Dynamite Entertainment 2017
Written by Steve Orlando
Illustrated by Giovanni Timpano
Coloured by Flavio Dispenza
Lettered by Taylor Esposito
Centuries ago, the Silent Seven put their hand around the world's neck. They've never let go. From generation to generation, the famed invisible hand guiding the global economy, guiding progress, has been a clenched fist. But with their previous leader murdered in the street, who is currently at the helm of this shadow conspiracy, and how have they maintained their quiet threat for so long? Batman and the Shadow may not have the answer, but it's a good thing Bruce Wayne and Allard Cranston do.
Oh Steve you are one of the most incredibly amazing minds in comics today. To be able to write each of these characters to near perfection and make the two worlds come together so easily is beyond expectation. The way the we see the interaction here and the personality traits coming to the forefront in unexpected ways make for a refreshing change. At least on the part of Cranston who finds himself out of place in this era. Having been gone so long and now his world shattered and crumbling and the Silent Seven almost fallen he’s having this kind of identity crisis and that stark contrast to man we knew is something that makes this feel more authentic.
So the Shadow never did have that many villains who were worthy of being considered long term like Shiwan and his association and old world values of the Seven make him a worthy opponent alongside Batman’s own version of him in Ra’s al Ghul. So the fact that we can see them working together so well and ego’s bouncing off each other in the way they do showcase two men who believe they alone are the one to rule and that sharing that isn’t going to be possible. After all their undoing won’t be because of Batman or The Shadow it will come by their own hands, ego’s and distrust. It is the way of the villain.
The ebb & flow of the story between pure story, see characterisation and plot, intertwined with the action is done extremely well. I enjoy seeing things play out differently than one would expect it to and that Steve has the mind, creativity and imagination to do just that and so much more here really makes this stand out more than it already does.
I’ve been a fan of Giovanni’s for a while now and his work never disappoints. He has without a doubt one of the best eyes for storytelling with how he uses page layouts, angles, perspective and the utilisation of backgrounds. His linework is sublime and his faces emote so much like we expect in real live folks. I mean when we see Shiwan and Ra’s with the news feed going on it is the kind of stuff that you just have to sit and stare it. Then there’s the way that we see Bruce and the Shadow through the window that page is astounding the composition and the imagery is intended to show off traits and it all works in this level we don’t see any more outside the classics.
While my distaste for Damian is high I do understand why his inclusion in this story is necessary. After all his Grandfather is involved and the family dynamic is one that well is more complicated than anything we’ve seen, even on Dynasty! That doesn’t mean I like him any more than before but then knowing is half the battle. His role in all this won’t change his relationship with his father which is too bad that prat needs an attitude adjustment in the most extreme way.
This is the kind of book where the story is amazingly well told and feels like it’s moving way too fast but in reality it’s like a game of chess. Each side taking time to consider the angles of both their opponent and themselves trying to jockey for the best position to win. This is the epitome of intelligent thoughtful storytelling.