A lighthearted reading review…because sometimes a Pastors need a break from heavy reading also.
Matt Wagner. The Shadow: Year One. Runnemede, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment, April 28th 2015. 304 pp.
4 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
This is a longer story of the pulp comic book hero known as “The Shadow.” Not that I’m complaining about it being longer but rather I see it as a delight since this past year I have been immensely enjoying the stories and the character of “The Shadow.” If you enjoy other titles on the Shadow you will enjoy this one.
Don’t be fooled with the title “Year One” to think this is an origin story of The Shadow, although his origin is slightly hinted at with little details here and there. Thus the author manages to shroud The Shadow in mystery even as we learn more about him and his adventures. Like other books on the Shadow I love how this is a story of a period in the early half of the Twentieth history. It is written so that those who love history would enjoy it. The story begins towards the end of the 1920s on the eve of the Great Depression with a rich man name Lamont Cranston returning by ship to New York City. Lamont Cranston of course is one of the identity used by The Shadow. While this volume is subtitled “Year One” and does not focus exclusively on how the Shadow became the character he is with his superpowers, we do see that this is one of the early beginnings of Lamont Cranston’s career as the Shadow. And that was a treat to see how the Shadow in the days before Margo Lane was his companion in his war against evil. This story does the story of how Margo Lane became one of the Shadow’s associates in his underworld war against crime.
I enjoyed the story involving different characters that are believable for their time. We see Italian organized crime boss. We see references made to the Great War (World War one). We get the 1920s feel of the rich and famous before the eve of the Depression complete with suit and tie for the men (though I see there’s not necessarily the long tail coats of the 1920s) and dress for the ladies. As you read this graphic novel you meet corrupt government officials and police officers trying to do the right thing (or not). I also enjoyed the book’s “Chinatown” element those the end of the book; that was neat.
I don’t want to give this whole book away but it certainly was an action-packed read.
The Domain for Truth 
[…] The Shadow: Year One […]
Looks like fun! Thanks for introducing me to the Shadow, a character I knew in name only prior to your reviews. I need some light reading like this. Almost done with a long history
Wow, will we see a review of the history book on your blog?
Thanks for asking, Jim. Yes, I’ll definitely be reviewing this 450-page general history of Poland. I have 100 pages left, which is a good feeling, like seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I’m actually enjoying this book quite a bit which speaks volumes about just how much of a nerd I am.
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I believe this was a pulp paperback series before it became a comic book series. I seem to remember one of my brothers (who has an M. Div. in pastoral counseling from Fuller and who collects such things) showing me a reproduction of every Shadow story every written along with some of the accompanying chapter art.
Wow he certainly sounds like a fan! This is the brother you guys call the “warrior monk” or something like that? It seems some of the ones I read are newer work on the Shadow…although I would love to read older pulp paperbacks reprints, if I haven’t been reading them already.
A colleague at work referred to my brother as the warrior priest, and the moniker stuck. He likes to collect pulp fiction. Take care.
yeah, this Shadow character seems quite amazing. =))