Shadowman (comics) - Shadow Man

Shadow Man

The reimagining of Shadowman in the Acclaim universe, also known as Shadowman V2 made some drastic changes to the Shadowman universe. The first four issues called "Deadside", which were written by Garth Ennis and drawn by Ashley Wood set a much darker tone to the series and moved it away from sci-fi to a more Voodoo magic/mystical setting with horror elements. But that would change however, as other writers and artists progressed the story, somewhat disrupting the story line and the vision Ennis had for Shadowman, which was that of a zombie hitman. Therefore there are many inconsistencies between issues 1–4, issues 5–15 and issues 16–20, with the last issue ending in a cliffhanger.

The Deadside story arc starts with an autopsy of mutilated body of Jack Boniface, who (as we later find out) was sadistically and somewhat humorously butchered by four dead men who have somehow escaped from Deadside. From this we know that Jack Boniface didn't die from jumping off of a skyscraper like it was speculated in the last Shadowman issue in the original comic (Even though, it has been stated it was an alternate universe, as stated in Unity 2000). Nettie too has been injured by the dead men, she was barely able to escape death, but was reduced to a skeleton, forced to stay alive by using voodoo. Nettie also stars as a much more menacing and manipulative character, not to mention her newfound distinguishing accent. As the story progresses we are introduced to Jaunty, an Irish skullheaded serpent wearing a top hat, who is Nettie's eyes and ears in Deadside. We are also introduced to Zero, a black man who works as a hitman for a local barman and struggles with the fact that he doesn't remember his past; excluding five years after his awakening from a coma and running away from a hospital. All Zero has left after his awakening is a tattered teddy bear and a seemingly inborn knowledge of killing. Once the new characters have been introduced and old ones reintroduced. The story centers itself on Zero and his unwilling yet unavoidable fate of becoming the next and true Shadowman, as well as rediscovering his past and Nettie's connection to him. Not to mention the four dead men on the loose wreaking havoc.

New to the series is the concept of Deadside, a place where everyone goes when one dies. which would be later fully explored in the video games. Deadside plays a big role since after becoming the Shadowman, Zero (or Michael LeRoi as we find out) when mortally wounded has the ability to return from the dead (Deadside) and therefore cannot be killed, unlike the Shadowmen before him.

The first issue of Volume 2 was released on March 1997 and ran for 20 issues before being succeeded by Volume 3, with final issue being released on October 1998.

Volume 3 sees Shadow Man going back to his roots of the first four issues but more so because of the release of the Shadow Man the game.

Volume 3 saw the release of only 6 issues, with the last issue being published on December 1999.

Creative Staff Information: The following is a list of those who contributed to the creation of the series. When repeated, only last names will be used.

Volume 2:

1-4: Garth Ennis, writer/Ashley Wood, art and cover.

5-13: Jamie Delano, writer/Charles Adlard, art/Wood, covers

14-15: Delano and Dick Foreman, writers/Adlard, art/Wood, covers.

16-18: Serge Clermont, writer/Klayton Krain, pencils and covers/Jason Temujin Minor, inks

19-20: Clermont, writer/Krain, pencils and covers/Charles Yoakum, inks

Volume 3:

1-2: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, Writers/Matt Broome & Ryan Benjamin, pencils/Sean Parsons, inks

3: Abnett and Lanning, writers/Criss Cross, pencils/Don Hillsman, inks

4: Abnett and Lanning, writers/Benjamin, pencils/Sal Regla, inks

5-6: Abnett and Lanning, writers/Broome, pencils/Regla, inks.