The Shadow: Year One #8 Review

Does the first year for this icon warrant a look? Read on to find out.

The official description from Dynamite:

In the aftermath of his sky-scraping battle with Big Gun Massaretti, Lamont Cranston hunts for the psychic super-villain who was puppet master to the belligerent mobster, the grotesque and mysterious Dr. Zorn. His pursuit takes him to all corners of the Big Apple, even as the NYPD are just beginning to hear reports of the dark-clad vigilante known only as The Shadow! Eisner Award winner Matt Wagner and artists Wildfredo Torres and Brennan Wagner bring the classic pulp hero’s fledgling adventures to life in this blazing hot ten-issue series.

This has easily been one of my favorite books, as the creative team dives into the past of pulp while yielding just enough juice to build up this vigilante. Credit for that goes to the hard work behind the scenes, as the origins of this journey continue to take root. In short: this is a solid series that deserves a purchase and should have your attention.

Matt Wagner presents his audience with a text heavy affair. From beginning to end the author has a striking grasp on the chief players but it’s his ability to stack the deck for potential confrontation that really carries this whole thing to fruition. Using the burgeoning relationship between Margo Lane and Lamont Cranston, we’re given a human perspective on a distinctly volatile situation. It can be a bit slow but the build up is absolutely necessary.

The art done by Wilfredo Torres is once again simple but detailed. It’s an engaging dynamic that easily brings back the old school mentalities that made this particular franchise popular even in its infancy. There’s not a whole lot of action to be found, but thankfully the talent has the ability to keep even conversations engaging. To complete the visual package, Brennan Wagner jumps in to handle the colors and they look great.

The Shadow: Year One #8 is exactly what it needs to be. It’s a good comic book that moves the narrative forward as it easily comes recommended.