This maxi-series is both an Origin for the character The Shade as well as a sort of continuing adventure of his after the end of James Robinson's Starman stories. The art was done by a rotating group of artists, but each one really brought something interesting to the issue they did. Robinson's work is best when you can tell it is a character or characters that he cares deeply about. His Starmen and the Shade are some of his most dear characters and that really comes through in both the quality

Once upon a time there was a British comic book writer named James Robinson. He wrote many fine works and saw that they were good. Beautiful books such as Starman and The Golden Age ensured he was regarded as a fine writer of modern superhero fantasy. Then a dark time came. A pall came over Robinson's pen and DC Comics and Cry for Justice came into the world. And the fans wept.In that time there were rumblings in the DC offices, and a new paradigm—a New 52—was born. Many great writers would fall...

an amazing addenda to the Starman series. too bad this didn't sell so well. it's worth the money to have read both in monthlies and in trade form. it would be nice to get a hardback, but doesn't look like it will. if you liked Starman, this is for you.

Why I read this: James Robinson's iconic Starman run will always be one of my favorites. It's one of the first comics I've ever read where the hero doesn't wear a costume, and he doesn't want to be considered a hero. It's such an engaging read, especially because it is set firmly in the normal DC Universe. So when I saw the Shade had his own mini-series, I had to get it. The Shade is Knight's "friend" and a "guardian" of Opal City. He's not an anti-hero, he simply fights on the side of angels wh...

I picked this up in the local library. I have the individual comics, but have not pulled them out of their box since I read them a second time about 15 years ago. I had forgotten just how much Robinson loves these characters and how much respect he has for them. Originally a traditional villain for various Flashes, the JSA, and the JLA, Robinson made him an occasional ally for his version of Starman, Jack Knight, son of the original. Eventually the Shade became a favorite of Starman fans, who qu...

This one has more talk than action, and some mighty pissed off Egyptian gods. Definitely MY KIND of graphic novel.

It was a decent book, but it went on for way too much longer than it needed to be.

To me, this doesn't feel like it was intended to be a finite series of twelve issues, and maybe it wasn't. For a finite series, it's awfully meandering, and spends an awful lot of time laying down groundwork for future stories. I don't have a problem with that. Shade's travels, ostensibly to find out who's trying to kill him, are interesting enough, as are his memories. Robinson introduces some interesting new characters and mythology into continuity. And La Sangre is a gift to the DCU, one that...

I can remember the Shade as a semi-villain from the days of Jack Knight as Starman in the 1990's. Since then I haven't really followed comics to any great degree, so it was a pleasant surprise when I discovered this Graphic Novel in the library. The story follows the Shade through a series of adventures at various points in his life, and with varying characters who have meant something to him. Along the way, we learn a lot about his history, his life, and how he became the Shade in the first pla...

Re-read.The Shade is one of the most fascinating characters to come out of the Starman mythos, and is one of the most compelling characters DC has in their stables.This books somewhat demystifiies the titular character, but at the same time gives us a fuller look at the psychology of this character.

Robinson's only latter day writing to even approach the quality of his Starman run. It's great to see some of the old Starman characters, but this volume really stirs based on its look at family and history.

This is a pretty terrific addendum to Starman. James Robinson made the Shade such a fascinating character in that series, and he only deepens his characterization here, finally divulging the immortal’s backstory. But the main plot takes place in the present, with the Shade searching for his attempted killer. It’s a great setup. What follows is a sort of supernatural world tour, as the Shade goes from Australia to Spain to London, tangling with aboriginal spirits, Catholic vampires, and Egyptian

3.5/5. Very good, I’d happily read more.

I am well aware that James Robinson isn't to every readers taste. That said, much of his style about which others complain are exactly the things I most love. He focuses on the basics of story telling -- character, setting, mood -- and never forgets that the excitement of action remains directly proportional to how much a reader cares about the characters. No where has he so demonstrated his gifts (and here fans of Golden Age may reasonably disagree) than on his magisterial Starman. "The Shade"

This one caught me by surprise. Sometimes I’ll go into the library and just pick out titles I’ve never heard of or a book featuring a character that I know very little about, so it was this hit and run strategy that led me to end up with this volume.The Shade that I’m familiar with is the villain from the DC animated universe who’s a member of Lex Luthor’s Injustice Gang and wields a stick/cane that is the source of his shadow-like powers. This Shade’s powers are organic and here, he’s a much mo...

I really enjoyed this. When it first came on interlibrary loan I was a little confused, mainly b/c I had no memory of requesting it but I am glad that I did. The Shade is more of an anti hero then a hero. This volume goes back and forth between the current time period and the past. The stories from the past involve the Shade's interactions with various family members, related by blood and not. All of this leads to finding out how his family is connected to the current plot on his life. I loved L...

If anything is going to make me regret James Robinson's decision to leave DC Comics it is this collection. During his arguably classic run on Starman Robinson took a minor Golden Age villain and turned The Shade into a (for me) fun and interesting anti-hero. This is Robinson's second mini-series go round with Dickie Swift and it is much better than the first.Perhaps it is because Robinson has gotten The Shade's origin out of the way. We get a glob trotting adventure that covers decades (via flas...

Full to the brim with action, adventure, and magic while packed with loads of exciting characters and plot points: pentagrams, secret societies, Egyptian gods (or aliens?), shadows, heroes, vampires, Deathstroke, lizard gods.. the list goes on. VERY reminiscent of the Sandman comics in both style and substance. Overall a solid, entertaining story!

A less fantastic version of Sandman in my opinion. Slow-moving, boring, confusing. DNF.

UPDATE:I’ve just finished reading the New 52 era series again, in single issues again (it’s hard, again, to find collections for any of Robinson’s Starman tales, although there are supposed to be new editions coming later this year), and I stand by what I wrote in 2013, but let’s get some expanded thoughts, shall we?James Robinson’s Starman was, for a subset of readers, a defining superhero comic of the ‘90s, sort of the poster child of the traditional take the decade otherwise seemed to reject....