The Shadow

The Shadow Now #1

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The Shadow Now #1The problem with taking an iconic figure out of his element and reinventing him is that there’s often too much of an attempt to keep as much of his past as possible when a clean slate may work far better. Although Batman Beyond keeps Bruce Wayne around, by shoving him into the Alfred role the series gives the new Batman room to flourish. The same can’t be said for The Shadow Now.

The first issue opens in present times where Lamont Crantson III returns from overseas after learning to halt the aging process and appear as a much younger man to take up his fight against crime once again. This means checking in on his intelligence network, donning his trademark costume, and even visiting and old enemy in prison.

Although Cranston’s return mirrors The Shadow’s return, no one (not even those within his organization) think it suspicious. The plot of someone deliberately setting traps and taunting a vigilante who hasn’t been seen in decades also seems problematic. Also troubling is the appearance of Margo Lane‘s granddaughter whose role is all to easy to guess.

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The Shadow #17

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The Shadow #17With The Light still on the loose, The Shadow and Margo Lane work to fit together the various pieces of the puzzle in order to uncover the deadly vigilante’s identity before she kills again.

Although I think The Light storyline should have been wrapped-up here rather than being drawn-out for one more issue, I did enjoy the series spending an entire issue showcasing the deductive skills and process of both The Shadow and Margo Lane including investigating the weapon left by the killer, the impossible hospital murder, and uncovering her connection to the first victim.

By the end of the issue our hero will know the identity of The Light setting up the arc’s final issue next month. From what we’ve seen so far the pair seem evenly matched in both skill, determination, and a belief that their form of brutal justice is for the greater good. Given this it may well be that only one will survive next month’s likely deadly final encounter. My money’s on the guy in the hat. Worth a look.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

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The Shadow: Year One #5

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The Shadow: Year One #5Matt Wagner’s retelling of early days of The Shadow continue as Margo Lane begins her new role as a member of his organization (although his reluctance to use her does force the fiery Ms. Lane to set off on her own to get a better look at just what The Shadow gets up to on a nightly basis).

With the gang war still brewing, The Shadow turns his attention to an armored car heist put together by two of the families working to gather enough cash to take out the man responsible – Big Gun Massaretti who is still under the thrall of the mysterious Dr. Zorn. What they don’t realize is The Shadow has learned of their little scheme as well.

Much of the issue is set aside for conversations between Lamont and Margo about her new role. These work fine, and show us the two have feelings for each other neither is likely to share anytime soon, but the action certainly picks up with the appearance of The Shadow and the bloody gunfight on the bridge for the money inside the armored cars and some terrific laughter-filled panels by artist Wilfredo Torres. Worth a look.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

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The Shadow #16

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The Shadow #16The Shadow‘s battle against The Light continues as the city’s new vigilante targets Margo Lane as her next victim. Thanks to her quick thinking and the timely arrival of The Shadow, Margo makes it through the night alive and The Shadow learns that all visually evidence to the contrary The Light is flesh and blood who doesn’t react well do a slew of bullets.

I thought this arc started to stall a bit in the last issue but by putting Margo in danger Chris Roberson picks up the pace with a timely rooftop save by our hero and moves the storyline forward to the final confrontation between The Light and The Shadow next month.

The Shadow #16 also includes more flashbacks to The Light’s childhood and training as well as tying that piece of the storyline together with The Light’s first victim in New York whose past intertwines with her own This also gives The Shadow his first real lead to uncovering to the vigilante’s identity. Worth a look.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

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The Shadow: Year One #4

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The Shadow: Year One #4Matt Wagner’s retelling of the origins of The Shadow continue as Margo Lane earns her spot the ever-widening web of spies working silently for The Shadow. Although the issue does nothing to explain the motives of the monstrous Dr. Zorn, it does confirm he is behind the gang war whose true purpose only he seems to fathom.

Now at the halfway point of the mini-series we do have Margo and Lamont Cranston working together, but I would have expected The Shadow to at least get some inkling, if not actually have met, the figure working against him to rid the city of crime. The storyline is beginning to feel like a six-issue arc that has been unnecessarily inflated and drawn out over two extra issues. That said, what we do get in the further teasing of Zorn and the showcasing of how The Shadow builds his silent army are both handled well.

I’m hoping Wagner speeds things up a little in the next issue involving The Shadow’s investigations as well as the reveal of Zorn’s motives and origins. For fans.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

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