40 years on since its debut, out this week from US publisher Dark Horse is an expanded edition of Moonshadow: The Definitive Edition, written by J.M. DeMatteis, with watercolour art by Jon J Muth and contributions from Kent Williams, Kevin Nowlan, and others.
Known as America’s first fully painted graphic novel, the poetic, philosophical, and Kirby & Eisner Award-nominated Moonshadow, first launching as a series in January 1985, 40 years ago, is being released in a new softcover treatment, with a new painted cover by Jon J Muth.
Also included in the 528-page collection, edited by Philip Simon, is an expanded bonus section featuring concept art, early notes from the creative team, and script pages from writer J.M. DeMatteis. This edition of the influential, timeless “fairy tale for adults” also includes the “Farewell Moonshadow” illustrated novella.
J.M DeMatteis has previously noted his first take on Moonshadow was very different to the unique tale it became, an “original, super-heroism conception was kind of Jim Starlin meets Kurt Vonnegut by way of Candide.” The venal and opportunistic furry Ira who befriends idealistic and naive Moonshadow “certainly was born from Kirby’s Oberon and Starlin’s Pip – but went on to become his own man. If he was a man! I’m very glad I tossed out the superhero elements along the way.”
One of the most prolific writers of comics, with partnerships in all major US companies, J.M. DeMatteis is, possibly, best known for his superhero work. But along with Moonshadow, first published by Marvel Comics under its Epic imprint from 1985 to 1987, he has also written a number of creator owned works, including Brooklyn Dreams. He writes, on one hand, very humorous stories, introducing the world to the “Legion of Losers,” also known as the “Spider-Man Revenge Squad,” and the White Rabbit Gang in his Spidcer-man stories; while, on the other hand, penning very deep and psychological ones “Best of Enemies” the culmination of a two year storyline, and a two-year collaboration with one of JM. DeMatteis’ personal comic book heroes, Sal Buscema, exploring the relationship between Peter Parker and Harry Osborn. The latter is a personal favourite of the writer.
Jon J Muth, currently at Comicon Napoli, is beloved all over the world, not only for his graphic novel work on titles such as The Mystery Play by Grant Morrison, Havoc & Wolverine: Meltdown with Walter and Louise Simonson, and Kent Williams and Stanislaw Lem on The Seventh Voyage, which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Adaptation in Another Medium; but also for his seven books featuring Stillwater the Panda, now also an animated TV series first screened on Apple TV+, whose love and balanced approach to life always serve to make the world a better place for his young friends.
Muth’s many enchanting picture books, translated into more than 23 languages and are cherished by readers of all ages, include his Caldecott Honor Book, Zen Shorts, Addy’s Cup of Sugar, Stone Soup, and The Three Questions, which the New York Times Book Review called “quietly life-changing.”
The Origins of Moonshadow
In his introduction to the new Moonshadow collection, J.M. DeMatteis says “Someone (and for the life of me, I can’t remember who!) once said that whatever story you’re working on should be written as if it’s the only one you’ll ever tell: pouring all your thoughts, feelings, ideas, ideals, passions, philosophies, hopes and dreams – every iota of Who You Are – into it. That’s what I did with Moonshadow. It allowed me to step outside the Marvel-DC mindset and discover my own voice. Over the course of those twelve issues I stopped being a ‘comic book writer’ and became a writer.
“Of course it didn’t hurt that I was working with Jon J Muth, as brilliant an artist as the medium has ever seen. The magic of our collaboration became evident to me at our first face-to-face meeting. A mutual friend had given Jon a copy of my original Moonshadow proposal and the two of us met to discuss the project. He arrived at my house with some preliminary sketches based on what he’d read and, as I looked them over, profoundly impressed, I observed: ‘These are very Dickensian.’
“’Well,’ Jon responded, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, ‘that’s what you wrote.’ And, of course, it was – but the truth is that, despite the many Dickens-like touches in my outline, I never consciously realised the influence until Jon pointed it out!”
“Moonshadow is really about memory,” John J Muth told The Comics Journal in 2020. “That’s why the art had such a strange variety. Old Moonshadow is looking back on his life and he remembers some events and people as if they were drawn by Chuck Jones, and other parts he remembers as serious or beautiful – different moments have different lenses.
J.M. DeMatteis adds that Moon evolved into a series that allowed him to pay tribute to just about all of my literary heroes – from Dickens to Vonnegut, J.D. Salinger to William Blake, Dostoyevsky to Bradbury to L. Frank Baum.
“They were all standing over my shoulder as I wrote, encouraging me to find my own unique way of telling a story.”
• Moonshadow: The Definitive Edition – Expanded is available from all good bookshops and Local Comic Shops | AmazonUK Affiliate Link
• J.M. DeMatteis is online at jmdematteis.com
• Jon J Muth Artist Facebook Fan Page
• Scholastic: Stillwater: TV Show, Books & Mindfulness Resources
Siblings Karl, Addy and Michael have a very special next-door neighbour: a wise panda named Stillwater. His friendship and stories give them new perspectives on the world, themselves, and each other.
Moonshadow: The Definitive Edition – Expanded: Sample Pages
Moonshadow – Epic Cover Gallery
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
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