I know the Shadow, and you, sir, are no Shadow.
What They Say:
The pulse-pounding conclusion to REVOLUTIONARY! El Rey and his enforcer the Black Sparrow have hatched a scheme to seize control of Spain from the ashes of the Civil War. Who can stop this mad would-be dictator and his lust for power? Only the Shadow! With the help of Miles Crofton and George Owell, the Shadow must infiltrate El Rey’s castle to strike at the villain in his own lair. Who lives? Who dies? The Shadow Knows!
Creators:
Writer: Victor Gischler
Artist: Aaron Campbell
Cover Art: Alex Ross
The Review:
The Shadow follows a trail of arms deals, death, and destruction to Spain, discovering a power struggle within a power struggle as a would-be king, El Rey, attempts to wrest control of Spain in the aftermath of a civil war. While his aids Miles Crofton and George Orwell (the writer) take care of the foot soldiers, The Shadow flies to the heart of the matter—to El Rey himself, and discovers the power behind the King.
Although Victor Gischler is a perfectly fine writer, his Shadow feels bloodless and ordinary—hardly distinguishable from any other pulp or spandex mystery hero. The fierce, dangerous, enigmatic quality brought to the surface so expertly by Garth Ennis in the beginning of this series has disappeared, leaving a Shadow that is smaller and less in control. The inner dialogue allows us to see too much of the man behind the scarf, and his quips lack the barbed, subtle nuances that were so wonderful in the early part of the series, and while he ponders on the nature of pawns and kings, we never see the master manipulator on display earlier who is willing to sacrifice any and everything in the service of justice and atonement.
This Shadow is a declawed cat, and without that sense of danger and mystery this comic fades into the background with the others on the stand. The inclusion of George Orwell or the willingness of the Shadow to kill his female enemy, the Black Sparrow, do little to counter this.
In its favor, though, the artwork and color are quite good. Campbell employs a photorealistic style that manages to impart fluidity and expression, unlike other practitioners who end up drawing poses and faces oddly reminiscent of popular actors. However, this is not enough to elevate this issue.
In Summary:
In the space of a few issues The Shadow has gone from a dangerous, seductive, enigmatic force for justice to just another costume running around and getting into adventures. The lack of the edge brought force so well by Garth Ennis greatly hurts this title and not even the excellent artwork of Aaron Campbell can save this from being a disappointment. Not recommended.
Grade: D