The mysterious pieces of this puzzle start to come together, but should you even care about the outcome?  Read on to find out.

The official description from Dynamite:

The Shadow has pieced together the origins of the mysterious killer known only as the Light, and has at last uncovered her true identity. But will that knowledge do him any good, as the Shadow and the Light face off against each other for one last showdown? And will either of them survive the encounter?

The re-imagining of this pulp icon has, for the most part, been beyond successful and this latest arc is another extension of that sterling fact.  The creative team plays with some striking pieces that should excite devoted followers as we delve into some rather murky waters.

Chris Roberson pens the script and the scribe works hard to not only realize his vision but offer a strong question that our hero will shortly have to face: what does it mean to serve true justice?  I can’t answer that right now because our protagonist is more focused on stopping this assassin than reflecting on her mission.  In truth they are similar and different in all the most interesting ways, but thanks primarily to the flashbacks given by the author we see enough detail to be made aware of facts that elude our icon.  In short: the summation of this jaunt is accessible, as it offers a compelling yarn.

The art by Giovanni Timpano is splendid to be sure, as the illustrations work within the confines of the narrative to create something that fits.  To be honest that may sound a bit negative but there are times where the pictures do not necessarily uplift the tale at hand but instead support it.  And there’s nothing wrong with that, as a steady hand and an outstretched arm use thick and thin pencil strokes to breath life to these pivotal pieces of paper.

The Shadow #17 is at times corny but nonetheless captivating.  It’s an adventure that sets up what should be a thrilling final clash between these two battle ready weapons.  Recommended.

4/5