“Shadow Walk” is an action-packed original graphic novel that comes from the minds of Mark Waid, Max Brooks and Thomas Tull. There are monster attacks, gunfights and plenty of death in unique ways. What else would you expect from an adventure that takes place in Hell on Earth? This is one amazing ride from beginning to end that any horror fan will love and any non-horror fan can enjoy.
“Shadow Walk” is really about one thing, and the book sums it up perfectly.
“Is the Valley of the Shadow of Death a metaphor or could it actually be a real place? Three separate paranormal incidents over the last century, in a valley near modern day Iraq, seem to give credence to these claims. When satellite photos taken over the area hint at a dangerous new energy source, the U.S. decides to send in a Spec-Ops team to locate and extract it before it can fall into enemy hands.
Led by John Raines, a deadly soldier who has been left to rot in Guantanamo, after being accused of allegedly killing his entire platoon in the very same valley years prior. The team heads into dangerous territory to battle demonic creatures with little chance of survival. Armed with two arcane artifacts as their guide and protector, they will find out the road to Hell just opened up on Earth.”
“Shadow Walk” was a great monster/demon graphic novel from cover to cover but that is only scratching the surface of what made this book earn it’s place on my top shelf with other graphic novels like “Kingdom Come” and “Batman: The Killing Joke”
At its core the writing focuses on human nature’s struggle with spirituality. Even with demons from Hell bearing down from all sides they are still skeptical of a higher power. The only exception is Father Tucker who even gives an interesting speech about faith when all else seems lost.
Shane Davis really shines with the action, the art is amazing and with Mark Morales’ ink and Morry Hollowell’s colors it seems to leap off the page and fit with the plot and writing in a way that simply fits perfectly.
On top of the amazing writing and artwork monster lovers will enjoy every page. Each page turn reveals new monsters, ranging from a curtain of human flesh to glowing sirens with eyes for breasts and fanged vaginas taking “safe sex” to a whole new level.
“Shadow Walk” is an intense and a fast read that it hooks you from the beginning. I hope we see more of John Raines in more works from Mark Waid, Thomas Tull and Max Brooks because for me they will be instant buys.
Stay tuned for an interview I had with Mark Waid himself in an upcoming episode of the Big Shiny Podcast! and find out which character he relates to most and get the inside scoop on working on something like “Shadow Walk”, and doing work for Marvel and DC.