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Shadowhawk (Collected Editions) #1-18
Shadowhawk Chronicles, Volume One
Collecting Image founder Jim Valentino's bestselling series for the first time between two covers! The return of the vigilante so violent he was at odds with both law enforcement and the underworld! Collects ShadowHawk #1-4, ShadowHawk II #1-3, ShadowHawk III #1-4, ShadowHawk Gallery #1, and surprise pin-ups by some of comics' top talents-including Jeff Smith, Dale Keown, Dave Gibbons, and Keith Giffen.
- GenresComicsGraphic Novels
488 pages, Paperback
First published January 27, 2010
6 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Jim Valentino
266 books24 followersJim Valentino is an American writer, penciler, editor and publisher of comic books. He is a co-founder of Image Comics and served as the company's publisher from 1999-2004. Jim created such diverse series as normalman, A Touch of Silver, Vignettes and ShadowHawk. He also wrote and drew Guardians of the Galaxy for Marvel Comcs.
He currently heads his own imprint at Image called Shadowline which publishes Rat Queens, Faster Than Light, Jimmie Robinson, Ted McKeever and more.
He currently heads his own imprint at Image called Shadowline which publishes Rat Queens, Faster Than Light, Jimmie Robinson, Ted McKeever and more.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 27, 2013
It seems dated now, but Valentino's early Shadowhawk tackled issues regular books wouldn't touch.
July 23, 2020
There’s vengeful psychopathy (Arson and Vortex), racist psychopathy (Hawk’s Shadow), power-seeking psychopathy (Vendetta), and then there’s justice-seeking psychopathy: our hero ShadowHawk.
Paul Johnstone, ex-DA turned night prowler, enforces his own brand of corporal punishment: to break the spine of violent criminals caught in the act. What doesn’t kill them outright will slowly destroy them over time, with the added punitive measure of unimaginable suffering. Our hero must learn that an eye for a spine makes the world paralyzed and blind. No safer the place for mankind, and he no better than the criminal he proclaims to be fighting against.
But the story of redemption is only the starting off point. ShadowHawk is about a superhero slowly succumbing to the AIDS virus. A powerful, and tragic journey—never giving up, but slowly giving-in-- continually fighting even when faced with predictably diminishing returns. His humanity becomes stronger, as his body becomes weaker.
After encountering the ethereal, and almost omnipresent guide, Phoebe, the two go on an fantastical journey to find a cure. Through a strange land untarnished by mankind. Through a strange time untarnished by modernity. We see ShadowHawk partner with other 90’s Image icons, such as Youngblood, WildC.A.T.S and Spawn. While never finding a cure, he opens himself up to new friendships. But in tragic fate, our hero's body gives in to the disease; bringing a whispering end to what was quite the wondrous journey.
For a story written in 1992, Jim Valentino educated a lot of comic fans on the reality of the AIDS virus. Little was known about this horrible disease and what it actually does to the body. It took a tenacious writer to tell such a story within the tight confines of such a limited and risk-adverse space.
But even to this day, being lost in Image Comics’ short but dominant run in the 90's, ShadowHawk is very under appreciated. When learning for the first time that not all superheroes are immortal; that some are mere men under the temporary protection of cloak and armor; when learning of a real life disease--a true nemesis--with real consequences, can be just as life-threatening to them, our impenetrable heroes, as it is to us. A disease that even the best would never be able to defeat, is a reminder that even in our most idealized representation of fake worlds with fake heroes that have fake problems, great art allows reality to seep in and remind us that life is something we can never truly escape from. But of course for 99% of comics fans nowadays, this is something they don't want to think about.
Paul Johnstone, ex-DA turned night prowler, enforces his own brand of corporal punishment: to break the spine of violent criminals caught in the act. What doesn’t kill them outright will slowly destroy them over time, with the added punitive measure of unimaginable suffering. Our hero must learn that an eye for a spine makes the world paralyzed and blind. No safer the place for mankind, and he no better than the criminal he proclaims to be fighting against.
But the story of redemption is only the starting off point. ShadowHawk is about a superhero slowly succumbing to the AIDS virus. A powerful, and tragic journey—never giving up, but slowly giving-in-- continually fighting even when faced with predictably diminishing returns. His humanity becomes stronger, as his body becomes weaker.
After encountering the ethereal, and almost omnipresent guide, Phoebe, the two go on an fantastical journey to find a cure. Through a strange land untarnished by mankind. Through a strange time untarnished by modernity. We see ShadowHawk partner with other 90’s Image icons, such as Youngblood, WildC.A.T.S and Spawn. While never finding a cure, he opens himself up to new friendships. But in tragic fate, our hero's body gives in to the disease; bringing a whispering end to what was quite the wondrous journey.
For a story written in 1992, Jim Valentino educated a lot of comic fans on the reality of the AIDS virus. Little was known about this horrible disease and what it actually does to the body. It took a tenacious writer to tell such a story within the tight confines of such a limited and risk-adverse space.
But even to this day, being lost in Image Comics’ short but dominant run in the 90's, ShadowHawk is very under appreciated. When learning for the first time that not all superheroes are immortal; that some are mere men under the temporary protection of cloak and armor; when learning of a real life disease--a true nemesis--with real consequences, can be just as life-threatening to them, our impenetrable heroes, as it is to us. A disease that even the best would never be able to defeat, is a reminder that even in our most idealized representation of fake worlds with fake heroes that have fake problems, great art allows reality to seep in and remind us that life is something we can never truly escape from. But of course for 99% of comics fans nowadays, this is something they don't want to think about.
June 17, 2025
This was a dark and edgy comic when it came out, and the shiny covers always caught my eye. This is a great collection that captures the 'full' Shadowhawk run, but excludes any external issues, sadly.
The other downside is that this is in Black and White, rather than the color version we so desperately need.
That said, the artwork is great! The storytelling fumbles along a little at first, but gets its stride quickly, and is enjoyable. Shadowhawk runs into several other Image colleagues as the story goes along (most notably, Spawn and Savage Dragon, but also Supreme, WildC.A.T.S., and others)
This tragic hero has a unique backstory, and is a cool character all around. Great read!
The other downside is that this is in Black and White, rather than the color version we so desperately need.
That said, the artwork is great! The storytelling fumbles along a little at first, but gets its stride quickly, and is enjoyable. Shadowhawk runs into several other Image colleagues as the story goes along (most notably, Spawn and Savage Dragon, but also Supreme, WildC.A.T.S., and others)
This tragic hero has a unique backstory, and is a cool character all around. Great read!
January 5, 2024
I have not read Shadowhawk since its original run in the early 90's. While it is clearly influenced by Batman, Wolverine, Spiderman and others. It also has some very original ideas especially when it comes to the reason for his mission.
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December 6, 2022Crónicas de ShadowHawk con extras.
October 3, 2023
Aparentemente se trata del único recopilatorio no descatalogado de ShadowHawk a la fecha.
July 14, 2021
The two most compelling aspects concerning the character behind the titular antihero’s mask are managed clumsily to make room for crowded superhero world-building hijinks and a pointless mystery about Shadowhawk’s identity, but there’s a surprisingly compassionate and quietly sad story buried in there somewhere.
April 6, 2015
Read issue nine as that was the only available one:
Really engaging story and that plot twist towards the end, woah
Really engaging story and that plot twist towards the end, woah
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews