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Friday, June 18, 2021

Shadowpact #1

Writer and illustrator Bill Willingham (The Elementals, Fables) tackles the supernatural as only he can with DC Comics’ Shadowpact.

I’ve always enjoyed Willingham's art.  I first encountered it in some old D&D ads.  Not long after my first exposure to his art he began writing and drawing The Elementals (first as part of a Texas Comics Annual and then as a monthly series from Comico Comics).

The series lasted a good period and after it ended Bill kept busy with other projects for various publishers.

He hit it big when he created Fables for DC Comics and after that series ended he kept busy with other projects.

In Shadowpack #1 a ragtag group supernatural second-tier characters band together to fight evil. The group consists of the Enchantress, Ragman, Detective Chimp, Blue Devil, Nightshade, and Nightmaster,

The misfit magical members of Shadowpack got their start in The Day Of Vengeance mini-series and proved so popular with fans that DC Comics awarded them their own title.

In the first issue Shadowpack teams up with Superman and The Phantom Stranger to take on a new supernatural threat.

Of course things do not go as planned as the misfits of Shadowpact aren’t exactly adept and coordinated as a team.

In typical Bill Willingham fashion the story is funny in a bizarre sort of way and features some the best art of his career.

Shadowpact is a fun read.  Unfortunately Willingham gave up the art chores but happily kept up the writing.  The series lasted 25 issues.

For The Dark Justice League fans Shadowpact is a worthy predecessor.


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