Shadowpact

Superteambox


imagesize=
caption=Promotional art for "Shadowpact" #1 (July 2006) cover, by Bill Willingham
team_name=Shadowpact
publisher=DC Comics
debut="Day of Vengeance" #1 (June 2005)
creators=Bill Willingham (writer & artist)
base=Oblivion Bar
members=Blue Devil
Detective Chimp
Enchantress
Nightmaster
Nightshade
Ragman
Zauriel
memberlist=
subcat=DC Comics
hero=y
villain=
sortkey=PAGENAME|The Shadowpact is a group of magic-based heroes who fought against the Spectre in the 2005 limited series "Day of Vengeance", published by DC Comics. They are a sort of Justice League for the supernatural elements of the DC Universe. Some of the team members are Homo Magi.

Their own titled series ended in May 2008, giving it 25 issues and a 2 year run, but team is slated to appear in the "Reign in Hell" [ [http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=146143 Dan Didio On R/T: Holy War And Reign In Hell - Newsarama ] ] series in July. [ [http://www.dccomics.com/comics/?cm=9484 DCU | Comics ] ]

History

The group is founded on a spur of the moment impulse by Enchantress, Ragman and Detective Chimp to get rid of the Spectre because of his decision to destroy all magic in the universe. They are joined by Blue Devil, Nightshade, and Nightmaster, the latter christening the group the "Shadowpact".

During the course of the story, it is revealed by the wizard Shazam that the name “Shadowpact” has been used repetitively throughout history by groups of mystics who champion lost causes and who are doomed to failure.

In their fight with the Spectre, the group is aided by others: the Phantom Stranger, who advised Detective Chimp even though he had been transformed into a rodent; Captain Marvel; the wizard Shazam; and Black Alice. At the end of the limited series though, only the six core members remain with the team. The Phantom Stranger, returning to human form, continues to advise the group. Captain Marvel is defeated by the Spectre as he tries to defend the Rock of Eternity. The wizard Shazam is also defeated by the Spectre. Black Alice, after witnessing the final battle on the Rock from afar with the Shadowpact, leaves to be with her father in Dayton, Ohio, without formally joining the team.

The debris from the Rock of Eternity falls as far as El Paso, Texas. There the Pact leaps into action when half a skyscraper begans to fall. Superman saves the day, repairing the building at super-speed. The Pact assures him they will stay and protect El Paso. Behind them, unnoticed, the Blue Beetle scarab is found by a teenager named Jaime Reyes.

Some time afterwards, the Shadowpact helps Robin in rounding up meta-humans in Blüdhaven, right before the city is destroyed. During the adventure, they are again aided by another magic-based hero, the Warlock's Daughter. [Comic book reference | writer=Willingham, Bill | penciller=McDaniel, Scott | inker=Owens, Andy | story=Too Many Villains! | title=Robin | volume=2 | issue=145 | date=February, 2006 | publisher=DC Comics | page= | panel= ]

Shadowpact are headquartered in the Oblivion Bar, a hangout for mystics with a secret entrance in Gotham City. Jim Rook was then the owner of the bar. During the team's one year absence (see below), a flipper-armed conjurer named Eddie Deacon took over. Deacon claims ownership despite Rook's return. Rook works to reclaim the bar by not advising Deacon how to run it, for example, Deacon does not know the code to dial earthly phones. The Pact does not claim the bar by force, for Deacon has the ability to telekinetically squeeze small things, such as airways.

Day of Vengeance Special

In the "Day of Vengeance Special", the Shadowpact members join other magic users in trying to rebuild the Rock of Eternity after it shatters over Gotham City. Under the guidance of the Phantom Stranger, the gathered heroes split into three groups: one lead by Zatanna to gather and reassemble all the pieces of the Rock and its contents; one to act as bait for the Seven Deadly Sins; and one, composed of the Phantom Stranger and the Shadowpact, to actually trap the Sins. The plan works well, with Zatanna’s team making relatively short work of the retrieval and reconstruction. After capturing Greed, Nightshade is attacked and abducted by Felix Faust and the Demons Three, who deliver her to Alexander Luthor, Jr., who incorporates her into his multiverse power battery.

With the Rock of Eternity restored, Zatanna tells Captain Marvel that he will have to remain inside it to make sure the wild magic it holds remains contained. While the Rock is being restored, Nabu, the last Lord of Order, confronts the Spectre. He goads the Spectre to the point where the Spectre kills him. This act has two results. First, it forces the Presence to notice what the Spectre has been doing and place him in a new host, Crispus Allen. Second, it signals the end of the Ninth Age and the Dawn of the Tenth. Making it to the Rock, Nabu has time before he passes to explain to the heroes what has happened to the Spectre and to charge Detective Chimp with choosing a new Doctor Fate. Finding that the Helm of Fate doesn’t fit him, Detective Chimp gives it to Captain Marvel to throw from the Rock and let it fall to Earth, letting fate itself chose the new Doctor Fate.

hadowpact series

Supercbbox| title=Shadowpact


caption=
schedule=Monthly
format=Standard U.S., 4 color
publisher=DC Comics
date=July 2006 - May 2008
issues=25
main_char_team=Shadowpact
writers=Bill Willingham
Matthew Sturges
artists=
pencillers=Bill Willingham
Cory Walker
Steve Scott
Tom Derenick
Shawn McManus
inkers=Bill Willingham
Wayne Faucher
Cory Walker
Shawn McManus
colorists=Chris Chuckry
Michael Atiyeh
creative_team_month=
creative_team_year=
creators=Bill Willingham A "Shadowpact" ongoing series saw publication in May 2006. The team is now operating out of the back of the Oblivion Bar.

In the first arc, a villain group known as the Pentacle whose members mirror the Shadowpact is introduced. The Pentacle, led by the sorceress Strega, forms a nearly impenetrable shield of solid blood over Riverrock, Wyoming and systematically begins to kill the townspeople as a means to summon Strega's master, the Lord of Light. The Shadowpact enter the town with the help of the Phantom Stranger. The Shadowpact is captured by the Pentacle, with the exception of Detective Chimp, who was taken away by Karnevil, who tortures him. In his magical imprisonment, the White Rabbit proposes to free the Shadowpact members so that the Nightmaster hones his skills and meet him on a future match. Nightmaster agrees, and following their release, Enchantress attacks White Rabbit because she distrust him. After that, they found Chimp and overpower the Pentacle, Enchantress break Strega’s spell in exchange of 1 year (which passes immediately) of the whole town. [Comic book reference | writer=Willingham, Bill | penciller=Willingham, Bill & Walker, Cory | inker=Willingham, Bill; Faucher, Wayne; & Walker, Cory | story= | title=Shadowpact | volume=1 | issue=1-3 | date=July - September, 2006 | publisher=DC Comics | page= | panel= ]

In their next storyline the members of the Shadowpact have found themselves targeted by a whole host of villains including "Blue Moon," "Wild Huntsman," and "The Congregation." They are all following the orders of "Doctor Gotham", a new villain who has spent millennia underground, and has now set his sights on getting rid of the Shadowpact. Strega has also been revealed to be his ally, and he was responsible for the previous threats that the Shadowpact thwarted. During this arc Enchantress and Ragman are both turned into hellhounds by the "Wild Hunstman" and Nightshade, Blue Devil, and Ragman are all blinded by "The Congregation". Despite these injuries the Shadowpact manage to force "The Congregation" to retreat. [Comic book reference | writer=Willingham, Bill | penciller=Scott, Steve; Walker, Cory; Derenick, Tom; & McManus, Shawn | inker=Faucher, Wayne; Walker, Cory; & McManus, Shawn | story= | title=Shadowpact | volume=1 | issue=5-8 | date=November 2006 - February, 2007 | publisher=DC Comics | page= | panel= ] With help from Madame Xanadu they manage to cure their blinded teammates, and despite all their recent troubles the Shadowpact now find themselves in a stronger position in the magical order; Enchantress gained the possession of the Herne-Ramsgate Cauldron from "Nightwitch" which gives the Shadowpact access to information on every magical creature in the DC Universe, while Detective Chimp and Nightmaster have studied tactical and superhero strategies in order to mold the Shadowpact into the best team possible. A part of this was writing the "Three Universal Laws of Superheroics", a tip of the hat to Isaac Asimov, as recited by Detective Chimp. [Comic book reference | writer=Willingham, Bill | penciller=Derenick, Tom | inker=Faucher, Wayne | story=Three Laws Safe | title=Shadowpact | volume=1 | issue=9 | date=March, 2007 | publisher=DC Comics | page=3 | panel=2-3 ]

Checkmate deputizes the Shadowpact in order for them to assist the Black Queen in infiltrating Kobra. The team originally thinks this will be a one time arrangement, but Checkmate's black queen informs them that they will serve Checkmate for as long as they are needed, to the annoyance of the Enchantress. [Comic book reference | writer=Rucka, Greg | artist= Saiz, Jesus | story=Pawn 502: Part 2 | title=Checkmate | volume=2 | issue=9 | date=February, 2007 | publisher=DC Comics | page= | panel= ]

Membership

Active members in bold

Founding Members

*Blue Devil - Daniel Cassidy, is a former Hollywood stuntman cursed by the demon Nebiros, now demoted to Rhyming Demon.Comic book reference | writer=Willingham, Bill | penciller= Justiniano | inker=Wong, Walden | story=Chapter One: One Last Drink at the End of Time | title=Day of Vengeance | volume=1 | issue=1 | date=June, 2006 | publisher=DC Comics | page= | panel= ]
*Detective Chimp - Bobo T. Chimp, is the world's greatest simian detective.
*Enchantress - June Moone, given great power by a mysterious magical being.
*Nightmaster - Jim Rook, wielder of the "Nightblade", former leader of the Shadowpact, former owner of the Oblivion Bar.
*Nightshade - Eve Eden, refugee from the Land of the Nightshades, former government operative.
*Ragman - Rory Regan, latest in a long line of redeemers who use the "Great Collector Artifact" to fight evil.

Later Members

*Acheron - He professes to be a powerful ghost but not in the Spectre's league. Comic book reference | writer=Willingham, Bill | penciller=Derenick, Tom | inker=Faucher, Wayne | story=Cursed | title=Shadowpact | volume=1 | issue=10 | date=April, 2007 | publisher=DC Comics | page=21-22 | panel= ]
*Midnight Rider - Elias Stone, wields a pair of enchanted six-shooters he calls "Ghost Pistols" that only appear at night. Who or whatever is shot by them turn to stone, and revert when the sun's rays shine down on them.
*Warlock's Daughter - Laura Fell, is the former acolyte of "Johnny Warlock". Laura and Johnny share the same power source and were both confined at the Dark Tower.
*Zauriel - The fallen angel and former member of the JLA who was sent by heaven to kill Blue Devil, but joined as his replacement while Blue Devil sorted out his own issues.

Collected editions

The series has been collected into a number of trade paperbacks:

* "The Pentacle Plot" (collects "Shadowpact" #1-5, 168 pages, June 2007, Titan Books, ISBN 1845765338, DC Comics, ISBN 1401212301) [ [http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=6820 "The Pentacle Plot" trade profile at DC] ]
* "Cursed" (collects "Shadowpact" #4 and 9-13, 144 pages, January 2008, Titan Books, ISBN 1845767381, DC Comics, ISBN 1401216331) [ [http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=8551 "Cursed" trade profile at DC] ]
* "Darkness and Light" (collects "Shadowpact" #14-19, 144 pages, June 2008, Titan Books, ISBN 1845768922, DC Comics, ISBN 1401218040) [ [http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=9352 "Darkness and Light" trade profile at DC] ]

Day of Vengeance has also been collected into a single volume:

* "Day of Vengeance" (collects "Day of Vengeance" #1-6, "Action Comics" #826, "Adventures of Superman" #639 and "Superman" #216, 224 pages, December 2005, ISBN 1401208401) [ [http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=4439 "Day of Vengeance" trade profile at DC] ]

ee also

*Sentinels of Magic

Notes

References

*gcdb series|id=17751|title="Shadowpact"
*comicbookdb|type=team|id=67|title=Shadowpact (team)
*comicbookdb|type=title|id=6933|title="Shadowpact" (title)