Shadowpact # 1
DC COMICS
WRITER/ARTIST/COVER: Bill Willingham

The ragtag heroes of DAY OF VENGEANCE get their own series as the first line of defense in battling magical threats. In this issue, a band of mystical supervillains have sealed an American town under a giant globe of blood and are now preparing to sacrifice many of the residents. When Superman fails to break through the barrier, it is up to the Pact, backed up by the Phantom Stranger, to do the job. The story and art are lush and detailed. Perhaps too lush and detailed. Willingham seems overly enamoured with his characters as too much time is spent with them just conversing with each other instead of rushing to save the day. Even the villains don't look too threatening despite their plans of mass murder. The sense of urgency and desperation in the DAY OF VENGEANCE miniseries is strangely missing. The art, while very good, actually makes characters like Blue Devil and Ragman look almost... cute. In the miniseries, they looked truly frightening. But the plot seems quite intriguing and the menace is genuinely original. If this book can pick up the pace and build up the suspense, it should have a great future ahead of it.