SHADOWMAN # 14Written 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:
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.
