Shadowman #1 Review: Penciling & Inking Part 2

 

Shadowman #1 Pre-Order Cover by Tony Moore

 

In the last post, I focused on artist Jon Davis-Hunt's depiction of Shadowman. But in Valiant Comics new Shadowman #1, there's far more to talk about than our hero Jack Boniface. So let's delve into other aspects of Jon's penciling and inking.

 

 

As you may remember from the preview pages, this giant panel is the upper-half of a two-page spread. It's our first glimpse of Shadowman. We see him fighting a demon in a back alley of New Orleans. I wish I could show it to you larger, but my blog displays art better that's tall rather than wide. Hopefully you can see all the detail Jon's built into the scene. This alley looks utterly real, and really grounds me early on.

 

As I mentioned in an earlier post, my first Valiant comic was Ninjak #10, which took Ninjak to the Deadside. Thus, even though I'm not a horror buff, the Deadside became a factor in my becoming a Valiant Comics fan. I looked forward to returning to the Deadside in later issues of Ninjak, and other series. Yet, all too often, it seemed that when I returned to the Deadside, the Deadside always looked different. 

Obviously, the Deadside is a big realm, and capable of hosting all kinds of different landscapes and (netherworldly?) ecosystems. Still, I'd be lying if I said that this lack of consistency hasn't bothered me. At times, it seemed as though the Deadside lacked cohesiveness.

What I like about this first issue is that the demons Jack fights have the same sort of body. They also remind me of a demon from Punk Mambo #1. I like it when books from different series talk to each other, don't you?

 

Just because Jon Davis-Hunt spends lots of effort depicting Shadowman fighting a demon doesn't mean that he stints on the background details. See the streamers hanging from the lamppost and the wall, and being blown by the wind? See the flyers tacked to the wall? It looks like one has become unstuck, and is falling to the ground. Even if you can't read the stylized font that spells out Mardi Gras on the flyers, the art conveys what's going on.

Sadly, you also see the dead body slumped against the trash can. Blood splatters show how he was killed. He's still wearing his masquerade mask. If only his evening of revelry had ended better!

 

 

Returning to the demon, after Jack mortally wounds him, or at least makes him unable to continue his existence in our realm, I like the way Jon Davis-Hunt shows the demon dissipating. It reminds me of the way Jack's own power seems to wisp off him like smoke. It also reminds me of fireworks, which in addition to partying, wearing masks, and dressing up in costumes, is something I associate with Mardi Gras and New Orleans. 

Events like Mardi Gras tend to have all sorts of religious, spiritual, mythological, and cultural significance. Could the act of setting off fireworks on Mardi Gras be symbolic of banishing one's demons? Jon Davis-Hunt's penciling and inking make me wonder.

Dragon Dave

P.S. Be sure to order Shadowman #1 from your local comic shop by April 5, 2021. Or better yet, pre-order the entire series! If you commit to the latter, you can be assured to securing the gorgeous Shadowman #1 Pre-Order Cover by artist Tony Moore when it's released on April 28, 2021.

Shadowman #1 Review: Penciling & Inking Part 1

 

Shadowman #1 Cover C (Horror Movie Homage) by Dave Johnson

 

Every artist will draw a given character differently. It is what makes all of us unique. Sometimes we will like an artist's depiction of heroes and villains; sometimes we won't. Yet each artist pushes the comics industry forward, updating our favorite characters for the times in which we live.

 

In Shadowman #1, the first page is devoted to showing us the sheer scale of the world we inhabit, as well as the danger posed by the encroaching tendrils of the Deadside. This is our first image of Shadowman. It's just a glimpse, a foretaste of who Jack Boniface is. Yet it hints at much: the sources of his power, his history and beliefs, as well as how he sees the world.

 

 

The first time we see Jack, he's leaping into battle. We see his calm, determined demeanor. We see his otherworldly power wisping away from him. We see him clad in black and grey, with his white face. 

We also see him wielding a new weapon. Whereas he previously brandished a more curved blade, now he has opted for a traditional-looking scythe. Historically, people have used scythes to cut grasses and weeds. Traditionally, artists have depicted Death using a scythe to reap the souls of people and lesser deities, including demons. The latter is how Shadowman is using his own scythe, to protect us and kill (or at least banish) a demon.
 

 

After wounding the demon, we see Shadowman crouching down, talking to him, questioning him. If Jack's winded, he doesn't look it. Perhaps the mask he wears hides his emotions. I like the way Jon Davis-Hunt shows him talking with the demon, trying to understand what has provoked the demonic incursions into our world, and why they have killed so many people. 

As in the action scene, we also see Jack's power wafting away from him. Whatever power burns within Shadowman, that supernatural fire burns too hot to be contained.

 

Shadowman's look remains consistent, in panel after panel. Only when Jack stops channeling his power does his mask melt away, allowing us to see his face. Even then, the smoke from his power continues to rise.

 

 

The way Jon Davis-Hunt has styled Shadowman's mask reminds me of another Valiant character I admire. The way his face can switch from white, to his natural coloring, is another link to this classic hero. If you regularly read this blog, I'm sure you know who I'm talking about. 

Perhaps the similarity was always there between the two, and I didn't see it. But I see it now, and I like what I see.

 

 

I'm enormously impressed with the way Jon Davis-Hunt has restyled and depicted Shadowman for Valiant's latest series. I think you will be too, when you pick up your copy of Shadowman #1 on April 28, 2021. But don't wait until then. Order your favorite cover, such as the beautiful Cover C (Horror Movie Homage) by Dave Johnson shown above, by April 5, 2021. Because just like Jack's power, I think this new series could be really hot stuff. You wouldn't want to see your chance to secure your favorite cover of Shadowman #1 to just...wisp away.

Dragon Dave

Bloodshot's Day Out

 

His day began in darkness.

 

But as he hit the California Grapevine, light crept into the sky.

 

"Hooray," Bloodshot shouted. 

 

 "Snow!"

Shadowman Coloring Project

 

Shadowman Promotional Poster by Tony Moore

Looking for a fun weekend project? 

Here's a Black & White coloring page, courtesy of the good folks at Valiant Comics, and the extraordinarily talented artist Tony Moore. Download the image below, print it out on good quality paper, get out those colored pencils or markers, and get busy!

Don't feel bound to color it the same way Tony did. Go your own way with the coloring. Express your individuality!

 

Be sure to photograph your results, and share it on social media. Tag @ValiantComics and @tonymoore on Twitter with #Shadowman, and see who likes your project. You can even tag me if you like with @DavidDunham_DC.

Who knows? Maybe instead of contacting Jordie Bellaire, Valiant Comics will reach out to you the next time they want a colorist for Shadowman.

Dragon Dave

P.S. Jordie Bellaire, please don't be mad. I wouldn't want you to lose any work. You're awesome!

Shadowman #1 Review: Coloring

 

Shadowman #1 Cover B by Rod Reis

 

In Valiant Comics' new Shadowman #1, Jack Boniface patrols the doorways between worlds. These interstitial access points link our world with the one beyond. This other realm is called the Deadside. It's home to demons, spirits, people you probably never want to meet, and creatures from your worst nightmares.

 

While Jon Davis-Hunt's penciling and inking give writer Cullen Bunn's story structure and shape, it is colorist Jordie Bellaire who breathes life and depth into this otherworldly transition point of New Orleans. 

 

Jordie depicts Jack Boniface, aka Shadowman, mostly in grey, black, and white. The world around him, threatened by the Darkside, seems strangely muted of its normal vitality.

 

Yet violence and death, brought on by demons, is always shocking.

Strange creatures from the Deadside invade our world during the latter half of the story. Stranger still, they come at the invitation of unwitting people. We see the resultant killing and devastation through a red haze. Are the tendrils of the Deadside, which reached out toward us on the first page, taking over our world?

 

 

Even then, Shadowman--ever our moral compass--remains in grey, black, and white. Others like you and me, who desire wealth, fame, and power, and who are all-too-susceptible to the siren call of the Deadside, may appear more colorful. 

 

 

But no one in New Orleans is more colorful than Baron Samedi, the King of the Death. He walks where he likes, and takes all he desires. 

In normal life, Jack Boniface is a musician. When otherworldly perils do not threaten us, Jack may join a group, step onto a stage, and play his saxophone.

 

But Baron Samedi, thanks to Jordie Bellaire's coloring, looks like he would be the frontman.

Dragon Dave

Shadowman #1 available in stores April 28, 2021. 

Secure your copy, such as Cover B by Rod Reis, by April 5, 2021.

Win an Art Commission from Shadowman Artist Jon Davis-Hunt

 

Shadowman #1 Cover A by Jon Davis-Hunt

GIVEAWAY: WIN AN ART COMMISSION 

FROM SHADOWMAN ARTIST JON DAVIS-HUNT

 

March 24th, 2021 – Ahead of SHADOWMAN #1's release (on sale April 28th), Valiant Entertainment is excited to give fans the opportunity to win an original art commission by series artist Jon Davis-Hunt!

Shadowman #1 artwork by Jon Davis-Hunt

 

The bone-chilling artist is filling the pages of SHADOWMAN with horror and supernatural thrills, and now he will create a single character commission (11x17, pencils) for one very lucky and randomly selected fan.

The giveaway is now accepting entries and will close on Wednesday, March 31st at 11:59pm EST. The winner will receive an email reply to their entry no later than 5pm EST on April 1st. Entering is easy. See below for details.

Send an email to shadowman@valiantentertainment.com with the following information...

Email Subject Line: Art Contest

Include the following in the body of the email...

First & Last Name: 
Shipping Address:
Single Character Art Request:

In case it helps, here is an example of how an email entry should look.

Email Subject Line: Art Contest

First & Last Name: Cullen Bunn
Address: 1234 Deadside Dr
New York, NY 10001 
Single Character Art Request: X-O Manowar

No purchase is necessary to enter and the single character art request does not need to be a Valiant character (though it would be pretty cool if it was). The randomly selected winner will be mailed their commission within four months of being selected. Only one entry per person, entries without all of the information filled out will not be valid.

Written by master of horror Cullen Bunn, SHADOWMAN #1 will arrive in comic shops on April 28th, 2021, featuring colors by Jordie Bellaire, letters by Clayton Cowles, and covers by Jon Davis-Hunt, Rod Reis, Dave Johnson, Tony Moore, and Jeff Dekal. The pre-order deadline is April 5th, 2021. 

 

Shadowman #1 Review: Lettering

 

Shadowman #1 Cover A by Jon Davis-Hunt

 

After Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou's ground-breaking multicolored lettering in Savage #2, Clayton Cowles returns us to Earth with his subdued, traditional lettering. With his Black & White approach to dialogue and monologue, Shadowman #1 feels like a film noir movie with an element of the supernatural. Think The Shadow mixed with a Wilkie Collins story, or a Sherlock Holmes team-up with Dracula. 

Well, Arthur Conan Doyle's first published story, "The Mystery of Sasassa Valley," featured a demon with glowing eyes. But I digress...

 

Shadowman #1 opens with a bang. After a reminder that he guards the interstitial doorways to the Deadside, the issue shows our netherworldly warrior fighting a demon. The demon's dialogue balloons are poorly rounded, and his words do not line up nicely. It's clear he's from a different dimension, ill-suited to our world and its natural forces.

Also, he's more than a little angry.

THWUD 

Savor that sound effect, people. In this comic, Shadowman (aka Jack Boniface) is very much a thinking detective. Even when he bursts into action, sound effects rarely appear. It's as if nothing shakes him. 

Well, almost nothing.

 

Clayton Cowles helps us feel the anger and agony this demon suffers. Even when he shouts "Lies!", it's only in his second sentence that he stresses the word "summoned." Is the entire third sentence in bold letters? Perhaps not as strongly as "summoned" in the second sentence, but definitely more than his initial "Lies." 

In any case, he's in pain. The shape of the balloons, even more than in the first panel, suggest this.

 

The THWUD he gives Shadowman sends our hero tumbling. Still, even after being hit, and hurled through the air, Jack's isn't shaken. He's focused on the bigger issue. He must discover why so many demons are invading New Orleans, and stop all the killings that follow.

 

Just as he did in Valiant's Roku series, writer Cullen Bunn shares Jack's inner thoughts with us. I guess you'd call it monologue? As with his dialogue, these inner thoughts are nicely composed in gently rounded rectangles.

 

When Baron Samedi, the King of Death shows up, Clayton Cowles shows his link with the Deadside by irregular dialogue balloons. The Baron's words line up more nicely than that of the demons under his purview. The font becomes artistic and stylish. Compared to the demon and Jack, Samedi's words seem bolder, more substantial. Still, when he stresses a word in a sentence, we know.

In Shadowman #1, Clayton Cowles reminds us that restraint can be just as effective as extravagance, regardless of the type of art you pursue. Find it in your local comic shop on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.

Dragon Dave

P.S. Clayton Cowles? Cullen Bunn? Clayton Crain? Collin Kelly? Valiant, you're killing me with these big C creators!

Savage #2: The Writing of Max Bemis Part 2 & Savage #3 Covers

 

 

In the Valiant Universe, British secret agent James Bond is a fictional character, but MI-6 is very real. In fact, the MI-6 agency employs not just suave and sophisticated agents, but also trains them in the art of the Ninja. In this scene, Kevin Sauvage (aka Savage) acknowledges the Bond legacy in Britain, right after a dinosaur attack in London in Savage #1.

 

Later in the issue, Kevin will also mention that he's met Ninjak, the most famous ninja ever groomed by MI-6 in the Valiant Universe.

 

Kevin has demonstrated that he's tired of playing a role in social media. He doesn't want to be a celebrity based on a pose. Yet, when he meets a pretty girl, he immediately trades on his social media kingpin status to impress her.

 

When Mae walks away, Kevin tries harder to rouse her interest by explaining that the media might have fashioned him into a saleable image, but he was worthy of its having done so.

I like Professor Nealon's reaction, don't you? Kids!

 

Then Kevin pulls the ultimate James Bond gaff. Remember how James Bond (played by Roger Moore) inadvertently disses Doctor Holly Goodhead when he meets her in Moonraker? Oh, you're a woman, and you're a doctor? 

As a teen, Kevin may be disdainful of adults. As a newcomer to modern Britain, he may have heard of James Bond. But if he's watched the Bond movies, and in particular Moonraker, he obviously hasn't learned from them.

Could this be an Easter Egg, planted by Max Bemis in Savage #2, for Bond fans to enjoy?

Dragon Dave

P.S. By the way, I believe that today is the Final Order Cutoff date for Savage #3. If you have not yet told your local comic shop which cover you want, this is the last day your retailer can change his/her order in the Diamond order system. (After that, you may have to hunt around at other shops, after Savage #3 comes out, in order to get the cover you want). If you haven't seen the covers, here they are:

 

Savage #3 Cover A by Marcus To

Savage #3 Cover B by Joe Quinones

Savage #3 Preorder Cover by Paco Diaz

Savage #2: The Writing of Max Bemis Part 1

 

 

Under the guidance of Senior Editor Heather Antos, author Max Bemis has crafted a completely different world for young Kevin Sauvage to inhabit. In Valiant's first Savage series, Kevin lived on an island located in the dimension known as the Faraway. There, after the death of his parents, he interacted with nature in all its forms. This became especially rich and colorful as the island was also populated with dinosaurs.

 

 

For this second Savage series, author Max Bemis works hard to make Kevin's new home of modern London just as rich and colorful. In Savage #1, he showed Kevin triumphing in the social media landscape, and in a way, ruling as a king (at least among the youth culture) in this world-class city. In Savage #2, he takes on the literary and cultural history of England. 

Since the British government, and leaders such as Winston Churchill, worked underground to protect the country during World War II, writers have often hypothesized about what else might be going on underneath the capital city. In Savage #2, we learn that Project Bizarre, under the leadership of Professor Nealon, has set up his premises beneath these historic streets. 

 

 

We also lean into post WWII cultural mythology, with the notion that intelligence agencies employ spies to protect us from the potentially world-ending plots of supervillains. Thus, the need for inventive people to develop super-weapons to counter the supervillains' super-weapons, such as the colorful agent Q in the James Bond franchise.

Of course, the mad scientist is another type of story that writer Max Bemis mines in Savage #2. Story Editor Terrance Dicks has often lamented that, during his tenure on Doctor Who, the third Doctor was largely stuck on Earth. This left Dicks with two possible types of plots to exploit: alien invasion and mad scientist. Of course, just because you're stuck with a given framework doesn't mean you can't craft interesting and unique stories from it. 

Like Terrance Dicks, Max Bemis has found a way to make Professor Nealon shine as a unique villain in this mad scientist story.

 

One thing that Max Bemis, along with Nathan Stockman's penciling and inking, makes clear right away is that Professor Nealon has never been focused on the consequences of his research. He just loves inventing. He's like Q without a conscience. It doesn't matter who gets hurt along the way. The more spectacular the result of his research, the more consequential Nealon feels.

After awhile, it doesn't matter that the American government stopped funding him. Professor Nealon moved Project Bizarre into Winston Churchill's underground bunkers, and continued his work in England. 

 

Like all the best supervillains, he clearly sees himself as the king of his castle: the ruler of his domain. If anyone stands in his way, as Kevin intends to, well, he'll just take what he wants.

In Kevin's case, District 9 style.

 

In Savage #2, writer Max Bemis explores the rich tapestry of post WWII British storytelling, and does it in a fun and zany way. I haven't even suggested a comparison yet with Roald Dahl's beloved novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, have I? Did I really need to?

Dragon Dave

Savage #2: The Penciling & Inking of Nathan Stockman

Hopefully, as Savage #2 was released Wednesday, March 17, you've had an opportunity to pick up a copy at your local comic store and enjoy reading it. If not, you can always scroll through my posts to find the six preview pages I posted on Sunday, March 14. In any case, I aim for spoiler-free reviews, and will only show you panels from the preview pages officially released by Valiant Comics in this post. Hopefully, whether you've already read Savage #2 or not, this post will deepen your understanding of the issue.

 

 

Did you get that the dinosaurs depicted in Savage #1 weren't exactly as depicted in textbooks and museums? Nathan Stockman makes this clear on the very first page of Savage #2, with his depiction of a two-headed Pterosaur. Is it a Pterodactyl or a Pteranodon? Maybe it's both. In any case, his multiple-heads remind me of the Hydra of Greek mythology. 

I love the way he's bathed in shadow. While some of that is Triona Farrell's coloring, some is also Nathan's inking. I don't usually like a lot of inking, but the way Nathan Stockman has done it, it's not too much. The Pterosaur just looks so menacing. You definitely don't want to let this monster out of the cage.

 

You'll notice that Professor Nealon wears a helmet in Savage #2. Usually, you can see his eyes. Yet in this close up, Nathan Stockman inks in his eyes. I guess they're just too sinister to appear in a comic!

Again, while not a fan of heavy inking, I love all the detail in this panel. It says so much about Professor Nealon's intentions. His face truly reveals his soul.

 

 

The way Nathan Stockman depicts Mae makes me fall in love with her. He helps me believe that Project Bizarre has genetically engineered a living, sentient blob. Nathan's art makes it clear that, unlike Professor Nealon, she cares about the creatures under her charge. 

Eternal Warrior fans have been missing Gilad Anni-Padda in the pages of Valiant Comics recently. The way Nathan Stockman portrays young Kevin's face reminds me of Gilad's scarred visage. Like Gilad, Kevin Sauvage has deep ties to nature. 

Although this series has focused more on Kevin's dino-fighting ability, Valiant's first Savage series showed how Kevin also protected dinosaurs, especially their young. It's always been easy to compare Savage with such jungle-bred forebears as Mowgli, Tarzan, and Turok. Strangely, the similarity between Kevin and Gilad never occurred to me.

Until now, that is.

 

Nathan Stockman often rewards the careful reader. Consider this laboratory inside the Project Bizarre complex. We immediately see what we're intended to see: all the equipment, and the engineering work. It's easy to overlook the little details he subtly packs into the scene.

 

 

Did you notice the computer operator? He only appears in this panel. We don't even get to see his face. Still, Nathan Stockman imbues him with personality. 

It's easy to imagine this worker as a real person. I wonder what his life is like, both inside and outside of the lab. He may not be as colorful and brilliant as Mae. Still, he intrigues me. 

Given the photorealistic art of the previous series, as well as the strict adherence to textbook depictions of dinosaurs, longtime Valiant Comics readers may have trouble adjusting to the more whimsical tone of this new series. I won't claim to love every panel of every page in this issue. But there's a lot to love in the new Savage, and much of that is due to Nathan Stockman's penciling and inking.

Dragon Dave