"This..Me Here...It's Business"
Synopsis
Opal City's unlikely hero, The Shade needs an adventure! What happens when one comes to him though?
The Good
The Shade is an on-off villain and an immortal Englishman to boot, and that is what makes this issue so enjoyable to read. James Robertson previously wrote the excellent Starman series (which I have in omnibus format) and fans of that will be chomping at the bit for some more of this shady character (yes I went there). His conversation with both alien ally Mikaal (the current Starman) and his lover Hope O` Dare were both written rather well. I also enjoyed the inclusion of Von Hammer's predicament cut into the first scene. We get the sense of boredom within the Shade, and as the yearn for adventure rises, well one comes straight to his door.
The art is pretty good too, I appreciate Cully Hamner's bold cartoon style, with plenty of deep shading and character across the issue. I noticed an interesting detail in that all the peaceful conversation occurs during the day and all the conflict and action happens at night.
The Bad
I'll be blunt, I didn't like the ending. The crossover cameo and just how it pans out was a bit silly, I don't want to spoil but I don't see that conclusion last.
Conclusion
Readers completely unaware of the titular character will probably not enjoy this as much as a Starman fan as I did. I think of it as a spin-off of the 90's Starman series, and in that aspect it works well. As a origin story, it falls flat I'm afraid.
Opal City's unlikely hero, The Shade needs an adventure! What happens when one comes to him though?
The Good
The Shade is an on-off villain and an immortal Englishman to boot, and that is what makes this issue so enjoyable to read. James Robertson previously wrote the excellent Starman series (which I have in omnibus format) and fans of that will be chomping at the bit for some more of this shady character (yes I went there). His conversation with both alien ally Mikaal (the current Starman) and his lover Hope O` Dare were both written rather well. I also enjoyed the inclusion of Von Hammer's predicament cut into the first scene. We get the sense of boredom within the Shade, and as the yearn for adventure rises, well one comes straight to his door.
The art is pretty good too, I appreciate Cully Hamner's bold cartoon style, with plenty of deep shading and character across the issue. I noticed an interesting detail in that all the peaceful conversation occurs during the day and all the conflict and action happens at night.
The Bad
I'll be blunt, I didn't like the ending. The crossover cameo and just how it pans out was a bit silly, I don't want to spoil but I don't see that conclusion last.
Conclusion
Readers completely unaware of the titular character will probably not enjoy this as much as a Starman fan as I did. I think of it as a spin-off of the 90's Starman series, and in that aspect it works well. As a origin story, it falls flat I'm afraid.
