For(e) Shadowing
Wow. There are a lot of pencillers and letterers involved in the production of this issue! This may be addressed in a trade paperback or the upcoming Starman Omnibus - or, then again maybe not. Re-reading this issue that was one of the things that just jumped out at me. Whatever, it has a really cool Victorian or Gothic feel to it. Kinda like what League of Extraordinary Gentlemen would later have.
I'd forgotten that this was the first of the Tales of Times Past. I'd read this issue and moved on. Maybe because I wasn't very familiar with Oscar Wilde. Maybe because all I'd ever seen of The Shade was JSA appearances. Then, when Starman 11 came out, I was hooked.
I skimmed over wikipedia to become more familiar with Wilde. Here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Wilde
Knowing The Shade and what he is capable of, Jason Mayville's sister is as good as rescued right from the start. For Lune and the Pepper Troupe, things are going to end badly.
The Shade will require a high price from Mayville.
One of the things I liked about this issue is that it reminds me of that issue of Spawn. The One About the child-molester ends up in a group on their way through Hell. Shocking, horrific and yet and ironic twist at the end.
I have to admit that this Victorian era Tale of Times Past is not one of my favorites. It's kind of a dry read. Not boring or plodding - it moves rather briskly. Just dry and matter of fact. The Shadow images are a bit flat and dull. Maybe Tony Harris is hard at work on the next arc, or recuperating from the first one. Either way, with all the effort going in to this issue, I miss Tony Harris.
It is a good, solid story. Tony Harris' cover, as always is fantastic. Talk about a picture telling a thousand words. Mr. Black himself is so vocal in his invitation inside Starman 6.
Remember - Turk County.
More importantly, remember that at the end, a page from The Shade's Journal. Is. Torn. Out...