Shadowman (2018) #5 Review
Writer: Andy Diggle
Artist: Doug Braithwaite
Colorist: José Villarrubia
Letter: Simon Bowland
Publisher: Valiant
This fifth issue of the new Shadowman series takes us further back in time than the fourth issue did. Jack’s soul seems to still be falling through the void and here he experiences more history of who he is and why he was chosen to be the Shadowman. He sees this by being thrown back to what appears to be early America where we meet Marius Boniface.
I have been reading a lot of the early issues of the original Shadowman series lately. Up to the point that I have read, I have not seen all of this history about the Shadowman explained so I am not sure if it ever was before this new series. Regardless, Andy Wiggle is doing a good job at keeping me engaged in Jack’s life while visiting his ancestors. Both of these flashback issues, #4 and this one, tell interesting stories with the smoothly written dialogue that we expect from Wiggle.
However, I will admit that despite still being interested, I don’t finish these issues with the excitement that I felt after reading the first three. I have no problems with stories told slowly or reading a lot of history, but these issues just aren’t as unique and original as I expected the series to be after those first few issues. I am really ready to get to back to reading about Jack and Alyssa and I find that I am losing the passion I once had for the series.
None of that means that this is a bad issue, because Andy Wiggle and Doug Braithwaite are very talented and know how to make comic books with polished storytelling and beautiful artwork. Specifically, Braithwaite’s illustrations of the action scenes towards the end of the issue are intricate and stunning. Colorist José Villarrubia also helps to create the proper environment for the story by adding these perfect faded colors to the scenes that take place long ago.
Based on the cover for the next issue and its name, “The Beginning of Time,” I am assuming it will also take place even earlier in the Shadowman’s history. I really hope that I can become consumed by this story again with the next backstory issue, because overall, this entire story is amazing and I want to continue to be captivated by it. This issue, along with the one prior, just didn’t accomplish that for me personally despite the dialogue and artwork being so well done. As of now, I wouldn’t even consider abandoning this series because based on the first three issues specifically, I know that it can be a beautiful, sad, and exciting one.
Artist: Doug Braithwaite
Colorist: José Villarrubia
Letter: Simon Bowland
Publisher: Valiant
This fifth issue of the new Shadowman series takes us further back in time than the fourth issue did. Jack’s soul seems to still be falling through the void and here he experiences more history of who he is and why he was chosen to be the Shadowman. He sees this by being thrown back to what appears to be early America where we meet Marius Boniface.
I have been reading a lot of the early issues of the original Shadowman series lately. Up to the point that I have read, I have not seen all of this history about the Shadowman explained so I am not sure if it ever was before this new series. Regardless, Andy Wiggle is doing a good job at keeping me engaged in Jack’s life while visiting his ancestors. Both of these flashback issues, #4 and this one, tell interesting stories with the smoothly written dialogue that we expect from Wiggle.
However, I will admit that despite still being interested, I don’t finish these issues with the excitement that I felt after reading the first three. I have no problems with stories told slowly or reading a lot of history, but these issues just aren’t as unique and original as I expected the series to be after those first few issues. I am really ready to get to back to reading about Jack and Alyssa and I find that I am losing the passion I once had for the series.
None of that means that this is a bad issue, because Andy Wiggle and Doug Braithwaite are very talented and know how to make comic books with polished storytelling and beautiful artwork. Specifically, Braithwaite’s illustrations of the action scenes towards the end of the issue are intricate and stunning. Colorist José Villarrubia also helps to create the proper environment for the story by adding these perfect faded colors to the scenes that take place long ago.
Based on the cover for the next issue and its name, “The Beginning of Time,” I am assuming it will also take place even earlier in the Shadowman’s history. I really hope that I can become consumed by this story again with the next backstory issue, because overall, this entire story is amazing and I want to continue to be captivated by it. This issue, along with the one prior, just didn’t accomplish that for me personally despite the dialogue and artwork being so well done. As of now, I wouldn’t even consider abandoning this series because based on the first three issues specifically, I know that it can be a beautiful, sad, and exciting one.
A Look Inside
