COVER STORY: Shadowman Volume 2 #1

What makes the best comic book covers? It is a great topic for debate. For us, as individuals, there is no wrong answer, of course; it is purely subjective. But, with a little thought it’s possible to explain what it is about a particular image that grabs you. The best images are the ones that make you stop and check out something you weren’t previously planning to purchase – and in some cases, you even end up picking up a title you’ve never even heard of before.

In January 1990, Valiant held a press conference at New York’s Palladium announcing to the world the launch of the Nintendo Comics System. At the media event, they created the first story for the line live on stage – the Super Mario Bros. 3 tale “The Fish that Should’ve Gotten Away.” The line’s comics were based upon Nintendo’s video game and TV intellectual properties from Super Mario Bros., Game Boy, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, and others.

As successful as the Nintendo Comics System was, though, Jim Shooter and company wanted to dream bigger. Not long after Shooter was forced out of the company in 1992, Acclaim made that happen by purchasing Valiant. By doing so, the new parent company also brought the Valiant heroes into the future of video gaming. And, that future began with superstar scribe Garth Ennis’ hatred of superheroes.

Recasting his new Shadowman from the ashes of the original, of whom was prophesized to die in 1999 via the top selling Unity crossover, Ennis went hardcore – replacing the jazz saxophonist turned hero with a cold blooded killer named Zero. Joining Ennis on this mission to bring the world a very different type of champion was Ashley Wood, whose stylish art paid homage to the great Bill Sienkiewicz. And, as in some mockery of DC’s “S” insignia emblazoned on its “Man of Tomorrow,” Ennis had Wood graft the original Shadowman’s mask on Zero’s chest like some freakish fear symbol that says, “Don’t mess with me. Ever.”

And it worked – all of it – as can be seen with this striking cover of Shadowman Vol. 2 #1 (March 1997). Featuring Zero staring out into the abyss – awaiting all sinners and their sort – Wood also has sketched the super-heroic symbols of the original Shadowman at the bottom of said cover, offering a prelude of the mystical grafting that transforms our new but reluctant hero into a hitman of unspeakable horror.

One of Ennis and Wood’s unsung comic treasures, search out Shadowman Vol. 2 #1 at a store near you!

–Scott Braden