Crypt Of Shadows #1 [2023] [Part Two] - Marvel Comics

CRYPT OF SHADOWS No. 1, December 2023

Penned by Declan Shalvey to “haunt new fans and long-time readers alike this Halloween season”, the second half of “Crypt Of Shadows” opens with a pulse-pounding piece depicting a heavily-fatigued Daredevil fending off a literal army of deadly ninjas in a long-abandoned subway system. Aptly entitled “…Without Fear”, the six-pager quite succinctly showcases both that there is much more to the blind crime-fighter than simply being a phenomenal acrobat, as well as taps into the horror of poor Doctor Ted Sallis’ never-ending existence as the lonely Man-Thing, after the desperate scientist injected himself with an experimental serum in order to save his life.

Also adding an incredible amount of bang for your buck to this tale is Alex Lins, who does a first-rate job in illustrating Matt Murdock’s ‘wear and tear’, along with the adrenalin-fuelled fighting’s frantic speed. Furthermore, the Eisner Award-nominee quite wonderfully captures the formidable, hulking presence of Horn-head’s plant-based fellow protagonist, imbuing the giant “marshy mass” with a sad, quiet presence which starkly contrasts with all the flames, death and destruction occurring around him; “Where some see devils, other see angels. And they should be guided toward heaven.”

Arguably swapping out a sizeable portion of petrifying plot for some good old-fashioned Marvel Team-up shenanigans is “A Soul Worth Hunting” by Sarah Gailey, which quickly pits Jack Russell and Bruce Banner’s unholy alter-egos up against the overconfident arrogance of (Last Son of) Kraven the Hunter. Played with all the hubris this anthology’s audience might expect of a Sergei Kravinoff clone, this yarn does a solid job in exploring another of the super-villains ostentatious hunts, only for it to ultimately fail because he’s underestimated the anger-fuelled rage of his opponent.

Extremely engaging to the eyes, courtesy of Eder Messias’ lavishly-pencilled layouts, the story never misses a beat, and is only debatably disappointing due to the ex-Sinister Six member being so quickly dispatched miles into the air by the incredible Hulk. Indeed, the adrenalin-fuelled action abruptly ends just as Werewolf By Night appears to be squaring up to Kraven for a memorable close combat clash in the woodland, and many a bibliophile was probably therefore drooling at the imminent scrap ahead – especially as the Wundagore Mountain-born warrior is armed with the seemingly deadly Empyrion blade!

Writers: Declan Shalvey & Sarah Gailey, and Artists: Alex Lins & Eder Messias