An Excellent Social Issue story!

After The Cape# 1
Publisher: Shadowline/Image
Writer/Plot: Jim Valentino
Creator/Dialogue: Howard Wong
Artist: Marco Rudy


A hero falls from grace!
By John L. Daniels, Jr.

After an extensive day of work, some of us do various things to wind down from the daily hustle and bustle of the workday. Some people Jog, Walk, or read a publication. Others cook the evening meals and relax with a nice comfortable bubble bath or shower.

Then there is the percent of people that must have to say a have a libation, a cocktail or two, maybe three or four to unwind. They also may hang out with a group of friends and go to a weekly or daily happy hour, talk a little shop and go home. Many of the later percentages of people drink Alcohol at the improper moments and maybe too frequently, and should stay home. The problem of Alcoholism surfaces in the common life of many individuals. The situation is hard for them to accomplish their daily workflow or responsibilities to co-workers, families, and sometimes teammates.



This is the scenario of the main character in the Image comic’s shadowline publication titled “After the Cape.” Captain Gravity is a member of a distinct super hero team. He is having a war with his abuse of Alcoholism. Yes, even heroes have to resist the pressures of staying sober to defend the world of villains and keep civilians safe. The story explores the hazards of a hero falling from grace and his alternatives to reclaim his dignity. Jim Valentino, and Howard Wong, Along with the artistry of Mark Rudy bring this powerful first issue, which is a Dynamic read to the comic community.

After reading the first issue of a four-part run, I felt for this character all his turmoil and deceit to his family while abusing alcohol. The story and dialogue was excellent and moved the inner feelings while reading the story. Maybe some of us have felt the backlash of abuse in some type of way. Maybe in our lives we have experienced seeing some our heroes fall. Ethan’s Secret Identity is Captain Gravity. He can use his powers to control it. How will this hero defy the common obstacles of this disease? Read the Shadowline and Image Comic production of “After the Cape” and be grateful to read an excellent new mini-series for the start of many great titles by Jim Valentino’s Shadowline titles starting this spring.

After the Cape #1 deserves an inquisitive rating of 5.00.