WARNING: The following interview contains spoilers for Shadowman #5, available now from Valiant Comics.
Since his debut in Jim Shooter, Steve Englehart, and David Lapham's 1992 Shadowman #1, Jack Boniface has become one of Valiant Universe's most compelling characters. Aided by the powers of the shadow loa, Shadowman has fought innumerable villains to keep the people of the world safe. Cullen Bunn and Jon Davis-Hunt's 2021 Shadowman series followed Jack and Baron Samedi, the king of death, as they attempted to keep the Deadside from spilling over into the world of the living. Despite their best efforts, the Deadside only gets stronger.
Written by Bunn, with artwork by Pedro Andreo, colors by Jordie Bellaire, and lettering by Clayton Cowles, Shadowman #5 marks the beginning of the Deadside war. The issue features the return of familiar Shadowman characters and a high-stakes battle that threatens to change the entire Valiant Universe. CBR sat down with Bunn to discuss the thrilling first issue and the upcoming Deadside war. Bunn spoke about his writing process, Shadowman's eclectic cast of characters, and the unique challenge facing one of Valiant's greatest heroes.
Shadowman #5 introduces a newly reformed version of the Abettors. How will their role differ from previous incarnations of the team?
Cullen Bunn: Ah, the Abettors! In previous incarnations, the Abettors were really just "old men in suits" -- stodgy, stifled by tradition, and corrupt. With this new group, we're turning that all on its ear. The new Abettors are an eclectic group, and each and every one of them have their own story. I think they're a lot more interesting than what we’ve seen before, and we're really just scratching the surface at this time. Under the guidance of Alyssa, they're going to be Shadowman's backup team in the war against Deadside. They are going to be right there in the thick of it too, facing the darkness and combatting it right alongside Shadowman and Punk Mambo.
This issue finds Jack attempting to confront both the demons of the Deadside and the physical manifestation of Deadside. What is the relationship between these two Deadsides? How much control does one have over the other?
This question helps sum up some of the problems Shadowman is having confronting Deadside. This physical manifestation… That is the Deadside. It is the Deadside made flesh. So, she has almost complete control over the realm of Deadside. As she starts to become more and more real in our world, the realm of the Deadside starts pouring in after her, threatening to drown our world. She's not just a villain with powers connected to the Deadside. All of the Deadside is within her.
How does writing a character known for his fearlessness change the way you approach the horror genre?
I'll admit, every now and then I write a scene with Shadowman experiencing fright, and I have to stop myself, remind myself that he's beyond that, and do a little tinkering with the script. Shadowman doesn't feel fear. That's part of his power set. So, the reader can't experience fear on the character's part. That said, the reader can still feel fear for Shadowman. They can worry about what might happen to the character and the supporting characters. I also think it's fun that Shadowman sometimes realizes he should be afraid, but he just can't manifest that emotion.
How has collaborating with Pedro Andreo, as opposed to Jon Davis-Hunt, who drew the first four Shadowman issues, affected your approach to the story?
I feel like I've written the scripts for Pedro pretty much the way I would have written them for Jon. They're both amazing talents. They both brought their A-games to the book. Yes, Pedro's work looks very different than what Jon would have drawn, but I didn't try to script to that. I wrote what I thought would be the best script possible and let Pedro do his thing!
The end of Shadowman #5 shows Deadside dominating the Gods of the Loa and retrieving the Ring of Solomon, which previously played a significant role in Andy Diggle's 2018 Shadowman series. What can you tell fans about this artifact and its powers?
The Ring of Solomon is a powerful artifact. Within the ring is an extra-dimensional prison of sorts. Within, many foul beings have been locked away. A couple of them are among Shadowman's greatest enemies. Wow. Wouldn't it be terrible if Deadside used the ring to set them free?
Aside from the highly anticipated return of Punk Mambo, Can fans look forward to any other Valiant characters appearing in the Deadside War?
For sure!
While this is a story with Shadowman, Punk Mambo, and the Abettors playing a front-and-center role, there are many Valiant characters making cameo appearances: Bloodshot, The Eternal Warrior, X-O Manowar, Livewire, and even Roku shows up for a bit. After the Deadside war ends, well, we're going to be seeing even more Valiant characters interacting with Shadowman in a much, much more active way. There will even be some new characters thrown into the mix in the aftermath of this arc!
Strap in for the deadly battle to come, beginning in Shadowman #5 from Valiant Comics.