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THE SHADE #1 (OF 12)

James Robinson returns to the world of his acclaimed STARMAN series with a new 12-issue series 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!

Artist extraordinaire Cully Hamner (RED) kicks off the series, and upcoming issues will feature art by such luminaries as Darwyn Cooke, Javier Pulido, Jill Thompson, Frazer Irving and Gene Ha!

Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art by CULLY HAMNER
Cover by TONY HARRIS
Variant cover by CULLY HAMNER

Price: $2.99
iFanboy Community Pick of the Week Percentage: 17.9%

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odare7710/15/11YesRead Review
ckl10/13/11YesRead Review
Rbigley10/12/11NoRead Review
kellansmith10/12/11YesRead Review
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Comments

  1. Kmanifesto says:
    October 10, 2011 at 2:44 pm

    Still debating on whether to pick this up. Simply because I’m not super familiar with his Starman series (although i plan on picking up in trade) and wonder if I would be really lost not having read them.

    Other than that, the list of artists on this series sounds amazing.

    • Avatar photo mrfrost says:
      October 11, 2011 at 5:59 pm

      Me too. I never read Starman but Robinson’s Superman work was very good. The artists are also going to be a big draw.

    • Avatar photo Rbigley says:
      October 12, 2011 at 10:18 pm

      No. Pick it up, no need for catching up first. This reads as a Number 1 intro issue. But pick up Starman anyway, it is by far Robinson’s best work.

    • Tribonk says:
      October 16, 2011 at 9:13 pm

      Only read a few trades of Starman. Didn’t make a difference, as this was a great intro chapter. Anything you need to know is inferred or explained. Plus–it’s a new universe. Who’s Starman?

  2. Avatar photo Smasher says:
    October 10, 2011 at 2:54 pm

    Now that I have Starman in Omnibus form I hesitate to pick this up in issues and simply trade wait for it.
    I may pick it up digital (provided it’s d&d dig) just to get a taste.

  3. Avatar photo TomO says:
    October 10, 2011 at 3:26 pm

    Why did I think this wasn’t coming out until December? A pleasant surprise that it’s coming out in a couple of days…can’t wait!

  4. Avatar photo kineAg62 says:
    October 10, 2011 at 3:43 pm

    So excited for this! Hope it’s “old” James Robinson writing it and not the “new” one that’s been writing recent comics. Hopefull, Shade doesn’t cry “Jusice!” too many times.

    • Avatar photo BCDX97 says:
      October 10, 2011 at 11:21 pm

      I was thinking the same thing! Old James Robinson was great.

      But I actually liked Cry for Justice, thought it was pretty cool. His JLA run was just kind of there, but I think Mark Bagley’s terrible art had something to do with it. His Superman work was pretty good, too, but he hasn’t come close to the greatness of Starman.

  5. Avatar photo Rhymer says:
    October 10, 2011 at 3:52 pm

    What a great week! A Shade-book! Checked out the preview and it looks beautiful. Hopefully the sales will be okay, so that there’ll be more than just these 12 issues.

  6. Avatar photo CGPO says:
    October 10, 2011 at 4:37 pm

    Robinson’s Blackest Night Starman issue which focused on the Shade was pure vintage Robinson, so I think when it comes to the Starman universe, or at least Shade, we needn’t worry. I am debating whether to pick this up in issue form, as while I’m not a fan of hardcovers, I’ll pick this one up to go with the Starman Omnibi.

  7. okc says:
    October 10, 2011 at 6:08 pm

    Can’t wait for this! Starman is one of my all-time favourites, so this will be a ton of fun for me.
    I hope that they release a hardcover collecting this that matches the Starman omnibi.

  8. kryptonkid says:
    October 10, 2011 at 11:30 pm

    I picked up his Starman in in hardcover and I am so glad I did. Looking forward so much to Shade…again.

  9. Avatar photo Flash923 says:
    October 11, 2011 at 11:13 am

    I had read the small preview over on CBR’s website and I liked it so I am going to give it a try.

    Just sayin’,

    K

  10. Avatar photo RolandofGilead says:
    October 11, 2011 at 3:52 pm

    With names like Irving, Ha, Thompson and Cooke making up half of the art on this series, there is no waiting for the eventual HC. Willpower? Not a chance. This should be an incredible ride.

  11. Avatar photo Bryce31 says:
    October 11, 2011 at 9:32 pm

    This is just reminding me I need to get the rest of the Starman Omnibuses. Excited for this series though.

  12. Avatar photo davidtobin100 says:
    October 12, 2011 at 11:44 am

    My only DC book at the minute. Can’t wait for it!

  13. Avatar photo LastSon94 says:
    October 12, 2011 at 2:17 pm

    great read, cant wait for the rest

  14. Avatar photo boomergirl says:
    October 12, 2011 at 8:41 pm

    was anyone else sucked out of the story when Deathstroke appeared?

    • Avatar photo DevilishRagz88 says:
      October 12, 2011 at 9:05 pm

      I felt like Shade was duped a little too easily by Deathstroke that’s the point at which I was really sucked out of it.

    • Avatar photo boomergirl says:
      October 12, 2011 at 10:06 pm

      For me it was the large “Final Fantasy-esque” sword.

    • Avatar photo DevilishRagz88 says:
      October 13, 2011 at 12:20 pm

      Yeah the sword bugs me but not to a crazy extent. The armor bugs me more with all the pouches, straps and spikes and the mask with all the wing-dings it has. But I just kinda’ accept it as part of the character now. Not that it’s a good character, but I assume he’s just there to serve his purpose leave at which point I can accept it. But that fight sequence between Shade and Deathstroke feels like Robinson and Hamner ran out of pages because Shade is/was written a bit too wise to be fooled by any simple robot.

    • Avatar photo Skyfire124 says:
      October 21, 2011 at 5:49 am

      The sword and the armor both bugged me…and yes I was taken right out of the story. Shade (and Starman) work best when they bring in little niche characters, to play off of… the characters that aren’t well known. Deathstroke’s a character that may or may not be widely known, but right now he’s symptomatic of far too many of the 90s characters carrying big guns…..or in this case, the stupidest sword ever.

  15. Avatar photo Rbigley says:
    October 12, 2011 at 10:21 pm

    I have faith, after all I doubt he’s dead considering its the first issue.

  16. Avatar photo kennyg says:
    October 13, 2011 at 3:40 pm

    I’m not sure this was meant to be a new-read jumping-on point. If you haven’t read Starman, you’re not gonna appreciate this. However, as a big Starman fan, I loved it. I didn’t even care that Deathstroke was there. This was like a reunion with old friends.

    • Kmanifesto says:
      October 15, 2011 at 12:46 pm

      As one who has never read Starman, I’m willing to give this series at least two or three issues. I’m gambling that one does not need to have prior knowledge of the Starman series to enjoy this. A good story is a good story.
      * for further comments, see my post below

    • Avatar photo kennyg says:
      October 18, 2011 at 6:11 pm

      K, seriously, go read Starman. It was fantastic.

  17. Avatar photo thompsonlive says:
    October 15, 2011 at 12:05 am

    In this till at least issue 2 just to see what happens after that last page, but i must admit I was a little bored the first half of this book.

  18. Kmanifesto says:
    October 15, 2011 at 12:41 pm

    Deathstroke was one of my least favorite of the new 52. With that said, coming in new to who Shade is, Deathstroke’s appearance did not help me to want to get the next issue. But,…
    I did like how the conversation in the beginning was broken up with the shadowy, upcoming action. I also liked the undertone of irony that was created.
    The story and characters are different enough from things I have read before, that I will be getting issue #2 to see how the cliffhanger plays out and to see how the story expands.
    Who knows, maybe Robinson can help me to at least tolerate Deathstroke.

  19. CagedLeo730 says:
    November 15, 2011 at 2:25 pm

    As someone who hasn’t read Starman I didn’t feel lost at all. I do know enough about The Shade to not be lost. The art was amazing and the story flowed from point to point very consistently. Can’t wait for the next issue

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