The Shade Issue #7 (of 12) Review http://www.o-r-c.co.uk/media/reviews/photos/original/4c/e2/65/_the-shade-issue-7-cover-1334292976.jpg

Highly Recommended!

Story: 5.0 / 5.0

Maybe it was too late in the night, or maybe I was expecting massive action out of the gate, but the wordiness at the beginning of the issue distracted me a bit. I found my eyes racing through the text, eagerly waiting for the next panel with hopes of the fantastic action and shadowriffic violence. But for pages, that did not come. My big concern was that this issue would end and I would still be waiting. Good news everyone. That is not the case. The action and climax of this issue is well worth the wait. So sit. Relax. Take in and appreciate each of the panels filled with solid colors and many words - for when you arrive at the destination hinted in the last page of Issue #6, you will know. You will know you have arrived at a wonderful crescendo of suspense and power. You will not be disappointed.

Cover Art: 5.0 / 5.0

As with each of the issues in the series so far, I have liked the variant cover much more than the standard cover. This variant though, it takes the cake. Only after you read the issue will you understand the cake that it has taken... but rest assured, it was delicious. I love how the variant cover expresses so much, with so few colors. It is simplistic, but has enough to still be worth a thousand words or more. The standard cover fits very well with the standard covers in the series thus far. It offers a much grittier illustration of The Shade and the characters within...

Art: 4.5 / 5.0

The interior art, much like the variant cover art is simplistic, yet powerful. There is a distinct lack of gradient color. It looks and feels as though the shapes were drawn and the "paint bucket" tool was used to fill in the white space. I love it. It fits well with the comic, the tone of the story and the overall contrast The Shade's powers have on this universe. After all, shadow-matter really doesn't leave much room for shades of color - its edges are sharp, clear cut and can make just about anything disappear into a void.

Overall: 4.8 / 5.0

I was very pleased with this issue. It was the end of Shade's Barcelona trip - for now. It was the end of a nice arc, a break in the ongoing story that allowed for some very interesting characters to share the limelight. La Sangre's character is certainly interesting enough to revisit, maybe not in her own comic, but certainly for a few good arcs with The Shade. It was nice to see their relationship grow beyond what it may had been in the past. Her last expression upon Shade's departure says it all, and his affirmation of past sins says to me that he will be true to his word.

The cliffhanger in this issue was not as nail biting as the last. It does introduce the next level of villainy for The Shade to overcome - but all that will have to wait, as Issue #8 we travel back in time to 1901 - I am hoping we get the background story eluded to during this issue's battle. It shall be interesting to learn about The Shade what he was just forced to recall...