Story: Cullen Bunn
Art: Colton Worley
What They Say:
Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? During the day, Lamonte Cranston is a well to do socialite, but when evil stirs and night falls, Mr. Cranston becomes The Shadow. Pursuing the guilty with the aid of superior training and something far more sinister.
Content (Spoilers):
It’s apparent after reading The Shadow #0 that Cullen Bunn knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men. Dynamite’s latest foray into the world of pulp comics pays of tremendously. Utilizing one of the oldest pulp-era heroes, hailing from the 1930’s, Cullen Bunn breathes new life into a character older than most.
As the book opens, we are introduced to Lamonte Cranston. While little is revealed this early on in the series, it’s clear he is a shade darker than the average millionaire. Rather than leaping into a long-standing canon, The Shadow #0 starts fresh in the dark city streets of the 1930s teeming with the strange and dangerous.
Through flashback, we are given early glimpses into Lamonte’s training with the iconic and ever mysterious, Houdini. These brief snippets into the character of Lamonte Cranston offer a rare depth to his character, not often found in the very first issue of a series.
Colton Worley and Marc Rueda create brilliant panel work that flows throughout the issue, never once leaving me bored with a page layout or its artwork. A muted palette of colors, highlighted by deep black lines gives each object a distinct presence on the page.
In Summary:
Utilizing a character that has existed for the better part of a century is a daunting task, let alone one that has remained largely unchanged since its inception. As a longtime fan of the character, I am very excited to see where the latest iteration of The Shadow goes. Not pulling any punches and blasting, pistols first off the page, The Shadow will be a series to keep an eye on.
Grade: A
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: July 23, 2014
MSRP: $3.99
