DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT/DC Comics – @dynamitecomics @DCComics
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Steve Orlando
ART: Giovanni Timpano
COLORS: Flavio Dispenza
LETTERS: Taylor Esposito
COVER: David Finch with June Chung
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Ethan Van Sciver with Jason Wright (B); Alex Ross (C); Dustin Nguyen (D); Brandon Peterson (E); Bill Sienkiewicz (F); Howard Porter with Hi-Fi (G); Giovanni Timpano with Flavio Dispenza; Howard Porter; Ethan Van Sciver; David Finch with June Chung; Alex Ross; David Finch; Giovanni Timpano; Robert Hack; Anthony Marques and J. Bone with Chris O'Halloran; Cory Smith with Tim Shinn; Cory Smith; Tyler Kirkham with Arif Prianto; Tyler Kirkham
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.
Rated “Teen+”
The Shadow created by Walter Gibson; Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger
Shadow/Batman: Part One
The Shadow is a fictional character that began life as a mysterious radio narrator, debuting on July 31, 1930 as the host of the radio program, “Detective Story Hour.” Street and Smith Publications, publishers of Detective Story Magazine, hired writer Walter B. Gibson to create a character concept that fit The Shadow's name and voice and to also write a story featuring him. The first issue of The Shadow Magazine went on sale on April 1, 1931.
DC Comics superhero Batman is a worldwide icon. He first appeared in Detective Comics #27 (cover dated: May 1939). Batman and his civilian identity, Bruce Wayne, are among the first characters to be inspired by The Shadow and his civilian guise, Lamont Cranston. The Shadow and Batman would meet for the first time in Batman #273 (cover dated: November 1973). This year, DC Comics and Dynamite Entertainment, the current publisher with the license to produce comics based on The Shadow, brought the two characters together, first in the six-issue crossover comic book miniseries, Batman The Shadow, from DC Comics.
Now, it is Dynamite's turn and it is offering a second six-issue miniseries, The Shadow/Batman. It is written by Steve Orlando; drawn by Giovanni Timpano; colored by Flavio Dispenz; and lettered by Taylor Esposito.
The Shadow/Batman: Volume 1 #1 opens with Professor Pyg in New York City causing chaos. Batman has followed him to NYC to shut him down, but that upsets The Shadow, who believes that Batman should remain in Gotham City and leave the Big Apple to him.
However, these two dark avengers are about to discover that they are facing the “World's Greatest Evil,” and they may be no match for it. Can the “World's Greatest Mystery” and the “World's Greatest Detective” (and the “world's most independent sidekick”) must put aside their differences and unravel the centuries' old conspiracy of the “Silent Seven.”
I did not read DC Comics' Batman The Shadow, so I wanted to make sure that I did not miss The Shadow/Batman. I really like how writer Steve Orlando emphasizes dark moods, atmospheres, feelings, and emotions. There is a deep sense of foreboding, and Orlando makes a convincing case that both The Shadow and Batman are not only vulnerable, but are also in danger of being destroyed.
Artist Giovanni Timpano's moody compositions and colorist Flavio Dispenz's gloomy colors recall the classic shadowy cool and noir sensibilities of The Shadow in his radio glory days. The Shadow and Batman are in good artistic hands.
8.5 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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