Dylan Davison
Shadowman is back! Today, Comic Watch is lucky enough to interview the upcoming writer, AJ Ampadu, for “Shadowman: Soul Eaters,” as well as the writer of the one-shot anthology “Tales From The Deadside!”
Comic Watch (CW) (Dylan Davison): Hello AJ! Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me about one of my favorite topics, Shadowman!
I have been a fan of Shadowman since the relaunch in 2012, and I’m so excited to see your take on the world of Jack! Have you been a fan of Shadowman or Valiant for long?
AJ Ampadu (AJ): I’ve been a fan of Valiant comics and Shadowman since the 90’s. As a kid, the first thing that drew me to any comic was the cover. The cover for Shadowman #1 by Shooter, Englehart, and Lapham was one of the most metal covers I’d ever seen. It’s extremely dramatic and a bold choice for a cover. I don’t think a cover like that would even be allowed today. It reminded me of classic pulp horror, the type of stuff you’d get in trouble for reading if your parents caught you.
CW: The last we saw of Jack was in the Book of Shadows, a fantastic miniseries that really opened up Jack to the broader Valiant universe. Will we be seeing any of his teammates in this series? Can we expect Persephone to return?
AJ: I love this question. I’m a big fan of Cullen Bunn’s work on Shadowman. I’m happy to announce that Persephone and the new group of Abettors will return. I jokingly dubbed them the “Shadowgang” in my notes. The world of Shadowman has become more extensive, and I want to acknowledge that by giving more attention to the supporting characters.
CW: What can you tell us about the plot for this Shadowman run? What kind of enemies will Jack be up against this time?
AJ: I don’t want to say too much, but Shadowman will face a new version of the Magpie. Shadowman fans will understand the implications of that character. We will also see the return of the Golems, Master Darque’s horde of soul-devouring ghouls
CW: Jack has had a steady romantic interest throughout his 2012 Valiant life. Will we see his love life return to focus at all in this mini-series?
AJ: This is going to be my favorite question. The answer is an enthusiastic yes! Alyssa and Jack’s relationship will be central to this story’s narrative. They will face powerful enemies and will need to strengthen their love for each other to survive. You don’t get to see too many examples of superpowered love. I like the idea of both of these characters possessing supernatural abilities who need to stay together in order to fight evil.
CW: Do you have plans for more Shadowman stories after these four issues are done, assuming they sell well? (Which they should! You’re great, Shadowman’s great – seems like a perfect combination.)
AJ: Thanks for the kudos. That depends entirely upon the book’s success and the editorial decisions at Valiant/Alien. I certainly have long-term plans for the character, but time will tell if I am the writer who gets to carry on the story of Jack Boniface.
CW: Tales From The Deadside sounds like such a fun collection of stories. How many stories are in this anthology, and what can you tell us about them?
AJ: Tales from the Deadside is such a fun idea! I’ve always wanted to do an anthology of horror stories. All of these stories are tied into Shadowman lore and help to expand the mythology surrounding the Deadside. I honestly think Tales is my best work thus far at Valiant/Alien. I had a blast writing them.
CW: It’s exciting that you’re not only bringing back Shadowman but also Punk Mambo and Doctor Mirage. Their story is said to be a wrap-up to the Valentine’s Day story. Will readers need to have read that to understand this one, or can they jump right in?
AJ: There are three stories. The first one is called “Behold, my Devil’s heart.” I’m leaking the title because I want to see if any Shadowman historians catch on to the importance of the title. The second story, “Dreadful Little Things,” is a direct continuation of the Dr.Mirage/Punk Mambo story from the “Very Valiantine’s Special” that came out earlier this year. Punk Mambo and Dr. Mirage will be going on a ride through hell, and it will take a lot of resolve for them to survive. The third story is my favorite, so I’m gonna keep that one a secret for now.
I usually don’t like to give people homework, but this story is a direct continuation of the Valiantine special. Fans of Dr. Mirage will know that she is still searching for her husband, Hwen. Punk Mambo will help, and they will have to face a nightmarishly scary creature called Mr. Coffinmouth.
CW: With these two comics coming out in October, can we expect some seasonal spookiness in these titles?
AJ: I thought about making the books’ events take place on Halloween, but I wanted to avoid getting too locked into dates. However, Soul Eaters and Tales are both very scary and perfectly themed for the Halloween season.
CW: You’re making a significant mark on the magical side of the Valiant Universe. What draws you to this side, as opposed to the other fascinating aspects of the universe?
AJ: Don’t get confused; I love it all! I started off with Ninjak vs Roku, which was mostly action and espionage. Shadowman is supernatural superhero stuff. If I get to continue my time at Valiant/Alien, I will be working on other characters who reflect the different subgenres of superhero fiction.
That said, I love horror and dark fantasy. Comics like Sink, Swamp Thing, and Sandman are personal favorites.
CW: Lastly, is there anything else fans should know or look forward to with these amazing titles? Any other work you want to plug while we have you?
AJ: I love what we’ve done here, and I think the fans will enjoy it as well. Remember, Shadowman: Soul Eaters is an isolated story that is still tangentially connected to the overarching narrative of the Resurgence storyline. I also encourage fans to check out The Darques: Soulside. You might find some clues in there as well.
I’m going to be running a Kickstarter for my creator-owned book, Kimi Kosmic, in August. It’s an all-ages space cowboy comic that is a lot of fun to read. I would really appreciate the support. Here is the link: https://tinyurl.com/4xc6rbe2
If you want a taste of some of my horror writing, you can also get my horror graphic novel, DragonFace, on my website: https://tinyurl.com/2b9bt6zc
CW: Thanks so much again for taking the time to talk to me. On a personal note, I want to thank you for taking on Shadowman. His character means a lot to me. A few years back, I was diagnosed with cancer, and one of the things that kept me busy and distracted during chemotherapy was Shadowman comics. So, I want to take this moment to thank you, Valiant, and Alien Books for keeping Shadowman alive.
AJ: Wow, man, thank you for sharing that. I’m very happy that you made it through. The fact that comics helped you is amazing to me. I can promise you we’re trying our best to make these comics awesome for the fans, so I’m thrilled that you’re a fan!
I want to thank AJ Ampadu, Dani Ward, Ron Cacace, and everyone at Valiant Comics and Alien Books for giving me the chance to chat about Shadowman! “Shadowman: Soul Eaters” and “Tales From The Deadside” are coming out this October. Make sure to order them today!
Solicitation Information
SHADOWMAN: SOUL EATERS #1 (of 4)
A RESURGENCE TIE-IN! The best hero in horror is back! Shadowman plays a critical role in the Resurgence event as he confronts the dark forces threatening to fracture reality.
From the creative mind of AJ Ampadu (Ninjak vs. Roku) and artist Sergio Monjes (Black, White & Bloodshot), something wicked comes this way as Jack and his allies are assaulted by a new creature — a fearsome Magpie. This can only mean one thing: Master Darque has returned, and no one is safe!
Script: AJ Ampadu
Art: Sergio Monjes
Main Cover: Agustin Allesio
Variant Covers: Diego Greco, Guillermo Fajardo
On Sale Date: 10/9/24
Rated T+
24-page, full color comic
$4.99 U.S.
SHADOWMAN & PUNK MAMBO: TALES FROM THE DEADSIDE #1 (ONE-SHOT)
Written by AJ Ampadu (Ninjak vs. Roku), this supernatural adventure explores the darkest corners of the Valiant Universe. Shadowman and the Deadside take center stage in three weird and wild stories. Doctor Mirage and Punk Mambo embark on a fatal road trip through hell, wrapping up events from the Valentine’s Day issue. Hell’s a-poppin’ in this must-read adventure!
Script: AJ Ampadu
Art: Sebastian Cabrol, Zulema Scotto Lavina, Jules Mamone
Main Cover: Nobi
Variant Covers: Damian Connelly, Leo Lujan
On Sale Date: 10/9/24
Rated T+
32-page, full color comic
$5.99 U.S.
Monster Variant Cover Credits
Eternal Warrior – Resurgence One-Shot Monster Cover by Julio Azamor
Resurgence of the Valiant Universe #2 Monster Cover by Sebastian Cabrol
Black, White & Bloodshot #2 Monster Cover by Rodrigo Rocha
SHADOWMAN & PUNK MAMBO: TALES FROM THE DEADSIDE #1 Monster Cover by Damian Connelly
SHADOWMAN: SOUL EATERS #1 (of 4) Monster Cover by Diego Greco
