Comics

5 Skull Review: ‘Shadowman’ #0

Published

11 years ago

May 2, 2013

BigJ

In Shadowman #0, Master Darque , the classic Valiant villain, finally gets a chance to steal the spotlight with an origin tale. Master Darque is one of the most infamous villains in the Valiant universe, and when dealing with a character of this magnitude it’s very easy for things to go awry, but writer Justin Jordan simply knocked this one out of the park. Shadowman #0 is one of the best issues to come out of the newly re-launched Valiant, and it is one of the best things you’ll read this month.

WRITTEN BY: Justin Jordan
ART BY: Mico Suayan and Robert De La Torre
PUBLISHER: Valiant
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE:May 1st, 2013

Writer Justin Jordan delivers a powerful and heart wrenching origin tale told from the point of view of Master Darque’s sister. Here we get to see firsthand how Master Darque evolved from an innocent little kid into one of the most sinister, violet and downright evil villains in all of comics. This issue has all the components of great storytelling, as Jordan takes a monster and tugs on reader’s heartstrings by showing us his human side.

The issue wouldn’t be nearly as fantastic as it turned out to be without the superior artwork of Mico Suayan and Robert De La Torre. Both artists’ turn in some gorgeous art that literally leaps off the page, and perfectly complement the story. The scenes that depict Darque as a child, deliver an emotional knockout punch that a story like this needs. The final sequence of this book, drawn by Mico Suayan, is truly some next level work that is typically only seen by superstar artists like Steve McNiven or David Finch. The final pages in this issue drawn by Mico Suayan are more than worth the price of admission for readers.

There isn’t a moment inside the pages of Shadowman #0 that doesn’t grab readers by the throat, as this book holds them hostage until the final panel. This standalone issue could be one of the best comics of the entire year, and is the perfect jumping on point for new readers to get acquainted with one of comics greatest villains. Shadowman #0 is a riveting piece of comics storytelling that is simply flawless, and for that the creative team deserves a standing ovation.

5/5 Skulls

Related Topics:Shadowman Valiant Valiant Comics

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Comics

‘Witchblade’ is Getting Resurrected This Summer in New Comic Series from Top Cow and Image Comics

Published

6 days ago

April 18, 2024

Meagan Navarro

Witchblade, the popular comic series that initially ran from 1995 to 2015 and launched a TV series, is getting resurrected in a new comic series from Top Cow and Image Comics. It’s set to unleash heavy metal, black magic and blood this summer.

Look for the new Witchblade series to launch on July 17, 2024.

In Witchblade #1, “New York City Police Detective Sara Pezzini’s life was forever fractured by her father’s murder. Cold, cunning, and hellbent on revenge, Sara now stalks a vicious criminal cabal beneath the city, where an ancient power collides and transforms her into something wild, magnificent, and beyond her darkest imaginings. How will Sara use this ancient power, or will she be consumed by it?”

The series is penned by NYT Best-Selling writer Marguerite Bennett (Animosity, Batwoman, DC Bombshells) and visualized by artist Giuseppe Cafaro (Suicide Squad, Power Rangers, Red Sonja). The creative duo is working with original co-creator Marc Silvestri, who is the CEO of Top Cow Productions Inc. and one of the founders of Image Comics. They are set to reintroduce the series to Witchblade’s enduring fans with “a reimagined origin with contemporary takes on familiar characters and new story arcs that will hook new readers and rekindle the energy and excitement that fueled the 90’s Image Revolution that shaped generations of top creators.”

Bennett said in a statement, “The ability to tell a ferocious story full of monsters, sexuality, vision, and history was irresistible.” She adds, “Our saga is sleek, vicious, ferocious, and has a lot to say about power in the 21st century and will be the first time that we are stopping the roller coaster to let more people on. I’ve loved Witchblade since I was a child, and there is truly no other heroine like Sara with such an iconic legacy and such a rich, brutal relationship to her own body.”

“The Witchblade universe is being modernized to reflect how Marguerite beautifully explores the extreme sides of Sara through memories, her personal thoughts, like desire and hunger, in her solitude and when she is possessed by the Witchblade. So, I had to visually intersect a noir True Detective-like world with a supernatural, horror world that is a fantastic mix between Berserk and Zodiac,” Cafaro stated.

Marc Silvestri notes, “This is brand new mythology around Sara, and I can’t wait for you to fall in love with her and all the twists and turns. Discover Witchblade reimagined this summer, and join us as we bring all the fun of the 90s to the modern age and see how exciting comics can be. I can’t wait for you to read this new series.”

Witchblade#1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 17th, for $4.99 for 48 pages. And it’ll come with multiple cover variants.