Set in the modern day bayou of New Orleans, Shadowman features Jack Boniface as the titular hero of the series as he fights monsters, demons and spirit lords from the other side.
However, what if time travel, Bebop and Nazis were added to the mix? Well, what you get is a gritty, supernatural noir story filled with action-packed fight scenes with amazing artwork and pulp-like dialogue that will leave you salivating from start to finish.
Written by Andy Diggle and drawn by Shawn Martinbrough with Stephen Segovia, issue #4 put Jack on the passenger’s seat and let him enjoy the ride as his soul goes back in time to 1940’s Harlem and watches his great-grandfather, Maxim Boniface, take the lead as the Shadowman and kick some Nazi ass.
Issue #4 does not bring the narrative forward, but rather, it goes backward, as writer Diggle expands the lore of the Shadowman Loa and the Boniface family history. Diggle doesn’t make Maxim a replica of Jack, but rather his own fleshed out character. Diggle shows that Maxim is an experienced veteran that knows what he is doing and how to somewhat handle the Loa. In fact, it wouldn’t be too surprising if he was to make another appearance later down in the comics, or at very least, have his own spin-off series, due how he is presented.
Altogether, the writing of this issue sets out what it was supposed to do, have an enjoyable, not so heavy exposition filled, noir story set in 1940s Harlem where Jack’s ancestor fought against Nazis to save a senator in Minton’s Playhouse to stop a race war from happening and let us know that the Boniface family have always been badasses.
Being that this story takes in place in noir-stylized Harlem, it only makes sense to bring artist Shawn Martinbrough, as he was the illustrator for Luke Cage Noir, a story with a similar premise in the same location. Along with colorist José Villarrubia, with dark colors such as black, violet and purple, one feels like they’re in 1940s Harlem as the imagery gives off the vibe of a dark, violent and gritty New York.
Overall, issue #4 presents a break to the main story and instead takes a detour to show that the Loa, the thing that Jack thinks is making his life a living hell, can be controlled and instead of being a monster, it can be an ally. You’ll want to be read more of the Shadowman, to see more of Boniface’s lineage and to see how Jack can learn to become a better Shadowman.
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