Written by: Joe Hill, Neil Gaiman, Audrey Niffenegger, Sam Weller, Harlan Ellison, Dave Eggers, Charles Yu, Mort Castle, Alice Hoffman
Art by: Charles Paul Wilson III, Maria Fröhlich, Eddie Campbell, Mark Sexton, Matthew Dow Smith, Christine Larsen, S L Gallant, Chris Evenhuis
Publisher: IDW
Shadow Show is a perfect tribute to one of the greatest writers of the 20th Century. Ray Bradbury was revered by millions; in this collection, we get to see a very select few of the talented writers and artists that had been touched by his genius—all having a chance to say goodbye to their hero through the work they’d been inspired to write by him.
There are nine stories in total and each one offers a fresh and eye-opening tale, either involving the ‘character’ of Ray, or the manifestation of his ideas. I feel it would be wrong to single any of the stories out as better than the other, seeing as each one is a moving and heartfelt tribute; however, there are certain stories that I enjoyed more than others. On the whole though, Shadow Show is remarkable and clearly channels the immortal legacy of Ray Bradbury.
Before we read any of the short stories, we are treated to a foreword written by Ray, all the way from Mars. I couldn’t help but think of Daniel Wallace’s novel, Big Fish and its quirky, melancholy approach to storytelling—I knew whilst reading this that I was in for something special. Throughout the collection, I felt myself becoming inspired and uplifted—wanting to pick up Fahrenheit 451 and The Illustrated Man straight away, just to indulge my own hunger for great literature. Without knowing a great deal about Ray Bradbury’s bibliography, I felt a strange connection to the man and his way of thinking. From the way all the writers talk about him in their brief editorials following their tales, Ray gave a lot of joy to a wide range of writers and illustrators and now, upon reflection, I intend to continue writing my own short stories—hoping to bear even a fraction of resemblance to what he achieved.
Joe Hill has written one of the best short stories I’ve ever read in By the Silver Water of Lake Champlain, It is moving and unexpected, giving the reader a sombre thundering in their gut as the final panels complete the story. Weariness is a single illustration accompanied by a short story by Harlan Ellison, a close friend of Ray Bradbury—his brother. It helps to encapsulate the great mysteries of life and what we all expect them to be. Although profound and dark, Weariness is a well-balanced tale that really hit me hard. The Man Who Forgot Ray Bradbury is Gaiman at his most vulnerable. A sorry story that makes us realise more than ever how important it is to celebrate the more important things and not waste time harbouring hate or regret. Audrey Niffenegger’s Backward in Seville was beautifully written—like a novel with abstract images that make the reader feel a great sense of sorrow and helps us to realise how important your time on this planet is. Live Forever provides a feel good story about a lifelong fan of Ray and what happens in the few days he gets to speak with him, ending with a message that leaves you all warm and fuzzy inside (yes, fuzzy!). Earth (A Gift Shop) is a true homage to space-based science fiction and turns out to be a real highlight. Who Knocks? provides a rather dark and disturbing tale about a woman stuck in a small boat in the middle of a lake, ending with a sharp, stinging discovery. Conjure is a personification of Alice Hoffman’s exposure to Ray Bradbury and it is probably the cleverest short story in the entire collection. Of all the entries though, Altenmore, Where the Dogs Dance left me emotionally awake. Mort Castle has written the perfect story to tell your children; not only will it more than likely help them to deal with the loss of a pet, but it will help to show them the delicate matters of death and how best to deal with its unwanted grasp. I also want to congratulate those that have adapted these short stories for the collection because without them, this comic book wouldn’t work. They have clearly put in a lot of hard work and each one should be commended.
It would be a crime not to gush about the artwork; every story would not hold the same weight without their respective artists. I think the best thing for you to do is to pick up Shadow Show and immerse yourself in each story, just to see how each artist brings each story to life. For me, Charles Paul Wilson III’s work on By the Silver Waters of Lake Champlain is the stand-out favourite; I really like the colours he uses to bring the childhood friendship to life—luring you into a false sense of security. Eddie Campbell’s work in Backward in Seville is also worth mentioning, due to its unique and odd style—a style that I have never encountered before.
Shadow Show is definitely worth your time. I cannot praise it enough and I cannot herald the calibre on display any more than is physically possible. Pick up a copy and read each story with childlike wonderment and simplistic joy. Maybe you will feel the same happiness and inspiration as I do. Maybe it will help you see the beauty in everything. Maybe, you’ll go and hold your partner and your children and tell them you love them—this comic will have a profound effect on you, I promise. Even after death, Ray is inspiring millions, probably looking down on us from Mars with a big smile on his face.
