issues, I really dislike the whole "everything you knew was wrong" method of trying to breathe new life into a title.

[jmatt]

Finally read this book while on the crapper this morning. I'm still close to dropping it. While the previous run had some issues, I really dislike the whole "everything you knew was wrong" method of trying to breathe new life into a title.

Mmm, I would have to say this is more of a "you didn't know the whole picture" revamp. They didn't retcon out things we believed to be true, they simply added to them. Jack's backstory elements we knew about didn't change much, he's still possessed by the loa, the Abettors are still in place, etc.

I'm sure that doesn't change your opinion of the title, though. And I'm partially with you: the book needs to get some real mojo going, and quick.

[tchalla8]

Finally read this book while on the crapper this morning.

Thanks for the visual

[lorddunlow]

Finally read this book while on the crapper this morning.

Thanks for the visual

If it helps, most of my posts are written while on the clapper. No joke.

[krylox]

well, i have to say i was quite disappointed. this could have clearly been a more impressive "relaunch". and i was one of those very excited for milligan to come on board. while the drawings were first class, the writing was a little bit dull and redundant, like really light on words and complexity. the plot was ok, but also quite static, not much happened here. to be sincere, this felt like a average work-for-hire job and not like something, where milligan really feels it and brings his a-game. pity.

if this would be a non-vei book, i'd probably not pick up the next issue.

[Captain Craig]

well, i have to say i was quite disappointed. this could have clearly been a more impressive "relaunch". and i was one of those very excited for milligan to come on board. while the drawings were first class, the writing was a little bit dull and redundant, like really light on words and complexity. the plot was ok, but also quite static, not much happened here. to be sincere, this felt like a average work-for-hire job and not like something, where milligan really feels it and brings his a-game. pity.

if this would be a non-vei book, i'd probably not pick up the next issue.

Yep, you phrased it better than I did. The very last sentence is very true, I didn't type that same sentiment but should've.

I gave the issue a 2 o 5 stars, seriously I think the CBR reviewer gave it more slack than you or I.

[Heath]

The punker witch woman seemed really out of place and just not very fitting with New Orleans voodoo culture. It defied expectations, true, but it defied them too much.

[Chiclo]

The punker witch woman seemed really out of place and just not very fitting with New Orleans voodoo culture. It defied expectations, true, but it defied them too much.

An argument I made in the podcast.

[Dallow Spicer1]

I agree they should have gone generic voodoo backwoods witch or something less...I don't know...nonsensical? It's New Orleans, they should try to capture the flavor of the culture at every turn. Let that be what sets them apart.

Nah, then we'd have been calling out 'cliche' and predictable! I agree that using an English punk is a unique choice but lets see what Milligan's got in store for this character?