SHADOWMAN: SOUL EATERS #2, by Valiant Comics on 11/6/24, the team of supernatural fighters find themselves on the ropes against Magpie’s overwhelming attacks and her legion of Golems.
Credits:
- Writer: A.J. Ampadu
- Artist: Sergio Monjes
- Colorist: Exequiel Roel, Ludwig Olimba
- Letterer: Ezequiel Inverni
- Cover Artist: Salvador Sanz (cover A)
- Publisher: Valiant Comics
- Release Date: November 6, 2024
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Page Count: 28
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of SHADOWMAN: SOUL EATERS #2:
First Impressions:
Well, this is fine. Writer A.J. Ampadu mixes an extensive battle with snippets of flashbacks to reveal how Alyssa became the new Magpie for a follow-up issue that leans on the action to hold your attention. If relentless action is enough to hold your attention, you’re in for a good time.
Plot Analysis:
When last we left Jack Boniface in Shadowman: Soul Eaters #1, Jack was thrilled to greet Alyssa Myles home from a long trip. Their reunion was cut short when Jack was notified by Doctor Mirage that a string of recent killings led to the return of Master Darque and Magpie. When Jack assembled a team to hunt down the threat, their search revealed that evil was already among them in the form of Alyssa Myles.
In Shadowman: Soul Eaters #2, the battle continues with a few flashbacks to fill in the blanks. The issue begins with a slice of a scene showing Master Darque using psychological manipulation on Alyssa to force her into becoming the new Magpie.
While brief, Ampadu’s brief opening prologue gives readers two bits of helpful information. We learn what Master Darque is after, we see how Darque can be a truly evil man, and we learn Alyssa isn’t going along with Darque willingly. In the grand scheme, these aren’t important tidbits, but they serve their purpose.
Now, the battle in the cemetery continues. For every spell or Golem attack Magpie unleashes, the sorcerers hold their own but barely. Eventually, the army of Golems Magpie conjures becomes too overwhelming to defend against. Zaya is eventually separated from the group and ambushed by a mob of Golems.
To Ampadu’s credit, a tension-filled scene of good versus evil always works best when the villains are more powerful than the heroes, so Amapadu captures that imbalance perfectly. You will believe one or more sorcerers will die.
Before Magpie can extract her prize for Master Darque, a sample of Shadowman’s blood, Persephone, the mortal embodiment of the Darkside arrives to unleash the full power of death on Earth. The issue concludes with a peek into the partnership between Darque and Silk and another Immortal arriving to lend a hand.
Overall, Shadowman: Soul Eaters #2 is a relatively tension-filled, action-heavy issue to show off the imbalance between good and evil. The one downside? Issue #2 lacks a strong narrative hook, much like issue #1. We don’t know what Darque is after or why, and the helpful tidbits in this issue don’t tell readers much more than they already know or could have easily guessed. In short, there’s no surprise.
Artwork and Presentation:
If the script is just okay, the weight of the issue falls on the artist to pump up the value factor. In this case, Sergio Monjes is tasked with capturing your attention, aided by Exequiel Roel and Ludwig Olimba on colors. That said, the art, like the script, is just okay, and unfortunately, the coloring is a disappointing weak point. The color palette selection is faded, and the application is a streaky mess. We’ve seen worse coloring, but not by much.
Art Samples:
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
Valiant fans following the Resurgence crossover may wonder where this story fits into Silk’s Immortality Agenda. Shadowman: Soul Eaters #2 briefly mentions aspects of Resurgence, referencing the sinkholes that lead to the Faraway, as an example, but this story is progressing as if Silk’s world-changing plan in Resurgence is “this thing that’s happening somewhere else.”
Final Thoughts:
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SHADOWMAN: SOUL EATERS #2 is a positively decent issue that fills in a few minor gaps surrounding Alyssa’s association with Darque and spends the rest of the time on supernatural action. A.J. Ampadu pumps up the pace and energy to keep the story moving. However, the script lacks a strong hook or surprise to get readers invested, and the art is subpar.
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