Review: Shadowman #10
Creative Team:
Writer: Justin Jordan
Pencilers: Diego Bernard, Andrea Cuneo, Mico Suayan, Lewis LaRosa, and Carmen Nunez
Inkers: Alejandro Sicat, Stefano Gaudiano, Brian Level, and Carmen Nunez
Color Artist: David Baron, Matt Milla
Letterer: Rachel Deering
The Issue:
In 1864, Marius Boniface suffered a wound to his abdomen which left him dying on the battlefield. He grimaced in pain believing that he would die fighting for the Union against the Confederacy. That was until Sandria Darque walked into his life and healed him. The two returned to the camp and immediately the Union army used Sandria to their benefit. The army didn’t trust her but used her and her magic to clear roads allowing them surprise and defeat Confederate soldiers in combat.
Sandria was falling in love with Marius and believed that she would be able to escape from her twin brother, Master Darque. Ever since he killed her father he began using his power in more destructive fashions. But the only thing stronger than his will for conquest was his obsessive love with his sister. She ran not because she feared for her life, but because she feared what their powers would lead them to do.
Her freedom was short lived as Darque found his way to the camp. He sought to free his sister not understanding that she wanted to be free of him. Before he could act Marius shot him in the head. He fled with Sandria on horseback but they were forced to stop in New Orleans as she was in labor.
Master Darque arrived shortly after it was discovered that the child was stillborn. Sandria used the last of her energy to turn the child of hers and Marius into the shadow loa. Once it was created it bonded with Marius and made him into the first Shadowman.
What I Liked:
This issue was both a follow up of Shadowman #0, and an origin story of Shadowman. I didn’t think that the origin of Shadowman would be tied directly with Master Darque, but I find this to be an interesting twist.
What I Didn’t Like:
It’s no secret that this title has struggled over the course of it’s run. There is no depth to the characters and the conflicts get resolved in unsatisfying fashion. I talked at length about this in my review of issue #9, and it shows up again here. The issue directly comes out and says that Sandria Darque isn’t as powerful as Master Darque but she is able to put the last of her power into a stillborn child and it is capable of beating her brother? I don’t get it.
There are some good and interesting ideas here but not enough really goes beyond the idea. It is also hard to read this after Bloodshot #0 and not have a problem with this use of exposition. In that comic the exposition was creepy and let the images do some of the heavy lifting. Here the thoughts of Sandria Darque walked us through every step of the way.
This was also another issue where the art was inconsistent. A major reason behind that is there are too many people drawing pages. I’m sure a good bit of that is to keep the book on schedule, but it takes me out of the book. And considering that I don’t think too high of the writing this is a problem.
What this title needs more than anything is a shot in the arm, and it appears that is what it will get when writer Peter Milligan (formerly of Hellblazer) comes on board in issue #13.
Grade:
Coatesvillain
Just a guy who was into this nerd stuff before it's popular. Now that is I'm just happy I have people to talk about it with.
