The Shadow

• Title: The Shadow #12
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Victor Gischler
• Artist: Aaron Campbell

In this single-issue tale The Shadow spends hours scouring the city looking for a deadly new gang of bank robbers who aren’t afraid to kill and have already gotten a taste for blood. Although it puts a crimp in his dating life and requires hours of work and a variety of sources at the vigilante’s disposal, The Shadow is eventually able to track them down though a call girl one of bank robbers frequents.

Needing to catch the gang, and make the whole thing look like the police set his trap, The Shadow performs a little hypnotism to plant the idea of a big score into the gang. That and a good deal of understanding of human nature and greed, allow The Shadow makes sure the bank robbers take the bait before sitting back and enjoying the show.

The Shadow #12 reminds readers of the resources the vigilante uses to in his one man war against crime along with plenty of action and some lighter moments between Lamont and Margo Lane. Worth a look.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

• Title: The Shadow: Year One #1 (of 8)
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Matt Wagner
• Artist: Wilfredo Torres

The Shadow saves Margo Lane from a pair of gangsters who attempt to throw her off the roof of the Cobalt Club by riddling the pair with holes and throwing their bodies off the rooftop for the cops to find. Who says chivalry is dead?

The Shadow’s plans begin to take effect as his attack begins a gang war between the rival families fueled by Massaretti’s paranoia, the death of his men, and a little hypnotic suggestion courtesy of the vigilante. As the mobsters begin killing each other The Shadow just sits back and laughs that creepy laugh of his.

I have mixed feelings about Margo recognizing Lamont Cranston as The Shadow so easily. I know she’s to become his Girl Friday, but the series of events feels a tad rushed for my tastes. There’s also an interesting scene during the party concerning the new Bela Lugosi movie which Cranston overhears and uses to help form the look and theatrics of the vigilante who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men. Worth a look.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

• Title: The Shadow #11
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Victor Gischler
• Artist: Aaron Campbell

The “Revolutionary” story arc comes to an end with The Shadow exposing El Rey as nothing more than a puppet of the Black Sparrow who was using the figurehead, and further destabilizing all of Spain, for nothing more than the cold hard cash lining her pocket book.

Despite the pair’s obvious attraction, and the Black Sparrow’s offer of partnership, The Shadow continues his role as “Fate’s triggerman” by doing a dance of death with his adversary on the castle walls on last time before avoiding temptation and steeling himself for a hard decision which makes it unlikely we’ll see the Sparrow again anytime soon.

I’ve enjoyed this arc by the series’ new creative team, even if I am a bit sad to see the Sparrow go away so quickly. I do like how his decision weighs heavy on Lamont Cranston once he returns home to the comforting arms of Margo Lane. Now we’ll have to wait and see what new trouble awaits his alter-ego in New York City. Worth a look.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

• Title: The Shadow #10
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Victor Gischler
• Artist: Aaron Campbell

The Shadow is forced to leave George Orwell in the capable hands of his sidekick and pilot Miles Crofton when Cranston’s presence is demanded by Major Esmeralda Aguilar and a handful of soldiers who take the traveler to meet the madman who plans to see himself on the throne of Spain when the war ends.

Although taken by force, Cranston is shown every courtesy of a respected guest in El Rey’s castle fortress which allows Lamont time to make plans for later that night when the Shadow makes an unexpected appearance during El Rey’s dinner party killing the maniac’s minions and supporters who plan to help install him on the throne.

Of course the Shadow also has to deal with the Black Sparrow who, although sexually aroused by watching her former lover kill so skillfully, isn’t to pleased when the targets in his sights belong to her boss. The comic ends on a cliffhanger as the Shadow unmasks Del Rey, but we’ll have to wait a month to find out who is under his mask. Worth a look.

[Dynamite, $3.99]

• Title: The Shadow: Year One #1 (of 8)
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Matt Wagner
• Artist: Wilfredo Torres

The Shadow has been around, in one form or another, since 1930. A vigilante with the power to cloud men’s minds, a skill he picked up during his time in the Far East. Over the years different writers have added pieces to the character’s past, but with Dynamite Entertainment’s new series writer Matt Wagner and artist Wilfredo Torres delve into the origins of the character that have been largely shrouded in mystery for more than 80 years.

After a few panels of the mysterious Cambodian warrior Ying Ko, the series starts off in earnest with Lamont Cranston’s return to New York after several years abroad. The comic also introduces Margo Lane (and here Wagner takes a page out of Frank Miller‘s handbook making The Shadow’s faithful companion a high-priced whore for a New York gangster).

We also get The Shadow’s first appearance, and several mentions of how much Cranston has changed. The most interesting of these is Margo, who knew the man before his travels, mentioning that Lamont seems taller which could mean either he is more imposing or the man calling himself Lamont Cranston isn’t the same man she met two years before.

…

The Shadow: Year One #1Read More »