Shadowman #9 Review


On the Deadside, Jack will have the ultimate battle with Master Darque and the consequences are both compelling and ever so slightly sad. Great storytelling is never as neat and clean as we might expect but is always exciting and makes Shadowman a terrific read.

Official description from VALIANT:

The deepest cut of all. Jack suffers a devastating betrayal as Master Darque’s ultimate plan stands revealed. Now, with the Brethren on the verge of wiping out Dox and the Abettors and the Deadside threatening to explode into our world, Jack will have to call on everything he’s got to stop them… or lose everything trying.

Dox, Samedi and Shadowman face down the ultimate evil in Master Darque and someone will pay the ultimate price. Samdei wants control back of the souls in his care and will stop at nothing to get them back. It’s all been leading up to this and writer Justin Jordan does not disappoint. He writes Darque as the perfect villain for Shadowman where he can counter every move and anticipate and Shadowman will need everyone if he is to defeat Darque. Jordan also never holds back on the risk of each characters possibilities of sacrifice and that always makes for a better story. The back and forth battle between the hero and the villain is a match no one ever seems to win but neither will ever concede.

Neil Edwards and Roberto De La Torre get the bulk of the credit for the art here and it sets a very balanced tone between the darkness of the Deadside, the horror and the action that unfolds. It’s dark, it’s scary and it’s beautiful to behold. There is a stark contrast is style toward the end of the book as the panels get grislier and darker especially the panels with Dox. I’m not always a fan of multiple artists on one book but this works fairly well and fluid.

Jordan knows what he’s doing here with Shadowman and his final battle with Darque. This is the climax and Jordan doesn’t fail to deliver. Shadowman is a great mix of horror and action with a touch of heart. This is a title that any fan of both genres will find satisfying and exciting. This is Valiant’s sleeper hit that fans should not miss.

4/5

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