Twistier and weirder we go.
Creative Staff:
Story: Cavan Scott
Art: Corin Howell
Colors: Triona Farell
Letterer: Andworld Design
What They Say:
Coyle’s cursed past revealed! Necromancy! Gina’s secret abilities! Murderous encounters in an uncanny art gallery! The MI666 team are closing in on their target–but who’s targeting them?
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
The Shadow Service series has definitely been interesting with what it is that it wants to be and do and I’ve enjoyed what Cavan Scott has put to page so far. Some of it hasn’t flowed as naturally as I’d care for and some of that is just the monthly aspect of the book that would be wiped away in a collection. But I like the characters we’re gotten so far, especially Edwin, and seeing the way things move along here is definitely fun. At the same time, Corin Howell has again knocked it out of the park with a great looking issue that works well. Again, Edwin makes me smile the most but I like the flashback material we get and some of the really uneasy feelings generated by the art gallery toward the end here.
Coyle’s story is what’s dominating the subplot here as we see his time three years ago before everything went wrong and some woman cursed him for stealing and destroying her home along the riverfront. This set things in motion for that deep hunger that he couldn’t sate well as time went on and as everything in his personal and professional life began to fall apart even more. So when we see him almost zombie-like in an alleyway where that dead cat body looks tasty, you know he’s going to do it. That he ends up creeping into a morgue not long after really makes it clear just how bad he’s been done in with all of this and why when he’s saved he knows just how much he owes to MI666. It’s a kind of loyalty that’s bought in a way but there’s little choice beyond that.
With Gina showing off more of her abilities at the start, and the fact that she’s apparently something of a natural who just knows how to manipulate and use magic, her cred within the group is going up even if Coyle and Assahi both give her the side-eye a lot. The intent at this point is to figure out more of where Quill is and move forward with that and that pushes them toward an artist whose gallery is running this month that will offer clues as Quill has a connection with him. This lets a couple of different things unfold but I really just liked the whole break-in at the gallery itself since it shows the dynamic of the trio at play in how they’re interacting as well as just the unease that the entire gallery creates. It’s a wonderfully illustrated sequence where the color design just takes it up several notches.
In Summary:
Shadow Service continues to be a solidly enjoyable series that I like but is one that I’m convinced is going to engage readers better when out in full or trade form. This installment with its focus on Coyle works well to dig into the character and why he is the way he is and it’s a good contrast from how Gina is and has come about. Everyone has had some bad stuff in their background and present-day material and seeing it unfold as it has been definitely keeps it engaging. The action here is solid and I love the moments of magic, but I just delight when Edwin shows up and his personality and approach to things just makes me grin stupidly.
Grade: B
Age Rating: 15+
Released By: Vault Comics
Release Date: November 18th, 2020
MSRP: $3.99
