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Starman #coda
The Shade
James Robinson returns to the world of his acclaimed STARMAN series in this new graphic novel starring the antihero known as The Shade! An attack at the Starman museum kicks off a globe-hopping, centuries spanning quest that will irrevocably change The Shade's life, and ultimately shed light on his true origin!
THE SHADE features art by some of comics' most acclaimed talents, including Darwyn Cooke (DC: The New Frontier), Frazer Irving (Batman & Robin), Gene Ha (Superman: Action Comics) Jill Thompson (The Sandman), Cully Hamner (RED) and Javier Pulido (Spider-Man). A must-have for any fan of STARMAN!
THE SHADE features art by some of comics' most acclaimed talents, including Darwyn Cooke (DC: The New Frontier), Frazer Irving (Batman & Robin), Gene Ha (Superman: Action Comics) Jill Thompson (The Sandman), Cully Hamner (RED) and Javier Pulido (Spider-Man). A must-have for any fan of STARMAN!
280 pages, Paperback
First published January 11, 2012
3 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
About the author
James Robinson
1,265 books236 followersJames Dale Robinson is a British writer of American comic books and screenplays.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
December 11, 2014
This one caught me by surprise.
Sometimes I’ll go into the library and just pick out titles I’ve never heard of or a book featuring a character that I know very little about, so it was this hit and run strategy that led me to end up with this volume.
The Shade that I’m familiar with is the villain from the DC animated universe who’s a member of Lex Luthor’s Injustice Gang and wields a stick/cane that is the source of his shadow-like powers. This Shade’s powers are organic and here, he’s a much more nuanced character – urbane, erudite, witty, ruthless when he needs to be and loyal to his friends. He also kills if the situation demands it which is why he’s tagged with that tired label, “antihero”.
This was slow going at first. Robinson has a certain rhythm with Shade’s dialogue and it wasn’t until the sex scene (or maybe the dismemberment scene) that I was fully up to speed and in sync. The story bounces around from the present, to his backstory and his origin (he was best buds with Charles Dickens and given his name by Oscar Wilde), and to key adventures in his past, but it’s well handled (it helps that a different artist works on each time period).
Although he does reference a few popular DC characters, it’s the strategic incorporation of unfamiliar (to me) but interesting and colorful secondary characters, that puts this a cut above some of the other DC chaff. You have Madam Fatal (the original “dude” dressed up as a lady), the cowboy Vigilante, Jack Knight, Deathstroke, William Von Hammer and teenage vampire La Sangre.
This smartly done series is self-contained, so you have the entire run here.
Sometimes I’ll go into the library and just pick out titles I’ve never heard of or a book featuring a character that I know very little about, so it was this hit and run strategy that led me to end up with this volume.
The Shade that I’m familiar with is the villain from the DC animated universe who’s a member of Lex Luthor’s Injustice Gang and wields a stick/cane that is the source of his shadow-like powers. This Shade’s powers are organic and here, he’s a much more nuanced character – urbane, erudite, witty, ruthless when he needs to be and loyal to his friends. He also kills if the situation demands it which is why he’s tagged with that tired label, “antihero”.
This was slow going at first. Robinson has a certain rhythm with Shade’s dialogue and it wasn’t until the sex scene (or maybe the dismemberment scene) that I was fully up to speed and in sync. The story bounces around from the present, to his backstory and his origin (he was best buds with Charles Dickens and given his name by Oscar Wilde), and to key adventures in his past, but it’s well handled (it helps that a different artist works on each time period).
Although he does reference a few popular DC characters, it’s the strategic incorporation of unfamiliar (to me) but interesting and colorful secondary characters, that puts this a cut above some of the other DC chaff. You have Madam Fatal (the original “dude” dressed up as a lady), the cowboy Vigilante, Jack Knight, Deathstroke, William Von Hammer and teenage vampire La Sangre.
This smartly done series is self-contained, so you have the entire run here.
November 5, 2013
To me, this doesn't feel like it was intended to be a finite series of twelve issues, and maybe it wasn't. For a finite series, it's awfully meandering, and spends an awful lot of time laying down groundwork for future stories. I don't have a problem with that. Shade's travels, ostensibly to find out who's trying to kill him, are interesting enough, as are his memories. Robinson introduces some interesting new characters and mythology into continuity. And La Sangre is a gift to the DCU, one that I dearly wish somebody would try to work with. A Spanish vampire who's also a devout Catholic and dearly beloved protector of her chosen city? Yes, please. She even has a mysterious and interesting archenemy. But for people who loved Starman, possibly the best thing I can say about the Shade series is that it feels like it belongs with the rest of Robinson's Starman.
July 7, 2013
I can remember the Shade as a semi-villain from the days of Jack Knight as Starman in the 1990's. Since then I haven't really followed comics to any great degree, so it was a pleasant surprise when I discovered this Graphic Novel in the library.
The story follows the Shade through a series of adventures at various points in his life, and with varying characters who have meant something to him. Along the way, we learn a lot about his history, his life, and how he became the Shade in the first place. There are so many good bits in this story that it is hard to pick a favourite bit, though I always have a fondness for aliens masquerading as Egyptians Gods (I loved the Stargate series).
There is a beautiful range of artwork available in this book as well, and I would love to have some of the artwork in here on my wall (the Black Swan is particularly lovely). You don't need to know any of the back story either, but if you can find some of the original Starman series from this era, I would recommend you to read them as well. They were part of an era of storytelling that DC seems to have mostly forgotten how to do these days.
The story follows the Shade through a series of adventures at various points in his life, and with varying characters who have meant something to him. Along the way, we learn a lot about his history, his life, and how he became the Shade in the first place. There are so many good bits in this story that it is hard to pick a favourite bit, though I always have a fondness for aliens masquerading as Egyptians Gods (I loved the Stargate series).
There is a beautiful range of artwork available in this book as well, and I would love to have some of the artwork in here on my wall (the Black Swan is particularly lovely). You don't need to know any of the back story either, but if you can find some of the original Starman series from this era, I would recommend you to read them as well. They were part of an era of storytelling that DC seems to have mostly forgotten how to do these days.
April 11, 2013
an amazing addenda to the Starman series. too bad this didn't sell so well. it's worth the money to have read both in monthlies and in trade form. it would be nice to get a hardback, but doesn't look like it will. if you liked Starman, this is for you.
March 28, 2021
Re-read.
The Shade is one of the most fascinating characters to come out of the Starman mythos, and is one of the most compelling characters DC has in their stables.
This books somewhat demystifiies the titular character, but at the same time gives us a fuller look at the psychology of this character.
The Shade is one of the most fascinating characters to come out of the Starman mythos, and is one of the most compelling characters DC has in their stables.
This books somewhat demystifiies the titular character, but at the same time gives us a fuller look at the psychology of this character.
December 13, 2018
I picked this up in the local library. I have the individual comics, but have not pulled them out of their box since I read them a second time about 15 years ago. I had forgotten just how much Robinson loves these characters and how much respect he has for them.
Originally a traditional villain for various Flashes, the JSA, and the JLA, Robinson made him an occasional ally for his version of Starman, Jack Knight, son of the original. Eventually the Shade became a favorite of Starman fans, who quickly demanded more of this anti-hero who loved his Opal City so much, it completely changed his outlook and life.
Here, we finally get the extended origin story and a biographical tale. It's obviously not a complete biography, as Robinson would still be writing it. The high points he hits are taller than the Empire State Building, with all of the heart, laughter, and chills fans expect. We meet family members, allies, foes, and a number of others that really don't fit into any category.
This is an amazing story that anyone who is a fan of comics should read. Perhaps more importantly, this is one of those books to hand someone who does not understand that comics and graphic novels are a legitimate form of storytelling. At its basics, though, it's a ripping good tale.
Find it! Buy it! READ IT! NOW!
Originally a traditional villain for various Flashes, the JSA, and the JLA, Robinson made him an occasional ally for his version of Starman, Jack Knight, son of the original. Eventually the Shade became a favorite of Starman fans, who quickly demanded more of this anti-hero who loved his Opal City so much, it completely changed his outlook and life.
Here, we finally get the extended origin story and a biographical tale. It's obviously not a complete biography, as Robinson would still be writing it. The high points he hits are taller than the Empire State Building, with all of the heart, laughter, and chills fans expect. We meet family members, allies, foes, and a number of others that really don't fit into any category.
This is an amazing story that anyone who is a fan of comics should read. Perhaps more importantly, this is one of those books to hand someone who does not understand that comics and graphic novels are a legitimate form of storytelling. At its basics, though, it's a ripping good tale.
Find it! Buy it! READ IT! NOW!
June 10, 2013
Robinson's only latter day writing to even approach the quality of his Starman run. It's great to see some of the old Starman characters, but this volume really stirs based on its look at family and history.
September 21, 2019
The Shade es un personaje nacido durante la “Golden Age” de la mano del mítico Gardner Fox dentro de las páginas de Flash en los años 40, donde era presentado como un ladrón que manipulaba las sombras (la historia llevaba el apropiado título de The Man Who Commanded the Night). Pero durante 50 años no dejó de ser un villano de una sola cara que aparecía aquí y allá, como rival de las diversas encarnaciones de Flash, cometiendo fechorías con su sombrero de copa y su negra vestimenta (siendo esta la encarnación que apareció en la estupenda serie animada Justice League de Bruce Timm y Paul Dini). En 1994 James Robinson dio luz a su serie Starman, en la cual Jack Knight se veía obligado a aceptar su rol como super-héroe tomando el rol que ocupó su legendario padre a raíz de la muerte de su hermano… y de pronto Shade se convirtió no solo en un personaje de múltiples dimensiones, también en uno de los personajes secundarios preferidos del cómic USA.
Robinson aprovechó la existencia de un personaje de aquellos que siempre han estado ahí, pero ningún escritor le había dedicado más de cinco minutos en darle algo más que un mero fondo de armario, y construyó un personaje fascinante, moralmente muy ambigüo, tan romántico como despiadado y que se convertiría en una suerte de mentor del nuevo super-héroe. Descubriríamos que ya era el auto-proclamado protector de la ciudad de Opal, lugar donde transcurre gran parte de la serie y donde residen sus protagonistas, de la cual el amo de las sombras es un profundo enamorado de su arquitectura -probablemente se trate de una de las mejores ciudades ficticias jamás creadas para el Universo DC, diseñada con cariño y esmero tanto por Robinson como por el espléndido ilustrador Tony Harris-. Conocimos su verdadero nombre –Richard Swift- y gracias a sus diarios, los magníficos episodios Time Past, que vuelven a ver la luz en los presentes volúmenes, descubrimos que la inmortalidad adquirida en 1838 le ha dado para mucho, desde enemistarse con una saga familiar a lo largo de varias generaciones (los Ludlow, trama principal de la primera mini-serie dedicada al personaje en 1997 y editada en España por Planeta en el tercer volumen ómnibus de Starman), hasta compartir aventuras y desventuras con gran parte de los más famosos habitantes del Universo DC de los últimos dos siglos… y a la vez descubrir que su lado más oscuro y terrorífico no estaba del todo bajo su control.
La presente mini-serie se deja de Nuevos 52 y de historias y se sitúa en la encarnación inmediatamente previa del universo DC, años después de que finalizara Starman (no esperéis un cameo de Jack Knight, Robinson se mantiene todavía fiel a su promesa de dejarlo descansar hasta que algún día cuente esa historia sucedida en Japón antes del final de la serie… aunque dada la relación actual del guionista con la editorial me temo que aún lloverá mucho antes de que la veamos) y respetando la continuidad de los personajes de la serie a posteriori de la misma serie. El intento de asesinato de Shade por parte de Deathstroke (genial desenlace del primer cómic, por cierto) le llevará a abandonar a sus amadas Hope O’Dare y Opal para iniciar una investigación que le lleve a descubrir el quién y el por qué. La aventura le llevará a través diferentes ciudades, a su vez dibujado por diferentes ilustradores (Cully Hammer en Opal y Sydney, Javier Pulido en Barcelona, Frazer Irving en Londres, regalazos por parte de Darwyn Cooke, Jill Thompson y Gene Ha para los Time Past), en la cual conoceremos a personajes nuevos, se recuperarán otros olvidados de la editorial y poco a poco iremos descubriendo detalles sobre el pasado del personaje, hasta llegar a su espectacular y un tanto triste episodio final (ilustrado por el siempre excelente Ha) que enlaza directamente con la parte de su pasado que si se nos había mostrado en Starman.
Sin querer entrar en detalles ni posibles spoilers, me veo obligado a mencionar la estupenda parte de la historia que sucede en Barcelona, en la cual conocernos a la ahijada de Shade, La Sangre, una vampira que es la heroína local adorada por los ciudadanos y que reside en la Pedrera, y que en ocasiones va acompañada por el enmascarado-skater-resuelve-misterios Montpellier. Juntos deben enfrentarse a un villano que ha intentando acabar con ella también desde tiempos imperecederos, El Inquisidor, y el desenlace de este arco culminará en la Sagrada Familia. Llevaba años esperando leer algo así, una aventura que sin complejos sucediera en mi ciudad pero en su versión Universo DC, y me alegra que haya sido tanto de la mano de uno de mis escritores preferidos como gracias a uno de mis personajes predilectos.
He disfrutado Shade: el maestro de la oscuridad de su primera a última página, y espero que le ocurra igual a lo lectores que le den una oportunidad. Los episodios están planteados de tal modo que su conexión con Starman funcionan de modo reversible (se puede leer Shade sin haber leído la otra, aunque probablemente te entren ganas), por lo que se puede hincar el diente en el tema sin el temor que suelen provocar algunos spin-off. El guión devuelve al mejor Robinson, el apartado gráfico es sensacional por parte de todos y cada uno de los involucrados (aunque ya he dejado entrever que mis dos preferidos han sido Pulido y Ha) y el personaje principal es único, inimitable, irrepetible.
Robinson aprovechó la existencia de un personaje de aquellos que siempre han estado ahí, pero ningún escritor le había dedicado más de cinco minutos en darle algo más que un mero fondo de armario, y construyó un personaje fascinante, moralmente muy ambigüo, tan romántico como despiadado y que se convertiría en una suerte de mentor del nuevo super-héroe. Descubriríamos que ya era el auto-proclamado protector de la ciudad de Opal, lugar donde transcurre gran parte de la serie y donde residen sus protagonistas, de la cual el amo de las sombras es un profundo enamorado de su arquitectura -probablemente se trate de una de las mejores ciudades ficticias jamás creadas para el Universo DC, diseñada con cariño y esmero tanto por Robinson como por el espléndido ilustrador Tony Harris-. Conocimos su verdadero nombre –Richard Swift- y gracias a sus diarios, los magníficos episodios Time Past, que vuelven a ver la luz en los presentes volúmenes, descubrimos que la inmortalidad adquirida en 1838 le ha dado para mucho, desde enemistarse con una saga familiar a lo largo de varias generaciones (los Ludlow, trama principal de la primera mini-serie dedicada al personaje en 1997 y editada en España por Planeta en el tercer volumen ómnibus de Starman), hasta compartir aventuras y desventuras con gran parte de los más famosos habitantes del Universo DC de los últimos dos siglos… y a la vez descubrir que su lado más oscuro y terrorífico no estaba del todo bajo su control.
La presente mini-serie se deja de Nuevos 52 y de historias y se sitúa en la encarnación inmediatamente previa del universo DC, años después de que finalizara Starman (no esperéis un cameo de Jack Knight, Robinson se mantiene todavía fiel a su promesa de dejarlo descansar hasta que algún día cuente esa historia sucedida en Japón antes del final de la serie… aunque dada la relación actual del guionista con la editorial me temo que aún lloverá mucho antes de que la veamos) y respetando la continuidad de los personajes de la serie a posteriori de la misma serie. El intento de asesinato de Shade por parte de Deathstroke (genial desenlace del primer cómic, por cierto) le llevará a abandonar a sus amadas Hope O’Dare y Opal para iniciar una investigación que le lleve a descubrir el quién y el por qué. La aventura le llevará a través diferentes ciudades, a su vez dibujado por diferentes ilustradores (Cully Hammer en Opal y Sydney, Javier Pulido en Barcelona, Frazer Irving en Londres, regalazos por parte de Darwyn Cooke, Jill Thompson y Gene Ha para los Time Past), en la cual conoceremos a personajes nuevos, se recuperarán otros olvidados de la editorial y poco a poco iremos descubriendo detalles sobre el pasado del personaje, hasta llegar a su espectacular y un tanto triste episodio final (ilustrado por el siempre excelente Ha) que enlaza directamente con la parte de su pasado que si se nos había mostrado en Starman.
Sin querer entrar en detalles ni posibles spoilers, me veo obligado a mencionar la estupenda parte de la historia que sucede en Barcelona, en la cual conocernos a la ahijada de Shade, La Sangre, una vampira que es la heroína local adorada por los ciudadanos y que reside en la Pedrera, y que en ocasiones va acompañada por el enmascarado-skater-resuelve-misterios Montpellier. Juntos deben enfrentarse a un villano que ha intentando acabar con ella también desde tiempos imperecederos, El Inquisidor, y el desenlace de este arco culminará en la Sagrada Familia. Llevaba años esperando leer algo así, una aventura que sin complejos sucediera en mi ciudad pero en su versión Universo DC, y me alegra que haya sido tanto de la mano de uno de mis escritores preferidos como gracias a uno de mis personajes predilectos.
He disfrutado Shade: el maestro de la oscuridad de su primera a última página, y espero que le ocurra igual a lo lectores que le den una oportunidad. Los episodios están planteados de tal modo que su conexión con Starman funcionan de modo reversible (se puede leer Shade sin haber leído la otra, aunque probablemente te entren ganas), por lo que se puede hincar el diente en el tema sin el temor que suelen provocar algunos spin-off. El guión devuelve al mejor Robinson, el apartado gráfico es sensacional por parte de todos y cada uno de los involucrados (aunque ya he dejado entrever que mis dos preferidos han sido Pulido y Ha) y el personaje principal es único, inimitable, irrepetible.
July 9, 2018
This one has more talk than action, and some mighty pissed off Egyptian gods. Definitely MY KIND of graphic novel.
September 2, 2013
If anything is going to make me regret James Robinson's decision to leave DC Comics it is this collection. During his arguably classic run on Starman Robinson took a minor Golden Age villain and turned The Shade into a (for me) fun and interesting anti-hero. This is Robinson's second mini-series go round with Dickie Swift and it is much better than the first.
Perhaps it is because Robinson has gotten The Shade's origin out of the way. We get a glob trotting adventure that covers decades (via flashback). The Shade goes to Australia and Spain before getting to London and Robinson gets to have some fun and haul out characters who had only one or two panels during his brief tenure on Superman that featured Mon-El.
Is a vampire protector of Barcelona exactly an original idea? No, but Le Sangre and her nemesis The Inquistor are well played. Von Hammer is trotted out again and Robinson introduces new characters for the Australian portion of the tale.
Through it all The Shade's attitude and dialogue would fit in a Joss Whedon television show.
Props to Robinson to trying to add new characters and some diversity to the DC Universe. And, props to DC for doing this collection, as poor sales nearly doomed the 12 issues to an early death (around issues 8-10).
Perhaps it is because Robinson has gotten The Shade's origin out of the way. We get a glob trotting adventure that covers decades (via flashback). The Shade goes to Australia and Spain before getting to London and Robinson gets to have some fun and haul out characters who had only one or two panels during his brief tenure on Superman that featured Mon-El.
Is a vampire protector of Barcelona exactly an original idea? No, but Le Sangre and her nemesis The Inquistor are well played. Von Hammer is trotted out again and Robinson introduces new characters for the Australian portion of the tale.
Through it all The Shade's attitude and dialogue would fit in a Joss Whedon television show.
Props to Robinson to trying to add new characters and some diversity to the DC Universe. And, props to DC for doing this collection, as poor sales nearly doomed the 12 issues to an early death (around issues 8-10).
August 6, 2013
I really enjoyed this. When it first came on interlibrary loan I was a little confused, mainly b/c I had no memory of requesting it but I am glad that I did. The Shade is more of an anti hero then a hero. This volume goes back and forth between the current time period and the past. The stories from the past involve the Shade's interactions with various family members, related by blood and not. All of this leads to finding out how his family is connected to the current plot on his life.
I loved La Sangre and wish she had a book of her own. I would totally read it and yes that does have something to do with her operating in Spain but it also has to do with how selfless and tough she is. I would also read more about most of the other heroes that made an appearance like Montpelier. They seem so much more subtle and interesting then some of their American counterparts.
The historical tales that showed the Shade's interaction with his family were great. They showed a human side that the Shade's human side was never totally lost, and I loved them.
I loved La Sangre and wish she had a book of her own. I would totally read it and yes that does have something to do with her operating in Spain but it also has to do with how selfless and tough she is. I would also read more about most of the other heroes that made an appearance like Montpelier. They seem so much more subtle and interesting then some of their American counterparts.
The historical tales that showed the Shade's interaction with his family were great. They showed a human side that the Shade's human side was never totally lost, and I loved them.
March 2, 2013
It was a decent book, but it went on for way too much longer than it needed to be.
February 6, 2014
A less fantastic version of Sandman in my opinion. Slow-moving, boring, confusing. DNF.
February 2, 2020
Why I read this: James Robinson's iconic Starman run will always be one of my favorites. It's one of the first comics I've ever read where the hero doesn't wear a costume, and he doesn't want to be considered a hero. It's such an engaging read, especially because it is set firmly in the normal DC Universe. So when I saw the Shade had his own mini-series, I had to get it.
The Shade is Knight's "friend" and a "guardian" of Opal City. He's not an anti-hero, he simply fights on the side of angels when it's over something that concerns him. I love that premise. He's a villain, through and through, and Robinson is fantastic at creating and maintaining that balance of a villain who only occasionally does the right thing, often by accident. Here, that is not what occurs. The Shade is the main character, so I guess I should have expected him to be a hero and do the right thing, but that seems to be the only thing he does. The right thing. Every single time. Even in the "Time Pasts" stories. I felt no tearing of the soul, as he made hard decisions to do the right thing, fighting a villainous nature; instead, he just "heroes". That makes this a standard run-of-the-mill superhero story.
And that's where it really is the weakest. Had this been a Wolverine story, or a Batman story, or some other globe-hopping super-hero story where we go on a journey to pull together the mistakes of our past, I would have been on board a little bit better. It would have made more sense to me. As it were, this villain is globe-trotting, taking down villains just because they are "worse" than he is, and is tied into his family history. That's not motivation. In fact, the event that started Shade on the journey was a random attack by Deathstroke, who does not finish the job, despite the fact that he has killed an "immortal" villain entirely too easy. Now Shade must know why. Yet the answer is so unsatisfactory that it's laughable.
The highlights are, as always for me, the "Times Past" material. The origin of the character works for me. The meetings with his family are handled well, and it is here that we see a character torn with his identity. He wants the familial relationships, but feels the evil inside of him that he knows is hard to control. I was consistently left wanting more. The modern material is far from bad. Not counting motivation, I think the idea of family and belonging is a strong theme for this book, even with the main baddies at the end and their desire to go "home", and handled well. I'm just sad that this wasn't the standard set by Starman, but that bar is very high, and I may be too hard on the book.
The Shade is Knight's "friend" and a "guardian" of Opal City. He's not an anti-hero, he simply fights on the side of angels when it's over something that concerns him. I love that premise. He's a villain, through and through, and Robinson is fantastic at creating and maintaining that balance of a villain who only occasionally does the right thing, often by accident. Here, that is not what occurs. The Shade is the main character, so I guess I should have expected him to be a hero and do the right thing, but that seems to be the only thing he does. The right thing. Every single time. Even in the "Time Pasts" stories. I felt no tearing of the soul, as he made hard decisions to do the right thing, fighting a villainous nature; instead, he just "heroes". That makes this a standard run-of-the-mill superhero story.
And that's where it really is the weakest. Had this been a Wolverine story, or a Batman story, or some other globe-hopping super-hero story where we go on a journey to pull together the mistakes of our past, I would have been on board a little bit better. It would have made more sense to me. As it were, this villain is globe-trotting, taking down villains just because they are "worse" than he is, and is tied into his family history. That's not motivation. In fact, the event that started Shade on the journey was a random attack by Deathstroke, who does not finish the job, despite the fact that he has killed an "immortal" villain entirely too easy. Now Shade must know why. Yet the answer is so unsatisfactory that it's laughable.
The highlights are, as always for me, the "Times Past" material. The origin of the character works for me. The meetings with his family are handled well, and it is here that we see a character torn with his identity. He wants the familial relationships, but feels the evil inside of him that he knows is hard to control. I was consistently left wanting more. The modern material is far from bad. Not counting motivation, I think the idea of family and belonging is a strong theme for this book, even with the main baddies at the end and their desire to go "home", and handled well. I'm just sad that this wasn't the standard set by Starman, but that bar is very high, and I may be too hard on the book.
December 16, 2024
If you have read the Starman series, then you know about The Shade - the mysterious villain turned... not "hero" per se, but someone who is trying to be better. This book details a solo adventure after the Starman series concludes.
I'm so glad that it was James Robinson was the one who penned this book. After his long run with that character and the world around him, you could tell by the end that the series was a love letter to the golden age and the characters that originated from that age. The Shade was one of the most interesting side characters of the run, with his flexible morality and his cool but grim facade - I think he was an instantly likable character, despite his villainous past.
This volume gives us not only his origin, but also the results of his familial legacy. We get to see what his offspring's offspring has been up to and how he deals with them. It's interesting because his more villainous tendencies actually are a benefit in a lot of these scenarios, as they are pretty gruesome and dark. In the Starman series, Shade kept a lot back in regards to himself, so seeing so much of his life exposed in this series was interesting and riveting.
It also didn't hurt that this book is comprised of some great artists. The stories are brought to life by the fantastic visuals of Darwyn Cooke, Javier Pulido, Frazer Irving, and Cully Hammer - and it looks so good. I think part of why the book works so well is because the visuals suck you in and keep you - much like the darkness of the Shade himself.
If you're a fan of Starman, then I'd wager you liked Shade - and if you liked him then, you have to check out this solo series.
I'm so glad that it was James Robinson was the one who penned this book. After his long run with that character and the world around him, you could tell by the end that the series was a love letter to the golden age and the characters that originated from that age. The Shade was one of the most interesting side characters of the run, with his flexible morality and his cool but grim facade - I think he was an instantly likable character, despite his villainous past.
This volume gives us not only his origin, but also the results of his familial legacy. We get to see what his offspring's offspring has been up to and how he deals with them. It's interesting because his more villainous tendencies actually are a benefit in a lot of these scenarios, as they are pretty gruesome and dark. In the Starman series, Shade kept a lot back in regards to himself, so seeing so much of his life exposed in this series was interesting and riveting.
It also didn't hurt that this book is comprised of some great artists. The stories are brought to life by the fantastic visuals of Darwyn Cooke, Javier Pulido, Frazer Irving, and Cully Hammer - and it looks so good. I think part of why the book works so well is because the visuals suck you in and keep you - much like the darkness of the Shade himself.
If you're a fan of Starman, then I'd wager you liked Shade - and if you liked him then, you have to check out this solo series.
August 29, 2023
Relatively interesting story about a superhero who gets his powers from the darkness, and his episodic adventures along with other super heroes.
First some big complaints: He's too powerful from the get go. It doesn't feel like he'll ever lose. There isn't a build up of power, nor major consequence of gaining this power. The only minor consequence is a slight detachment from reality.
It's weird how there's a big farewell to his lover, and then we never see or think about her again.
Each of the sidekicks feel disposable, perhaps because we get new ones each issue, and their characters are not too deep.
The dialogue is mostly decent, though the switch to hard to read old English writing in the past is a little annoying. Some of the bigger battles are interesting, particularly with "god" on "god" battles. The shade seems like a charismatic hero, but stumbles into heroism more than any moral impetus.
It was worth a re-read.
First some big complaints: He's too powerful from the get go. It doesn't feel like he'll ever lose. There isn't a build up of power, nor major consequence of gaining this power. The only minor consequence is a slight detachment from reality.
It's weird how there's a big farewell to his lover, and then we never see or think about her again.
Each of the sidekicks feel disposable, perhaps because we get new ones each issue, and their characters are not too deep.
The dialogue is mostly decent, though the switch to hard to read old English writing in the past is a little annoying. Some of the bigger battles are interesting, particularly with "god" on "god" battles. The shade seems like a charismatic hero, but stumbles into heroism more than any moral impetus.
It was worth a re-read.
Read
May 24, 2019This is a pretty terrific addendum to Starman. James Robinson made the Shade such a fascinating character in that series, and he only deepens his characterization here, finally divulging the immortal’s backstory. But the main plot takes place in the present, with the Shade searching for his attempted killer. It’s a great setup. What follows is a sort of supernatural world tour, as the Shade goes from Australia to Spain to London, tangling with aboriginal spirits, Catholic vampires, and Egyptian gods. Like Starman, this book tackles themes of family and legacy to great effect. There are some very touching moments here. However, it's the artists who launch this series beyond. Cully Hamner, Jill Thompson, Javier Pulido, Darwyn Cooke, Frazer Irving, Gene Ha... they all do an incredible job, giving this book a multitude of visual flavors that dazzle page after page. If you love Starman you'll love this. It's stylized, witty, enthralling, even fun.
December 14, 2023
I knew nothing of The Shade going into this, and tbh I don't know much more coming out the other end, certainly very little connected to his powers. However, I really enjoyed this 12 issue mini series.
Interesting story that all tied in nicely at the end. There was a change of artist about halfway and visually I wasn't a fan of the later issues (until #12, which was great).
Also some cool LGBTQ rep, both current and historical.
Interesting story that all tied in nicely at the end. There was a change of artist about halfway and visually I wasn't a fan of the later issues (until #12, which was great).
Also some cool LGBTQ rep, both current and historical.
June 12, 2017
en las paginas de The Shade Robinson , nos devuelve un poco de la magia que extrañamos tanto de Starman, es un recorrido una búsqueda propiamente dicha en la vida que fue y sera de Shade, con la vieja galería de personajes tales como Bobo o Von Hammer y algunos nuevos como "la Sangre", es entretenida atrapante y cada dibujante aporta un talento acorde a cada capítulo.
March 24, 2018
Full to the brim with action, adventure, and magic while packed with loads of exciting characters and plot points: pentagrams, secret societies, Egyptian gods (or aliens?), shadows, heroes, vampires, Deathstroke, lizard gods.. the list goes on. VERY reminiscent of the Sandman comics in both style and substance. Overall a solid, entertaining story!
March 4, 2020
3.5/5. Very good, I’d happily read more.
November 15, 2025
I dug this out as an epilogue to my mammoth Starman re-read. It's fine but I'd been spoilt by weeks of my favourite comic series ever!
May 23, 2021
UPDATE:
I’ve just finished reading the New 52 era series again, in single issues again (it’s hard, again, to find collections for any of Robinson’s Starman tales, although there are supposed to be new editions coming later this year), and I stand by what I wrote in 2013, but let’s get some expanded thoughts, shall we?
James Robinson’s Starman was, for a subset of readers, a defining superhero comic of the ‘90s, sort of the poster child of the traditional take the decade otherwise seemed to reject. It was substance over style. Me, I never really got into it. I think Robinson bit off more than he could chew. He was so intent on being literary and evocative he never really let anything feel authentic. Among the comic book names that will forever ring phony for me (Wakanda, T’Challa, those are the big ones that bothered me a lot when that movie was all the rage), Opal City was always at or near the top of the list. It just sounds, I don’t know, maudlin. And Jack Knight, a bona fide rebel, spent all his time actually being the most sentimental guy in comics. His entire characterization was a rejection of his character! I get it, that after his brother’s death he felt guilty enough to go in the “family business,” but the entire pose of being a “reluctant hero” rang hollow when he spent eighty issues doing it anyway.
Far more interesting was the actual rogue of the series, the Shade, a Golden Age villain Robinson drafted as an antihero. And I’m not sure he ever really nailed that, either. He instead created the most languid immortal ever. At least in this story we get to see why he might be so reluctant about…everything, as everything he touches corrupts if he’s around, and everything he doesn’t gets to live the normal life he’s convinced he can’t have. Despite living an everlasting dandy’s life.
But the journey is elaborate in the best way, and we see the kind of life an immortal can have, the many connections he makes, both good and bad, and in the end we loop back to the beginning (something more dedicated readers would surely enjoy more than me, but I can still appreciate), the secret origin, the “Times Past” of all “Times Past.”
I came back to The Shade after the character resurfaced in Robert Venditti’s Hawkman. I remembered enjoying Shade and thought, let’s see how that feels a decade or so later. And it was worth revisiting, absolutely. If anything I wish the character had more opportunities. I don’t know if Robinson is the man to do it. He strangled Jack Knight in a bottleneck after finishing his stories. He at least knew the Shade would never suffer such an indignity, but perhaps it’s time to give him a fresh voice. Gods of Egypt, imagine what Tom King could do…
At the time this series was originally published, fans no longer knew what to think of Robinson, and the New 52 made it a series out of time. Those same fans probably would’ve read the same Starman stories this way, as the unstable print history has since suggested. It was storytelling that felt bigger than it was, but at the same time was and remains a touchstone in superhero comics. It’s a weird but interesting legacy.
ORIGINAL:
I read this one in its original serial release, and can say with every confidence that it gets really interesting the further it goes into Richard Swift's history. Robinson is if anyone a writer who understands mythology, and this particular element of his grand mythology effort in Starman deserves and gets his chance to shine in this story, long in coming.
I’ve just finished reading the New 52 era series again, in single issues again (it’s hard, again, to find collections for any of Robinson’s Starman tales, although there are supposed to be new editions coming later this year), and I stand by what I wrote in 2013, but let’s get some expanded thoughts, shall we?
James Robinson’s Starman was, for a subset of readers, a defining superhero comic of the ‘90s, sort of the poster child of the traditional take the decade otherwise seemed to reject. It was substance over style. Me, I never really got into it. I think Robinson bit off more than he could chew. He was so intent on being literary and evocative he never really let anything feel authentic. Among the comic book names that will forever ring phony for me (Wakanda, T’Challa, those are the big ones that bothered me a lot when that movie was all the rage), Opal City was always at or near the top of the list. It just sounds, I don’t know, maudlin. And Jack Knight, a bona fide rebel, spent all his time actually being the most sentimental guy in comics. His entire characterization was a rejection of his character! I get it, that after his brother’s death he felt guilty enough to go in the “family business,” but the entire pose of being a “reluctant hero” rang hollow when he spent eighty issues doing it anyway.
Far more interesting was the actual rogue of the series, the Shade, a Golden Age villain Robinson drafted as an antihero. And I’m not sure he ever really nailed that, either. He instead created the most languid immortal ever. At least in this story we get to see why he might be so reluctant about…everything, as everything he touches corrupts if he’s around, and everything he doesn’t gets to live the normal life he’s convinced he can’t have. Despite living an everlasting dandy’s life.
But the journey is elaborate in the best way, and we see the kind of life an immortal can have, the many connections he makes, both good and bad, and in the end we loop back to the beginning (something more dedicated readers would surely enjoy more than me, but I can still appreciate), the secret origin, the “Times Past” of all “Times Past.”
I came back to The Shade after the character resurfaced in Robert Venditti’s Hawkman. I remembered enjoying Shade and thought, let’s see how that feels a decade or so later. And it was worth revisiting, absolutely. If anything I wish the character had more opportunities. I don’t know if Robinson is the man to do it. He strangled Jack Knight in a bottleneck after finishing his stories. He at least knew the Shade would never suffer such an indignity, but perhaps it’s time to give him a fresh voice. Gods of Egypt, imagine what Tom King could do…
At the time this series was originally published, fans no longer knew what to think of Robinson, and the New 52 made it a series out of time. Those same fans probably would’ve read the same Starman stories this way, as the unstable print history has since suggested. It was storytelling that felt bigger than it was, but at the same time was and remains a touchstone in superhero comics. It’s a weird but interesting legacy.
ORIGINAL:
I read this one in its original serial release, and can say with every confidence that it gets really interesting the further it goes into Richard Swift's history. Robinson is if anyone a writer who understands mythology, and this particular element of his grand mythology effort in Starman deserves and gets his chance to shine in this story, long in coming.
June 4, 2013
I am well aware that James Robinson isn't to every readers taste. That said, much of his style about which others complain are exactly the things I most love. He focuses on the basics of story telling -- character, setting, mood -- and never forgets that the excitement of action remains directly proportional to how much a reader cares about the characters. No where has he so demonstrated his gifts (and here fans of Golden Age may reasonably disagree) than on his magisterial Starman. "The Shade" gives readers the chance to revisit with some of Robinson's finest characters -- not the least of which being the Opal City, which while he wasn't the author to name, he was certainly the magician who brought it to life.
As with Starman, Robinson demonstrates in "The Shade" the extraordinary depth of his knowledge of the Golden Age. I'm pretty good on the topic, but even I found myself needing Google to locate Madam Fatal (a man who fought crime dressed as a woman! Who said that comics only turned mature recently?). And even Robinson's newer characters, such as the Spanish crime fighting vampire La Sangre, possess a wonderful flare that kindles some light from the Golden Age.
Getting deep into the plot of the book would be giving too much away. Suffice to say that when Richard Swift (the Shade), a man alive for more than a century finds his past catching up with him, he must delve back into his own earlier days to solve the mystery. A rip-roaring great read!
A word about the artists of this book. I'm not usually a fan of multiple artist books, preferring the continuity of a single pen and brush. Yet if anything the array of artistic talent only adds to the books excellence. Each artist somehow finds his place in the story and makes the world his own. Gene Ha of Top 10 fame is as always excellent. Cooke captures a certain wonderful Golden Age sensibility. Hamner's thick brush strokes bring The Shades shadow tendrils to life.
If you're just starting in Robinson's world, you'll need a few pages to gain your footing and then love this book. Starman fans will find here the delight of a party where you get to again encounter friends too long absent. Either way, you'll want to step into the Shade.
As with Starman, Robinson demonstrates in "The Shade" the extraordinary depth of his knowledge of the Golden Age. I'm pretty good on the topic, but even I found myself needing Google to locate Madam Fatal (a man who fought crime dressed as a woman! Who said that comics only turned mature recently?). And even Robinson's newer characters, such as the Spanish crime fighting vampire La Sangre, possess a wonderful flare that kindles some light from the Golden Age.
Getting deep into the plot of the book would be giving too much away. Suffice to say that when Richard Swift (the Shade), a man alive for more than a century finds his past catching up with him, he must delve back into his own earlier days to solve the mystery. A rip-roaring great read!
A word about the artists of this book. I'm not usually a fan of multiple artist books, preferring the continuity of a single pen and brush. Yet if anything the array of artistic talent only adds to the books excellence. Each artist somehow finds his place in the story and makes the world his own. Gene Ha of Top 10 fame is as always excellent. Cooke captures a certain wonderful Golden Age sensibility. Hamner's thick brush strokes bring The Shades shadow tendrils to life.
If you're just starting in Robinson's world, you'll need a few pages to gain your footing and then love this book. Starman fans will find here the delight of a party where you get to again encounter friends too long absent. Either way, you'll want to step into the Shade.
May 12, 2014
Once upon a time there was a British comic book writer named James Robinson. He wrote many fine works and saw that they were good. Beautiful books such as Starman and The Golden Age ensured he was regarded as a fine writer of modern superhero fantasy. Then a dark time came. A pall came over Robinson's pen and DC Comics and Cry for Justice came into the world. And the fans wept.
In that time there were rumblings in the DC offices, and a new paradigm—a New 52—was born. Many great writers would fall into mediocrity: Milligan, Lemire, Snyder, Morrison. It seemed no one was safe. Who better to reemerge in this dark age than the master of darkness himself?
Richard Swift. The Shade. Enemy and later ally of the Starman dynasty, known for his dapper mode of dress (he's an immortal holdover from the Victorian era) and his relentless clever quips in the face of danger. He could be compared to a higher-class John Constantine, and like the Hellblazer he takes on outsized supernatural foes with finesse and wit. His circle of friends is diverse. The blue-skinned, proudly gay Mikaal Thomas, the Irish wizard Silverfin, the teen vampire hero La Sangre who calls him father, police heiress Hope O'Dare, master of disguise Madam Fatal, and Charles Dickens are among those close to him, and despite his seeming amorality, he would give his life to protect any of them. He doesn't really have to worry about that though, the fucker's hard to kill.
Robinson is back in form it seems. Cry for Justice was a turgid misstep that I didn't think anyone could recover from, but he's made a solid and worthwhile book here. All of the artists are up to the task and the results are lovely. So what happened between Cry for Justice and this? I'm not sure. This story is firmly couched in the Starman idiom, so maybe he's just on autopilot because he's comfortable here. I'm fine with that if the rest of his work is up to par with this. I have yet to read Earth 2, his other contribution to the new DC featuring the JSA, but I'm actually willing to check it out now.
In that time there were rumblings in the DC offices, and a new paradigm—a New 52—was born. Many great writers would fall into mediocrity: Milligan, Lemire, Snyder, Morrison. It seemed no one was safe. Who better to reemerge in this dark age than the master of darkness himself?
Richard Swift. The Shade. Enemy and later ally of the Starman dynasty, known for his dapper mode of dress (he's an immortal holdover from the Victorian era) and his relentless clever quips in the face of danger. He could be compared to a higher-class John Constantine, and like the Hellblazer he takes on outsized supernatural foes with finesse and wit. His circle of friends is diverse. The blue-skinned, proudly gay Mikaal Thomas, the Irish wizard Silverfin, the teen vampire hero La Sangre who calls him father, police heiress Hope O'Dare, master of disguise Madam Fatal, and Charles Dickens are among those close to him, and despite his seeming amorality, he would give his life to protect any of them. He doesn't really have to worry about that though, the fucker's hard to kill.
Robinson is back in form it seems. Cry for Justice was a turgid misstep that I didn't think anyone could recover from, but he's made a solid and worthwhile book here. All of the artists are up to the task and the results are lovely. So what happened between Cry for Justice and this? I'm not sure. This story is firmly couched in the Starman idiom, so maybe he's just on autopilot because he's comfortable here. I'm fine with that if the rest of his work is up to par with this. I have yet to read Earth 2, his other contribution to the new DC featuring the JSA, but I'm actually willing to check it out now.
October 5, 2013
This maxi-series is both an Origin for the character The Shade as well as a sort of continuing adventure of his after the end of James Robinson's Starman stories. The art was done by a rotating group of artists, but each one really brought something interesting to the issue they did. Robinson's work is best when you can tell it is a character or characters that he cares deeply about. His Starmen and the Shade are some of his most dear characters and that really comes through in both the quality of the prose and dialog as well as the craft of the writing itself. I really like this and read it independent of and really without knowledge of the character from Starman, but I really got an idea of what makes the Shade tick. I recommend this, but personally would say to keep the internet available just in case it references characters who it doesn't necessarily explain (I was mostly in the dark about the identity of the blue guy chatting with Shade, but it isn't really necessary to understand the story). I'd say this whole series is probably in the best of the DC output from 2012. Definitely worth a read.
Read
September 16, 2013James Robinson continues (and fills in) the story of The Shade, a comic book villain that he remade into an amoral spectator, protector of his hometown in the Starman series in the 1990s.
Honestly, this comic reads more like a 12 issue run of a title than a coherent whole. There is some "well, it's a good thing I learned about THIS in my first adventure and THAT in my second" but mostly it's just a romp around the world with the Shade with occasional Times Past issues -- flashbacks to his life that explain how he got to be the way he is. And yes, there is an origin story of sorts that shows the first time he became the Shade but it's mystical mojo that isn't really an explanation.
The art is good. Cully Hamner draws the book like an adventure comic, Gene Ha gives a realisitic feel to his Victorian age story and Frazier Irving does a great job depicting the Shade and his adversaries in a outline/painted style.
If you loved Starman, this is a must read. If not, well, it's entertaining.
Honestly, this comic reads more like a 12 issue run of a title than a coherent whole. There is some "well, it's a good thing I learned about THIS in my first adventure and THAT in my second" but mostly it's just a romp around the world with the Shade with occasional Times Past issues -- flashbacks to his life that explain how he got to be the way he is. And yes, there is an origin story of sorts that shows the first time he became the Shade but it's mystical mojo that isn't really an explanation.
The art is good. Cully Hamner draws the book like an adventure comic, Gene Ha gives a realisitic feel to his Victorian age story and Frazier Irving does a great job depicting the Shade and his adversaries in a outline/painted style.
If you loved Starman, this is a must read. If not, well, it's entertaining.
August 27, 2014
Taking a secondary character from a secondary DC series (Starman) and focusing on him for 12 issues that are almost entirely separate from DC continuity; that seems like a recipe for disaster. But James Robinson knows this character inside and out (he created him, of course), and this book is a testament to what an author can do with his creations. It's a fascinating meditation on life from a relatively new immortal (since the mid 19th century), as he quests to find out who is trying to kill him. The story is understated; it's mainly characters interacting, with a few action scenes thrown in (although I will say the final action scene is impressive). It's just an enjoyable, comfortable read, as Shade reflects on his life, his family, his goals, and the world around him. It's a unique perspective, with some beautiful artwork. The last issue is weaker than the rest, recounting Shade's origin, but beyond that, it's a very enjoyable book that goes a different way than you would expect. Definitely worth a read.
August 11, 2024
(29 May, 2024)
A somewhat disjointed story of The Shade's backstory. Glimpses of Richard's past interwoven with an overused tale of villainous greed. This collection's saving grace is it's great cast of secondary characters; La Sangre is awesome; Montpellier is intriguing; William von Hammer is mysterious, and I would have loved to see more of Vigilante, Silverfin, The Argonaut and a few others.
The Shade, Richard Swift, examines his long life. Bad deeds are either justified or reluctantly accepted, conversely, his good actions are sanctioned - but almost despite himself. His view of good and evil might not fit regular definitions. As with most characters with depth (and a vast vocabulary!), introspection is often undeveloped, as it is here.
A poorly assembled hodgepodge of secondary tales which, by the way, are more interesting than the main story, and a sorely lacking segway to The Shade finally relating his 'creation', are the chief reasons why this is not rated higher.
A somewhat disjointed story of The Shade's backstory. Glimpses of Richard's past interwoven with an overused tale of villainous greed. This collection's saving grace is it's great cast of secondary characters; La Sangre is awesome; Montpellier is intriguing; William von Hammer is mysterious, and I would have loved to see more of Vigilante, Silverfin, The Argonaut and a few others.
The Shade, Richard Swift, examines his long life. Bad deeds are either justified or reluctantly accepted, conversely, his good actions are sanctioned - but almost despite himself. His view of good and evil might not fit regular definitions. As with most characters with depth (and a vast vocabulary!), introspection is often undeveloped, as it is here.
A poorly assembled hodgepodge of secondary tales which, by the way, are more interesting than the main story, and a sorely lacking segway to The Shade finally relating his 'creation', are the chief reasons why this is not rated higher.
March 17, 2013
An extremely fun and varied series that offers a nice expansion upon the themes of The Shade from Starman. I loved the use of such diverse artist styles by Cully Hammer, Darwyne Cooke, Javier Pulido, Jill Thompson, Frazer Irving, and Gene Ha to set the mood of each different country in Shade's globe trotting adventures, and James Robinson nicely ties the shadow powered rouge's adventures to themes of familial regrets, memory, and assessing ones own moral character. The fun comes from the joy in The Shade's arch and pithy wit on everything from comparing absinthe to scotch to bizarre conflicts with cosmic gods; here is a comic book character that Wilde would love (and indeed befriended.) Plus, for a former Golden/Silver Age one bit villain, The Shade is a hilariously queer friendly character, throughout history standing up for sodomites, drag super heroes, sincerely Catholic vampires, and damming any sense of a hypocritical supposedly pure morality by others.
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