VALIANT BEYOND: TALES OF THE SHADOWMAN #2 – New Comic Review

Valiant Beyond: Tales of the Shadowman #2, by Valiant Comics on 10/1/25, finds Detective Myles and the elusive Shadowman chasing the secrets of Mr. Twist and a cursed scarf through the magical “Glass City.”

Credits:

• Writer: A.J. Ampadu
• Artist: Sergio Monjes
• Colorist: Jon Amarillo, Ludwig Olimba
• Letterer: Ezequiel Inverni
• Cover Artist: Damian Connelly (cover A)
• Publisher: Alien Books/Valiant Comics
• Release Date: October 1, 2025
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $4.99
• Page Count: 28
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of VALIANT BEYOND: TALES OF THE SHADOWMAN #2:

First Impressions:

This issue drags the reader through spectral alleyways with the grace of a cat burglar and the urgency of an open murder case. There’s a palpable chill as each panel oozes dread, but the banter keeps it snappy. It’s sharp, gloomy, and weirdly lively, leaving just enough confusion to make you question if the dead ever sleep.

Recap:

Valiant Beyond: Tales of the Shadowman #1 plunges readers into supernatural Louisiana where Jack Boniface, brooding as Shadowman with his wisecracking companion Thelonious, is summoned by the mayor’s cryptic carrier pigeon to the cursed city of Shambhala. Unease builds as rumors of unrest and the Pantheon’s threat to purge evil from the Deadside force Shadowman to retrieve his mystic saxophone and infiltrate New Orleans, a city protected by the magical Glass Curtain. Inside, his shadow powers meet their match as he intervenes to rescue Detective Alyssa Myles from a deadly curse, confronting the sinister Mr. Twist, whose intimate knowledge of Shadowman leads to a psychic clash that dredges up traumatic memories. In the aftermath, Alyssa (part of the city’s secretive Abettor Division) offers Shadowman a deal: help investigate Jack Boniface’s true identity while teaming up to hunt down Mr. Twist

Plot Analysis:

The story kicks off with Alyssa Myles narrating the woes of old-school voodoo and the fate of lost souls, setting a somber tone before returning to the grim business of NOLA’s police Abettor Division. Another corpse – same strangulation, same occult hints – nudges Myles and her lycan partner St. Brown toward a cursed scarf and the rituals of the Deadside.

Following the evidence to the White Zone Market, they engage with a magic vendor who spins tales of the legendary Shadowman and his tools, all the while warning them about Mr. Twist – a changeling known as The Charlatan. The information isn’t free; it costs them precious trinkets and a drop of pride. Meanwhile, Myles senses forbidden magic thickening in the air.

The investigation turns lethal as Myles is ambushed by Mr. Twist, who paralyzes her with an ancient hex. Just as her life ebbs away, she calls upon ancestral protection from the trinket she bought in Glass City, which brings forth Shadowman (echoing issue #1 from a different PoV), breaking the spell and barely surviving Twist’s attempt at murder. The creepiness factor soars as Myles realizes how close she came to doom, a rookie mistake for a seasoned detective.

Still traumatized, Myles regroups with her allies (including the spectral Shadowman) and turns to forensics expert Dr. Hwen Mirage for help. Their psychic scan reveals both Myles and Shadowman are cursed, tangled in memories shattered by unknown forces. The ritual spirals into chaos with Mirage nearly dying, leaving the path to Mr. Twist more twisted than ever.

Story

AJ Ampadu’s script balances ticking clock suspense with deadpan sarcasm and gumshoe grit. The dialogue feels organic, unfussy, and bounces between punchy and world-weary without losing the plot. Exposition is kept tight, but the occasional lore dump risks muddying momentum.

Art

Sergio Monjes pushes ink into supernatural territory: a shadow-clotted city etched in blues and purples, swirling with spectral energy. Characters stretch, contort, and slide between horror and noir, yet panel flow never misses a step. Dynamic compositions capture both mystic rituals and street drama, but facial expressions slap harder than the occasional rough line.

Characters

Detective Alyssa Myles is candid, haunted, and stubborn, arguably more compelling than Shadowman, who plays the cryptic god. St. Brown’s animal instincts and grumbling humor add texture, while Mr. Twist slips in with menace that lingers long after he slinks off-page. Supporting cast get just enough spotlight to keep the ensemble alive.

Positives

The best bits come from the snake-like pacing and jazzy interplay between Myles, St. Brown, and the forces of the Deadside. Art and color drench New Orleans in neon-soaked dread, showing off a city alive with magic and menace. Dialogue is clever without being try-hard, and every magical encounter ratchets up the tension.

Negatives

Lore drops threaten to drown the comic in excess exposition. New readers might feel like they’re arm-deep in cursed jelly. A few plot beats rely heavily on supernatural convenience rather than crack detective work, leaving parts of the mystery feeling half-baked. Occasionally, the artwork loses clarity, especially in scenes with heavy curses and hexes, which blurs key action.

Art Samples:

Final Thoughts:

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VALIANT BEYOND: TALES OF THE SHADOWMAN #2 punches above its weight, but stumbles on its own mystic mystery as it tries to juggle exposition with genuine suspense. Monjes’ art delivers textured chills and Ampadu’s writing never loses its edge, even when some plot strings go slack. Like a hex wrapped in a cashmere scarf, Valiant Beyond: Tales of the Shadowman #2 is eerie, witty, and occasionally frayed. Worth a read, but keep a talisman handy.

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