On the VF site now, there is a post asking why are you underwhelmed by Shadowman? I don't know if underwhelmed really describes it. It has two hard things working against it. One. It is recreating one of the consistently best comics in the original Valiant line. It had Bob Hall from start to finish - for the most part. Second, it was one of the strongest comics in that line - and most consistent - from start to finish. Third - it was expected at the beginning. Outside of the MOST recognized Gold Key titles, it rings the loudest - especially to the outside community. Fourth - and this pains me - it didn't really hit the ground running like so many of the other titles out there. It started slowly - and really didn't get completely revving. Until now, of course. This is probably the strongest singular issue in the Valiant line - excepting a few that may compete in the Renegades Harbinger run. It is rich, full, unexpected, and takes the focus from the 'hero' to the villain. And Darque is fantastic as a villain. I don't care who Harada becomes. It makes me kind of want to root for the guy. At least I can understand a bit about him. Sandria plays a strong role in the comic. She's also a great character - and moves from a caricature in the old run to another tragic figure. It believably puts these characters into a history of the area - and inextricably connects the two forever to the Shadowman.
The End of Nightmask.
It's funny how things sometimes happen. The beginning of the comic was fair - and then decent - and then 'good.' Then it got bad - and here we are getting decent again. The problem is that it feels like four or five different comics in its run. Had it been one comic - this all the way through - or even that all the way through - but with some real consistency running through the comic - it COULD have been saved. Unfortunately, it wasn't and isn't. This comic actually made me feel a bit with the characters and predicaments - and don't get me started on the whole connection with the voodoo and crazy New Orleans - okay - not New Orleans in this comic - but real connections to the voodoo and connections - especially to the old Shadowman comics. This one is okay - but I did like the fact that his allergic reaction was really the thing that defeated him. Pretty interesting concept. But nowhere NEAR as good as the Shadowman zero - which may be the best Valiant comic ever produced.