Written by Joe Henderson
Art by Lee Garbett, Antonio Fabela
Published by Image Comics
In Issue #3, Zadie is done being afraid of the dark.
Even if she has to learn how to rein in her chaotic teenage emotions and practice making shadow puppets on the wall. Wax on, wax off.
The shadow phenomenon that Zadie is experiencing has been documented before but not at this magnitude. When she encounters Zadie’s shadows for the first time, Agent Angela Owens–better known as the counselor from Issue #2–knows she is up against something unique.
All the same, Angela is going to help Zadie is going to get to the root of the monsters that constantly threaten her and the ones she cares about.
Zadie is going to learn shadecraft.
Angela begins teaching Zadie how to interact with the shadows around her, to control and direct them rather than being at their mercy. It’s going to take time and practice, but Zadie will be able to defeat them.
Most of them, at least.
Although I continued to enjoy the story in this issue, I didn’t connect with it quite as much as I did Issues #1 and #2.
There was more “tell” than “show” for much of it, a lot of expository dialogue between Zadie and Angela. They detailed in words what is happening and how Zadie can respond to it. Some of that is probably unavoidable. They are dealing with forces beyond typical human experience, after all.
Despite my impatience with the conversations between Zadie and Anglea, I loved the dynamic. It reminded me a lot of the early days of Buffy and Giles in BtVS. The impulsive student coming into her power matched with an experienced, long-suffering mentor.
I love Buffy and Giles, I’m equally excited to see how the mentorship between Zadie and Angela develops.
Middle issues are always tricky to write, and while I wish this one had been written a bit differently, I’m eager to see what how things shape up in Issue #4.
