Anyone who followed James Robinson’s Starman knows that outside the creation of Jack Knight, The Shade was a character that got revitalized by that series. Needless to say when people heard James Robinson was returning to work on The Shade and in turn returning to Opal City, that was exciting news. I was definitely one of those fans excited about this announcement.. The best way to describe The Shade to new fans is he’s an old villain yet in Opal City is the one place he would never harm. He loves his home so in turn if you dare harm it you will have him to deal with. We now begin our journey with Cully Hamner as our artist and capped off with a fitting cover by Tony Harris, who worked on the early issues of James Robinson’s Starman and co-created the Jack Knight Starman with Robinson.
The first pages starts quietly with The Shade and Mikaal reclaiming the name of Starman once more. It’s refreshing with the issue starting with a nice conversation. This is nice to tell you just what’s changed and hasn’t changed with these characters. Seems as much that James Robinson’s work with the Starman characters and so forth is all still canon. That’s why I liked the conversation so much, since considering this was being released just after the New 52, you get a nice idea of just how Opal City fits. Cully Hamner has a lot of fun with this chat, his camera so to speak flows gracefully across the page.
During their chat you get this intersecting running scene that drives into a truly breakneck action sequence. Cully Hamner did an excellent job with just a quiet conversation, and his skill with this action scene is phenomenal. You’re being introduced to a gentleman named William Von Hammer during this impressive action sequence. Needless to say by the end of that I’m wanting to know more about him, then just what his connection to The Shade truly is. Definitely a fan of how James Robinson put that scene together.
The simple piece of beauty to this issue is The Shade’s relationship with Hope O’Dare part of the O’Dare family, a family of cops who have served Opal City for generations. She encourages The Shade to go on an adventure. Robinson’s knack for dialogue is beautiful to see. You can see why these two characters care about each other. Hamner’s artwork impressed me in showing Hope’s expressions on her face, I never appreciated his ability to show emotions until now. This makes this segment truly something special. Which leads to the final segment, showing an appearance from someone you won’t quite expect until you see this person on the page. Next issue is going to make me wonder just how they’re going to make this series work if it’s ending like that. I’m game though to learn more.
The first issue of The Shade mini series is a success in my opinion. Even if you haven’t been keeping up with The Shade or Starman series, there’s still a lot to appreciate here. James Robinson is having a great time reacquainting us with these characters once more. Cully Hamner is just superb in his artistry, showing a true mastery from action to quiet conversations.I’m excited to find out what’s going to happen over the next year of this series, from the ending of this issue I can only imagine what we’re in for next. We’re in for a truly fine series.
