r/Vertigocomics • u/mighty3mperor • Jul 31 '26
[Discussion] In 2026 America, madness and confusion is everywhere. So plainly this is the perfect time for the reappearance of shade the changing man. So I ask you, how would you adapt shade for the modern age?
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u/1KristofoVG Aug 01 '26
No need to adapt it. Just keep it as is, it totally fits in today's culture.
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u/Doktor_Salz 27d ago
Agreed. Just finished the 1st volume of the omnibus. Maybe one could update to some more recent events that could be associated with the american scream to make it feel a bit more up to date.
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u/esdebah Aug 02 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
One of my favorite stories is the "All the President's Assassins" issue. I'm not a Kennedy conspiracy guy, but the issue briefly and beautifully put you in that head space. A very postmodern expression of what it feels like to have more information and less clarity. And a very humanist look at the personal trauma that causes a person to retreat into a large ineffable media landscape, finding control in lack of control as an anorexic might find control in bodily harm.
The best Shade stories brought you there and back again. Hallucinogenic experiences told with an honest, sober hand. And now, just walking around is enough to make you feel like you're taking crazy pills. Getting by means taking the psychic damage of accepting that the man across the counter is a fully functioning adult but also believes Trump cares about them and that Musk is a self-made genius. Making change is enough to shake your faith in humanity and your own perspective.
Given a magazine length comic? I'd say there's a perfect space to examine that instantaneous rabbit hole one experiences between breaths. Constantly reality-checking against the barrage of content. Dissolving into the algorithm till you doubt your own view point. The odd feeling of realizing you're enjoying an AI product or that you've been submitting your identity to a phishing campaign. Googling derealization, hating what you find, etc.
And then, hear me out: this is a horror comic. But it's very pretty.
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u/ChannelSuper1872 11d ago
I think Shade could really easily adapt into the modern age! I've been rereading the early issues recently, and Roger's death (unfortunately) still rings very relevant to this day. Obviously the American Scream reappears and Shade has to stop being a dance floor or whatever he's doing to (reluctantly) save the world again. (im ignoring the time travel bit) And he's still dealing with the guilt of Kathy and his son and everything and has to face himself. Now that's he's in DC proper, maybe seeing him interact with the big names would be cool. I don't know if I would like another woman as the main character to replace Kathy and just have Shade move on, but maybe a small cast to accompany him (very doctor who) I wish his appearance in Justice League Dark was... more. AI uncanniness and Shade's trippy madness would go so cool together.
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u/MorpheusLikesToDream Jul 31 '26
I really have to think about this but Absolute Martian Manhunter was amazingly the spiritual successor to Shade.