REVIEW: Shadow/Batman #4

“…Wasn’t there a war in Heaven?” – Damian Wayne

Synopsis:

This issue opens with Robin (Damian Wayne) in San Francisco as he’s breaking into the E.H. Bierstadt Tech Campus. He has personal reasons for being there and he’s following a hunch. Then we cut to Wayne manor with Shiwan Khan in control. It’s a back and forth action sequence that not just draws, but literally yanks, you into the story. Is Batman really dead as was suggested by the previous issue?

The Creative Team:

Steve Orlando gives a great fight scene between the two dark knights. Shiwan Khan has control over Bruce Wayne and Bruce is struggling against the urge to take down his inspiration. Meanwhile he has Robin discovering something that links the Silent Seven too… nah, no spoilers here, but trust me, it’s a huge reveal. Orlando has created an epic page turner that a true comic book fan won’t be able to put down. It’s great stuff that gets greater with each issue. Just how did Shiwan Khan know so much about Wayne Manor that he could infiltrate it with such ease? You’ll find out in this issue.

Giovanni Timpano helps the pacing of this story in his usual dramatic way. A good highlight to the opening is Robin breaking into the E.H. Bierstadt Tech Campus. The look on Batman’s face is priceless when he realizes something disturbing about the relationship between Shiwan Khan and the Shadow. And the battle scene at the onset of this issue between The two greatest detectives is a flurry of action that culminates in a splash page that will take your breath away!

In Conclusion:

In four issues this story hasn’t slowed down a bit! What exposition we’re given is thrust at us between battle scenes and each battle scene is more clever in its execution then the one before it. Each battle has its own motivation, they aren’t just thrown in to heighten the pacing of the issue. This could be the best comic book I’ve ever reviewed (I’ll let you know at the finish of the story.) There are literally surprises on every page! And the final splash where Robin is about to face…To be continued! ***** (10 rating)

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Writer – Steve Orlando
Art – Giovanni Timpano
Color – Flavio Dispenza
Letters – Taylor Esposito
Publisher – Dynamite/DC

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Author Profile

Kevin Given

Kevin Given has studied with â€œ Longridge Writers Group â€ and â€œ Writerâ€™s Boot Camp â€ a speech/communications major from the University of Maine Presque-Isle/Orono sites. He has created the â€œ Karl Vincent Vampire Hunter â€ franchise which includes novels and comic books. They can be found on amazon, Indyplanet and Kindle. For a limited time you can get digital copies of â€œ Karl Vincent: Vampire hunter â€ # 1 and â€œ Files of Karl Vincent â€ # 1 for free on Indyplanet. Kevin is producing the third novel in the series â€œ Dracula Rising â€ (working title) and developing â€œ Foul Blood â€ into comic book form. Don't forget to check out the YouTube show " Comics: Let's Talk " hosted by Kevin Given