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Cloak and Dagger (Collected Editions) #2
Cloak and Dagger: Child of Darkness, Child of Light
Detective Brigid O'Reilly wants to arrest them, Father Francis Delgado wants to reform them — but does anyone really understand them? A year after they debuted as anti-drug vigilantes in Spectacular Spider-Man, Cloak and Dagger's secrets were revealed in their own mini-series, collected here for the first time! See the duo's first meeting and transformation, their battles against criminals, and their struggles with themselves — as only two of the eighties' authorial and artistic experts could present them!
112 pages, Hardcover
First published October 11, 1983
7 people are currently reading
173 people want to read
About the author
Bill Mantlo
1,357 books43 followersWilliam Timothy Mantlo is an American comic book writer, primarily at Marvel Comics.
(source: Wikipedia)
(source: Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
September 25, 2016
Ah, nostalgia; how sweet thy sting...
I have such fond memories of reading this as a kid (I would've been seven or eight) and it all came flooding back to me. Exploring the Marvel universe for the first time; escaping into it, really, as my home life was... less than perfect.
This was a new part of the universe I'd only known for a year, too. Cloak & Dagger was set in a darker part of the world from the Fantastic Four and the Avengers. They were teenage runaways lost in a seedy, crime-filled part of New York populated with drug addicts, pimps, prostitutes, child-murderers, cynical cops and a despairing priest.
I loved it. It spoke to the part of me that had been beaten down into hiding by life. It gave that part of me hope, albeit hope that I knew was based in fantasy. I was a smart kid; I was never unable to distinguish fiction from reality. (Unlike my nan, who would regularly talk to the characters on her soap operas as if they could hear her.)
Cloak & Dagger were damaged goods. I could relate. The characters have been firm favourites of mine ever since.
Reading this book again with adult eyes (that don't work very well) I can see its flaws. I love Rick Leonardi's artwork but this is very early Leonardi work and he's still finding his style. Bill Mantlo's plotting is kinda disjointed and his dialogue is a little overblown at times but his heart is in the right place. Despite its faults (or perhaps because of them) you can tell the messages presented here are sincere and heartfelt.
Even with another thirty four years on the clock, I still love this book.
I have such fond memories of reading this as a kid (I would've been seven or eight) and it all came flooding back to me. Exploring the Marvel universe for the first time; escaping into it, really, as my home life was... less than perfect.
This was a new part of the universe I'd only known for a year, too. Cloak & Dagger was set in a darker part of the world from the Fantastic Four and the Avengers. They were teenage runaways lost in a seedy, crime-filled part of New York populated with drug addicts, pimps, prostitutes, child-murderers, cynical cops and a despairing priest.
I loved it. It spoke to the part of me that had been beaten down into hiding by life. It gave that part of me hope, albeit hope that I knew was based in fantasy. I was a smart kid; I was never unable to distinguish fiction from reality. (Unlike my nan, who would regularly talk to the characters on her soap operas as if they could hear her.)
Cloak & Dagger were damaged goods. I could relate. The characters have been firm favourites of mine ever since.
Reading this book again with adult eyes (that don't work very well) I can see its flaws. I love Rick Leonardi's artwork but this is very early Leonardi work and he's still finding his style. Bill Mantlo's plotting is kinda disjointed and his dialogue is a little overblown at times but his heart is in the right place. Despite its faults (or perhaps because of them) you can tell the messages presented here are sincere and heartfelt.
Even with another thirty four years on the clock, I still love this book.
April 30, 2017
As mentioned in my status update already, I had this comic on my shelf for quite a while, but it was the trailer for the upcoming TV show that convinced me that now was the time to read this.
This is what the comic version looks like (at least the old comic I just read):
versus what the kids look like in the trailer:
I'd say that is one hell of a difference but then again, them being younger gives the creators the possibility to expand more.
The story, according to this comic, is that Tandie (Dagger) ran away from home because although she comes from money, she's lacking the one thing that counts: love.
Ty (Cloak) was a poor kid that stuttered and ran away from the law.
Both met in NYC, were obducted and experimented on and thus developed their power.
All of that seems to be different from the origin story we will get in the TV show.
The comic here is pretty old and the art shows it. It's not just the extremely sexualized way we see Dagger and more than half of her boobs, it's the postures too. And, of course, the technical quality of the art (the old comics were apparently only scanned and then digitalized so some lines are a bit murky). Nevertheless, I quite liked it and the four stories in this volume were straightforward enough. Basically, it's the age-old question if vigilanties have a right to do what they are doing or not. Being half-Italian, I know my answer to that question. ;)
And now, for all interested, the link to the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zW_4n...
This is what the comic version looks like (at least the old comic I just read):
versus what the kids look like in the trailer:
I'd say that is one hell of a difference but then again, them being younger gives the creators the possibility to expand more.
The story, according to this comic, is that Tandie (Dagger) ran away from home because although she comes from money, she's lacking the one thing that counts: love.
Ty (Cloak) was a poor kid that stuttered and ran away from the law.
Both met in NYC, were obducted and experimented on and thus developed their power.
All of that seems to be different from the origin story we will get in the TV show.
The comic here is pretty old and the art shows it. It's not just the extremely sexualized way we see Dagger and more than half of her boobs, it's the postures too. And, of course, the technical quality of the art (the old comics were apparently only scanned and then digitalized so some lines are a bit murky). Nevertheless, I quite liked it and the four stories in this volume were straightforward enough. Basically, it's the age-old question if vigilanties have a right to do what they are doing or not. Being half-Italian, I know my answer to that question. ;)
And now, for all interested, the link to the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zW_4n...
February 19, 2025
I first came across Cloak and Dagger reading the Runaways in high school, a comic I recently reread. They’re an interesting duo for sure, but I really hadn’t come across them enough where I’d hunted down additional works because, well, I didn’t really know about their other appearances!
Marvel Rivals featured them though at the same time as my Runaways reread (and TV show watch!) and they really managed to grab my interest this time.
I started with their first introduction in Spectacular Spider-Man and their one other appearance in that comic before ending up here. That may have actually slightly hurt my view on this particular 4 issues, as the first two of the 4 volumes are just very similar to what we get there.
In all appearances, the characters are so fast to assume Cloak/Ty is controlling Dagger/Tandy. The scenes that lead up to the characters coming to this conclusion never had me thinking one or the other was in charge and pushing this justice agenda so I really feel a lot was either intended to be the character’s internalized feelings or the authors. While it ends with them heroic, the writing in general never fully convinced me if the writer was purposefully or accidentally making the characters villainous him. Though I can make assumptions based on the time period, and the art of the majority of the shady criminals as very extra stylized Black men (I will say, since it’s a Marvels comic and the art is not by the writer, this doesn’t fully clear up which way I believe the comic itself is leaning).
Regarding Ty and Tandy, we do get a bit more of their backstory, but I still hope they get more fleshed out with future appearances in more modern comics (no hate to 80’s comics, they were just side characters first with only a slightly expanded backstory in this). They’re such a fascinating pair that I can see so many good stories come out of them if they’re handled right,
Marvel Rivals featured them though at the same time as my Runaways reread (and TV show watch!) and they really managed to grab my interest this time.
I started with their first introduction in Spectacular Spider-Man and their one other appearance in that comic before ending up here. That may have actually slightly hurt my view on this particular 4 issues, as the first two of the 4 volumes are just very similar to what we get there.
In all appearances, the characters are so fast to assume Cloak/Ty is controlling Dagger/Tandy. The scenes that lead up to the characters coming to this conclusion never had me thinking one or the other was in charge and pushing this justice agenda so I really feel a lot was either intended to be the character’s internalized feelings or the authors. While it ends with them heroic, the writing in general never fully convinced me if the writer was purposefully or accidentally making the characters villainous him. Though I can make assumptions based on the time period, and the art of the majority of the shady criminals as very extra stylized Black men (I will say, since it’s a Marvels comic and the art is not by the writer, this doesn’t fully clear up which way I believe the comic itself is leaning).
Regarding Ty and Tandy, we do get a bit more of their backstory, but I still hope they get more fleshed out with future appearances in more modern comics (no hate to 80’s comics, they were just side characters first with only a slightly expanded backstory in this). They’re such a fascinating pair that I can see so many good stories come out of them if they’re handled right,
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2022
Nunca, pero nunca, NUNCA había escuchado de Cloak & Dagger
Me llevé una grata sorpresa
La primera historia es la primera aparición de estos nuevos justicieros, haciendo un contraste con nuestro querido hombre arácnido, asentando de buena forma la base de lo que será la historia de Ty y Tandy
Luego, la primera serie (mini-serie) para ser más precisos del dúo, donde vemos como sus desafíos se agudizan, dando paso a un momento en que se hace necesario replantearse el camino y también donde podemos conocer de mejor manera el origen de estos dos héroes
Además, estos comics 80ros son bien disfrutables, vaya época!
Me llevé una grata sorpresa
La primera historia es la primera aparición de estos nuevos justicieros, haciendo un contraste con nuestro querido hombre arácnido, asentando de buena forma la base de lo que será la historia de Ty y Tandy
Luego, la primera serie (mini-serie) para ser más precisos del dúo, donde vemos como sus desafíos se agudizan, dando paso a un momento en que se hace necesario replantearse el camino y también donde podemos conocer de mejor manera el origen de estos dos héroes
Además, estos comics 80ros son bien disfrutables, vaya época!
November 13, 2017
Never really read much of these two but I absolutely love them, one of the most realistic (in Marvel comics that is) and harshest origins. Two runaways from two very different backgrounds run away and find themselves on the streets of New York only to find themselves joined almost straight off and taken in by a very shady bunch and sold to a corrupt chemist working for the Mafia to create a new addictive drug to sell on the streets.
Killing all the kids but waking up something within the kids they become Cloak & Dagger and they go searching for vengeance in a rather Punisher style until they realise they are just as bad by doing that.
A mature and emotionally charged comic which makes them stand out a bit above the other heroes.
Killing all the kids but waking up something within the kids they become Cloak & Dagger and they go searching for vengeance in a rather Punisher style until they realise they are just as bad by doing that.
A mature and emotionally charged comic which makes them stand out a bit above the other heroes.
October 1, 2012
I've loved this story and these characters forever.
February 6, 2013
you can definitely tell this was written in the 80's during the war on drugs. This is a classic.
October 7, 2021
Kdybych se rozhodoval na základě anotace, nebo dokonce snad na základě obálky, tak jsem tuto knihu nikdy nekoupil. Ono to totiž zní jako hrozná blbost. Ke koupi mě přesvědčilo hodnocení a já musím říct, že koupě nelituji.
Kniha začíná sešitem Spider-mana, ve kterém se Cloak a Dagger poprvé objevili. Tématem drog a únosů dětí je tento sešit docela temný, Spider-manovsky zábavný, ale zároveň naivní. Následují čtyři sešity samostatné řady nás s C&D blíže seznamují. Je to stále retro, ale kresba je propracovaná a musím říct, že mě bavila. Zpočátku se dokonce zdálo, že si užiju i nápadité panelování, ale byla to bohužel ta jedna vlaštovka, která jaro nedělá. Příběh těchto čtyřech sešitů je temný a plný kriminality. V momentech, kdy Cloakův plášť požírá kriminálníky bych dokonce řekl, že to má až hororový nádech. Okousané kosti z něj bohužel nikdy nevypadly :-). Celé to má zvláštní atmosféru a já jsem se u toho bavil.
Kniha začíná sešitem Spider-mana, ve kterém se Cloak a Dagger poprvé objevili. Tématem drog a únosů dětí je tento sešit docela temný, Spider-manovsky zábavný, ale zároveň naivní. Následují čtyři sešity samostatné řady nás s C&D blíže seznamují. Je to stále retro, ale kresba je propracovaná a musím říct, že mě bavila. Zpočátku se dokonce zdálo, že si užiju i nápadité panelování, ale byla to bohužel ta jedna vlaštovka, která jaro nedělá. Příběh těchto čtyřech sešitů je temný a plný kriminality. V momentech, kdy Cloakův plášť požírá kriminálníky bych dokonce řekl, že to má až hororový nádech. Okousané kosti z něj bohužel nikdy nevypadly :-). Celé to má zvláštní atmosféru a já jsem se u toho bavil.
December 28, 2021
It is always nice for a comic book fan, to dig through Marvel's and DC's history, to find something new, something about forgotten heroes and all. And this one is all about this.
Although having a TV series and not being that so low tier characters, Cloak and Dagger are not a duo that really shines beyond the Marvel Panteon, so i got this mini series to understand what they are. And it's really cool! It's a urban story, about vengeance, prejudice and two kids trying to fit in and help our society. Father Delgado and Detective O'Reilly were a nice adition to the mix, making it a more human book. Bill Mantlo really knew what he was doing with his creations back then. Just the art that are a little bit weird, but ot don't compromises the book.
If you're looking for something different, outside Marvel's main guns, give this a try, it's a nice reading.
Although having a TV series and not being that so low tier characters, Cloak and Dagger are not a duo that really shines beyond the Marvel Panteon, so i got this mini series to understand what they are. And it's really cool! It's a urban story, about vengeance, prejudice and two kids trying to fit in and help our society. Father Delgado and Detective O'Reilly were a nice adition to the mix, making it a more human book. Bill Mantlo really knew what he was doing with his creations back then. Just the art that are a little bit weird, but ot don't compromises the book.
If you're looking for something different, outside Marvel's main guns, give this a try, it's a nice reading.
July 7, 2024
Bill Mantlo is one of those unsung greats. I have always liked his writing, especially on Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man in the late '70s and mid '80s and the Rocket Raccoon mini-series from 1985. Wizard recently did a piece on him, and it was nice to see a mainstream publication shine a light on him and his accomplishments. It's really unfortunate about his health nowadays, and I hope that the royalties that he receives from collected editions like this help to pay his medical bills. Cloak and Dagger are an interesting concept and a terrific read. Rick Leonardi's artwork is good, too. I never cared for him 'back in the day' but appreciate him now. The Marvel Premiere Classic format is wonderful for the presenting mini-series like this in a nice package with nice paper and sewn binding in hardcover. I'd like to see Marvel release more Cloak and Dagger in this format.
May 24, 2020
Cloak and Dagger have an aesthetic that keeps drawing me in, although I can't say I've ever read a story of theirs I've enjoyed much beyond the thematic elements. I get the sense that they need the right creative team to come along to make a story that defines them. Child of Darkness, Child of Light is not that story, but it is the miniseries that introduced the characters and their origins after a series of appearances in Spectacular Spider-Man. It is very much of the 80s and problematic in more than a few ways, and some pretty layouts and iconic imagery are not enough to get the concept off the ground.
July 25, 2019
Usually I'd turn to DC for a gritty story like this one, Marvel outdid themselves with these two characters. This was my first time reading Cloak and Dagger, and I want to read/ watch more. Their dynamic was interesting, and the story was grounded and down to earth. There wasn't a page that I didn't like. I would definitely recommend picking it up if you're a comics fan looking for a more adult story.
June 30, 2023
8/10:
As the first four issues dedicated to JUST Cloak and Dagger, this is truly incredible. We learn so much about them as people, their powers, and we begin to understand the light versus dark argument in regards to humanity differently than ever before. Learning the history of both heroes is just so heartbreaking, but the final issue in this collection is truly a legendary issue.
I love these two, and I hope to read more about them soon!
As the first four issues dedicated to JUST Cloak and Dagger, this is truly incredible. We learn so much about them as people, their powers, and we begin to understand the light versus dark argument in regards to humanity differently than ever before. Learning the history of both heroes is just so heartbreaking, but the final issue in this collection is truly a legendary issue.
I love these two, and I hope to read more about them soon!
December 23, 2017
A rather promising little story.
April 8, 2018
This concept isn't bad, it just was not my cup of tea. The upcoming show could modernize these characters into something that works.
August 10, 2018
Hodně zajímavé postavy a parádně napsané retro. Veliké překvapení.
May 30, 2019
Great origin story. Loved it!
Decided to read after watching the TV series. Very interesting powers. Loved this comic series (you get full series with purchase)!
Decided to read after watching the TV series. Very interesting powers. Loved this comic series (you get full series with purchase)!
December 12, 2019
Glad I finally got to read this. But yeah, it’s definitely got that “80s comics” feel.
June 11, 2022
I love the beginning stories of cloak and dagger. Their powers and development is so different from any other comic .
February 20, 2025
Been playing as these two in Marvel Rivals quite a bit so I figured I’d read up on them. Was pretty pleased with the origin. Might give the show a chance next
March 31, 2025
3.5 rounded up.
cloak and dagger my beloveds
cloak and dagger my beloveds
June 14, 2016
I have always liked Cloak and Dagger as characters, ever since I first encountered in the pages of Spider-Man (in Swedish translation) as a kid (and I am still looking forward to re-reading those very issues in English in the near future in Marvel's Essential collections of their Spider-Man comics). This four-issue miniseries from 1983-1984 collected in this volume, however, was not something I had read before; but I came to it with some anticipation, as I like a lot of writer Bill Mantlo's work (including much if his run on The Incredible Hulk) and have enjoyed penciller Rick Leonardi on both Uncanny X-Men and Warlock and the Infinity Watch (and inker Terry Austin has a track record that speaks for itself). Perhaps my anticipation was just too high.
Sadly, the series just does not gel for me. Leonardi's art just does not do the characters justice to my eyes for some reason, and Mantlo's writing (and story) comes off as way too melodramatic (and I enjoy my fair share of melodrama, to be honest). The final issue in the collection, which offers an extended take on the duo's origin story (for the first time), is quite good (in fact, had all issues met that mark, I would likely have given the collection three stars), but as it is, it is simply too little too late.
All in all, an okay read, but by no means any essential reading.
Sadly, the series just does not gel for me. Leonardi's art just does not do the characters justice to my eyes for some reason, and Mantlo's writing (and story) comes off as way too melodramatic (and I enjoy my fair share of melodrama, to be honest). The final issue in the collection, which offers an extended take on the duo's origin story (for the first time), is quite good (in fact, had all issues met that mark, I would likely have given the collection three stars), but as it is, it is simply too little too late.
All in all, an okay read, but by no means any essential reading.
July 22, 2018
I slightly remember reading Cloak and Dagger when I was young and liking it. Recently, with the new TV series to be launched I went looking for their first stories to get ready for watching it.
I really like the concept and the idea, but as we go on reading we clearly see that the story would need to be updated for the age we are in. At least their back stories. Fortunately we see this was done for the TV series.
I really enjoyed reading it, though. See their origin and fall under the spell of dark/light, guilt/acceptance and all dichotomies that we can think of when we imagine all the light we can produce to balance and countermeasure a place darker than darkness that lies within us can send - and it does send - a powerful message to all of us.
I really like the concept and the idea, but as we go on reading we clearly see that the story would need to be updated for the age we are in. At least their back stories. Fortunately we see this was done for the TV series.
I really enjoyed reading it, though. See their origin and fall under the spell of dark/light, guilt/acceptance and all dichotomies that we can think of when we imagine all the light we can produce to balance and countermeasure a place darker than darkness that lies within us can send - and it does send - a powerful message to all of us.
August 9, 2014
I cannot help but say it: I ADORE this comic. All those years spent reading the American comic book … everything from Stan Lee to Carl Barks to EC to Eisner to Miller to Gerber … and Bill Mantlo's Cloak and Dagger comes out on top?
Who'da thunk it?! In my youth, I never rated Mantlo highly. But age has given me insight and this is Mantlo at his very best. I say more about this astonishing comic book here … http://corjesusacratissimum.org/2012/...
Who'da thunk it?! In my youth, I never rated Mantlo highly. But age has given me insight and this is Mantlo at his very best. I say more about this astonishing comic book here … http://corjesusacratissimum.org/2012/...
August 23, 2014
Well this sure was an 80s comic. It's not particularly well written, the art doesn't stand out, there's some weird lettering and goofy decisions all around, but the mythology of Cloak and Dagger is at least given some ground work. I'd love to see it picked up and retooled in a modern comic series, but that's a dream I'll probably have to hold on to for a long time.
This run has not aged well, but it's short and mostly origin, so if you have an interest in these characters, there's really not much else out there more worth reading.
This run has not aged well, but it's short and mostly origin, so if you have an interest in these characters, there's really not much else out there more worth reading.
September 12, 2011
I usually pick up old comics I was fond of in my youth and expect them to be painful through the filter of adult eyes. This one I found held up pretty well. The art and storytelling reminded me again and again that I was reading an 80s comic. But I felt the story and the dynamic of Cloak & Dagger held up even today.
May 15, 2016
Each issue has the Psalm: "The Darkness and Light are both alike... I am fearfully and wonderfully made." this quote is apropos and sets the tone for the first issues in the comic series. (issues #1-4)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews