Book Of Shadows #4 Review

 

Cover C by Travis Escarfullery

Book Of Shadows #4 Review

Writer: Cullen Bunn

Artist: Vicente Cifuentes

Colorist: Nick Filardi

Letterer: Dave Sharpe

Cover Artists: Rafael Albuquerque, Vicente Cifuentes, Travis Escarfullery and Kelley Jones with José Villarrubia

Publisher: Valiant Entertainment

Price: 3.99

Release Date: February 22, 2023

 

Deadside spirits possess Shadowman and Punk Mambo. More attack Gilad Anni-Padda—the Eternal Warrior—and Dr. Mirage. Can Persephone—newly birthed from a sentient Deadside—defeat Exarch Fane and the Book Of Shadows? Let’s crack open Book Of Shadows #4 and find out!

 

Concept drawing of Persephone

 

Story

This issue opens with Persephone fleeing Exarch Fane’s supernatural forces. Shadowman and Punk Mambo pursue her, reduced to flesh-eating zombies. Words—thoughts—accompany her flight: thoughts revolve around fear. Readers may find the opening narration confusing, but it's Shadowman talking, not Persephone. That becomes clear when his shadow loa casts the unwanted spirits away. Now Persephone isn’t alone anymore. Shadowman stands with her. That's a good thing, as Exarch Fane sees her inexperience as a weakness he'd willingly exploit.

 

While Book Of Shadows #4 continues Shadowman’s story, it’s also a team book. I can't analyze individual hero performances without giving away essential plot details. Some characters inevitably come off better than others. As the Book of Shadows made Exarch Fane its thrall, it's hard to rate his performance. Bunn wound the stakes so high and packed this four-issue series with so many characters that it's hard to assess the outcome. While I have no significant qualms with the story, I wish everything hadn't passed in a breathless rush.

 

Cover art by Maria Llovet

 

Art

Vicente Cifuentes conjures smoke and ground fog with penciling, stippling, and crosshatching, creating a mood and atmosphere that rivals a Ridley Scott film. Skeletal spirits swim through rivers of hellfire. “Keep your eyes closed, Marion! Don’t look!” Direction lines accompany every sweep of Shadowman’s scythe and the spirits of the dead burst from bodies like tendrils of darkness. “We’re dead, dude.” Sadly, a few character portrayals suffer, but a large cast gives an artist less time to master everyone’s likeness. Still, characters are expressive and treated consistently.

 

Light streams across zombie-filled streets. Demons burst from Shadowman’s chest in a maelstrom of magenta and lavender. Punk Mambo’s pink hair brightens every panel in which she appears. An orange glow from nearby fires tinges the sky with yellow and green. Eternal Warrior’s green cape reflects radiance from the swarming white-hot skeletal spirits. Every page pops with vibrant color that elevates but never overwhelms, thanks to Nick Filardi.

 

Cover art by Kyle Hotz

 

 

Sound effects. Colored letters in white dialogue balloons. Shaky text. Bold lettering for volume and inflection. Veteran letterer Dave Sharpe uses every tool in his tool chest to communicate emotion, possession, and the rising stakes without unduly shrinking words or adopting a stylized font. After all, it is his black narrative boxes with white lettering that helps us realize we are reading Shadowman’s thoughts and not Persephone’s as this issue begins.

 

The Death-Defying Doctor Mirage

  

Final Thoughts

Seeing Eternal Warrior's earlier battles with Exarch Fane—instead of hearing about them second-hand—would have strengthened his role. Readers could have empathized better with Persephone had Valiant given her more time to grow and mature. This series certainly could have benefitted from more standalone stories and a longer run. Yet this epic story with outstanding art has brought together more heroes—and given each a chance to shine—than any other series Valiant has produced post-pandemic. If Book Of Shadows #4 proves the last chapter of Cullen Bunn’s Shadowman saga, I’d say he ended on a high, wouldn’t you?

 

Rating: 9/10

P.S. I hope no one is confused by the additional art and store exclusive covers. I just thought it would be fun to share them with you again to celebrate the series' finale. For more covers for Book Of Shadows #4, see my review at Comic Book Dispatch

Book Of Shadows #3 Review

 

Book Of Shadows #3 Cover B by David Romero

 

Book Of Shadows #3 returns us to the realm of magic, monsters, and mass destruction. Exarch Fane and his hellhounds are blazing a trail of devastation upon the earth. Can Shadowman, Persephone, Punk Mambo, Doctor Mirage, and Gilad Anni-Padda (the Eternal Warrior) end the reign of terror?  

Books have power. This is especially true with the Book Of Shadows. Exarch Fane may hold this magical book, which manifests as a skeleton. But who controls whom?

 

LETTERING

While most of the lettering comes as easy-to-read upper-case lettering, the flowing script of the Book Of Shadows will prove more difficult. Thankfully, the font size is large, and won't strain your eyes as you parse what the skeleton (the ultimate audiobook) is telling Exarch Fane. Further on in the issue, you'll discover why Dave Sharpe made the Book Of Shadows lettering looks the way it does.

 

COLORING

Nick Filardi's graduated colors and tones imbue Book Of Shadows #3 with incredible realism. Our heroes, the villains, and the hellhounds leap off the page. Some pages take on the beauty of stain glass and light sources are always clear.

 

ART (PENCILING & INKING)

Vicente Cifuentes' characters are well proportioned and highly detailed. Heroes look heroic, and villains look suitably villainous. Backgrounds are nearly always filled in. Page composition pleases the eye. 

It's not hard to be drawn into this issue, if you'll excuse the pun.

 

STORY 

Earlier issues have set the stakes. The souls of those Exarch Fane kills are not passing on to the Deadside. Nor will all the souls on all the Earth satisfy the Book Of Shadows. The artifact imbues Exarch Fane with power, but the longer he uses it, the more it destroys. Ultimately, all worlds--the entire universe--could be sacrificed to feed its insatiable hunger.

At the heart of this series resides Persephone, a woman birthed from the Deadside. She wields enormous power. Yet she lacks memories, identity, and cannot call on all the difficult life-lessons of growing-up to aid her decision-making. Can Shadowman aid her in becoming a responsible force for good?

Cullen Bunn imbues this series with powerful artifacts. In addition to Fane's Book Of Shadows, Punk Mambo wields the Ring Of Soloman, and the Eternal Warrior now carries the Abyssal Sword. Bunn melds the ancient realm of magic with modern science in the way he describes the ring's power.

 

 

CONCLUSION

Book Of Shadows #3 follows the ongoing drama between Shadowman, Persephone, and Punk Mambo. In addition to Persephone's struggles for identity and growth, both Doctor Mirage and Gilad Anni-Padda reveal different aspects of their characters. The stakes prove so dire that even Shadowman lightens the mood with a little humor. 

This is a gorgeous book, crackling with action and drama. Full marks to Valiant Entertainment and the entire creative team for Book Of Shadows #3.

Dragon Dave 

BOOK OF SHADOWS #3
Written by CULLEN BUNN
Art by VICENTE CIFUENTES
Colors by NICK FILARDI
Letters by DAVE SHARPE
Cover A by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
Cover B by DAVID ROMERO
Cover C by TRAVIS ESCARFULLERY
Pre-order Cover by KELLEY JONES

Exarch Fane, an ancient, otherworldly warlord, is intent on sacrifi cing our world to satiate his hunger. Only a team of mystic heroes stands in his way. But while three heroes—SHADOWMAN, PUNK MAMBO, and PERSEPHONE—attempt to stop Fane from forging the Chain of Ruin, DOCTOR MIRAGE and the ETERNAL WARRIOR pass through the veil of death to discover the BOOK OF SHADOWS’ terrible secrets.

On sale January 25th | 32 pages, full color | $3.99 US | T+

Preview: Book Of Shadows #3

 

Book Of Shadows #3 Cover A by Rafael Albuquerque

 

If you've been missing Shadowman, you're in luck. This month our dark hero returns. But if Rafael Albuquerque's cover is any indication, he may not be around for long.

Enjoy this free preview of Book Of Shadows #3, courtesy of the good folks at Valiant Entertainment.

Evil returns and the Dark Feast continues in BOOK OF SHADOWS #3!

  

The battle against EXARCH FANE and The Book of Shadows continues as Valiant's Dark Defenders are forced to split up. SHADOWMAN, PUNK MAMBO, and the terrifyingly powerful PERSEPHONE stay on Earth to handle FANE's hordes while DOCTOR MIRAGE and ETERNAL WARRIOR journey into The Veil to investigate the source of Fane's power!

 

  

Exarch Fane, an ancient, otherworldly warlord, is intent on sacrificing our world to satiate his hunger. Only a team of mystic heroes stands in his way. But while three heroes—SHADOWMAN, PUNK MAMBO, and PERSEPHONE—attempt to stop Fane from forging the Chain of Ruin, DOCTOR MIRAGE and the ETERNAL WARRIOR pass through the veil of death to discover the BOOK OF SHADOWS’ terrible secrets.

BOOK OF SHADOWS #3 is written by CULLEN BUNN, art by VICENTE CIFUENTES, colored by NICK FILARDI, and lettered by DAVE SHARPE. BOOK OF SHADOWS #3 features covers by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE (Cover A), DAVID ROMERO (COVER B), TRAVIS ESCARFULLERY (COVER C) and KELLEY JONES (Pre-order Variant). 

Will Shadowman survive? Can any of our Valiant heroes stand before Fane's might?

Find out on Wednesday, January 25, when Book Of Shadows #3 storms into your local comic shop.

Dragon Dave

Book Of Shadows #2 Review: Evensong

 

Book Of Shadows #2 Cover C by Travis Escarfullery

 

A reading from St Cullen's Book Of Shadows: Chapter 2, Page 1.

 

Let us remember the rich history of Shadowman. How he battled a Book more deadly than forged blade, and how we felt that battle, thanks to the Letterer's visceral sound effects.

 

Let us remember how Punk Mambo summoned her power amidst the smoky field of arising demons, thanks to the Colorist's brilliant palette.

How a band of Earth's bravest heroes fought Exarch Fane through force of might, power, and witty banter, thanks to an erudite Author.

How, evoked by a skilled Penciler and Inker, our heroes pushed Exarch Fane back, time and again.

 

And how they did not lose hope, when Fane summoned even more hellish forces. 

Let us remember how each seasoned hero rose to meet the evils they faced.

How Shadowman protected his teammates, and kept them focused.

How we learned more of Gilad Anni-Padda's previous encounter with Exarch Fane, and why we herald him the Eternal Warrior.

Celebrate then this moment, when valiant heroes defied a villain intent on Earth's destruction.

Honor their sacrifice with an offering to your local comic shop, and cherish your copy of Book Of Shadows #2. 

Amen.

Here endeth the lesson.

Dragon Dave

Now raise your voices and sing praise and thanks to:

BOOK OF SHADOWS #2
Written by CULLEN BUNN
Art by VICENTE CIFUENTES
Colors by Nick FILARDI
Letters by DAVE SHARPE
Cover A by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
Cover B by NIK VIRELLA
Cover C by TRAVIS ESCARFULLERY
Pre-order Cover by KELLEY JOMES

Shadowman, Punk Mambo, Doctor Mirage, Eternal Warrior, and Shadowman’s new ward, Persephone, confront a villain from the Veil. Exarch Fane has broken through to Earth, bringing with him the terrifying Book of Shadows. Death and destruction follow in Fane’s wake. Can our heroes save the day or will they run away to lick their wounds?

On sale August 24th | 32 pages, full color | $3.99 US | T+

Book Of Shadows #1 Review: The Nightmare Journey

 

Book Of Shadows #1 Pre-Order Cover: Kelley Jones & Jose Villarrubia

 

Book Of Shadows #1 is the ultimate nightmare journey through the twisted Horror landscape of author Cullen Bunn's mind. Artist Vicente Cifuentes conjures up compelling visions with stunning realism. Colorist Nick Filardi portrays the horrors of the Deadside, and those who inhabit and fight for our realm, with a richness and brilliance. Letterer Dave Sharpe helps us appreciate the history underlying this new chapter in Shadowman's ongoing saga, while packing each hero and villain with personality and power.

This hellhounds that savage us in this issue may merely be the harbinger of the greater dangers to come. Whether controlled by Exarch Fane or merely working with him, they remain a eternal threat. One not even Shadowman--with all the power at his command--can vanquish on his own.

Don't make me face the raging hellhound pack without your support! Pick up your favorite cover of Book Of Shadows #1 at your local comic shop or favorite digital provider, and accompany me as I follow the adventures of Shadowman, Punk Mambo, Persephone, Doctor Mirage, and Gilad Anni-Padda (the Eternal Warrior).

 

 

Who knows where this nightmare journey may lead? Where might the helllhounds strike next? How will the villainous Exarch Fane attempt to destroy our world next? Whether you be a "sir" or a "ma'am," I asked you to ride alongside me down the road into terror. Consider it "your mission from God."

Dragon Dave

Book Of Shadows: London Calling

 

Years ago, young Victoria Greaves-Trott abandoned her loving family, and her exclusive English school, for the glittering punk scene of London. After falling in with the wrong crowd, she saved herself from an evil magician by learning his secrets. Now she works to protect our world from its own evils, as well as incursions from the Deadside.

 

She may not be the most charming person you'll ever meet, but she's proven a capable ally. She helped Shadowman fight Lady Deadside in writer Cullen Bunn's recent Shadowman series, only to see him transform their powerful foe into Persephone. To say that her Punkness disagreed with Shadowman's decision would be a polite way to expressing her feelings on the matter.

 

Sadly, Punk Mambo doesn't do polite. She's brash, obnoxious, and most definitely anti-social. So why do we all love her so much?

 

Decide for yourself, when you pick up your copy of writer Cullen Bunn's new Book Of Shadows #1, in stores today.

Dragon Dave

All the Details...

BOOK OF SHADOWS #1
Written by CULLEN BUNN
Art by VICENTE CIFUENTES
Colors by NICK FILARDI
Letters by DAVE SHARPE
Cover A by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
Cover B by ADAM GORHAM
Cover C by TRAVIS ESCARFULLERY
Pre-order Cover by KELLEY JONES

Book Of Shadows: Death Becomes Her

 

 

In Cullen Bunn's recent Shadowman series, we knew her as Lady Deadside. Now, in Book Of Shadows, she goes by Persephone. Shadowman sees her as a fragile innocent, newly-born into our world. But has all the evil and malevolence truly really been purged from her character?

 

 

While she cares for Shadowman, her power is fierce and undeniable. What happens if she tries too hard, and unleashes too much of the power she wields?

Shadowman's been careful to keep Persephone apart from the other Valiant heroes. Even Alyssa and her Abettors, whom he should view as his assistants, are keeping their distance. What exactly is Shadowman afraid of?

Some extremely popular heroes will take the stage in Book Of Shadows. But for me, the tremendous power she wields, and the fragility Shadowman sees in her, make Persephone the character to watch in Valiant's Must See Event of 2022.

Dragon Dave

All the details...

BOOK OF SHADOWS #1
Written by CULLEN BUNN
Art by VICENTE CIFUENTES
Colors by NICK FILARDI
Letters by DAVE SHARPE
Cover A by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
Cover B by ADAM GORHAM
Cover C by TRAVIS ESCARFULLERY
Pre-order Cover by KELLEY JONES

Book Of Shadows #1: Beware The Hellhounds

 

I didn't have time to split the big two-pager in yesterday's Preview Pages post. 

I thought I'd do so today, just so you can revel in its greatness.

"Shadowman, beware the Hellhounds!"

Because I love the hellhounds so much, here's two more pics of them.

"Shadowman, what part of 'Beware the hellhounds' did you not understand?"

 

The hellhounds aren't the only thing that's got me excited about Book Of Shadows #1. Nor are they the only danger threatening our world. To discover the rest, check out this extraordinary debut issue next Wednesday.

Dragon Dave

 

Details, details...

BOOK OF SHADOWS #1
Written by CULLEN BUNN
Art by VICENTE CIFUENTES
Colors by NICK FILARDI
Letters by DAVE SHARPE
Cover A by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
Cover B by ADAM GORHAM
Cover C by TRAVIS ESCARFULLERY
Pre-order Cover by KELLEY JOMES

Shadowman. Eternal Warrior. Punk Mambo. Doctor Mirage. The supernatural protectors of the Valiant Universe unite for the very first time to stand against a terrifying ancient threat: Exarch Fane. No one is safe as the fearsome foe has his cold hands on the Book of Shadows.

Master of horror Cullen Bunn and bone-chilling artist Vicente Cifuentes present BOOK OF SHADOWS, a supernatural event that forms a brand-new team in the Valiant Universe… but will they be enough to stop Fane’s wrath?

On sale July 27th | 32 pages, full color | $3.99 US | T+

Book Of Shadows Trailer

 

Face down an ancient threat with his hands on the Book of Shadows in this exclusive trailer reveal!

The epic Valiant blockbuster series BOOK OF SHADOWS featuring the first-ever team-up of the supernatural protectors of the Valiant Universe debuts on July 27th. SHADOWMAN. PUNK MAMBO. ETERNAL WARRIOR. DOCTOR MIRAGE. PERSEPHONE. But will they be enough to stand against the fearsome foe, Exarch Fane?

 

 

In a recent exclusive with CBR, series writer Cullen Bunn talked about the danger facing our heroes in their first team-up in BOOK OF SHADOWS #1, calling it a "...massive, cosmic, world-ending nightmare. Exarch Fane is a serious threat to the Valiant Universe—a threat with a charming, sharp-toothed smile."

 

BOOK OF SHADOWS #1 is on sale July 27th. Join the Valiant Community on Discord and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and as always, stay Valiant!

Shadowman #8 Preview

 

Shadowman #8 Cover A by Jon Davis-Hunt

The epic conclusion of Deadside War is finally here in SHADOWMAN #8, the stunning series finale!

Deadside's blights have spread far and wide across the land of the living, infecting the Earth with a terrible darkness. SHADOWMAN, PUNK MAMBO, and the all-new Abettors must seek answers in the unlikeliest of places but will even they be able to recruit enough power to stop Deadside's hostile takeover? The fate of the entire Earth rests in their shadowy hands!

SHADOWMAN #8 is written by CULLEN BUNN, illustrated by PEDRO ANDREO, colored by JORDIE BELLAIRE, and lettered by CLAYTON COWLES. SHADOWMAN #8 features covers by JON DAVIS-HUNT (Cover A), CLAUDIA IANICELLO (Horror Movie Homage Variant), and MICO SUAYAN (Pre-order Variant). 

 

Shadowman #8 Cover B by Claudia Iannicello

 

Shadowman, with the assistance of Punk Mambo and the Abettors, fights to stop Deadside as the blights get closer to covering all of Earth. Valiant’s mightiest heroes are caught up in her wake. Can Shadowman exorcise Deadside back to her dimension or will the blights change the landscape of the Valiant Universe forever?

 

Shadowman #8 Pre-Order Cover by Mico Suayan

SHADOWMAN will return in the pages of the upcoming supernatural event BOOK OF SHADOWS, also written by Cullen Bunn, on sale July and available for pre-order now!

Shadowman #8 haunts your local comic shop this coming Wednesday, April 13th.