Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 741
EAN num: 9781600101120
ISBN number: 1600101127
Label: IDW Publishing
Manufacturer: IDW Publishing
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 104
Printing Date: December 26, 2007
Publishing house: IDW Publishing
Sale Popularity Level: 197734
Studio: IDW Publishing
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Product Description:
Angel once put a stop to an evil children's show, but not before being turned into a puppet during his fight. Now, fresh out of the Asylum, it's Spike's turn! Writer Brian Lynch and artist Franco Urru (Spike: Asylum) are reunited in this collection that sees Spike and Lorne heading off to Japan to stop the latest Japanese kids' show... Smile Time! Will they become 'puppetized' themselves? And along the way, find themselves in a fight with hundreds of ninja-puppets, reuniting with fellow Asylum inmates, and be at extreme odds with one other?
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Rated by buyers 
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There aren't many reasons why you shouldn't own "Shadow Puppets." The majority of IDW's previous work on the ANGEL and SPIKE series has been underwhelming, but this is a top notch comic adventure. It's by the same team that delivered Spike: Asylum, which was so good that Joss Whedon, after reading it, recruited writer Brian Lynch and penciller Franco Urru to write the long awaited canonical continuation to Angel the Series. Even if you didn't like "Smile Time," the Angel episode that this miniseries was a sequel to, you will absolutely love this book. Me? I hated "Smile Time." It was one of the worst episode of the series. But "Shadow Puppets" is one of my favorite comics, mostly because some stuff just works better in comics. But that isn't the only reason why.
Brian Lynch's comics are some of the most layered that I've read. The panels erupt with pop culture references, character moments, and in jokes aplenty. The commentary in the back will help you catch each of these little tidbits, which makes this series even more enjoyable. Another great thing about this is that it's very, very focused, nailing home a central theme with every page, giving Spike some very essential character development. Speaking of our leather-clad ensouled vampire, Lynch continues to perfect Spike's voice, especially with the internal narration that drives this book along. Both Spike and Lorne are more in-character than anything we've seen from IDW before (expect Asylum, which also captures them great), though I would have liked to see Spike say "wee little puppet man" about five less times. That Trots was brutally beat to death.
I did enjoy Asylum more, but that's only because Asylum was more consistent. The very first three issues of "Shadow Puppets" are perfect, but then issue four feels WAY overstuffed. The jokes from the scene where Spike fights puppet versions of his friends all--oddly--seemed to fall flat, and the whole scene feels distinctly crammed. After the fight is over, things slow down and Brian brings the series to a close with a great final few pages, which ties the theme up nicely and almost makes up for the very first half of the issue. As far as other negatives, there really aren't any, except a continuity error. A flashback shows a post-Asylum scene with Beck and says that it happened five months ago. Then, Lorne references the events of Asylum as happening four months ago. It had been pointed out by numerous fans and should have really been fixed for this TPB version, but as far as errors go, it's easily forgivable.
It's not as dark or consistent as Lynch's "Asylum," but I don't think it was meant to be. What it is is funny, light, and really kind of poignant in a few spots. Overall, it is a must-have for any Buffyverse fan.
8/10
Rated by buyers 
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Funny and well written sequel to Spike: Asylum (Spike) Spike is shang-hied by Lorn into heading off to Japan to battle another outbreak of the muppets demons. Predictably (but enjoyably!) they both end up as dolls, too.
Well written and beautifully characterized-- of *course* Spike have a klippan loveseat with adjustable lumbar support.
Very enjoyable read!
Rated by buyers -
Brian Lynch clearly enjoys writing for Spike, and has a wonderful idea to reunite Spike and Lorne in this story. The two are an entertaining team as they end up in Japan and encounter more evil puppets from "Angel" S5's episode "Smile Time."
There are some good character moments for both the leads, and along with the able help of some new and returning characters from Lynch's "Spike Asylum" they return home successful and more sure of themselves in their new lives.
The one drawback for me is that near the book's end the storyline veered from lighthearted into silly with too much emphasis on in-jokes and breaking the fourth wall. However some may enjoy this, and in any case the rest of the story is worth the read.
Rated by buyers -
Spike: Shadow Puppets is another collaboration between writer Brian Lynch and artist Franco Urro, the team that brought us Spike: Asylum. I like Franco Urro's drawings - I can easily recognize the character he is drawing (not something I can say about some of the other graphic novels I have read)and he does a good job at capturing the expressions and personality of the people he is drawing that makes it a good complement to the story. And as for the story ..
"Shadow Puppets" continues after "Asylum" ends. Several of the characters from "Asylum" are main characters in "Shadow Puppets". While I think you could enjoy the story on its own, you will get a lot more out of it if you read "Asylum" first. "Shadow Puppets" takes place some time after ATS (Angel the Series) season 5 episode 14 "Smile Time". Lorne convinces Spike to travel to Japan with him to put a stop to the new, popular "Smile Time" kids show - apparently Angel and gang didn't put a complete stop to it, and in its new location it has found a way to drain children and "lonely adult males" worlwide. The story has a light hearted and fun approach - not as serious as "Asylum" just as "Smile Time" was a light hearted and fun story for ATS. There are lots of puppets in the story, including some favorite characters from ATS. Spike's adventure as a "wee, little puppet man" is funny, enjoyable, and believable Spike. The pairing of Spike and Lorne is a lot of fun, and one I wish they had done more of on ATS.
One of the things I enjoyed about both "Asylum" and "Shadow Puppets" are the Writer's Commentary at the end of the story. It's like listening to a Director's Commentary at the end of the movie - it enriches the story be explaining some of the inside jokes and hidden (and sometimes not so hidden) sights, pictures and symbols in the story. I like to see how many of them I pick up on when reading the story, and then check in the Writer's Commentary to see how many I might have missed.
To sum it up, if you are a Spike or Lorne fan, I highly recommend Spike:Shadow Puppets and if you haven't already read Spike: Asylum, get that one too. You can never get too much Spike.
Rated by buyers -
I own and have read Spike: Shadow Puppets. When I read this Graphic
Novel I was enjoying it very much. I like the way they had Spike and Lorne team up to go over to Japan to stop Smile Time again.
I was glad that they made it that Spike got to expirence what Angel expirenced as a Puppet. Spike and Lorne as puppets was cute and really
funny. If you are a fan of Spike this would be a ready for you and anyone who likes the Buffy/Angel universe. I give this 5 stars because in my opinion it was well drawn and well written.
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