Shadecraft #1

At first glance, it would be easy to dismiss this books as another Sabrina type of affair. yet the relationships that form this book are the foundations on which Zadie will look to rise. With a charming, sometime self-deprecating character and a cast of people to interact with, Image comics, thanks to Henderson and Garbett, have another hit on the their hands, Read Full Review

A year after her brother's death, Zadie Lu must face the shadows in her life. Read Full Review

Snyder and Capullo….great team….Mcfarlane and Capullo….great team…..Henderson and Garbett….great team. You get the picture! This book is well worth the investment and the cover is frame worthy! Read Full Review

Shadecraft's first issue is a pitch-perfect blend of fantasy horror and teenage coming of age drama that hits it out of the park with every single page and panel. Gorgeous and terrifying imagery and moments blend together in a way that almost cannot be described and have to be witnessed as they are. Read Full Review

OverallI love how writer Joe Henderson has taken something that we all take for granted. Like our own shadows and turned it into something scary. Granted it is a trope that is used a lot in horror. But whether it is good or not always depends on the execution. And it is executed brilliantly in this story. And we get a very clever twist at the end of the book too. Read Full Review

For Zadie, the lead character of Image Comics new comic Shadecraft, the question is whether she is ready to step out of the shadow. Read Full Review

This book is an engaging teen drama with a mix of supernatural forces, with beautiful art, and a relatable protagonist thatll keep me around for at least the first arc. Read Full Review

Shadecraft #1 is a compelling start to this series. I know that I, personally, am already invested in Zadie's story, and am eager to see how it all plays out from here. It looks like once again Image Comics has gotten their hands on a memorable series. Read Full Review

Overall, Shadecraft #1 is a new series you'll want to check out. If you love shows like Chilling Adventures of Sabrina or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you'll love Shadecraft. The book was already picked up by Netflix to become a TV show, so you'll definitely want to snag a copy to keep up with the story. Read Full Review

This is ultimately a story about shadows cast. Living in the shadow of trauma, of being an outcast in high school, of an older sibling who you think you could never live up too. And Shadecraft‘s three-act structure works brilliantly to explore these different topics effectively. The tone and atmosphere build naturally off that once we get to the big reveal, it all feels earned and poignant. Zadie's a fun protagonist to follow because she feels very familiar, and we all have known someone in our lives like her in some capacity, even if none of us probably know exactly what it's like to have supernatural killer shadows stalking you. I commend Henderson for writing her so well and for Garbett illustrating her journey so dynamically. Read Full Review

Shadecraft #1 ends with a great twist that ties everything in this issue together, solidifying the foundation for the rest of the series. It's equal parts heartwarming and horrifying, which is an interesting combination. This is a comic that really hits the ground running and I'm eager to see where it goes. Read Full Review

SHADECRAFT #1 is an exciting new series. We can't wait to see where Henderson and team take the story next. Read Full Review

Henderson and Garbett's Skyward ran for a solid 15 issues before it came to a close back in 2019. With the first issue of Shadecraft, artist and writer have crafted an opening issue with the right pacing and visual appeal to have an equally satisfying run. Zadie is relatable enough as a character that it's easy to imagine hanging out with her and her shadows for the next year-and-a-half or so.  Read Full Review

While it's hard to tell where this series is going, it's obvious that it's worth diving into. The gorgeous visuals, intriguing premise, and entertaining characters all come together to create something fun. It's light on the horror so it won't scare off any readers, but just creepy enough to pull you in. This is looking like a solid follow-up to Wayward. Read Full Review

While there are some moments where it feels like the story is talking too much, its still a well written, well paced story with some great art and creepy imagery. Read Full Review

High school is bad enough when the jocks and the mean girls hate you, but it gets worse when even the shadows want you dead. Read Full Review

Final ThoughtsShadecraft #1 wastes no time digging into its core concept as it introduces readers to its protagonist and monsters right off the bat. There's a lot of introduction here, little story progression, but it leaves a solid impression. The art is good and the artists really made the characters and shadow monsters look great. It's worth checking out. Read Full Review

I'm not sure quite where this series is going after a single issue, but Henderson and Garbett have my interest; no small accomplishment given I'm not much for horror titles. Make of that assessment what you will. Perhaps horror fans will find this to be typical of the trade? Yet I think most will appreciate the originality of Shadecraft's execution, even if a story about the monsters in the dark is not all that original. Read Full Review

'Shadecraft' #1 is a deftly created supernatural adventure with an engaging heroine thrust into a mysterious battle against the shadows. The cliffhanger changes the stakes altogether taking readers on a whole new path filled with questions and new possibilities. No wonder it's being adapted for television.  'Shadecraft' should be on your pull-list, ASAP! Read Full Review

After reading this issue a few times, its safe to say Im hooked. I think this story has tremendous potential to be a suspenseful thriller as well as personal drama revolving around a character that is all too relatable as Crazy Zadie. I will absolutely be keeping up with this story and recommending it to everyone along the way. Read Full Review

Finding the right blend of the playful and macabre, Shadecraft is setting the stage for a frightening story, regardless of whether those horrors come from the real world of navigating high school or from a darker realm of existence. Read Full Review

Shadecraft #1 is a solid start. It's a mystery as to what's going on and dances between horror and something much more. There's a family touch to it that grounds the story and adds a bit more than just scares and tension. The school aspects make Zadie a more believable character and one that's a bit easier to connect to. I have a feeling that the series is going to deliver a lot more of that and turn on the waterworks. Read Full Review

Obviously I dont have the benefit of having seen the whole story yet, but for me, this sits in what I would class as YA horror, the PG13 end of the market. However, that isnt to say that mature horror fans cant also find something to enjoy in this series. Read Full Review

Brion Salazar

Mar 31, 2021

If you are a fan of CW sows, this might be worth checking out. We are quickly introduced to Zadie Liu, a teenage girl that is dealing with a lot of typical high-schooler problems of insecurity and feeling like an outsider, she is also forced to experience the tragedy of having her older brother lying comatose in a hospital bed while her family hopes he will one day return to them. Add to this the fact that Zadie is convinced that shadows are coming alive and trying to kill her and you have an interesting coming of age story with a supernatural twist. While the plot is translucent in its direction, the concept is solid and I can see where Joe Henderson will have opportunities to deal with issues and emotions beyond just the fear or t hrills that less interesting sci-fi/horror comic might offer. Lee Garbett's artwork reminds me of JIm Chueng's beautiful style. He is expressive and has distinct character designs. If there is any flaw to his work it is that for a book about shadows and darkness, his style is rather bright and clean. Light on character development or complexity of narrative, I found myself thinking it would make a above-average television series but a basic comic book that left me apathetic. In the end, this is not a book for me, but it is not supposed to be. It is meant for teens and young adults that are much closer to the angst and fears that come with being in high school, when we are vulnerable and might even be afraid of our own shadows from time to time. more

the_comic_book_club

Apr 08, 2021

Shadecraft Issue: 1 Publisher: @imagecomics Writer: @joehenderson12 Art: @leegarbett Colorist: @antoniofabela Variant Cover: @jock.co.uk Letterer: @simonbowlandlettering Editor: @rick_lopezjr Zadie Lu is a high school student. For years she has felt overshadowed by her popular brother, however now that is no longer the case since her brother is in a coma. Life is never easy at that age. Dealing with the fact that she can’t interact with her brother is tough on anyone. Not to mention that something weird is happening in her small town. Zadie has an irrational fear of shadows and swears the shadows are coming to life. She is convinced that the shadows are watching her and trying to kill her. No one believes her or will h elp her until an unlikely savior comes to her rescue. Zadie Liu is dealing with a lot of problems that typically follow a high school student. Problems like, insecurity and feeling like an outsider, while also dealing with tragedy of having her older brother lying comatose at home. All this is enough to make any teenager go crazy. Add in her fear of killer shadows and we get a good start to a new supernatural story. This story has potential to be a suspenseful supernatural thriller as well as the teenage drama revolving around a relatable character like Crazy Zadie. The artwork was fantastic! Shadows were really well drawn and felt real! This was a good start to this series! Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5) Reviewed By: @mcruz2189 of The Comic Book Club of Instagram Follow: @the_comic_book_club on Instagram for more reviews more