Shadowman: End Times # 3 Review

SHADOWMAN: END TIMES # 3
Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Valentine De Landro, Livesay, David Baron & Allen Passalaque

Lettering by Dave Lanphear

This will be a spoiler free review.

                It is the final confrontation between father and son … and both seem crazed.  See how far Jack goes in this incarnation of Shadowman.

ART:

                De Landro does a good job here. Good atmosphere with his art. There is some nice detail but it is still very simple. Livesay’s inks help bring life to De Landro while Baron and Passalaque’s colors really give it texture and feel to the story. And while the battles are good in this, the emotion on panel was very striking. The last few pages were especially striking as we had the showdown between father and son.

                De Landro and crew give us some solid work. Yet, backgrounds were definitely lacking this issue, which kind of took away from the landscape of the Deadside and some of the story in general.   Still, it was a good effort by this team.

WRITING:

                The writing is very up and down this issue. There are some great things that Milligan accomplishes in this issue. The paranoia from Jack felt almost palpable. Milligan really does a great job of building up Jack and Josiah in their final confrontation. And while we have some Alyssa and Punk Mambo, Milligan never lets the focus stray from Jack and Josiah too long. The dialogue was very good and emotional and fit the story.

                Yet … the ending is by far one of the most frustrating I have read in some time. And while yes, I do see the story points that got Jack to the point he is at the end of the issue, I am not particular happy by it and the set up for him to cross this line just seems too … contrived. I am not saying that Milligan did not build it up with his arc in the ongoing and in these earlier issues .. but man … that still feel like quite a turn there.  Does the ending make sense in terms of the story Milligan is telling? Yes. Does it feel like Milligan took some interesting liberties with Jack to get there? YES. 

                Going back to what was done before and compared to what is done now … I freely admit that Shadowman had drastically changed. And while I have welcomed Milligan after his first arc, the end of this arc has made me want to bang my head against the wall. In all the time that Jack Boniface was Shadowman before this … THIS ENDING JUST FEELS WRONG. Again … it makes sense with what Milligan is doing with the over all persona of Jack since the story began. Hell … it kind of spits in the face of what Milligan himself did in his first arc.

                And while I can conceive how he got there, the events of the ending are just insane.  The Jack that started the series sure as hell wasn’t here at the end of it. And it just makes me said.

FINAL VERDICT:
                The story is decent. The art is good. But both can definitely have room for improvement. And while I applaud the overall emotion and tension of the issue, the ending just makes my blood boil.  Can I say this is a good book? Yes. Do I like the ending of it? NO! Am I glad there are still dangling plots to pick up? YES! Did this issue make me feel sorry for Jack? It did at first … then the ending took it away.  It ends the story but still leaves you with a HUGE cliffhanger.  Yet, while I am interesting in the dangling plots, my faith in Shadowman has plummeted.
                I give Shadowman: End Times # 3 a 3 out of 5.  Good story. Good art. Great Emotion. A WTF Ending. 

Straight Forward Reviews : Archer and Armstrong # 21

Archer and Armstrong are back for more wacky adventures. This time stuck in a crazy hotel looking for the Wheel of Aten.

Writer - Fred Van Lente

Artist - Pere Perez

Publisher - Valiant

Review by Jeremias de Leon

Story

In what seems to be one of the crazier locations that the duo have been through, Archer and Armstrong have been dumped inside a crazy hotel by a man known only as The Lizard King. The two run into a host of celebrities and trouble.

The issue also raises more mysteries while solving others, thanks to Armstrong's explanations about just how the crazy hotel works some have been solved and thanks to the beginning and ending of the book raises a mystery.

This issue has some great moments where things slow down for explanations and speed up for action. Some great action at that. Especially when it features a certain martial arts legend. That alone was enough to make me go from simply liking the issue to feeling it was great.

Art

The art looks wonderful. Pere Perez line-art gives everything a dynamic feel and David Baron's colors complete it and gives the art character.

Verdict

For a fun story that has substance, great action and good art it's hard to not recommend. ...So I won't, it definitely feels like Van Lente and the artists had a lot of fun creating this issue and I had fun reading it. I give Archer and Armstrong a 9.5 out of 10.

Shadowman: End Times # 2 Advanced Review

SHADOWMAN: END TIMES # 2
Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Valentine De Landro, Livesay & David Baron
Lettering by Dav Lanphear
Valiant Comics

This will be a Spoiler Free review.

                Josiah has returned but has decided to hide in a place call the Voodou Lands. Meanwhile, Jack is in a quest to find him. Punk Mambo gives him hints but it will take a BIG sacrifice for him to go where his father is. And while the Shadow Loa is still edging on Jack, his quest to find Josiah might cost him more than he ever realized.

THE GOOD:

                Milligan writes a great issue, full of tension, emotion and personal conflict. This is a personal conflict that is enhanced by magic, making it have higher states. Yet, Milligan always makes sure it is grounded by the emotional. And boy, we get some BIG developments for Jack this issue. Much of the status quo is dismantled with this issue and it just grips at readers hearts. Milligan continues to add to the mythology of Shadowman while developing the characters within. Josiah had some major development in this issue that gives readers a whole new impression of the previous Shadowman.  And with great pacing and dialogue, Milligan hits a home run.

                De Landro, Livesay and Baron continue to dazzle with some great art. The darker, less detailed art really helps create mood and adds to the tension; allowing readers to immerse themselves. De Landro and Livesay do an outstanding job bringing out a deep, creepy atmosphere and making our hero look as conflicted as he truly.  With some dramatic background and Baron’s dark colors, this issue really help bring out the tension and dark atmosphere of the book.  Really great job.


THE BAD:

                Without spoilers, Jack gives up something … that was very quickly put together in the first place. Otherwise, great issue.

 THE VERDICT:

                Story was great with the one weird hiccup. The art was definitely stellar. A good book, all in all.  I give Shadowman: End Times # 2 a 4.5 … out of 5. 

Straight Forward Reviews : Archer and Armstrong # 20

After all the crazy events with Bloodshot and the Sect Civil War Archer and Armstrong take the time to look for Archer's biological parents. Of course things are never as easy as that.

Writer - Fred Van Lente

Artist - Pere Perez

Publisher - Valiant

Review by Jeremias de Leon

Story

To summarize without any spoilers Archer and Armstrong are searching for Archer's parents and have a lead that sends them to Los Angeles. After that they find things aren't all what they seem to be and get pulled into a larger plot that involves Archer's birth parents. It also seems to involve a lot of celebrities and pokes at pop culture.

The story seems to be a really interesting one. Involving not only pop culture but a dive into the human psyche. This first issue setting things up with references to all sorts of famous people who had mental health issues, be it depression or whatever multiple issues that can afflict a person.

The dialog still has that Van Lente charm and wit to it. Almost like it's back to normal, Armstrong is the funny oaf and Armstrong is the straight laced foil to Armstrong's antics. But being out into the kind of storyline they are dropped in gives them a fresh way to look at them.

Art

There's no complaints about the art. The characters look decent, they have a crisp line-art that lends itself to the action scenes. The environments and the segments that seem surreal are what stands out in this comic the most. It's really unique and it gives this comic something more to stand on, on top of it's good writing.

Verdict

This issue of Archer and Armstrong is not only a fun read but a smart one. It builds up the arc well and sets up all the themes it's going to explore in a pretty unique way. Whether or not the rest of the arc will have a pay off for everything it sets up will be seen. But for the first issue in a new arc it does things beautifully. The dialog is human, and the action and "crazy" scenes are great. It feels like Archer and Armstrong is hitting it's stride again and deserves another 10 out of 10.

1st Impression: SHADOWMAN: END TIMES # 1

SHADOWMAN: END TIMES # 1

Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Valentine De Landro, Livesay & David Baron
Valiant Comics

FLIPPING THROUGH:
                Jack dreams of his heroic dad.  Going by what was told to him, his father was one of the best Shadowmen … he controlled the Shadow Loa. And that brings us to the beginning of this very torrid story. Jack seemingly has gotten control of the Loa … only to find it slipping again.  Yet, Alyssa has not given up on him while we find out more about Josiah than we didn’t believe possible.

WRITING:
                Milligan writes a strong issue. We get plenty of development with Jack, the Loa, Alyssa and Punk Mambo (GOD I LOVE HER!)  Jack is fighting to keep his sense of self and not lose control to the Loa again and Milligan writes that struggle as the Loa reveals two things: 1 – its enjoyment of hunting down the other Loa; and 2 – its own feelings about its banishment.   Milligan writes a great sense of vunerabilty this issue that I have never seen before and it really works. The dialogue was very powerful and the narrative very gripping.

                The pacing of the whole issue was just great, allowing readers to really feel the emotions of Jack, Alyssa and even other characters. And the plot has strong supernatural and emotional ties. Kudos to Milligan for writing a solid first issue.

ART:

                De Landro goes for a different style here that works. De Landro was a bit more detailed during his time when he was an artist for X-Factor. But It works well. De Landro’s style change allows to give a darker mood for the book; which really helps set off the story. While the detail isn’t as much, De Landro gives just enough to show off some strong panel work and good action. Livesay really compliments De Landro’s work, making the panels appealing.  

                Baron tops it off, really giving some expressive tones of dark green, browns and darker shades of blue throughout the issue to immerse readers into the art and story. A solid job by this art team.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:
                The art was good. The story was excellent. This is the beginning of the end times. But who is the end for? And that question makes this title all the more intriguing.

RATING:

                I give Shadowman: End Times # 1 a 9 … out of 10. Pick it up Wednesday!!!

1st Impressions: SHADOWMAN # 14

SHADOWMAN # 14
Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Roberto De La Torre & David Baron
Valiant Comics
FLIPPING THROUGH:

                We continue this road that Punk Mambo, the Abettors and Milligan has brought us down to. We get some more back story: some we know, some we didn’t. As Jack doubts himself while Alyssa believes in him.

                Jack ends up having an internal struggle with him, the Loa and … another guest. Alyssa holds fast that Jack can beat the influence of the Loa. But as the story goes on, it does not look like Jack is in control at all.

 ART:

                De La Torre and Baron illustrate a dark, macabre book that is full of horror, emotion and despair. The panel composition is solid. The art is solid and full of De La Torre’s sketchy, thick style. De La Torre gives us some frightening and powerful visuals, from Jack’s emotion from seeing his past to Alyssa trying to talk to Jack to the horror of more people seemingly beaten up and/or dead.

                The colors give a great feel and set mood from scene to scene set to Baron. Even the lighter scenes were impactful with its colors and good composition.  A good job by this art team.

WRITING:

                Milligan does a lot of construction on top of what was there this issue and most of it seems to fit. Building upon last issue, Milligan takes readers and Jack into a dark journey of self discovery that is frightening, suspenseful and eye opening. Milligan adds some new layers to Jack this issue and seem more natural this time than they did last issue. The mythology that this issue began to reveal is very interesting and more of Punk Mambo, who continues to be more and more interesting as the book goes.
                Milligan paces the issue extremely well. With the addition of the Abettors and more history on previous Shadowmen, there is a good foundation here. The dialogue seemed okay but I will admit … Alyssa seemed a bit odd. The one idea of what she wanted to do just felt a little out of character for her. I can understand the thought process behind it but just didn’t feel right. That and the surprise at the end of the issue just felt out there, to me. Still, well written by Milligan.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

                This issue was better than the last. The new direction is gaining steam and is overall interesting. Yet, there are a few things that just don’t fit with the way certain characters acted before. Yet, the story is building speed with a good amount of tension and emotion. I still am NOT cool with the ending but the art is solid.

RATING:

                I give Shadowman # 14 a 7.5 out of 10. There is still a ways to go but good. 

1st Impression: SHADOWMAN # 13

SHADOWMAN # 13

Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Roberto De LaTorre & David Baron
Valiant Comics

FLIPPING THROUGH:

                So … yeah. Jack ends up blacking out and awaking as Shadowman in an alley … full of dead bodies. Meanwhile, Alyssa is joined by senior Abettors who pretty much tell her (and readers) that Jack has “anger issues.” This prompts Jack to meet with a punk girl named Mambo. Mambo ends up trying to “help” Jack, only to find that Shadowman is something else quite different from what we know now.

ART:

                De LaTorre is a master of the dark, gritty pencils and inks. The panels give off plenty of grim detail, which fits the new direction and atmosphere for the book. There is enough detail to tell people apart from one another and the moody art really helps project this darker, more horrific direction. Baron comes in with darker colors and makes some smart artistic choices in coloring; only adding to the texture and mood of the panel. A solid first outing for this new art team.

WRITING:

                I enjoy Peter Milligan. I do. This issue was good. It had tension. It definitely gave us mystery. I LOVE Mambo already. I really want more of her in the future cause Punk Mambo is awesome. The pacing of the story was good. And we got some characterizations that were definitely handled well. The dialogue was smart and the narrative was haunting. It did bring you in.
                That being said … I have to admit … this new direction felt TOO DRASTIC of a change. I have followed this title since the first issue. This issue is definitely a jump on point. But compared to what I have seen before hand, this issue is really very different from the Shadowman we have seen before. Jack’s “anger issues” are plausible enough but the way they are amplified here just make it a bit too out of character for me.  Jack being angry about what had happened in his life, I could understand. But there was already strides to curb that anger. This issue pretty much ignores that and doesn’t ignore it at the same time. The fact that the Shadowman and Jack are being two distinct different beings is also a VERY interesting change. And considering how much the Abettors have actually relied on Shadowman, now wanting to kill him was different feeling very out of place.

                Milligan is doing the best with what he can do now.
               

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

                Honestly, I believe that is what I am angry about the most. The previous continuity of this character kind of being ignored in some cases and kept in other cases. Yet, I honestly believe that Valiant is doing what they can to save this book; hence the dramatic change. The art was good. The writing was good. If you had not read a single issue of this series and this is your first issue, this will work out great for you. Otherwise, it is gonna feel like a slap to the face. I don’t blame Milligan at all. Out of all the Valiant Books, this book has gotten the least amount of acclaim or reaction.  Yet, the ignoring of certain events in continuity and some of the changes to long time readers are going to feel very out of place. Otherwise, it is a strong jump on point for the book.

RATING:

                This is one of the most difficult reviews I ever had to give. While there is still more to come from Milligan, this was a good first issue. Yet the changes in Jack felt a bit too drastic. As a jump on point, it’s solid though with mystery and suspense. So, I give Shadowman # 11 a 7 … out of 10. It was good but could be better. We’ll just have to wait and see. 

Archer & Armstrong # 0 Review

ARCHER & ARMSTRONG # 0
Written by Fred Van Lente
Art by Clayton Henry & David Baron
Valiant Comics



FLIPPING THROUGH:

            After recent events, Archer decides he needs to re-educate himself about how the real world is. After turning down some women, Archer tells Armstrong that he’s reading Gilgamesh. Armstrong gets excited and decides to tell a tale that erie mirrors that epic but with much more personal connections.

            Armstrong admits to Archer that Gilgamesh is actually about his 2 brothers, Ivar and Gilad, and himself. As the story goes, you find that each brother is proficient in a certain skill set .. . Ivar being the smart one, Armstrong being the poet and man-slut (what? He is.) and Gilad being the angry one who loves to fight. They are sent out by their king on a quest to the Garden of the Sun.

            The trip leads to more than any of them could have ever expected as we find out much of the pasts of the 3 Anni-Padda brothers and freakish origins that tie into characters and plots we see in the present day in previous Archer & Armstrong issues.


ART:

            Henry has evolved as an artist and it really shows this issue. Slowly but surely, there is less comic book/cartoon style and more and more hints of detailed realism. You can still tell it is Henry’s work but there is a very obvious change … and one for the better. The characters with in the book look exceptionally epic. The addition touches of detail give the characters a more distinctive look. We get some really wonderful pencils and inks from Henry as we go from quiet moments to out right insanity. Henry makes it work and work well.

            Baron’s coloring is top notch this issue as well. Scenes with a lot of emotion, Henry and Baron nail them perfectly with the right inks and colors. There is a lot of depth with in the panels whether it is the brothers talking or it is the brothers fighting something … there is an energy that grips you. The backgrounds, for the most part were great but at times felt .. . very plain. Particular the white sky within the Garden of the Sun. I felt that there could have been something done but that is my only real grip. Otherwise, we have a really well done, stunning rendered comic.

WRITING:

            You can tell that every second Van Lente writes this book, he is having a ball. From the witty or deeply emotional dialogue to the epic action to the twists and turns that lay about in this issue, Van Lente does so with a style and grace that few have. I can honestly say that Van Lente is writing one of the best comic book runs of any title ever with this book.

            The characters are all multi-faceted this issue. We get a great, long look at Ivar for the first time and it is glorious and a bit frightening. There are some really big emotional moments. Particular between Gilad and Ivar in this issue that stand out. The fact that most of this is narrated by Armstrong enhances the story; not take anything from it. I am particularly happy to see that we got some of the best character work from Van Lente this issue from all 3 Anni-Padda brothers.

             Van Lente also gets kudos for innovation. To tell such a personal story behind a reimaging of one of mankind’s greatest and oldest works is sheer brilliance. The amount of epic is nearly weighed in with the amount of emotional and deep moments in this one issue. My only gripe here is that what happens to Gilad and Ivar at the end of the story seem a bit fast. But otherwise, this book is amazing. We are left with more questions than answers and really entralls you to stay with this book and Armstrong in particular more.


RATING:

            Strong, evolving and great art added to an epic story that not only tells origin stories but also gives a valuable emotional lesson is makes for one of the best origin issues I have ever read. My two gripes aside, Archer & Armstrong # 0 allows character development to shine on top of great art and story. Full of innovation, emotion and leaves you with wisdom …. This is the book to get.


 RATING:

            My gripes bring it down a little but only a little. But I am proud to give Archer & Armstrong # 0 an 8.5 out of 10. Get this book!