The Shroud

FROM THE ARCHIVES (Comics That Time Forgot)

The Shroud

The Shroud # 1-4, Limited Series, Marvel Comics, Mar. 1994-Jun. 1994

Writer # 1-4: Mike Barr

Art # 1: M.C. Wyman (pencils); Malcolm Jones (inker); # 2: Wyman & Jones; # 3: Wyman (pencils); Jones & Koblish (inkers); # 4: A. Williams (pencils); Jones & Koblish (inkers)

Colorist # 1-3: Mike Thomas; # 4: Thomas/Wang/Mendez

Letterer # 1: Joe Rosen; # 2: Rosen/Krol/Crespi, # 3: Higgins; #4: Rosen

The early nineties were an explosive time for comics—McFarlane’s Spider-Man, X-Men # 1, and others set sales records in the millions. At a time when it seemed like every issue of every comic was an instant collectible and investment, Marvel Comics released a slew of comics in the time period. One result of this comics glut was a four-issue Shroud limited series.

Helmed by Mike Barr, best known for crime- and mystery- themed comics, the series featured one of Marvel’s perennial third-string heroes. The Shroud debuted in the mid-70s, racking up several appearances in Super Villain Team-Up and the first Spider-Woman series, before going on to make occasional appearances in Spider-Man, Avengers, and West Coast Avengers.

Although a somewhat interesting character, the Shroud was definitely not one of Marvel’s most innovative. Take any child under eight, hand them a copy of the Shroud, and they will instantly say "Batman." And indeed, the similarities between the Shroud and Batman should not be minimized. Each with a dark bodysuit, long cowl, and white eye-slits, the pair obviously look alike—but they also share a common origin. As a child one was walking down the streets at night with his mother and father, when a nondescript thug shot and killed both parents in cold blood. Vowing vengeance on all criminals at his parents graves, the child became obsessed with training both his mind and body to the peak of perfection—including trips to the Far East to soak up ancient wisdom. Yes, that’s the Shroud’s origin I’m reciting, as described on pages 15 and 16 of the first issue of the limited series. The artwork for the origin flashback has so many similarities to depictions of Batman’s origin—down to the detail of the child’s mother wearing a pearl necklace—it easily could appear in an issue of Detective Comics and no one would notice a discrepancy. Of course, instead of encountering a bat crashing through a window, the young Shroud joins up with the mystical Cult of Kali at a remote Asian temple. He was left blinded by the process, but with senses increased to make up for the lack (ala Daredevil). Eventually he also gained the power to create clouds of murky darkness around his person.

Apart from the uninspired origin, the Shroud did have some interesting qualities. First, he was primarily a West Coast hero—some of the best Shroud stories I remember as a kid took place when he was the leader of a band of criminal misfits called the Night Shift. Although the Shroud was ultimately acting for the greater good by pretending to be a villain, his role as a criminal leader caused some interesting conflict with other West Coast heroes.

As for the Shroud limited series, my first reaction is to shrug. It’s not a terrible story—but then, it’s not a great one either. It involves a cliched plot involving the Shroud getting involved in a struggle between two rival mob leaders, and, although every new Marvel series must have a Spider-Man appearance by issue # 3 (or, for some periods in Marvel history, Punisher, Wolverine, or Ghost Rider), Spider-Man appears in all but one issue of the limited series. There are some nice elements however, such as interesting revelations relating to the Shroud’s origin at the Temple of Kali, and the story does a good job of creating some good supporting characters for the Shroud—an aged mentor and two associates, named Cat and Mouse.

Thus, the limited series succeeds at what every limited series should—redefining the character in some way or telling a significant part of his or her history—but failed in another part—telling an interesting story to begin with. I for one liked the Night Shift and was disappointed by their absence.

Apparently the series did not make a name for itself—but in the comics glut of the early nineties, few new series could. The Shroud has laid pretty low since then, making an occasional appearance in a Marvel Comic here and there, but on the whole far less often than he did in the late seventies and eighties.

Tell me your thoughts at jhaeman@hotmail.com and I’ll see about posting them here!