Had I previously heard of Shadowman? No.
But I am super intrigued now, it is so rare that we see the exploration of Pantheons outside of the Greek/Roman Pantheons that this feels refreshing and new.
While Jack and Alyssa's relationship is also interesting in it's own way.

This in some ways feels like an Origin Story, in many others it feels like you are supposed to know so much more about Shadowman and Jack. It isn't a complete barrier to entry but it does make you feel like you are slightly out of the loop for roughly the first half. By the second half you feel more Intune with the story and what is happening but there are still some wtf moments.

This... Was something. . .

The overall storyline was pretty solid, though I felt it was oddly tangential at times.
Like two pages from the end, it feels like we are given a clue into Lisa, but we are at the end, and it's not going to go anywhere.

Upon some sleuthing on good reads, I do see there is a second volume. But it is still frustrating to feel like you're constantly missing context for things...

The art could be considered whimsical, and I loved the use of watercolors throughout. However, it did feel increasingly jarring to have all of the townspeople to be drawn in a more caricaturistic art style when the kids are drawn to look "normal."

Content warning for this book. It does contain depictions of nudity and sexual scenes with underage individuals.
I was able to pass over the scenes with nudity mostly. Even though they brought some discomfort, it was nothing compared to the discomfort I felt near the end of the book; while not graphic, it left me feeling gross and with a bad taste in my mouth that tainted every part of this book enjoyed.

I don't know why but this book took me forever to pick up. I'd open this book to the first page where Elizabeth is in the midst of a brawl and I'd just not have the will to continue reading. So I'd put it aside for something else.

THIS WAS A MISTAKE!

This book has everything!
Sweet wholesome romance? yep.
Enemies to lovers? Yes!
Badass Women? Most Defenitely!
Engaging Story? It is Incredibly!

This is one of my favorite books I have read this year, by far.

This was a really interesting read, especially since this topic is often glossed over in history classes.

What was disappointing was that this book directly references how the Women of Color working towards the Women's Vote are rarely talked about now. While also being excluded from suffrage groups and events during that time.
But then gives us only a sliver of information about these women.

The art was good, I was delighted in the variety of men's faces depicted aghast. Perfectly depicting men clutching their pearls in shock and disgust.

Janet Jackson is one of the people that I have heard of, but didn't really know anything about.

So reading this was gave me more insight into a figure I only knew in passing.

But what I found most interesting was the depiction of addiction and how even when she was happy it was slithering in through any gap it could find, waiting to wrap a tendril around and pull someone back into the deep.

This was funny and cute. By far the most funny thing I've read this year.
While I wouldn't say every joke hits it's mark, a lot of them do and do it well. A couple of the jokes I honestly, wasn't expecting the punchline and was overcome by giggles.

I enjoyed this book so much, I want to purchase it for every one of my friends for Christmas and I may just do it.

Each one of these was a fascinating take on classic stories. Some of these could be considered "Modern" retellings, but not all of them.
But each is unique in its way and often causes you to think about these works in different lights than we typically do.

The Visitor was a difficult story to get into or stay engaged with, even once it does start to pique your interest.
It feels like it would make an excellent action movie, where the action helps keep the viewer engaged with the story between story beats.

This flow doesn't work as well in the comic format that is presented in this work.

While the ending left me a ton of WTF questions, I wouldn't find myself picking up another volume of this.

While I found this interesting overall, I did find it hard to follow at points. I am unsure if it is just because of how small the timestamps are in the comic or if there isn't enough visual tell that we see a change in time, place, etc.

While I found the first 2/3 really interesting, the last third felt like it was written differently and did feel more like a piece of propaganda*.

Like much historical fiction, it must be done with good non-fiction resources to best consume this book.

*Propaganda: "Information, especially of a biased ... nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.

I honestly loved this book full-heartedly.
It's gay, and it slaps!
It's got gay characters; it's got nonbinary characters. It's got some gorgeous art.

This, at its core, is a story of self-discovery and healing.

My only sadness is that we didn't end up with a wholesome Polycule at the end.