THE SHADOW NOW #1 Review


What happens you transition an aged icon to a modern time full of past troubles? Read on to find out.

The official description from Dynamite:

Having spent decades in the east to rejuvenate himself, the greatest pulp hero of them all, The Shadow, returns to New York in modern times. Lamont Cranston seeks to resume his old life, and his heroic alter-ego is ready to stand once more as an enemy to evil. But while he slept, his foes have remained vigilant, and the most dangerous man the Shadow has ever faced prepares to rise once more. It’s the shocking beginning to a new era for the Shadow!

What we have here is a fitting yarn from the the team that took on The Spider.  Let me ask you then: who better to take on a symbol of an era long since passed than these talented men?  No one, I tell you, no one.

Using trademark elements that have made this pulp hero a staple for generations, David Liss simply has a ball showing us how much Lamont Cranston is indeed out of his own element.  Truth is, he’s old (appearances to the contrary), out of practice and in need of some serious strides toward justice but for the most part these obstacles never feel all that forced.  Sure some connections feel a bit mishandled but the scribe impresses by bringing enough features to the table in order to deliver something that’s worthwhile.

Colton Worley handles the art and his painted antics continue, as this endless talent basks in the glory of a character he deserves to illustrate more often.  He hits the right perspectives while building up the authentic pieces which make The Shadow into the terror that criminals fear.  There’s a lot of intricacy here that should impress anyone who picks up this book, as the illustrator leaves me with pages of work so good they deserve no complaints.

The Shadow Now #1 doesn’t need to exist.  But it is an interesting idea that builds off of the contained notions of the franchise in ways that inspire.  Highly recommended.

4.5/5

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