Review: SHADECRAFT #1 Starts Building a Human Story Mixed with the Supernatural
Shadecraft is a new comic series from writer Joe Henderson (Lucifer), artist Lee Garbett (Captain Marvel), colorist Antonio Fabela, and letterer Simon Bowland. Image comics publishes the series, and it’s got an interesting start. Shadecraft #1 is available to read now with physical copies at local comic shops or digital copies available through comiXology (affiliate link) and Google Play.
Zadie Lu is afraid of her own shadow. She’s a teenager, so she REALLY should have grown out of it by now, right? But something weird is happening in her small town. Zadie could swear the shadows are coming to life. Watching her. Trying to KILL her. But how do you fight something you can’t even touch? And how does all of this tie into her FAMILY, of all things?
Image Comics was kind enough to supply a digital copy of Shadecraft #1 for me to read. The story is still in its infancy, but there is something there. We get supernatural shadows, a decent sibling relationship, and characters that feel like actual humans. Zadie has to deal with her fear of the dark, high school bullies, parents that may not be the most supportive, kissing a boy that doesn’t return her feelings, and more. There’s already quite a bit of heart in this comic.
Garbett does a fantastic job with the artwork. It fits the mood of the comic extremely well and Fabela does a perfect job with the colors. The way that the shadows are done in particular is really cool to see.
Shadecraft is a comic that I would definitely keep an eye on. We’ll have to see how the story develops, but so far it feels very human with great art and a cool premise.
