By Justin McCarty

The pieces are falling into place in issue two of The Shadow Vol. 3. The circumstances leading up to The Shadow's last appearance and the burned gentleman’s arrival at the hospital are starting to make the news. Mary’s story starts to take shape as she recruits her sister in the mission to find out who Mr. Crispy might be. The whole thing possibly goes all the way to the President!

We get reintroduced to Mary and the burn victim as they take in the news that there is now footage of The Shadow at the home of an aid of President Wyatt. Mr. Crispy recounts an encounter The Shadow had with a club owner/bootlegger almost a hundred years ago. We also get to learn The Shadows connection to the current administration. There are still only hints of the larger cultural issues that this book looks to tackle. It’s an ongoing title, though, so we have time to build up to the important moments.

The plotting stays pretty fast paced, only slowing down to get us acquainted with Luisa, Mary’s hacker sister. We continue the 2x4 grid that gives this comic so much of its pace and overall narrative feel. Everything feels pulpy and melodramatic while still putting us in modern day America. We sailed straight to the end of the issue with the reveal set in place with the flashback. But the plot also thickens. I was left really wanting to pick up the next issue.

This title really feels unencumbered by its ambition. I’ve reviewed four titles for this week, and of those four, one had almost no larger aspirations, looking at you Flash, one was a big epic title with promise, but under a lot of pressure, and the last is a reintroduction of a loved Kirby character, a critical star, yes, but it needs to also be a big seller. This title has ambition, but it seems to also have the complete freedom to do its own thing. That makes the book a fun read.

I am probably biased because of my very long love of The Shadow, and it may be too early to say, but I really think The Shadow Vol. 3 will be one of the best Shadow series ever.

#heknows!

Score: 5/5

Shadow Vol. 3 #2
Writers: Si Spurrier & Dan Watters
Art: Daniel HDR
Color: Natalia Marques
Letters: Simon Bowland
Editor: Joseph Rybrant & Anthony Marques
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment