The Shadow knows what evil lurks in the hearts of Batmen.
We truly are living in a new golden age of comic book crossovers. Recently we've seen everything from Batman/TMNT to Archie vs. Predator to Star Trek/Green Lantern to Tarzan on the Planet of the Apes. The common thread among all four of those books is that they delivered more than simple novelty value. They blended their respective franchises in clever, inventive ways and made the most of the new character dynamics that arose as a result. Now we have Batman/The Shadow, one more worthy addition to this lineup of terrific crossovers.
While set in current DC Rebirth continuity (or something like it), Batman/The Shadow helps the Dark Knight get back to his roots a bit as a dark, pulpy avenger of the night. Considering how much The Shadow inspired Batman, it's only fitting writers Scott Snyder and Steve Orlando and artist Riley Rossmo would take that approach. The series also uses the massive time gap separating the two characters to its advantage. This isn't another textbook case of two heroes bumping into one another and fighting for a while before teaming up to battle a common enemy. There's a much more complicated and intriguing conflict at work here, one that concerns itself a great deal with the legacy Lamont Cranston left behind.
Perhaps the trickiest goal with a crossover is in crafting a story that actually leaves a lasting mark on both franchises. That doesn't look to be an issue with Batman/The Shadow. Snyder and Orlando show every sign that they're using this tale to explore the impact Shadow had on Batman, both in terms of the larger pop culture landscape and within this shared universe itself. Both writers have plenty of experience writing Batman at this point, but it's satisfying to see them take to The Shadow so readily. The character is treated like a supernatural, almost mythical force here. The fact that the series allows the two writers to touch on a sorely underutilized Batman villain is icing on the cake.
Artist Riley Rossmo was easily the biggest selling point with the recent "Night of the Monster Men" crossover, so he's a natural choice to explore this mash-up of pulp and superheroes. Rossmo brings a very unique flavor to the page. While his work has the darkness and grittiness one would expect from this crossover, there's also a very graceful, flowing quality to his figure work. Rossmo's dynamic rendition of The Shadow in motion is the main reason the character comes across as surreal and menacing as he does. In general, there's an otherworldly quality to this book that nicely counterbalances the shadowy darkness.
The Verdict
Batman/The Shadow shows every sign of living up to the recent high standard set by crossover comics like Star Trek/Green Lantern and Tarzan on the Planet of the Apes. It cleverly merges the two franchises and explores the enduring legacy of The Shadow in Gotham City, for good and ill. And thanks to Rossmo, the comic looks every bit as good as it reads.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire