(Courtesy of Valiant Entertainment)
A gripping supernatural thriller that mixes noir and time-travel, Shadowman #4 (Valiant Entertainment) delivers lean and atmospheric scares. The start of an all-new arc, new readers will definitely be hooked with this jumping-on point.
Jack Boniface is about to discover the long-hidden history of the supernatural power that became his birthright. Unmoored in time and space, the last defender of the wall finds himself between our realm and the Deadside. Falling backwards through the astral void, Jack finds himself face to face with his forebears in the paranoia-addled alleyways of 1940s New York.
Here are 5 reasons why you should get Shadowman #4:
5) What Happened Before…
SHADOWMAN #4 has got some amazing covers from @tozozozo, @davidmackkabuki, @srDAVIDLAFUENTE, and @Devilpig666! Get them for yourself on June 20th! pic.twitter.com/6iWfFoLq14
— Valiant Comics (@ValiantComics) June 17, 2018
In the previous installment, Jack Boniface and Alyssa thought they had found a way o defeat the deadly Ioa Baron Samadi. They were trying to send the evil spirit back to the Deadside. Unfortunately, Jack left his body instead and became lost in an unknown void.
4) Noir!
Writer Andy Diggle time-travels to the ‘40s, where Maxim’s Boniface, Jack’s great-grandfather, is on a mission as the Shadowman . Letterer Simon Bowland captures Jack’s third-person narration as he watches what’s happening. Diggle finds a great balance for Jack to observe and respond, without ever dictating what’s actually going on.
3) The Artwork!
Artists Shawn Martinbrough and Stephen Segovia give Shadowman an interesting new costume design. In costume, Shadowman fits the noir genre with the fedora hat and trench coat. In a one-pager, Martinbrough captures the grittiness of a city as Maxim plays his saxophone.
2) The Colors!
Notice how Colorist Jose Vilarrubia captures just the whiteness of Shadowman’s mask in certain scenes. The rest of his body is draped in shadows. The blue tones in the backgrounds showcase a city that thrives during the night.
1) An Exciting Mix!
Happy #fathersday to all the good dads out there including my own, whom I’ve always snuck into my projects over the years. #shadowman pic.twitter.com/00SUNXFidj
— Shawn Martinbrough (@smartinbrough) June 17, 2018
Overall, Shadowman #4 delivers a clever prequel that mixes historical fiction and noir. This is a great issue for new readers!
Rating:
Three out of four emojis
Shadowman #4 arrives in stores on June 20th, 2018.