Is this really a solid enough release to warrant a purchase from this saga’s devoted fan-base? Read on to find out.

The official description from Dynamite:

The Shadow knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men. But when Lamont Cranston crosses paths with an old friend–a fellow veteran of “the war to end all wars”–Cranston’s justice serving alter ego must judge a man whose path to villainy began with their friendship! At the risk of his own secrets being laid bare, Cranston accepts an invitation to join a very exclusive club of adventurers whose dark hearts might be the worst The Shadow has ever encountered!

One of the most interesting aspects about Lamont Cranston and his alter-ego is the moral ambiguity that surrounds them.  Whether he does what he does to make amends for the sins of his past or to balance the scales inherent in this world, our hero still judges and executes people.  So at what point does he become the monster?

The script by Scott Beatty is written with a degree of candor that easily allows for fluid access to a storied franchise while introducing the ongoing themes associated with its currently active monthly series. From the dialogue to the pacing, this comic book is an absolute treat but it did stumble a bit.  Whether it was because of repeated bits of dialogue or some static scenes, there were a few rough patches therein, but nonetheless it held firmly to a sound level of overall quality.

Ronan Cliquet does a solid job on the art, delivering a unique visual atmosphere that’s in sync with this narrative.  The character designs offer a deformed but interesting visualization that largely ignores past work with this title in favor on offering a new flavor.  And that right there is where the strength exists but a few select panels had faces or body parts that seemed to be a bit misshapen much to the detriment of this tale.

The Shadow Special #1 is a good way to introduce new readers to this franchise but seasoned followers may or may not appreciate this journey.  Despite that what we have here is still a solid package that easily earns a recommendation.

3.5/5