Everything isn't as it seems when Zadie is on the verge of losing her brother a second time. Meanwhile, strife at home takes an unexpected turn that raises the stakes going into the next issue. Don't miss this series!
SHADECRAFT #4
Writer: Joe Henderson
Artist: Lee Garbett, Antonio Fabela
Letterer: Simon Bowland
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: June 23, 2021
Cover Price: $3.99
Zadie discovers the truth about Shadecraft and what happened to her brother
Ricky a year ago. Can Zadie pull off a desperate gambit to get her brother back? And does he even WANT to come back??
Score:
★★★★☆ (4/5)
Zadie has been on an emotional roller coaster ever since her brother landed in a coma. Things just got weird from there. She was living in fear of shadows she thought were out to get her. She reunited with her brother in shadow form or at least she thought she did. Now, the lady posing as the school counselor is actually Agent Angela Owens. She's convinced Zadie that her shadow brother isn't really her brother at all but something doesn't smell right.
As with any new series entering its first arc, issues three and/or four become vitally important in solidifying a comic's worth going forward. Is it getting better in some way that makes it a must-buy? Is the story advancing in ways that satisfy or shock or reveal new information or something that elevates the series? 'Shadecraft' #4 does everything right with a big reveal that changes everything.
The story takes another dramatic turn but one that helps Zadie. She's been through so much and while there's still some pain associated with having to perhaps let her brother's shadow go, she gains so much more. It sets up an exciting new plotline going into issue five. Joe Henderson is a successful screenwriter and producer. It's understandable that some of the scenes here feel like a TV episode especially with a teenage lead. There's plenty of angst and familial turmoil that grounds 'Shadecraft' when it doesn't explore more of the fantastical elements of shadecraft itself. It's a hard balance to manage but Henderson does a good job as the story gains momentum by the end and the stakes are even higher than before.
As usual, Lee Garbett and Antonio Fabela continue to do fantastic work on the art. Each scene feels intimate and focused. Oddly enough, a story about the power of shadows is full of shadowy scenes both the regular kind and the supernatural. Fabela's rich colors stand out and escape the darkness of a world drenched in shadow and shadowcraft. It's really the emotional range that Garbett conveys with facial expressions and body language that gives these characters life and tells so much without words.
'Shadowcraft' #4 provides some game-changing revelations that escalate what's at stake for Zadie and her family. Zadie gets some much-needed answers but now has more to lose. Henderson ramps up the supernatural action going into issue five. It's a title that gets better with every new issue.
Comments
Post a Comment