On The Shelf: Of Banshees, Shadows, and dead birds

Idea & Design Works (IDW) has acquired a license to adapt Cinemax's new series, Banshee, into a comic book, with a free preview in stores now. Decent stuff, especially if you're into crime drama loaded with F-bombs in the dialogue, as will be the case on TV. However, it's not something I would invest in long-term. Rating: C.

All we have ever known about The Shadow's origins, ever since his radio days, was that he honed his hypnotic powers and other skills in the Orient. We don't really know what his motivation was. Veteran writer Matt Wagner intends to change all that with a new miniseries from Dynamite, The Shadow: Year One. Wagner isn't drawing it, just writing, and, as with the monthly Shadow series, there are variant covers for each issue, including by the inestimable Alex Ross. If you're a true Shadow fan, you need to have this. Rating: A.

What made headlines today, however, was news of another comics character being killed off, and in this case, it may not be a case where the character could return at a later date.

DC Comics took their turn in leaking the news that the current Robin in the Batman line of books, Damian Wayne, the illegitimate offspring of Bruce (Batman) Wayne and Talia, is being whacked in the latest issue of Batman Incorporated (volume 2), out Wednesday. Writer Grant Morrison created Damian a few years ago, and has nurtured the character, molding him from a rebellious youth into a true hero. Damian was one of the few characters who remained unchanged after the start of the New 52 initiative nearly 18 months ago, and now it seems his passing is part of Morrison's exit strategy as he leaves DC at the end of his current deal. Morrison might not be too comfortable with other writers handling the youth after his departure, and that means other Bat-writers, including Scott Snyder, will be tasked to create a new Robin. That will be worth watching, but let's remember, too, that Damian has the blood of R'as Al Ghul. That means that if he does return, it'll be after a bath in the Lazarus Pit, which has revived his grandfather and mother in the past. I'd not be surprised if that does happen. I'd not be surprised, either, if another writer decides to erase Damian from the canon down the road............