A tour de force. Perhaps only James Robinson could write a comic where the hero is sitting down and talking for the whole issue and make it completely engrossing. Frazier Irving’s art is even stronger here than last issue and he gets some amazing full page and double-spreads to show off. The Shade’s hallmark is his intelligence and since that’s exhibited through his dialogue, it makes sense that he’d save himself by outwitting and smoothtalking his opponents. In a way, that is his superpower. Other than the shadow powers, of course.

Robinson’s writer’s voice has been so strong and so wonderful in this Shade series that I hope he’ll write a creator owned comic where he can really let his imagination run wild with no boundaries.