Grimlock ♥ Ultra Magnus

But I still am crazy about the story and characterizations.   This would be a flat-out five star read if it didn't try to fetishize the loa.   Using them at all, using any religion or minority that has been fetishized, is very tricky; it's too easy to fall into the same trap. 

By making a Loa a superhero - and one that comes from a lineage of superheroes who control this particular Loa - and by giving him what's supposed to be a built in entourage, yeah, there's a lot of taking something that you find exotic and twisting it to your own needs. 

There's a lot more to voodoo, and the Loa, than simply having them take over someone.   At least the prayers to Baron Samedi, the reason he chooses his host, and his reactions seem somewhat buyable. 

It's more the Shadowman concept itself I have issues with.   Which is a shame.   It was built into the storyline from the original Valiant comics. 

I'll read volume three and the masters graphic novels, but I can't see them being five star reads due to the slightly problematic origin story.   Which to be fair is way better in this than the original story.