The two most popular Dynamite pulp heroes unite for this crossover event. Does Issue #1 start off the mini-series on a high note? While light on the action, the use of historical characters was nice. Fans of both titles will definitely want to check it out.

Here’s the official description from Dynamite:

A threat so titanic that it forces The Shadow to team-up with The Green Hornet! A plot so deadly that it involves real events in history and such famous and infamous people as Woodrow Wilson, Rasputin, J. Edgar Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Nikola Tesla! An unstoppable power will plunge the world into darkness… and no one but our two crime-fighting icons can stop it! Written by Michael Uslan, the originator and Executive Producer of the Batman movie franchise, including the Dark Knight trilogy.

MASKS ended a few weeks ago. From the many pulp heroes that appeared it was pretty obvious the two most popular were the Green Hornet and Shadow. Both are heroes, but different. So to see a series starring the two come right after the conclusion of MASKS isn’t too big of a surprise. The question is whether or not it would be cashing in on the popularity of those two thanks to the big crossover. While it’s not the most exciting start, the historical backdrop makes the story interesting and fun.

Michael Usian handles the writing. He writes a solid Shadow, one whom is always getting down to business and giving the hard truth without worry of hurting peoples’ feeling. His Britt Reid is also pretty solid. However, the most interesting aspect of the story is the use of historical figures. Franklin D. Roosevelt comes into play, and the main antagonist is Shiwan Khan. I really like how the main characters get to be in this historical period. (And once again the Lone Ranger is subtly mentioned.) Don’t think the history aspects of the story are heavy-handed however, it’s there for readers to have fun with.

Keith Burn’s art is pretty solid. It has a dark and gritty look, which is appropriate since the title is Dark Nights, plus in that time period things weren’t exactly dandy. The main cover by Alex Ross depicts the two heroes going at it with Kato in the background. (Who sadly doesn’t make an appearance in the comic.) It’s just a stunning piece. The variant is also a cool piece depicting the heroes above a New York City backdrop. Can’t go wrong with either covers.

Overall, a solid start to this Shadow/Green Hornet story. It might not be what you’re expecting, but the historical backdrop should make it interesting regardless. I just hope we get to see some costume action with the two next time.

4/5

Ever since reading MASKS, Daniel has become a fan of these pulp heroes. His personal favorite is the Lone Ranger and you can follow him on Twitter: @Destroyer_199