Customer Reviews

The Shadow: Blood & Judgement

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Having Howard Chaykin write and illustrate THE SHADOW: BLOOD AND JUDGMENT was a master stroke - he was born to tell this story. This 1986 miniseries pulled the Shadow from the darkened alleyways of the 1930s to the mirrored towers of the modern world, setting up a 19-issue series that raised eyebrows among purists and likely Conde Nast Ltd., owners of the character. This version of the Shadow is darker and more intense than the familiar mystery man of the pulps and radio serials (or even DC's original Shadow series from the `70s, for that matter). Attempts to bring pulp characters into the present are often ill-conceived, but BLOOD AND JUDGMENT actually makes sense and fits the character perfectly.

Chaykin's Shadow is a machine-gun-toting angel of death who returns after a thirty year absence when news gets out that his former agents, in their old age, are being targeted by an assassin. The Shadow, not looking a day older than when he disappeared in the early '50s, is accompanied by agents both new and old in solving the mystery behind the murders. Along the way, we learn more of his mysterious origin and the reason for his retreat from crimefighting. The Shadow is depicted as a product of his time who is very out-of-place in the modern "enlightened" world. In fact, his inherent dark nature is brought to the fore in this story and is challenged by those aiding in his mission. True to form, Chaykin fills the story with violence, sex, racism, and of course, a healthy dose of misogyny. The character is cast in a negative light, and I feel that it suits him well; however, I can picture Conde Nast, having seen the results of their licensing deal with DC, thinking "oh lord, what have they done?" This trade collection, as well as the followup series, will likely never be reprinted, so grab them where you can find them.

A mini-series released in the late 80's by DC Comics. This one presents a somewhat 'revisionist' version of the Shadow(he has his pulp magazine background, but his personality is different), written by Howard Chaykin. Despite the differences, this is still a great read for Shadow fans.

A pretty decent rendering of The Shadow, by Chaykin, certainly better than some comic versions.

This book is has a decent story, even if the execution was pretty bad. This is not the Shadow. The Shadow should never be modernized. This is more like the Sam Raimi creation, Darkman. Modernizing the Shadow and his world doesn't make since because if he was to exist in 1985 (when this story was published) then he would be a feeble, old man. You don't modernize the pulps. You may be able to do it with Doc Savage, via a time machine, but the Shadow is considered sacred ground and just shouldn't be touched.

I recommend the Shadow Strikes, In the Coils of Leviathan, Hell's Heat Wave and the Denny O'neil/Mike Kaluta run. DO NOT BUY THIS!