Escaping the melancholy of winter with the Shade

The Shade is a man of means. He is an immortal man of means living in Opal City, a strangely haunted city in a fictional city. But this proper English gentleman has come awash in melancholy. Depressed by the calendar’s turn to October, Shade finds himself looking for cheering up from his usual consortium. He sits for tea with a good friend and enjoys the company of his girlfriend but still he is not quite there. The Shade needs to find an adventure, but in The Shade #1 from DC Comics by James Robinson and Cully Hamner the adventure finds him.

The Shade is a supporting character from the 1990s comic series Starman also written by James Robinson. Now Robinson is shining the spotlight on this murky villain who has grown a conscience and become a hero. This issue is the first of a twelve part story putting the Shade into the New DC Universe. Robinson takes his time to set up where the Shade is now from where he left off in the Starman series. The Shade begins the story by saying that he is usually at his most depressed point in October which is the time of year he was born. But he is reluctant to tell just how he was born. The Shade thinks better of sharing those horrors.

Robinson shows a lot about who the character is from the conversations he has within the first issue. The Shade is a likeable character with an arrogant demeanor that comes off as charming. His friends appreciate him and his villains have had enough of him. The final page should be an ending to the series so where Robinson is heading for the next eleven issues will be a fun ride.

Cully Hamner has a clean and clear line in his art that has just enough weight to it that makes you feel the energy of the story. Hamner’s faces are rounded with exaggerated features that add a unique style to the story. The action sequence in the middle of the story featuring William Von Hammer is quite stunning as Hamner draws a six on one gunfight with rocket packs. It is action like this that balances out the character driven meetings of the Shade.

The decision: In The Shade #1, James Robinson has returned to the Shade, a character he developed and defined. Despite the long history between the writer and the character there is no need for any knowledge of what has gone on before to enjoy this story. Robinson establishes the tone of the story from the get go and then jumps the story into high gear with some fast paced action and a lethal confrontation. Cully Hamner’s art is a treat that gives a designed feel to the story and gives the Shade a look all his own.