Shadowman

Shadowman is a fictional franchise originating in American comic books published by Valiant Comics. The Shadowman character functions as the avatar of a powerful shadow-spirit who defends the living from threats from the Deadside, a parallel realm of spirits. The mantle is passed to or chosen for hosts, making the identity of Shadowman a changing role rather than a single, static person.

In-universe, the Shadowman wields control over darkness, can travel through shadows to move quickly or teleport, create constructs, and project energy. The character operates within the horror-tinged portion of the Valiant Universe and is often depicted facing necromancers, demons, and other supernatural adversaries.

Publication history notes that Shadowman first appeared in 1992 and has since undergone several reboots, miniseries, and crossovers, with various writers and artists contributing to the concept. The title has been relaunched multiple times as part of Valiant’s ongoing comics line, maintaining a presence in the publisher’s supernatural and horror-focused offerings.

In other media, Shadowman was adapted into a 1999 video game titled Shadow Man, developed by Acclaim and released for platforms such as Nintendo 64 and PlayStation, which follows the game’s protagonist in battles across the Deadside and the living world. The character remains a notable part of Valiant’s lineup and has appeared in tie-in publications and crossover events.