In SHADOWMAN #2, available from Valiant Entertainment on May 26th, 2021, Shadowman confronts a hungry evil in the ghost town of Enoch, and he discovers other forces besides Baron Semedi are watching him.
The Details
- Written By: Cullen Bunn
- Art By: Jon Davis-Hunt
- Colors By: Jordie Bellaire
- Letters By: Clayton Cowles
- Cover Art By: Jon Davis-Hunt (cover A)
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: May 26, 2021
Was It Good?
Yes, this series continues to impress as one of the best offerings from Valiant in recent memory.
Why? Because it’s simple, straightforward, episodic storytelling. Only two issues in, you get a clear sense of Shadowman’s purpose, the nature of his relationship with Baron Semedi, the kinds of threats he faces in his “adventures,” and just enough of a through-line to feel like each issue is building towards something greater without shortchanging the issue at hand.
Wait! Don’t Forget To Sign Up For The Comical Opinions Newsletter.
It’s 100% FREE. Sign up NOW!
The art from Davis-Hunt is excellent. It’s detailed and engaging. If Daniel Warren Johnson moves on from his phenomenal work on the Beta Ray Bill series, Davis-Hunt would be an excellent choice for successor.
Check it our for yourself in our SHADOWMAN #2 preview.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
To get caught up on the (re)introduction of Jack Boniface as Shadowman, read our SHADOWMAN #1 review before you go any further. You’ll be glad you did.
We begin with a prologue of a family in a station wagon headed down a lonely desert road. They pick up a hitchhiker who’s not what he seems. Unfortunately for the hitchhiker, the family is not what they seem. Both parties are headed to the town of Enoch for similar and competing reasons.
There’s a lot to like about the prologue as there’s very little action, and yet, it sets up the horror of the issue quickly and deftly in a Twilight Zone-like twist that’s incredibly effective.
Jack Boniface aka Shadowman and baron Semedi are walking down the main street of Enoch (coincidentally, the destination of both the hitchhiker and the family from the prologue). Enough is a thin place where the membrane separating the worlds of the living and the dead is weak. Something has breached the membrane and taken up residence in Enoch.
There’s good banter between Jack and Semedi that informs the dynamic of their relationship more concretely than the first issue. Baron Semedi effectively sends Jack on missions to kill demons and close breaches. There’s a Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibe to Jack’s missions, albeit as a traveling Slayer.
Jack confronts the entity residing in Enoch, which will put an end to the murders and kidnappings from the surrounding towns. We conclude the issue with Jack fulfilling his mission and learning somebody has been watching him besides Baron Semedi.
The conclusion is commendable for not taking the easy path. Closing the breach requires Jack to make a hard choice that’s essentially the lesser of two evils. It’s good to see characters forced to make hard choices and writers willing to not take the easy way out of a conclusion.
How Does It End?
Closing the breach requires sacrifice. Baron Semedi leaves to consult associates about a new player. Jack questions how free his choices really are.
Final Thoughts
SHADOWMAN #2 is a near-perfect example of episodic comic storytelling done right. The art is captivating and the story hooks you with a clean adventure that leaves just enough crumbs to build anticipation for something bigger.
Score: 9/10
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com