Batman / The Shadow #4 (of 6)

   I cannot understand why I'm not loving this mini-series.

   I'm a huge mark (fan) of The Shadow. I'm a big fan of The Batman. I've enjoyed past crossovers that brought them together. It's co-written by Scott Snyder, who's written some excellent Batman stories.

   But so far, this one just hasn't jelled for me.

   Some of it is typical comic book tropes - for example, twice so far we've seen Batman suffer terrible, crippling injuries - and he shakes them off.

   The villains are similarly immune to bullet wounds, so matter how severe.

   We've seen The Shadow, who's a deadly shot, face an army of villains at close range, fire his gun constantly - and do only minimal damage.

   These are only minor quibbles, but for some reason they stick in the craw of my enjoyment of this series. (If that makes sense.)

   I love the idea of these two Dark Knights facing off over their methods, but that's just not getting it done.

   Maybe if they faced more deathtraps...

Grade: B

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Batman / The Shadow #3

   This would seem to be the most natural team-up ever for a comics series - two dark vigilantes fighting against their greatest foes.

   But instead it just feels... odd.

   The Shadow has been captured by Batman and is left in chains while the Dark Knight goes after the strange, mystic, powerful and possibly immortal Stag - who has teamed up with a maniacal Joker.

   This version of the Joker seems to be based on the one that appeared in the Suicide Squad movie - not my favorite rendition of the character, but I can live with it.

   So Batman swings into action while The Shadow stands there and talks to Alfred.

   And you'd think, considering how Batman fared the first time he tackled the Stag, he'd have prepared a bit more for their second match -  but then, we'd miss out on that stunning final splash page.

   I'm sticking with this series because I'm curious to see how it ends - but I have to admit, the characters still don't "feel" right so far.

Grade: B+

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Batman / The Shadow #2

   The beauty of an iconic character is that he or she can endure different interpretations - and that's certainly what we're getting for one of the co-stars of this team-up of Batman and The Shadow.

   Batman seems in character, which makes sense, since the co-writer (with Steve Orlando) is Batman writer Scott Snyder.

   But The Shadow seems off-model to me (and granted,  I'm a big fan of the original pulps). This version feels like a murderous madman - and while The Shadow was always ready to deal final justice to criminals, he was anything but insane.

   Intelligent, cunning, decisive - that's The Shadow. The guy wearing the outfit in this series seems unhinged, out of control - and possessing supernatural powers.

   Yes, the Shadow can cloud men's minds and he can melt into the darkness - but he shouldn't be able to pull the kinds of magic tricks that we see here.

   But those quibbles aside, this is a compelling series, providing a challenge worthy of the two heroes, and demonstrating the differences between the two "dark knights."

    It may not be "my" Shadow here - but it's close enough to be fun.

Grade: B+

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Batman / The Shadow #1

   In comics, time is the enemy of continuity.

   That's because, for "permanent" heroes like Batman, Superman and most heroes, they're stuck in time. They can only age a small amount - and that means, in the long run, writers must "adjust" their story to keep them in the modern day.

   So Batman has only been operating for the last five or 10 years - not since the 1940s, or the '60s, or the '80s.

   So the big problem arises when heroes are linked to a particular time. That's a burden The Shadow carries.

   Like Doc Savage, that hero is linked to his brutal crime-busting career of the 1930s and '40s - so it's difficult to bring him into modern times.

   DC actually did crossovers (of a sort) with the two back in the '70s, when it was still plausible that the two heroes could meet (heck, Batman even met Sherlock Holmes, compared to whom The Shadow is a punk kid).

   But for them to meet in modern times, The Shadow would have to be over 100 years old - so obviously he'd have to use some kind of mystic power to extend his youth.

   That's believable enough, but his assistants have no such dodge to avoid Father Time - yet in this story a couple of them are still around and, while aged, they're pretty spry for centenarians.

   While this comic doesn't specify its time setting, Batman uses advanced tech, so presumably it's set in the present - so it's a bit of a struggle for purists.

   Still, it's great fun to see the two heroes meet (especially since the one was based so closely on the other), and it's a hard-hitting confrontation that keeps each true to their (very different) characters.

   So it's a meeting that probably shouldn't happen in the modern day - but if you can relax that inner voice that objects to continuity problems, you're sure to enjoy this issue.

Grade: A

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The Shadow #1

   It's difficult to understand why a classic character like The Shadow is so rarely handled properly.

   He's been around since the '30s, starting in the pulps, then migrating to radio, movies, and (of course) comic books.

   As a man of mystery, he has sometimes been depicted as a regular man who operates in the shadows, at other times as a man of mysterious powers that allow him to control minds, merge with shadows and control assorted mystic abilities.

   Many think of him as the model for Batman, fighting crime and bizarre (but human) villains. His appearance is striking, with the black overcoat, the red scarf, the slouch hat, the hook nose, blazing eyes, and his trademark blazing .45s.

   In his stories he always is depicted as a terror, a virtually invincible force of nature, tracking down the evil creatures who threaten society.

    Perhaps the biggest flaw is that he never seems - well, human. His alter ego, Lamont Cranston, is just another mask, and his personality isn't much different from The Shadow's. We can root for him to defeat the bad guys, to escape the death traps, we can admire his skill, his indomitable spirit - but he is ultimately unknowable, a cipher.

   This restart is another opportunity to start fresh, although the story actually started with issue #0 (hey, it's another pet peeve!). The Shadow is facing off against a Society of United Magicians, once a benevolent group organized by the late great Harry Houdini, but now the group is pursuing evil, mystic purposes.

    So is the Shadow now entering into supernatural territory? It may (or may not) be a good fit for the hero.

   This "first" issue is a good way to judge - it's just a dollar, and a good way to decide if this is your cup of tea... or not.

   So far, it's better than most, but the character's full potential hasn't been realized - yet.

Grade: B

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Justice, Inc. #4

   OK, I admit I had to look at the cover twice before I "got" it - the mobster in the front is actually the Avenger in disguise - a slap to the face has revealed his disguise. A surprisingly subtle cover by Alex Ross (who tends to go for the big and blustery instead) - but you should know that this scene appears nowhere inside the issue.

   Anyway, this comic features what seems to be an all-out battle between the three members of Justice, Inc. - Doc Savage, The Shadow and The Avenger - as they face two (or is it three?) of their deadliest opponents - John Sunlight, the Voodoo Master and a mysterious and unidentified third member. (if any)

   But it really isn't much of a fight - it's more of a flight - which is pretty disappointing, since these three heroes should be incredibly formidable (even if they're at the beginning of their respective careers).

   The story by Michael Uslan is all set-up, as it lays the groundwork for the final confrontation. The artwork by Giovanni Timpano is quite good, with strong character designs and clever layouts.

   I'm a mark for these pulp heroes, so I give this series lots of leeway for the occasional issue that's a bit off - but here's hoping the next issue is more on-target for this unlikely trio.

Grade: B

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Justice, Inc. #2

   This mash-up of three of the most famous pulp heroes is a bit of an odd mix.

   The story is still being sorted out, but Justice, Inc. features a (somewhat) new origin for The Avenger - one that incorporates The Shadow and Doc Savage.

   We also get some glimpses into the origins of The Shadow, a meeting between Docs past and present, and a quick meeting between a powerful enemy - and Howard Hughes.

   Writer Michael Uslan seems to be having fun working with these icons, and artist Giovanni Timpano is doing a good job capturing the time period (the '30s) and the likenesses of the heroes. His work only suffers in comparison to the amazing cover by Alex Ross.

   Two issues in, and we're still getting the team together - but so far, it's been entertaining to see these different heroes back in action.

Grade: B+

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Grendel vs. The Shadow #1

      The first character that brought writer / artist Matt Wagner to the attention of fans everywhere was Grendel, a true rarity - a lead character who was a criminal mastermind, constantly at war with an otherworldly law enforcer.

   For the first time in years (if not decades), Wagner returns to his original creation, and provides an interesting twist.

   Grendel makes a jump through time from the present to the 1930s. (I'm not sure if Grendel is actually set in the '70s or the "present," but so far it really doesn't matter).

   In his new reality, Grendel decides to take control of the mob families - but while regular criminals don't offer much of a challenge to that super-villain, he may have met his match with the classic pulp hero known as The Shadow.

    It promises to be a clash of giants - both are incredibly smart, capable and ruthless.

   The art is terrific, loaded with powerful layouts, great character designs and detailed environments - Wagner brings the '30s to life (and it's interesting to compare the visual difference between the modern era and the past).

   It's a powerful (if sometimes grisly) beginning to this miniseries. Sign me up!

Grade: A

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Justice Inc. #1 (of 6)

   I've been a fan of pulp heroes since I first picked up one of the Bantam paperback reprints of Doc Savage in the early '70s.

   I also got hooked on The Shadow and The Avenger in the same way.

   It was only natural that their adventures should migrate over to comic books - after all, their exploits inspired more than a few of today's most popular heroes.

   But there's always a big problem with bringing those heroes to life in modern-day comics. Do you try to bring them up to the modern-day world - always problematic, because you have to explain with they're still young and vibrant - or do you set the stories in the 1930s and '40s, when they originally appeared?

   Which is to say, will modern audiences accept a story set 60 or 70 years ago?

   For Justice Inc - which is, I believe, the first-ever team-up of all three of these characters - writer Michael Uslan is taking the Solomon approach by using both periods.

   The story begins in the modern era, as Doc Savage (older but somehow still vital despite being, what, 100 years old) embarks on a remarkable experiment in time travel. He succeeds (to a certain degree), and the story reaches back to the '30s, when his career - and that of The Shadow - are just starting.

   The story also includes Richard (The Avenger) Benson, but it's set before the terrible event that changes his life - and his mission - forever.

   The whole thing is a bit confusing in places, but I trust Uslan knows where he's going.

   The art is by Giovanni Timpano, and it's solid stuff, with good depictions of each character. It only suffers when held next to the extraordinary cover by Alex Ross, with iconic depictions of each hero.

   Quibbles aside, it's great to see these characters gathered together and given a worthy opponent. I'm in for the run!

Grade: B+

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Shadow Now #1

   It's a tribute to the design of most pulp characters that they can make the jump from the '30s and '40s to the modern age.

   The Shadow did just that decades ago under writer and artist Howard Chaykin, and here's another take on the idea courtesy of writer David Liss and artist Colton Worley.

   In Shadow Now, Liss brings us a Shadow who has found a way to restore his youth and has decided to once again take up his fight against crime.

   Thankfully, we don't have to deal with scenes of the hero struggling to understand the iPad or learning about how to establish a Twitter account.

   Instead, Lamont Cranston "III" uses his classic methods, which are brutal but effective.

   But he finds himself struggling to solve the mystery behind a new crime wave, and his enemies seem to stay one step ahead of him. Then a familiar foe gets his attention...

   So I like the story, but the art is a bit more of a mix. There are some stunning images, near-photographic depictions, but the storytelling is muddy in places - there are panels where I'm really not sure what's happening.

   Despite that, it's a promising start to the series, and one of the better Shadow books around (how many are there, anyway?) - a clever twist on a classic.

Grade: B+

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Guest Review - Dark Nights #1

Today's Guest Review is courtesy of Glen Davis, who gives us a look at a new title featuring some classic pulp characters:

Dynamite is having success with its pulp properties, and what is more natural than to team them up?

Michael Uslan writes the first issue of Dark Nights in a style similar to the one Roy Thomas used on the seminal All Star Squadron series back in the '80s, rife with historical figures and liberal use of end notes.

The story starts at the tail end of WWI. The Shadow, then known as the spy, Dark Eagle, is returning to the United States after a successful assignment in Russia. He's obtained the girasol.

Then we jump ahead in time to the late 1930s. President Roosevelt wants Britt Reid (The Green Hornet) and Lamont Cranston to work together to foil a plot with tentacles in Detroit and New York. It seems that Margo Lane and Lenore Case have a troubled history together.

A good start to a tantalizing series.

Grade: B+

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The Shadow: Year One #1

For a variety of reasons, I recently fell behind in reading the latest issues of The Shadow being published by Dynamite.

I finally corrected the oversight, and I (mostly) enjoyed the stories, although I'd be the first to admit that these stories don't "feel" like the pulp character.

Oh, The Shadow is still the dark avenger who readily deals death to evildoers, and he still has the ability to cloud men's minds. The problem is, in focusing on his alter ego as Lamont Cranston, the character seems - well, ordinary.

He seems to spend a lot of time bedding his main agent, Margo Lane, perhaps in an attempt to make the series more "adult."

But my love of the original stories keeps me hanging on, and there's enough of the pulp hero to keep my interest.

This Shadow: Year One series holds a great deal of promise, and some danger as well.

The promise belongs to series writer Matt Wagner, who's long since proven himself to be an excellent writer - and as the cover shows, he's also an outstanding artist.

The interior art is by Wilfredo Torres, and it's quite good, if a bit flat (perhaps because of the muted colors).

The danger in the series is in revealing too many secrets behind the character. The Shadow works best as a man of mystery, and I think it's best if we don't know all there is to know about the character.

This story takes us back to 1929, when The Shadow decides to set up base in New York. It's a bit of a slow start, but the series is loaded with promise.

I have great faith that Wagner will deliver on that promise. But as always, we'll have to wait and see. (I'll resist the urge to say, "Only the Shadow knows.")

Grade: A-

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Masks #2

After enjoying the first issue of Masks, I was looking forward to the next chapter - but a shocking surprise awaited within.

I should explain that I try not to dig too much into the contents of future comics - I like to be surprised, and most previews tend to give away too much info. So I really don't know much about this series, other than the fact that it features a number of pulp heroes working together and artist Alex Ross is involved.

So I was surprised when I opened this issue and realized that, unlike the first issue, Alex Ross did not do the interior art.

Instead Dennis Calero provides the illustrations. Nothing against him, he's a solid artist - but he doesn't measure up to Ross' work (but then, few artists could).

It seems a bit unfair to kick the series off with Ross, continue to have covers by him (among the artists who provide multiple covers for Dynamite's comics), but not have him doing the art for the whole series.

I know, "let the buyer beware" (or at least do his homework) and all that.

The story by Chris Roberson is ever-so-slowly pulling together the members of this "League of Pulp Heroes," adding two more this time around, joining The Shadow, The Spider, The Green Hornet and Kato. But after a dynamic beginning last issue, this time around... well, not much happens.

So this issue is a bit of a let-down. Here's hoping next issue gets things back on track.

Wonder who the artist will be?

Grade: B

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Masks #1

This one should be subtitled, "Made especially for Chuck."

As a fan of pulp stars like The Shadow and The Spider, the idea of teaming up those two heroes (have they ever "met" before?) along with the Green Hornet, Kato and Zorro translates into a "must-buy" comic for me.

But Masks goes one step further by having Alex Ross provide the artwork. His realistic, painted art has been exceptional throughout his career, and this issue is among his best work yet.

Since the pulp heroes are "real" people who happen to wear masks (as opposed to superheroes dressed in unrealistic, skin-tight costumes), Ross' real-world depictions capture the story perfectly.

The story by Chris Roberson starts the process of bringing the heroes together and sets up an overpowering menace for them to face. Each character "speaks" with the proper voice and they avoid the old "heroes meet and fight each other" bit. Well, mostly.

I admit that I approached this issue with some trepidation. These team-ups don't alway work well, and that can be disappointing - but this one delivers on every level.

Can't wait for the next chapter!

Grade: A

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The Shadow #1

He's the only character from the pulps who has achieved enough fame to be familiar to the general public - but The Shadow is actually famous for the old radio show and a movie from a couple of decades back, not for his pulp adventures (most people probably have no idea what "pulp" means) and certainly not for his comic book stories.

The obvious inspiration for Batman, The Shadow is much more along the lines of The Punisher - a hard man who provides final justice for those beyond the reach of the law.

In other words, he's perfectly happy to use his .45 automatics to gun down the bad guys - he's not out to reform anyone.

When the character has appeared in comics, he's generally been watered down into a more generic crimefighter. The less said about his Archie incarnation in the mid-'60s, the better.

Since then he's fared well in comics - especially with such luminaries as Denny O'Neil, Michael Kaluta, Russ Heath and Howard Chaykin on duty - but the character has never been popular enough to sustain his own comic.

Perhaps that's about to change, as Dynamite Comics hands the reins over to writer Garth Ennis. He sets the story (it seems) in the 1930s, the perfect time for the character to flourish.

Sometimes the Shadow has been portrayed as a normal man, sometimes he's a mystic with superhuman powers - or is he just using clever tricks to make it appear that he has powers?

This version definitely seems to follow in the "superhuman" category, and he's ruthless in his war against evil - but we do see a human side to the character (thank goodness).

This is definitely a character in touch with his pulp roots - and while I'm not a big fan of gore, I certainly appreciate Ennis' ruthless, brutal approach.

The story is illustrated by Aaron Campbell, and I really like his work here. Lush yet stark, he evokes the era nicely - and has a good hand for the brutal action sequences, too.

I've been a fan of The Shadow since discovering Bantam's short-lived paperback reprints of the original stories in the '60s, and it's great to see him back in comics - and back to his old self.

Grade: A-

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The Classics - The Shadow

Even as a young child, I had heard of The Shadow.

Kids knew the famous phrase, "Crime does not pay! The Shadow knows!" (Cue the evil laugh.)

But despite all that, I had never seen the character until I picked up this comic book - The Shadow #5, cover dated September 1965 and published by Radio Comics (an offshoot of Archie Comics).

I wasn't impressed. Little did I know that this character had almost nothing in common with the original pulp character.

Here was a hero dressed in a generic blue-and-green superhero costume. The entire issue is devoted to a series of battles with five different villains, each of which he manages to defeat through a variety of super-weapons or abilities, including his ability to create illusions, a metal-destroying whistle, flying boots that allow him to catch a missile, and taking mental control of an opponent (which seems like the only power he'd really need).

The writer and artist aren't credited, but even by my 9-year-old self's standards, this was pretty weak stuff. It seemed like a weak imitation of Marvel's comics.

That series didn't last long, and not long after I started picking up the paperbacks reprinting The Shadow's original pulp adventures. I was immediately hooked.

So it was great to see, a mere eight years after that earlier Shadow, the real deal showing up in a new series from DC Comics (cover dated October-November 1973).

Guided by writer Denny O'Neil and artist Michael Kaluta, here was a series that returned the character to his origins. Set in the 1930s, it was surprisingly brutal, with gun battles, death and destruction aplenty.

In his war on crime, the mysterious Dark Avenger uses his band of agents (including the beautiful Margo Lane) to solve a mystery on the waterfront. The Shadow is not a superhero, though he has some amazing abilities - near-instant hypnosis, for example - but like Batman (whose creation was obviously inspired by The Shadow), he's a human who's trained himself to be at the peak of his abilities.

Also like Batman, The Shadow uses some "wonderful toys" in his battles. One of my favorites is on display here - the Autogyro, an early version of a helicopter.

The art is fantastic, which is to be expected from an industry legend like Kaluta. Each panel drips with mood and suspense - few artists can compare to his version of the world of The Shadow.

It's a shame that modern audiences probably don't know much about this classic character, although pulp reprints are once more available. DC is apparently planning some pulp projects, including one coming soon with Doc Savage.

I'm a big fan of Doc, but I can't help but hope that we'll see The Shadow back in action, too. He was the biggest star of the pulps, and deserves to be back in the spotlight. So to speak.

Grade: Radio Comics version: C-
DC version: A