[Comic Book Review] AMERICAN GODS Volume 1: "Shadows" HC from Dark Horse Comics

PopCultHQ received a review copy of AMERICAN GODS Volume 1: “Shadows” HC from Dark Horse Comics. Available February 28^th, 2018, the creative team for this series features writing from Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell, art from Scott Hampton, P. Craig Russell, Walt Simonson, Colleen Doran, and Glenn Fabry, coloring from Lovern Kindzierski, Laura Martin, Colleen Doran, and Adam Brown, and lettering from Rick Parker.

Here’s PopCultHQ’s spoiler-free review of…

AMERICAN GODS Volume 1: “Shadows” HC

Writers: Neil Gaiman & P. Craig Russell
Artists: Scott Hampton, P. Craig Russell, Walt Simonson, Colleen Doran, Glenn Fabry
Colorists: Lovern Kindzierski, Laura Martin, Colleen Doran, Adam Brown
Letterer: Rick Parker

In Shops: February 28^th, 2018
SRP: $29.99

This supernatural American road trip fantasy tells the story of a war between the ancient and modern gods.

Shadow Moon gets out of jail only to discover his wife is dead. Defeated, broke, and uncertain where to go from here, he meets the mysterious Mr. Wednesday, who employs him to serve as his bodyguard–thrusting Shadow into a deadly world where ghosts of the past come back from the dead, and a god war is imminent.

Collecting the first nine issues of the American Gods comic book series, along with art process features, high res scans of original art, layouts, character designs, and variant covers by Becky Cloonan, Skottie Young, Fabio Moon, Dave McKean, and more!

PopCultHQ’s Comic Book Review:
AMERICAN GODS Volume 1: “Shadows” HC

Writing:

Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell working together on this was amazing. Neil’s original story text is fantastic and P. Craig’s taking that text and turning into the comic book script was superb. This was one of those matches made in comic book writer heaven, the kind that produce fabulous work like this first volume. Fans of Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell’s works will thrill to see what comes next in volume 2.

Art:

This book has an amazing team of artists. Every one of them contributed massively to make it a reality. Volume 1 is chock full of page after page of mind-blowing art. Collectively, they all were mind-blowing and it showed through the artwork in the book. It’s all engaging and will suck the reader right in and not let them back up for air.

Every colorist put their heart and soul into the book. It’s crystal clear that it’s a group effort because there’s a strong synergy with the colors and the artwork. Never let it be said that a team like this doesn’t give its all. It’s a major undertaking to tackle a topic like this, adapting a novel of such epic proportions for comics. If this is what a talented team of colorists can do for a first round, it’s safe to say the second book will be just as great.

Rick Parker undertook a massive enterprise here. Lettering the first volume of American Gods took a lot of time, energy, effort, and creative spirit. He delivered on all those points. Shadow, Wednesday, Mad Sweeney, every god and deity in the book has their own voice, ancient and powerful and full of might.

PopCultHQ’s overall assessment:

Taking the first chunk of Neil Gaiman’s epic novel ‘American Gods’ and turning into a comic series is a bold move. With the success of the TV series, it’s no wonder this got off the ground so fast. Readers and Dark Horse lovers will eat this first HC up like it’s candy.