Spike: Shadow Puppets [Paperback]

Brian Lynch (Author), Franco Urru (Author)

Book Description

Series: Spike | Publication Date: December 25, 2007

Angel once put a stop to an evil children's show, but not before being turned into a puppet during his fight. Now, fresh out of the Asylum, it's Spike's turn! Writer Brian Lynch and artist Franco Urru (Spike: Asylum) are reunited in this collection that sees Spike and Lorne heading off to Japan to stop the latest Japanese kids' show... Smile Time! Will they become "puppetized" themselves? And along the way, find themselves in a fight with hundreds of ninja-puppets, reuniting with fellow Asylum inmates, and be at extreme odds with one other?

Product Details

• Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: IDW Publishing (December 25, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600101127
• ISBN-13: 978-1600101120
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 6.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #898,916 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Spike: Shadow Puppets - Smile Time is Back!, January 1, 2008

By 

J. Nygren "Bookwurm" (Sandpoint, ID) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Spike: Shadow Puppets (Paperback)

Spike: Shadow Puppets is another collaboration between writer Brian Lynch and artist Franco Urro, the team that brought us Spike: Asylum. I like Franco Urro's drawings - I can easily recognize the character he is drawing (not something I can say about some of the other graphic novels I have read)and he does a good job at capturing the expressions and personality of the people he is drawing that makes it a good complement to the story. And as for the story ..

"Shadow Puppets" continues after "Asylum" ends. Several of the characters from "Asylum" are main characters in "Shadow Puppets". While I think you could enjoy the story on its own, you will get a lot more out of it if you read "Asylum" first. "Shadow Puppets" takes place some time after ATS (Angel the Series) season 5 episode 14 "Smile Time". Lorne convinces Spike to travel to Japan with him to put a stop to the new, popular "Smile Time" kids show - apparently Angel and gang didn't put a complete stop to it, and in its new location it has found a way to drain children and "lonely adult males" worlwide. The story has a light hearted and fun approach - not as serious as "Asylum" just as "Smile Time" was a light hearted and fun story for ATS. There are lots of puppets in the story, including some favorite characters from ATS. Spike's adventure as a "wee, little puppet man" is funny, enjoyable, and believable Spike. The pairing of Spike and Lorne is a lot of fun, and one I wish they had done more of on ATS.

One of the things I enjoyed about both "Asylum" and "Shadow Puppets" are the Writer's Commentary at the end of the story. It's like listening to a Director's Commentary at the end of the movie - it enriches the story be explaining some of the inside jokes and hidden (and sometimes not so hidden) sights, pictures and symbols in the story. I like to see how many of them I pick up on when reading the story, and then check in the Writer's Commentary to see how many I might have missed.

To sum it up, if you are a Spike or Lorne fan, I highly recommend Spike:Shadow Puppets and if you haven't already read Spike: Asylum, get that one too. You can never get too much Spike.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Read!, January 1, 2008

By 

Raymond A. Miller III "hinesfan" (Buffalo, New York) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Spike: Shadow Puppets (Paperback)

I own and have read Spike: Shadow Puppets. When I read this Graphic
Novel I was enjoying it very much. I like the way they had Spike and Lorne team up to go over to Japan to stop Smile Time again.
I was glad that they made it that Spike got to expirence what Angel expirenced as a Puppet. Spike and Lorne as puppets was cute and really
funny. If you are a fan of Spike this would be a ready for you and anyone who likes the Buffy/Angel universe. I give this 5 stars because in my opinion it was well drawn and well written.

5.0 out of 5 stars Shadow Puppets, April 17, 2009

By 

Kevin Jones (Thomasville, Ga) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Spike: Shadow Puppets (Paperback)

For those of us Whedon fans who love the character of Spike portrayed by actor James Marsters and find yourself wanting for more, Brian Lynch has answered your prayers by having him star in his own comic!

Even though Shadow Puppets would be more enjoyable if you have read Asylum first, the book can still be enjoyed on it's own. With wacky characters and fun dialogue, this comic will delight fans of Spike and will leave you thirsting for more.