BOOK OF SHADOWS #3, from Valiant Entertainment on January 25th, 2023, finds the world in dire straits when Exarch Fane uses his monster army to forge the Chain of Ruin across the world and feed the Book of Shadows with fresh souls.
The Details
- Written by: Cullen Bunn
- Art by: Vicente Cifuentes
- Colors by: Nick Filardi
- Letters by: Dave Sharpe
- Cover art by: Rafael Albuquerque (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: January 25, 2023
Is It Good?
BOOK OF SHADOWS #3 escalates the stakes in Exarch Fane’s bid to take over the world, so on that point, the implications of Fane’s plan feel huge. Cifuentes’s art style gives you plenty of supernatural eye candy to keep your eyeballs occupied, and the final pages project a solid “All is Lost” moment. That said, the villain’s goals are a little too basic, and the action feels small.
When last we left Shadowman and his allies in the middle of last year, Exarch Fane got his hands on the book and started implementing his plan for world domination. Now, we see the Shadow Team split up – one group battles the monsters to slow the devastation while the other infiltrates the Veil to find Exarch Fane.
On paper, the threat level feels big. Exarch Fane’s plans are world-ending, with the potential to, not just end the world but plunge it into an eternal Hell. Bunn hasn’t missed a beat since the hiatus started, so rather than feeling like the momentum for the series needs to regain some steam, readers hop right into the action.
Second but equal to Bunn’s energy-packed story is Cifuentes’s clean art style with miraculous colors from Filardi. Every panel is packed with detail. As the Shadow Team face off against werewolves, vampires, and an assortment of demons. You feel like you’re witness to a war in mid-battle.
However, we now see a bigger picture surrounding Exarch Fane’s grand design, and it lacks weight. Why does Exarch Fane want to take over the world? Because he can. That explanation may work for Saturday morning funny papers and kids’ books, but a conflict of this magnitude warrants more substance.
While the art is very well done and looks great, it feels small. Most of the panels are medium shots, so you don’t get a sense of the scale of devastation as the world slides toward chaos. The panels are well done, but the layouts and compositions are lacking dramatic punch.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our BOOK OF SHADOWS #2 review to find out how Exarch Fane got the book.
We begin with Exarch Fane making a deal with death. He will retain the book’s power as long as he feeds the book fresh souls.
Meanwhile, Doctor Mirage and Eternal Warrior infiltrate Exarch Fane’s stronghold within the Veil of Death. They find almost no resistance, but they soon find Fane’s edict to feed the book souls has begun with his own soldiers and guards.
On Earth, Shadowman, Punk Mambo, and Persephone do their best to slow the progression of death from the packs of monsters roaming the land. We conclude the issue with freedom, more death, and an offer.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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BOOK OF SHADOWS #3 is a solid entry in the crossover event that pushes the world closer to an eternal Hell. The monster designs are cool, and the action is fierce, but the main villain’s motivations are weak, and the action feels small in spots.
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