Shadowman (comics)
Encyclopedia
Shadowman is a fictional
superhero
who appears in comic book
s published by Valiant Comics
. The character debuted
in Shadowman
#1 (May 1992), and was created by writers Jim Shooter
and Steve Englehart
, artist David Lapham
and inker Bob Layton
. Shadowman appears in his own series as well as numerous other Valiant comics and also stars in the Shadow Man video game franchise by Acclaim Entertainment.
Shadowman is a lineage and four characters have taken up the mantle thus far in the comics and video games. The most popular is Jack Boniface. A jazz musician, Jack Boniface nearly died one night—attacked by something out of a nightmare. By fateful chance, he escaped. Just a murderous madman with a sick flair for horror, Jack told himself later. Jack recovered. But since that terrifying experience something has changed. Now, when darkness falls, a feeling comes over him, the urge to find demons who defile the night—his night—and cast them out. Jack was always a night person, but since the attack, he thrives at night. He feels strong, wild…and violent. Unaccountably, he sees better in the dark. Jack begins to roam the streets after dark. He comes across a brutal wife-beater…a gang of muggers…a knife-wielding psycho. Demons. The night is full of demons. Jack puts each of them down hard. He’s not sure how. He was never a fighter. But, at night, he has absolutely no fear…and therefore, no limits. He improvises. He’s spontaneous. Unpredictable. It’s all jazz and he can play. By day, Jack is his old self again. But more and more he lives for the night, longs for the night.
Since his introduction, Shadowman has been a key character in the Valiant Universe and has been among the most popular characters created in the last 25 years selling over 5.3 million copies to date with 80 issues published. Shadowman comics have been translated into a number of languages including German, Italian, Spanish, Norwegian, Filipino and Chinese among others. Shadowman is so tied to the city of New Orleans that New Orleans mayor Sidney Barthelemy officially proclaimed January 17 as “Shadowman Day.”
Shadowman has also had great success in video games, selling over 2 million copies and garnering an IGN rating of 9.1/10 for the first game. Shadow Man also garnered a 93% rating for N64 Magazine, the same score as N64 favorites Donkey Kong 64 and Mario Kart: Double Dash. Shadow Man was named one of the “Top 20 Black Characters in Gaming by BET. IGN.com named Shadow Man the N64 game of the month for August 1999. And IGN.com also named Shadow Man one of the three most important Black characters on the N64 saying "Shadow Man is one of the strongest, most uncompromising characters in any game on any platform." The Shadowman video game was released around the world and translated into a number of languages including German, Russian, Mexican, French and Italian among others.
and DC Comics
including Batman
, Iron Man
, The Fantastic Four
, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America
, Thor
, Ghost Rider
, and even the Justice League of America.
Shadowman continued strongly with sales in the hundreds of thousands of books per month (ultimately selling more than 5 million copies altogether) until 1996 when Acclaim Entertainment
, which bought Valiant for $65 million, started a new Shadowman series under the Acclaim Comics banner. Acclaim focused on adapting Shadowman for video games. In preparation for the leap to video games a new more action oriented Shadowman took up the mask in comics. The second series of comics (spelled Shadow Man) featured the iteration of Shadowman that would gain huge popularity in the successful Shadow Man video game franchise.
In 1999, Shadow Man was released on the Nintendo 64
, PlayStation, Dreamcast, and PC
formats to a tremendous critical and commercial response. The game is one of the video game industry’s most acclaimed, garnering a rating of 9.1/10 on the prestigious IGN website. Acclaim launched a third Shadowman comic book series in conjunction with the highly anticipated sequel to the first Shadow Man video game. The sequel entitled Shadow Man: 2econd Coming
was a hit and a third game in the series began development. The sequel, Shadow Man: 2econd Coming was released in 2002 as a PlayStation 2
exclusive. In all the Shadow Man franchise has sold over 2 million copies and grossed close to 100 million dollars in revenues making it one of Acclaim's greatest success stories. The series proved so popular that Nintendo released a special Shadow Man themed limited edition N64 console that has become a sought after collectible. In 2006, a campaign was begun by fans to make the Shadow Man series of games available for download on the Nintendo Wii system.
A tremendous roster of legendary creators have worked on Shadowman characters and storylines including current Marvel Comics
Editor-in Chief Joe Quesada
, former Marvel Comics
Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter
, Sin City co-director Frank Miller
, Garth Ennis
, Rob Liefeld
, Barry Windsor-Smith
, Jamie Delano
, Steve Ditko
, David Lapham
, Rags Morales
, Fabian Nicieza
, Jim Starlin
, Bob Layton
, Jimmy Palmiotti
, Walt Simonson
and Ashley Wood
among many others.
Over 80 Shadowman comics have been published to date, selling more than 5 million copies. Shadowman also guest starred in a number of Valiant comics, most notably Unity and Unity 2000. Acclaim shut down all comic book publishing in 2002 in anticipation of a bankruptcy filing of its parent company after suffering heavy losses from its licensed sports video games. Valiant Entertainment are the current owners of the Valiant catalog.
Shadowman has had his likeness transferred to many other mediums in addition to comic books and video games including trading cards, posters, apparel, jewelry, lithographs, high end collectibles and more.
They go to her place where they drink and start to make love until Jack begins to feel funny. As he succumbs to the effects of the drugs in his drink, he falls asleep believing this is his last moment on Earth. In the morning he wakes to find Lydia gone. Jack seems to be fine except for a strange mark on his neck, realizing he was an intended victim.
Later that night, Jack stalks the streets compelled by an urge to hunt Lydia down and take revenge. He finds a discarded carnival mask on the street and, inexplicably drawn to it, picks it up.
Jack hears the cries of a woman being assaulted in a back alley. Investigating the screams, he sees a man who is twice his size and has two huge knives drawn.
He attacks the man. He finds that he has almost supernatural abilities – he is quicker and stronger than his opponent – and the would-be criminal bolts.
Jack’s housekeeper Nettie, a voodoo practitioner, senses the change in Jack. She explains that something evil in the night ripped open the doorway to his soul. Now, whenever shadows fall, his soul comes out, takes over... and goes hunting. “In Voodoo talk, ‘shadow’ means soul,” Nettie says. “You the Shadowman.”
Nettie feels the presence of a “Loa,” or spirit, named Bosou Koblamin in Jack. Bosou has become Jack’s “Maît-tête,” the Loa who stands for him. Nettie tells him that some ignorant people think Bosou is evil, but that it’s not true. “He has fire in him, yes, but it’s rage against evil.” Bosou isn’t “riding” (possessing) Jack. Just helping him.
Nettie makes Jack a shirt—something proper, she says, for the Shadowman. It has the image of his soul stepping out and three spikes of light piercing the darkness—just like Bosou’s three horns. It’s Jack’s destiny, says Nettie. Even if it doesn’t fit in the world he believes in.
Putting on the mask, Jack roams the streets until he comes across two thugs trying to rob an old man. Jack finds himself strong and fast, taking the robbers down with ease. The night is his. It’s his job to rid the night of those who defile it. Now he understands…
Dead bodies start piling up in New Orleans but these dead bodies have been reanimated and are found running, ranting, and raving with blood pouring from their orifices before they collapse and die. The public dubs them “Bloodrunners.”
Jack looks into the deaths with his friend Marty, who double crosses him and takes Jack to a fearsome albino necromancer named Master Darque, the man behind the Bloodrunners. Darque turns the Bloodrunners on Jack, but Shadowman takes over and he escapes.
In the escape, Master Darque takes some of Jack’s hair, and with it is able to resurrect one of the fallen men as a zombie and send him after Jack. With Jack’s hair, even more sinister magic is possible…
Jack begins to wonder where he ends and Shadowman be-gins. At night, when the spirit takes over, Jack is fearless and powerful. His newfound supernatural abilities grow with each passing night.
Jack was never a fighter, but now he finds himself prowling the night and protecting the city. The spirit within him is making Jack into a hero… but during the day, when Jack is his regular self, he worries.
Jack is confronted by Master Darque who wishes to recruit Jack, in return offering to make his deepest desire a reality. All he has to do is wish it so. Before he can speak a decision, Jack is knocked out. The next day he learns that a music agent wants to sign him.
He also seems to be getting more powerful with each Bloodrunner death. The next day, Jack hears his song on a car radio for the first time. Initially ecstatic, he soon feels the urge to run and realizes that he belongs to Darque.
With the help of the Loa, Jack overcomes Darque’s power. He finds himself among hun-dreds of Darque’s followers assembled in the Louisiana bayou. Thankfully, it’s night… As Shadowman, Jack disrupts the ritual before Darque can complete it but Darque still claims the lives and energy of the hundreds of people gathered, giving him enough power to last for years. But now he has found a true nemesis in Shadowman.
had strong connections to the music industry (for a time he managed the Allman Brothers Band among others) and used these connections to convince popular musicians to appear in Valiant Comics
. Among these musicians was Aerosmith
who guest starred in Shadowman #19. In the book, Master Darque
creates a voodoo doll of Steven Tyler
and trades Jack Boniface (Shadowman) Tyler's soul for an as yet unnamed favor.
Series Creative Staff Information (Volume one): The following is a list of those who contributed to the creation of the series. When repeated, only last names will be used.
0: (note-this issue was released after the series had begun) Bob Hall
, writer & pencils/Tom Ryder
, inks/Hall & Ryder, cover.
1: Jim Shooter
& Steve Englehart
, writers/David Lapham
, pencils/Joe Rubenstien, inks/Lapham & Bob Layton
, cover.
2: Shooter & Faye Perozich, writers/Lapham, pencils/Ryder, inks/Lapham & Ryder, cover.
3: Perozich, writer/Mark Moretti, pencils/Charles Barnett III, inks/Lapham & Ryder, cover.
4: Shooter & Lapham, story/Shooter & Perozich, script/Lapham, pencils/Ryder, inks/Frank Miller
, cover.
5: Shooter & Lapham, story/Shooter & Layton, script/Lapham, pencils/Paul Autio, inks/Walter Simonson, cover.
6: Shooter & Moretti & Steve Ditko
& Don Perlin
, story/Hall, script/Ditko, pencils & cover/Gonzalo Mayo, inks.
7: Hall, writer/Jose Delbo & Perlin, pencils/John Dixon (cartoonist)John Dixon, inks/Perlin & Stan Drake
, cover.
8: Hall, writer/Yvel Guichet, pencils/Dixon, inks/Guichet & Layton, cover.
9: Joe St. Pierre, writer and pencils/Dixon, inks/Layton & St. Pierre, cover.
10: Hall, writer & pencils & cover/Dixon, inks.
11: Hall, writer & pencils/Tom Mandrake, inks/Hall & Ryder, cover.
12: Hall, writer & pencils/Dixon, inks/Hall & Ryder, cover.
13: Jorge Gonzalez
, writer/Guichet, pencils/Dixon, inks/Guichet & Randy Elliot, cover.
14: Hall, writer & pencils/Dixon, inks/Hall & Dixon, cover.
15: Hall, writer & pencils/Dixon, inks/Hall & Ryder, cover.
16: Hall, writer & pencils/Dixon, inks/Hall & Dixon, cover.
17-18: Hall, writer & pencils/Dixon, inks/Hall & Bob Wiacek
, cover.
19: Hall, writer & pencils/Dixon, inks/Hall & Ryder, cover.
20: Perlin, writer/Mel Rubi
, pencils/Autio, inks & cover.
21-23: Hall, writer & pencils/Dixon, inks/Hall & Ryder, cover.
24: Hall, writer & pencils/Ryder, inks/Hall & Ryder, cover.
25: Anthony J. Bedard, writer/Rags Morales
, pencils & cover/Elliot, inks.
26-28: Hall, writer & pencils/Ryder, inks/Hall & Ryder, cover.
29: Hall, writer & pencils/Ryder, inks/Hall & Layton, cover.
30-32: Hall, writer & pencils/Ryder, inks/Hall & Ryder, cover.
33: Hall, writer & pencils & cover/Ryder, inks.
34: Hall, writer & pencils/Ryder, inks/Hall & Ryder, cover.
35-36: Mike Baron
, writer/Robert Hand
, pencils/Dixon, inks/Hall, cover.
37: Hall, writer & pencils/Ryder, inks/Hall & Ryder, cover.
38: Hall, writer & pencils & cover/Ryder, inks.
39-42: Hall, writer & pencils/Ryder, inks/Hall & Ryder, cover.
43: Hall, writer & art.
universe, also known as Shadowman V2 made some drastic changes to the Shadowman universe. The first four issues called "Deadside", which were written by Garth Ennis
and drawn by Ashley Wood
set a much darker tone to the series and moved it away from sci-fi to a more Voodoo magic/mystical setting with horror elements. But that would change however, as other writers and artists progressed the story, somewhat disrupting the story line and the vision Ennis had for Shadowman, which was that of a zombie
hitman
. Therefore there are many inconsistencies between issues 1–4, issues 5–15 and issues 16–20, with the last issue ending in a cliffhanger.
The Deadside story arc starts with an autopsy of mutilated body of Jack Boniface, who (as we later find out) was sadistically and somewhat humorously butchered by four dead men who have somehow escaped from Deadside. From this we know that Jack Boniface didn't die from jumping off of a skyscraper like it was speculated in the last Shadowman issue in the original comic (Even though, it has been stated it was an alternate universe, as stated in Unity 2000). Nettie too has been injured by the dead men, she was barely able to escape death, but was reduced to a skeleton, forced to stay alive by using voodoo. Nettie also stars as a much more menacing and manipulative character, not to mention her newfound distinguishing accent. As the story progresses we are introduced to Jaunty, an Irish skullheaded serpent wearing a top hat
, who is Nettie's eyes and ears in Deadside. We are also introduced to Zero, a black man who works as a hitman for a local barman and struggles with the fact that he doesn't remember his past; excluding five years after his awakening from a coma and running away from a hospital. All Zero has left after his awakening is a tattered teddy bear and a seemingly inborn knowledge of killing. Once the new characters have been introduced and old ones reintroduced. The story centers itself on Zero and his unwilling yet unavoidable fate of becoming the next and true Shadowman, as well as rediscovering his past and Nettie's connection to him. Not to mention the four dead men on the loose wreaking havoc.
New to the series is the concept of Deadside, a place where everyone goes when one dies. which would be later fully explored in the video games. Deadside plays a big role since after becoming the Shadowman, Zero (or Michael LeRoi as we find out) when mortally wounded has the ability to return from the dead (Deadside) and therefore cannot be killed, unlike the Shadowmen before him.
The first issue of Volume 2 was released on March 1997 and ran for 20 issues before being succeeded by Volume 3, with final issue being released on October 1998.
Volume 3 sees Shadow Man going back to his roots of the first four issues but more so because of the release of the Shadow Man the game.
Volume 3 saw the release of only 6 issues, with the last issue being published on December 1999.
Creative Staff Information: The following is a list of those who contributed to the creation of the series. When repeated, only last names will be used.
Volume 2:
1-4: Garth Ennis
, writer/Ashley Wood
, art and cover.
5-13: Jamie Delano
, writer/Charles Adlard, art/Wood, covers
14-15: Delano and Dick Foreman, writers/Adlard, art/Wood, covers.
16-18: Serge Clermont, writer/Klayton Krain, pencils and covers/Jason Temujin Minor, inks
19-20: Clermont, writer/Krain, pencils and covers/Charles Yoakum, inks
Volume 3:
1-2: Dan Abnett
and Andy Lanning
, Writers/Matt Broome & Ryan Benjamin
, pencils/Sean Parsons, inks
3: Abnett and Lanning, writers/Criss Cross
, pencils/Don Hillsman, inks
4: Abnett and Lanning, writers/Benjamin, pencils/Sal Regla, inks
5-6: Abnett and Lanning, writers/Broome, pencils/Regla, inks.
, Nintendo 64
, Dreamcast, and PC
. A sequel, entitled Shadow Man: 2econd Coming
was released for PlayStation 2 in 2002, following the events after the destruction of the Cathedral of Pain. The events of the first game were loosely adapted into a single issue of Shadow Man volume 3. The comics ceased publication shortly after. Note that the comics and the games seem to be set in separate continuities.
who went so far as to approach Acclaim Entertainment (when they controlled the title) about mounting a feature film. Acclaim rebuffed the approach as they were focused on the success of the Shadowman video game franchise. Others linked with the role include Will Smith
, DMX
and The Game.
appeared in Shadowman issue #19 as an integral element to the plot. Shadowman fans themselves, the band attended the Chicago Comic-Con to sign issues for fans. The issue became one of the biggest selling Shadowman comics.
Character (arts)
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
who appears in comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
s published by Valiant Comics
Valiant Comics
Valiant Comics is a comic book imprint published by various publishers since its inception with Voyager Communications, Inc. in 1989, later Acclaim Comics, Inc. Its assets were purchased from the bankruptcy of the Acclaim Entertaintment by Valiant Entertainment, Inc. in 2007.-Voyager...
. The character debuted
First appearance
In comic books and other stories with a long history, first appearance refers to the first occurrence to feature a fictional character.-Monetary value of first appearance issues:...
in Shadowman
Shadowman
Shadowman or Shadow Man may refer to:*Shadow people, creatures of both modern folklore and paranormal popular culture*Shadowman , a comic book series from Valiant Comics...
#1 (May 1992), and was created by writers Jim Shooter
Jim Shooter
James Shooter is an American writer, occasional fill-in artist, editor, and publisher for various comic books. Although he started professionally in the medium at the extraordinarily young age of 14, he is most notable for his successful and controversial run as Marvel Comics' ninth...
and Steve Englehart
Steve Englehart
Steve Englehart is an American novelist. In his earlier career he was a comic book writer best known for his work at Marvel Comics and DC Comics, particularly in the 1970s...
, artist David Lapham
David Lapham
David Lapham is an Eisner Award winning American comic book writer, artist, and cartoonist, best known for his work on his groundbreaking independent comic book Stray Bullets.-Biography:...
and inker Bob Layton
Bob Layton
Bob Layton is an American comic book artist, writer, and editor, who has worked for Marvel Comics, Valiant Comics, DC Comics, Future Comics, and other publishers.-Early life:...
. Shadowman appears in his own series as well as numerous other Valiant comics and also stars in the Shadow Man video game franchise by Acclaim Entertainment.
Shadowman is a lineage and four characters have taken up the mantle thus far in the comics and video games. The most popular is Jack Boniface. A jazz musician, Jack Boniface nearly died one night—attacked by something out of a nightmare. By fateful chance, he escaped. Just a murderous madman with a sick flair for horror, Jack told himself later. Jack recovered. But since that terrifying experience something has changed. Now, when darkness falls, a feeling comes over him, the urge to find demons who defile the night—his night—and cast them out. Jack was always a night person, but since the attack, he thrives at night. He feels strong, wild…and violent. Unaccountably, he sees better in the dark. Jack begins to roam the streets after dark. He comes across a brutal wife-beater…a gang of muggers…a knife-wielding psycho. Demons. The night is full of demons. Jack puts each of them down hard. He’s not sure how. He was never a fighter. But, at night, he has absolutely no fear…and therefore, no limits. He improvises. He’s spontaneous. Unpredictable. It’s all jazz and he can play. By day, Jack is his old self again. But more and more he lives for the night, longs for the night.
Since his introduction, Shadowman has been a key character in the Valiant Universe and has been among the most popular characters created in the last 25 years selling over 5.3 million copies to date with 80 issues published. Shadowman comics have been translated into a number of languages including German, Italian, Spanish, Norwegian, Filipino and Chinese among others. Shadowman is so tied to the city of New Orleans that New Orleans mayor Sidney Barthelemy officially proclaimed January 17 as “Shadowman Day.”
Shadowman has also had great success in video games, selling over 2 million copies and garnering an IGN rating of 9.1/10 for the first game. Shadow Man also garnered a 93% rating for N64 Magazine, the same score as N64 favorites Donkey Kong 64 and Mario Kart: Double Dash. Shadow Man was named one of the “Top 20 Black Characters in Gaming by BET. IGN.com named Shadow Man the N64 game of the month for August 1999. And IGN.com also named Shadow Man one of the three most important Black characters on the N64 saying "Shadow Man is one of the strongest, most uncompromising characters in any game on any platform." The Shadowman video game was released around the world and translated into a number of languages including German, Russian, Mexican, French and Italian among others.
Publication history
Shadowman debuted in 1992 as a flagship title in the Valiant Universe and quickly became one of the industry’s most popular comic books. After just one year in publication, Shadowman was selling over 100,000 comics books a month. By its second year, Shadowman was outselling long-standing industry stalwarts from Marvel ComicsMarvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
and DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
including Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
, Iron Man
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
, The Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
, Thor
Thor (Marvel Comics)
Thor is a fictional superhero who appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby....
, Ghost Rider
Ghost Rider (comics)
Ghost Rider is the name of several fictional supernatural antiheroes appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Marvel had previously used the name for a Western character whose name was later changed to Night Rider and subsequently to Phantom Rider.The first supernatural Ghost Rider is...
, and even the Justice League of America.
Shadowman continued strongly with sales in the hundreds of thousands of books per month (ultimately selling more than 5 million copies altogether) until 1996 when Acclaim Entertainment
Acclaim Entertainment
Acclaim Entertainment was an American video game developer and publisher. It developed, published, marketed and distributed interactive entertainment software for a variety of hardware platforms, including Sega's Mega Drive/Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, and Game Gear, Nintendo's NES, SNES, Nintendo...
, which bought Valiant for $65 million, started a new Shadowman series under the Acclaim Comics banner. Acclaim focused on adapting Shadowman for video games. In preparation for the leap to video games a new more action oriented Shadowman took up the mask in comics. The second series of comics (spelled Shadow Man) featured the iteration of Shadowman that would gain huge popularity in the successful Shadow Man video game franchise.
In 1999, Shadow Man was released on the Nintendo 64
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
, PlayStation, Dreamcast, and PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
formats to a tremendous critical and commercial response. The game is one of the video game industry’s most acclaimed, garnering a rating of 9.1/10 on the prestigious IGN website. Acclaim launched a third Shadowman comic book series in conjunction with the highly anticipated sequel to the first Shadow Man video game. The sequel entitled Shadow Man: 2econd Coming
Shadow Man: 2econd Coming
Shadow Man: 2econd Coming is an action-adventure video game developed by Acclaim Studios Teesside and published by Acclaim Entertainment. It was released in 2002 for the PlayStation 2 and is loosely based on the Shadowman comic book series published by Valiant Comics...
was a hit and a third game in the series began development. The sequel, Shadow Man: 2econd Coming was released in 2002 as a PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
exclusive. In all the Shadow Man franchise has sold over 2 million copies and grossed close to 100 million dollars in revenues making it one of Acclaim's greatest success stories. The series proved so popular that Nintendo released a special Shadow Man themed limited edition N64 console that has become a sought after collectible. In 2006, a campaign was begun by fans to make the Shadow Man series of games available for download on the Nintendo Wii system.
A tremendous roster of legendary creators have worked on Shadowman characters and storylines including current Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
Editor-in Chief Joe Quesada
Joe Quesada
Joseph "Joe" Quesada is an American comic book editor, writer and artist. He became known in the 1990s for his work on various Valiant Comics books, such as Ninjak and Solar, Man of the Atom...
, former Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter
Jim Shooter
James Shooter is an American writer, occasional fill-in artist, editor, and publisher for various comic books. Although he started professionally in the medium at the extraordinarily young age of 14, he is most notable for his successful and controversial run as Marvel Comics' ninth...
, Sin City co-director Frank Miller
Frank Miller (comics)
Frank Miller is an American comic book artist, writer and film director best known for his dark, film noir-style comic book stories and graphic novels Ronin, Daredevil: Born Again, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City and 300...
, Garth Ennis
Garth Ennis
Garth Ennis is a Northern Irish comics writer, best known for the Vertigo series Preacher with artist Steve Dillon and his successful nine-year run on Marvel Comics' Punisher franchise...
, Rob Liefeld
Rob Liefeld
Rob Liefeld is an American comic book writer, illustrator, and publisher. A prominent artist in the 1990s, he has since become a controversial figure in the medium....
, Barry Windsor-Smith
Barry Windsor-Smith
Barry Windsor-Smith, born Barry Smith is a British comic book illustrator and painter whose best known work has been produced in the United States....
, Jamie Delano
Jamie Delano
Jamie Delano is a British comics writer. He was part of the first post-Alan Moore "British Invasion" of writers. Best known as the first writer of the comic book series Hellblazer, starring John Constantine.- Biography :...
, Steve Ditko
Steve Ditko
Stephen J. "Steve" Ditko is an American comic book artist and writer best known as the artist co-creator, with Stan Lee, of the Marvel Comics heroes Spider-Man and Doctor Strange....
, David Lapham
David Lapham
David Lapham is an Eisner Award winning American comic book writer, artist, and cartoonist, best known for his work on his groundbreaking independent comic book Stray Bullets.-Biography:...
, Rags Morales
Rags Morales
Ralph "Rags" Morales is an American comic book artist known for his work on DC Comics' Identity Crisis, Countdown to Infinite Crisis, Batman Confidential, and Hawkman, Turok Dinosaur Hunter for Valiant Comics and Magic the Gathering: Dakkon Blackblade #1 from Armada/Acclaim Comics.Morales is the...
, Fabian Nicieza
Fabian Nicieza
Fabian Nicieza is an American comic book writer and editor who is best known for his work on Marvel titles such as X-Men, X-Force, New Warriors, Cable and Deadpool, and Thunderbolts, for all of which he helped create numerous characters.-Early life:The son of Omar and Irma Riguetti Nicieza, Fabian...
, Jim Starlin
Jim Starlin
James P. "Jim" Starlin is an American comic book writer and artist. With a career dating back to the early 1970s, he is best known for "cosmic" tales and space opera; for revamping the Marvel Comics characters Captain Marvel and Adam Warlock; and for creating or co-creating the Marvel characters...
, Bob Layton
Bob Layton
Bob Layton is an American comic book artist, writer, and editor, who has worked for Marvel Comics, Valiant Comics, DC Comics, Future Comics, and other publishers.-Early life:...
, Jimmy Palmiotti
Jimmy Palmiotti
James "Jimmy" Palmiotti is an American writer and inker of comic books, who also does writing for games, television and film.-Early life:Palmiotti is a graduate of the High School of Art and Design in New York City.-Career:...
, Walt Simonson
Walt Simonson
Walter "Walt" Simonson is an American comic book writer and artist. After studying geology at Amherst College, he transferred to the Rhode Island School of Design, graduating in 1972. His thesis project there was The Star Slammers, which was published as a black and white promotional comic book...
and Ashley Wood
Ashley Wood
Ashley Wood is an Australian comic book artist and illustrator who is well known for his cover art, concept design and his work as an art director....
among many others.
Over 80 Shadowman comics have been published to date, selling more than 5 million copies. Shadowman also guest starred in a number of Valiant comics, most notably Unity and Unity 2000. Acclaim shut down all comic book publishing in 2002 in anticipation of a bankruptcy filing of its parent company after suffering heavy losses from its licensed sports video games. Valiant Entertainment are the current owners of the Valiant catalog.
Shadowman has had his likeness transferred to many other mediums in addition to comic books and video games including trading cards, posters, apparel, jewelry, lithographs, high end collectibles and more.
Origins
Fate fixates on musician Jack Boniface one night as he plays his saxophone for a packed jazz bar deep in the heart of New Or-leans. A successful musician and hopeless romantic, Jack dreams of a record deal… but until then is happy to realize that a beautiful woman named Lydia has been coming to the bar every night to watch him play. That night they leave the bar together.They go to her place where they drink and start to make love until Jack begins to feel funny. As he succumbs to the effects of the drugs in his drink, he falls asleep believing this is his last moment on Earth. In the morning he wakes to find Lydia gone. Jack seems to be fine except for a strange mark on his neck, realizing he was an intended victim.
Later that night, Jack stalks the streets compelled by an urge to hunt Lydia down and take revenge. He finds a discarded carnival mask on the street and, inexplicably drawn to it, picks it up.
Jack hears the cries of a woman being assaulted in a back alley. Investigating the screams, he sees a man who is twice his size and has two huge knives drawn.
He attacks the man. He finds that he has almost supernatural abilities – he is quicker and stronger than his opponent – and the would-be criminal bolts.
Jack’s housekeeper Nettie, a voodoo practitioner, senses the change in Jack. She explains that something evil in the night ripped open the doorway to his soul. Now, whenever shadows fall, his soul comes out, takes over... and goes hunting. “In Voodoo talk, ‘shadow’ means soul,” Nettie says. “You the Shadowman.”
Nettie feels the presence of a “Loa,” or spirit, named Bosou Koblamin in Jack. Bosou has become Jack’s “Maît-tête,” the Loa who stands for him. Nettie tells him that some ignorant people think Bosou is evil, but that it’s not true. “He has fire in him, yes, but it’s rage against evil.” Bosou isn’t “riding” (possessing) Jack. Just helping him.
Nettie makes Jack a shirt—something proper, she says, for the Shadowman. It has the image of his soul stepping out and three spikes of light piercing the darkness—just like Bosou’s three horns. It’s Jack’s destiny, says Nettie. Even if it doesn’t fit in the world he believes in.
Putting on the mask, Jack roams the streets until he comes across two thugs trying to rob an old man. Jack finds himself strong and fast, taking the robbers down with ease. The night is his. It’s his job to rid the night of those who defile it. Now he understands…
Dead bodies start piling up in New Orleans but these dead bodies have been reanimated and are found running, ranting, and raving with blood pouring from their orifices before they collapse and die. The public dubs them “Bloodrunners.”
Jack looks into the deaths with his friend Marty, who double crosses him and takes Jack to a fearsome albino necromancer named Master Darque, the man behind the Bloodrunners. Darque turns the Bloodrunners on Jack, but Shadowman takes over and he escapes.
In the escape, Master Darque takes some of Jack’s hair, and with it is able to resurrect one of the fallen men as a zombie and send him after Jack. With Jack’s hair, even more sinister magic is possible…
Jack begins to wonder where he ends and Shadowman be-gins. At night, when the spirit takes over, Jack is fearless and powerful. His newfound supernatural abilities grow with each passing night.
Jack was never a fighter, but now he finds himself prowling the night and protecting the city. The spirit within him is making Jack into a hero… but during the day, when Jack is his regular self, he worries.
Jack is confronted by Master Darque who wishes to recruit Jack, in return offering to make his deepest desire a reality. All he has to do is wish it so. Before he can speak a decision, Jack is knocked out. The next day he learns that a music agent wants to sign him.
He also seems to be getting more powerful with each Bloodrunner death. The next day, Jack hears his song on a car radio for the first time. Initially ecstatic, he soon feels the urge to run and realizes that he belongs to Darque.
With the help of the Loa, Jack overcomes Darque’s power. He finds himself among hun-dreds of Darque’s followers assembled in the Louisiana bayou. Thankfully, it’s night… As Shadowman, Jack disrupts the ritual before Darque can complete it but Darque still claims the lives and energy of the hundreds of people gathered, giving him enough power to last for years. But now he has found a true nemesis in Shadowman.
Creators
Steven J. Massarsky, one of the original co-owners of Voyager Communications, the parent company of Valiant ComicsValiant Comics
Valiant Comics is a comic book imprint published by various publishers since its inception with Voyager Communications, Inc. in 1989, later Acclaim Comics, Inc. Its assets were purchased from the bankruptcy of the Acclaim Entertaintment by Valiant Entertainment, Inc. in 2007.-Voyager...
had strong connections to the music industry (for a time he managed the Allman Brothers Band among others) and used these connections to convince popular musicians to appear in Valiant Comics
Valiant Comics
Valiant Comics is a comic book imprint published by various publishers since its inception with Voyager Communications, Inc. in 1989, later Acclaim Comics, Inc. Its assets were purchased from the bankruptcy of the Acclaim Entertaintment by Valiant Entertainment, Inc. in 2007.-Voyager...
. Among these musicians was Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
who guest starred in Shadowman #19. In the book, Master Darque
Master Darque
Master Darque is a fictional character, a Valiant Comics villain that first appeared in Shadowman #8 and later became a staple villain in both the Shadowman and Second Life of Dr. Mirage comic books...
creates a voodoo doll of Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the frontman and lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, and occasional piano and percussion. He is known as the "Demon of Screamin'", due to his high screams...
and trades Jack Boniface (Shadowman) Tyler's soul for an as yet unnamed favor.
Series Creative Staff Information (Volume one): The following is a list of those who contributed to the creation of the series. When repeated, only last names will be used.
0: (note-this issue was released after the series had begun) Bob Hall
Bob Hall (comics)
Bob Hall is an American comic book creator and theater director. He is the co-creator of the West Coast Avengers for Marvel Comics and has worked on such series as Armed and Dangerous and Shadowman, which he both drew and wrote for Valiant Comics.-DC Comics:*Batman #559 *Batman: DOA #1 *Batman:...
, writer & pencils/Tom Ryder
Tom Ryder
Thomas P. "Tom" Ryder is a rugby union footballer who plays at lock for Glasgow Warriors after signing from Saracens in the Summer of 2011...
, inks/Hall & Ryder, cover.
1: Jim Shooter
Jim Shooter
James Shooter is an American writer, occasional fill-in artist, editor, and publisher for various comic books. Although he started professionally in the medium at the extraordinarily young age of 14, he is most notable for his successful and controversial run as Marvel Comics' ninth...
& Steve Englehart
Steve Englehart
Steve Englehart is an American novelist. In his earlier career he was a comic book writer best known for his work at Marvel Comics and DC Comics, particularly in the 1970s...
, writers/David Lapham
David Lapham
David Lapham is an Eisner Award winning American comic book writer, artist, and cartoonist, best known for his work on his groundbreaking independent comic book Stray Bullets.-Biography:...
, pencils/Joe Rubenstien, inks/Lapham & Bob Layton
Bob Layton
Bob Layton is an American comic book artist, writer, and editor, who has worked for Marvel Comics, Valiant Comics, DC Comics, Future Comics, and other publishers.-Early life:...
, cover.
2: Shooter & Faye Perozich, writers/Lapham, pencils/Ryder, inks/Lapham & Ryder, cover.
3: Perozich, writer/Mark Moretti, pencils/Charles Barnett III, inks/Lapham & Ryder, cover.
4: Shooter & Lapham, story/Shooter & Perozich, script/Lapham, pencils/Ryder, inks/Frank Miller
Frank Miller (comics)
Frank Miller is an American comic book artist, writer and film director best known for his dark, film noir-style comic book stories and graphic novels Ronin, Daredevil: Born Again, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City and 300...
, cover.
5: Shooter & Lapham, story/Shooter & Layton, script/Lapham, pencils/Paul Autio, inks/Walter Simonson, cover.
6: Shooter & Moretti & Steve Ditko
Steve Ditko
Stephen J. "Steve" Ditko is an American comic book artist and writer best known as the artist co-creator, with Stan Lee, of the Marvel Comics heroes Spider-Man and Doctor Strange....
& Don Perlin
Don Perlin
Don Perlin is an American comic book artist and occasional writer best known for Marvel Comics' Werewolf by Night, The Defenders, and Ghost Rider...
, story/Hall, script/Ditko, pencils & cover/Gonzalo Mayo, inks.
7: Hall, writer/Jose Delbo & Perlin, pencils/John Dixon (cartoonist)John Dixon, inks/Perlin & Stan Drake
Stan Drake
Stanley Albert Drake was an American cartoonist best known as the founding artist of the comic strip The Heart of Juliet Jones....
, cover.
8: Hall, writer/Yvel Guichet, pencils/Dixon, inks/Guichet & Layton, cover.
9: Joe St. Pierre, writer and pencils/Dixon, inks/Layton & St. Pierre, cover.
10: Hall, writer & pencils & cover/Dixon, inks.
11: Hall, writer & pencils/Tom Mandrake, inks/Hall & Ryder, cover.
12: Hall, writer & pencils/Dixon, inks/Hall & Ryder, cover.
13: Jorge Gonzalez
Jorge González
Jorge González may refer to:* Jorge González , Puerto Rican marathon runner* Jorge González , Puerto Rican beach volleyball player* Jorge "Negro" González , Argentine jazz bassist...
, writer/Guichet, pencils/Dixon, inks/Guichet & Randy Elliot, cover.
14: Hall, writer & pencils/Dixon, inks/Hall & Dixon, cover.
15: Hall, writer & pencils/Dixon, inks/Hall & Ryder, cover.
16: Hall, writer & pencils/Dixon, inks/Hall & Dixon, cover.
17-18: Hall, writer & pencils/Dixon, inks/Hall & Bob Wiacek
Bob Wiacek
Bob Wiacek is an American comic book artist and writer, working primarily as an inker.-Career:Wiacek got his start in the mid-1970s as a member of the "Crusty Bunkers" inking collective. For a short time in 1975–1976 he inked backgrounds on Superman for DC Comics...
, cover.
19: Hall, writer & pencils/Dixon, inks/Hall & Ryder, cover.
20: Perlin, writer/Mel Rubi
Mel Rubi
-Pencils:Interior pencilling work includes:* Aliens vs. Predator Annual * Aliens vs. Predator vs. The Terminator #1 – #4 * Aliens vs...
, pencils/Autio, inks & cover.
21-23: Hall, writer & pencils/Dixon, inks/Hall & Ryder, cover.
24: Hall, writer & pencils/Ryder, inks/Hall & Ryder, cover.
25: Anthony J. Bedard, writer/Rags Morales
Rags Morales
Ralph "Rags" Morales is an American comic book artist known for his work on DC Comics' Identity Crisis, Countdown to Infinite Crisis, Batman Confidential, and Hawkman, Turok Dinosaur Hunter for Valiant Comics and Magic the Gathering: Dakkon Blackblade #1 from Armada/Acclaim Comics.Morales is the...
, pencils & cover/Elliot, inks.
26-28: Hall, writer & pencils/Ryder, inks/Hall & Ryder, cover.
29: Hall, writer & pencils/Ryder, inks/Hall & Layton, cover.
30-32: Hall, writer & pencils/Ryder, inks/Hall & Ryder, cover.
33: Hall, writer & pencils & cover/Ryder, inks.
34: Hall, writer & pencils/Ryder, inks/Hall & Ryder, cover.
35-36: Mike Baron
Mike Baron
Mike Baron is the creator of comic books Badger and Nexus. He lives in Fort Collins, Colorado.-Biography:Mike Baron broke into comics with an illustrated text piece in the 1974 debut issue of Marvel Comics's Comix Book...
, writer/Robert Hand
Robert Hand
Robert Sterling Hand is an American astrologer, author, translator, and lecturer, who received the Regulus Award for his life's work at the "United Astrology Conference" in Denver in 2008.-Early life:...
, pencils/Dixon, inks/Hall, cover.
37: Hall, writer & pencils/Ryder, inks/Hall & Ryder, cover.
38: Hall, writer & pencils & cover/Ryder, inks.
39-42: Hall, writer & pencils/Ryder, inks/Hall & Ryder, cover.
43: Hall, writer & art.
Shadow Man
The reimagining of Shadowman in the AcclaimAcclaim Entertainment
Acclaim Entertainment was an American video game developer and publisher. It developed, published, marketed and distributed interactive entertainment software for a variety of hardware platforms, including Sega's Mega Drive/Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, and Game Gear, Nintendo's NES, SNES, Nintendo...
universe, also known as Shadowman V2 made some drastic changes to the Shadowman universe. The first four issues called "Deadside", which were written by Garth Ennis
Garth Ennis
Garth Ennis is a Northern Irish comics writer, best known for the Vertigo series Preacher with artist Steve Dillon and his successful nine-year run on Marvel Comics' Punisher franchise...
and drawn by Ashley Wood
Ashley Wood
Ashley Wood is an Australian comic book artist and illustrator who is well known for his cover art, concept design and his work as an art director....
set a much darker tone to the series and moved it away from sci-fi to a more Voodoo magic/mystical setting with horror elements. But that would change however, as other writers and artists progressed the story, somewhat disrupting the story line and the vision Ennis had for Shadowman, which was that of a zombie
Zombie
Zombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
hitman
Hitman
A hitman is a person hired to kill another person.- Hitmen in organized crime :Hitmen are largely linked to the world of organized crime. Hitmen are hired people who kill people for money. Notable examples include Murder, Inc., Mafia hitmen and Richard Kuklinski.- Other cases involving hitmen...
. Therefore there are many inconsistencies between issues 1–4, issues 5–15 and issues 16–20, with the last issue ending in a cliffhanger.
The Deadside story arc starts with an autopsy of mutilated body of Jack Boniface, who (as we later find out) was sadistically and somewhat humorously butchered by four dead men who have somehow escaped from Deadside. From this we know that Jack Boniface didn't die from jumping off of a skyscraper like it was speculated in the last Shadowman issue in the original comic (Even though, it has been stated it was an alternate universe, as stated in Unity 2000). Nettie too has been injured by the dead men, she was barely able to escape death, but was reduced to a skeleton, forced to stay alive by using voodoo. Nettie also stars as a much more menacing and manipulative character, not to mention her newfound distinguishing accent. As the story progresses we are introduced to Jaunty, an Irish skullheaded serpent wearing a top hat
Top hat
A top hat, beaver hat, high hat silk hat, cylinder hat, chimney pot hat or stove pipe hat is a tall, flat-crowned, broad-brimmed hat, predominantly worn from the latter part of the 18th to the middle of the 20th century...
, who is Nettie's eyes and ears in Deadside. We are also introduced to Zero, a black man who works as a hitman for a local barman and struggles with the fact that he doesn't remember his past; excluding five years after his awakening from a coma and running away from a hospital. All Zero has left after his awakening is a tattered teddy bear and a seemingly inborn knowledge of killing. Once the new characters have been introduced and old ones reintroduced. The story centers itself on Zero and his unwilling yet unavoidable fate of becoming the next and true Shadowman, as well as rediscovering his past and Nettie's connection to him. Not to mention the four dead men on the loose wreaking havoc.
New to the series is the concept of Deadside, a place where everyone goes when one dies. which would be later fully explored in the video games. Deadside plays a big role since after becoming the Shadowman, Zero (or Michael LeRoi as we find out) when mortally wounded has the ability to return from the dead (Deadside) and therefore cannot be killed, unlike the Shadowmen before him.
The first issue of Volume 2 was released on March 1997 and ran for 20 issues before being succeeded by Volume 3, with final issue being released on October 1998.
Volume 3 sees Shadow Man going back to his roots of the first four issues but more so because of the release of the Shadow Man the game.
Volume 3 saw the release of only 6 issues, with the last issue being published on December 1999.
Creative Staff Information: The following is a list of those who contributed to the creation of the series. When repeated, only last names will be used.
Volume 2:
1-4: Garth Ennis
Garth Ennis
Garth Ennis is a Northern Irish comics writer, best known for the Vertigo series Preacher with artist Steve Dillon and his successful nine-year run on Marvel Comics' Punisher franchise...
, writer/Ashley Wood
Ashley Wood
Ashley Wood is an Australian comic book artist and illustrator who is well known for his cover art, concept design and his work as an art director....
, art and cover.
5-13: Jamie Delano
Jamie Delano
Jamie Delano is a British comics writer. He was part of the first post-Alan Moore "British Invasion" of writers. Best known as the first writer of the comic book series Hellblazer, starring John Constantine.- Biography :...
, writer/Charles Adlard, art/Wood, covers
14-15: Delano and Dick Foreman, writers/Adlard, art/Wood, covers.
16-18: Serge Clermont, writer/Klayton Krain, pencils and covers/Jason Temujin Minor, inks
19-20: Clermont, writer/Krain, pencils and covers/Charles Yoakum, inks
Volume 3:
1-2: Dan Abnett
Dan Abnett
Dan Abnett is a British comic book writer and novelist. He is a frequent collaborator with fellow writer Andy Lanning, and is known for his work on books for both Marvel Comics, and their UK imprint, Marvel UK, since the 1990s, including 2000 AD...
and Andy Lanning
Andy Lanning
Andy Lanning is a British comic book writer and inker, known for his work for Marvel Comics and DC Comics, and for his collaboration with Dan Abnett.-Career:Lanning works primarily at Marvel Comics and DC Comics as an inker...
, Writers/Matt Broome & Ryan Benjamin
Ryan Benjamin
Ryan Arthur Benjamin is a former American football long snapper of the National Football League. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2001...
, pencils/Sean Parsons, inks
3: Abnett and Lanning, writers/Criss Cross
Criss Cross
-People:*Kris Kross, an American rap duo*Criss Cross Jazz, a jazz label*Chris Cross, bassist for the UK band Ultravox*ChrisCross, an American comic book artist...
, pencils/Don Hillsman, inks
4: Abnett and Lanning, writers/Benjamin, pencils/Sal Regla, inks
5-6: Abnett and Lanning, writers/Broome, pencils/Regla, inks.
Video games
Acclaim released the Shadow Man video game in November 1999 on the PlayStationPlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
, Nintendo 64
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
, Dreamcast, and PC
IBM PC compatible
IBM PC compatible computers are those generally similar to the original IBM PC, XT, and AT. Such computers used to be referred to as PC clones, or IBM clones since they almost exactly duplicated all the significant features of the PC architecture, facilitated by various manufacturers' ability to...
. A sequel, entitled Shadow Man: 2econd Coming
Shadow Man: 2econd Coming
Shadow Man: 2econd Coming is an action-adventure video game developed by Acclaim Studios Teesside and published by Acclaim Entertainment. It was released in 2002 for the PlayStation 2 and is loosely based on the Shadowman comic book series published by Valiant Comics...
was released for PlayStation 2 in 2002, following the events after the destruction of the Cathedral of Pain. The events of the first game were loosely adapted into a single issue of Shadow Man volume 3. The comics ceased publication shortly after. Note that the comics and the games seem to be set in separate continuities.
Film
Among its fans, Shadowman counts Ice CubeIce Cube
O'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
who went so far as to approach Acclaim Entertainment (when they controlled the title) about mounting a feature film. Acclaim rebuffed the approach as they were focused on the success of the Shadowman video game franchise. Others linked with the role include Will Smith
Will Smith
Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood...
, DMX
DMX (rapper)
Earl Simmons , better known by his stage name DMX, is a multiplatinum American rapper and actor who rose to fame in the late 1990s. His stage name pays tribute to the Oberheim DMX drum machine, an instrument he used when he made his own rap beats in the 80's...
and The Game.
Aerosmith in Shadowman
AerosmithAerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
appeared in Shadowman issue #19 as an integral element to the plot. Shadowman fans themselves, the band attended the Chicago Comic-Con to sign issues for fans. The issue became one of the biggest selling Shadowman comics.