EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW: Ennis' "The Shadow" #1

[une]

I like the fact that it's not the exact Pulp version of The Shadow, I think they need to twist things up a bit instead of just doing a carbon copy of what's come before and I'm very happy with how Dynamite has handled almost all of their characters, especially the Pulp heroes. I've read so many complain about this character or that character and how it's nothing like the comics they grew up with and blah blah blah, I'm just glad that Dynamite has the balls to tweak things up and try something original from time to time.

As for The Shadow #1, it was well worth the wait! Amazing art and a fun and easy to follow story led this bad boy into "fun" status with me, probably my favorite Ennis since Hitman back in the 90's, but then again I wasn't a fan of a lot of Ennis' work back then.

I think something that must be admitted by some fans is that, Dynamite has resurrected these characters. By that I mean, they were pretty much dead in the water before Dynamite thought that they could make a buck off of them. No one was doing anything with the Shadow or many of those other characters. To me that says that changes were necessary in order to make these properties relevant to modern audiences. Now, I hope no one misunderstands and thinks that I'm saying that the original versions of these characters were somehow flawed or inferior, because that's not my point at all. I just mean that these characters need to be reinvented to make them more palatable to modern audiences.

[Libaax]

It was a good first issue, Ennis easily built the mysterious,weird vibe to Shadow. The art is much nicer than i thought.

Im reading this for Ennis and a new take on The Shadow. The fans cant complain too much if there has been other different version from the pulp. I like the supernatural angle thats its small part.

The weakness of the issue was that coloring mistake of Pat Finnagan and Cranston.

[Ed Love]

It's definitely not the pulp version of the Shadow, but I think that's a good thing. I think it's great that Garth Ennis is taking some of the basic ideas and concepts of the Shadow and making something that is new, but at the same time still the Shadow. This kind of reinvention keeps properties fresh and relevant. I would of course prefer for someone like Garth Ennis to make something totally new, but with the realities of the American comic book industry, that is probably not going to happen. So this kind of re-imagining is really the next best thing.

The pulp version of the character will still exist in the original pulp books, but now we have a new version that might better appeal to modern sensibilities and tastes. In my opinion, for a fan of the pulps, the absolute worst that could happen is that this version becomes so popular that it usurps the role of the pulp stories as the iconic version of the character. Which won't affect the existence of the original pulps at all and will only make their reprinting more likely. So it's really a win-win for Shadow fans.

I see that argument (we always have the original stories) trotted out all the time and frankly, it holds no water for me. You know, I just don't want to keep re-reading the same stories over and over again. It has its place but so does the excitement of discovering a new story, a new adventure with the characters being recognizable, like visiting an old friend. Why go out with your old friends, you still have your memories and pictures? I find that most people that make this argument, don't really mean it across the board. It's fine and good as long as the project being re-imagined is not one they were fond of or the current creator is one of their favorites. Eventually, it'll happen to a character near and dear to their hearts and they understand.

And, how can it make reprinting the stories MORE likely when the stories are already being reprinted and have been for a couple of years now? It's not a win-win because we already have the reprintings happening, including the original art and covers as well as behind the scene articles and such. Dynamite cannot take credit for that.

[Ed Love]

I think something that must be admitted by some fans is that, Dynamite has resurrected these characters. By that I mean, they were pretty much dead in the water before Dynamite thought that they could make a buck off of them. No one was doing anything with the Shadow or many of those other characters. To me that says that changes were necessary in order to make these properties relevant to modern audiences. Now, I hope no one misunderstands and thinks that I'm saying that the original versions of these characters were somehow flawed or inferior, because that's not my point at all. I just mean that these characters need to be reinvented to make them more palatable to modern audiences.

As noted, the Shadow's stories have been being reprinted going on several years now. Green Hornet movie was already in the works before they got a hold of it. The Flash Gordon comic strip is still around and a comic was already being published by another character. Many of the Superpowers characters had been used and were being reprinted by AC Comics including several of the Green Lama pulps were being reprinted by Adventure House. ERB has never been out of print long, Dark Horse was reprinting several of the older comics and the John Carter movie was already in the works. Moonstone was already publishing comics and new prose stories featuring the Phantom and the Spider. Zorro seems to get dusted off every five to ten years between movies, tv shows, and comic companies. So, no, I don't feel that I have to admit that Dynamite has "resurrected" these characters.

I am willing to make some concessions for modern audiences and different media. I think DC's Shadow Strikes was the perfect synthesis of modern comic storytelling and the original pulp and radio characters just as Marvel's bw magazine treatment of Doc Savage made concessions for making the character more visibly superhero-esque but keeping much of the style of the pulp stories while filling it with visual action so that the visceral thrill of reading the stories is largely the same as reading the original stories. But, making concessions for changes in media doesn't mean re-inventing. Those changes are mostly cosmetic, changes in how the story is told. If anything, the more you have to change in those regards, the more important it is to make sure the character is on model.

[Manga4life]

I wouldn't say Dynamite has "resurrected" these characters more so than they made them relevant in today's comics market. Sure, reprints done by really small companies is fine, and AC Comics using these characters is fine, but none of these companies are on the same level as Dynamite when it comes to attracting new readers to an old property, and that's what counts.

[thwhtGuardian]

I see that argument (we always have the original stories) trotted out all the time and frankly, it holds no water for me. You know, I just don't want to keep re-reading the same stories over and over again. It has its place but so does the excitement of discovering a new story, a new adventure with the characters being recognizable, like visiting an old friend. Why go out with your old friends, you still have your memories and pictures? I find that most people that make this argument, don't really mean it across the board. It's fine and good as long as the project being re-imagined is not one they were fond of or the current creator is one of their favorites. Eventually, it'll happen to a character near and dear to their hearts and they understand.

And, how can it make reprinting the stories MORE likely when the stories are already being reprinted and have been for a couple of years now? It's not a win-win because we already have the reprintings happening, including the original art and covers as well as behind the scene articles and such. Dynamite cannot take credit for that.

And I find arguments like this flawed, especially when it comes to this iteration of the Shadow, as the character is still recognizable as the Shadow.

And your assumption that once someone adapts and changes a work that I hold dear I'll understand doesn't hold much water with me either. For one, it assumes that this hasn't already happened to me...which is false. In addition to loving the Shadow stories written by Gibson, I'm also a big fan of Conan, Flash Gordon, He-Man, the Thunder Cats, the Transformers, Doug Moench's interpretation of Batman and many other properties that have been subsequently altered by other creators who took up the reigns after the versions that I originally enjoyed were finished. Now I haven't always enjoyed the newer versions( I'm looking at you New Adventures of He-man, Bayformers and Thunder Cats 2011!) but I wouldn't decry these new versions as being related to the original property in name only or that those who enjoy them can't possibly be "real" fans, I simply chalk them up as stories I don't enjoy and hope that I'll like the next version better. And if they don't come out with another version? Well, it's a little sad but I do still have the version I did like and there's no reason to be bitter that they decided not to make more stories like that version as that kind of thinking is simply fan entitlement and that's madness as far as I'm concerned.

[Mbast1]

And I find arguments like this flawed, especially when it comes to this iteration of the Shadow, as the character is still recognizable as the Shadow.
Exactly. And I find that entire attitude a bit much, but it's common enough. Why does it matter that someone wants new stories from old versions? Those versions are gone because they didn't sell, and unless you're rich enough to have creators make works just for you, that's the bottom line. Just because you want it doesn't mean companies are obligated to produce it. And, it's certainly not about the artistic integrity of the creator's vision, since that was dictated by the publisher. It's really about wanting more of what they like, and nothing else.

And your assumption that once someone adapts and changes a work that I hold dear I'll understand doesn't hold much water with me either. For one, it assumes that this hasn't already happened to me...which is false.
This is also pretty common, the "just wait til it's you" line, which assumes that everyone is really just alike. I've had it happen many times in may ways, and it's not so big a deal. You get the works you get, and once they're done, that's it. They can recreate things as they wish, and you either like it or you don't, anything else is too fannish for my tastes.

but I wouldn't decry these new versions as being related to the original property in name only or that those who enjoy them can't possibly be "real" fans, I simply chalk them up as stories I don't enjoy and hope that I'll like the next version better.
Nicely put. Much healthier attitude, IMO.

thinking is simply fan entitlement and that's madness as far as I'm concerned.

Well, it has made for some good fan fiction, which is fine, but I don't see why people expect it from commercial works. DC just killed off a number of stories I liked in September, and replaced characters with new versions. Didn't kill me. (Before Watchmen, on the other hand...)

[jsf]

Just got to read it, and LOVED it. It's everything I was hoping to see with the character. Ennis boiled him down to the essentials for the first issue, and made it work. And the art was fantastic.

Love the character (and have read some of the pulps as well as earlier iterations of him in the comics), and thought this was amazing. Hope Ennis is on the title for a while to come (as I know he was initially only signed on for the first six issues I believe).

Still, very pleased with this.

[doolbnoom]

i got my ish, but still haven't read it- it's in my stack and coming up soon. i skipped over all the comments as not to find anything out. i'll comment soon, though... but really, how can it not be good! i've been waiting and waiting for this title.

[Mbast1]

Just got to read it, and LOVED it..

I read it yesterday, and I wouldn't say I loved it, but it's good enough that I'll continue to read it. Well-written, intriguing (how DOES he know the future?), and nice art.

[Ntikrst]

I love The Shadow, and this title did not disappoint. Having read the Raping of Nanking, I had no problems whatsoever with the gore and violence in this issue. Men go to jail, mad dogs get put down indeed. I'm looking forward to exploring his new psychic abilities and his precognition, this kind of character needs an edge rather than relying on enemies who conveniently miss all the time.

I've been aching for this title for longer than I realized. Batman is a pathetic joke by comparison, I cannot begin to express how much I hate him, anyone else in his Bat-Family, or any non-powered, non lethal "super-heroes" for that matter.

Thank God the real Dark Detective is back.

[Veritech]

I really liked the first issue! I would agree that Ennis' Shadow has quite a bit in common with Howard Chaykin's 1987 Blood and Judgement mini. Here, as in Chaykin's, the Shadow is an arrogant a-hole . . . . who can back up his arrogance with power. He also views his agents as pawns more than "chums" or friends. It will be interesting to see the motivations of this version of the character.

[doolbnoom]

i finally read it. now having read what everyone had to say and having digested it, even if the violence/gore is not "cloud-minded", to be honest, how much of it is there- really? it starts off with a history lesson- setting the background, goes off like a pop (or a gun), and then settles into some pages full of dialogue to begin building another layer.

ennis has taken, as was mentioned, both from the pulp + the radio show, thrown in his own trademark ingredient (with many layers!) and has brought to life a character we've all been too long without. this was on my Pull List the minute it was solicited. even a day spent waiting fir this title/character have been way too much!

and i to think the '90s movie did itself justice (no pun intended, actually).

[vickvega]

I normally would not have bought this but my LCS had it marked down to $2 for the first issue. I grabbed the Jae Lee cover. Thought the art was much better than I expected and the story pulled me in. I'll be reading the first arc, then go from there. I really wish dynamite comics were 2.99 because I'd buy/try alot more of them.

[havok1977]

I really wish dynamite comics were 2.99 because I'd buy/try alot more of them.

This. I can understand that a small publisher doesn't have as much circulation as the big ones; but Dark Horse and Image make an effort to offer 2.99 and 3.50 books and manage.