Marking a return to full creative duties, Image has announced that Jim Valentino will take over the penciling and then the writing of the ongoing Shadowhawk series. Valentino is slated to begin penciling with issue #9, the first part of the “Rise” storyline, and then, with issue #10, take over the writing on the series as well.

Valentino’s return means that he replaces writer Scott Wherle and artist Ted Wing III. Valentino had been plotting the series since its restart. Speaking on his messageboard at the Image Comics site, Valentino sought to nip any rumors in the bud, posting: “And before anyone is ill-mannered enough to ask, there was no hard feelings, no animosity, we think Scott is great. This was more of a...slide.”

Both issues had been solicited with the previous art team listed in the credits.

“Rise felt like the perfect place to jump back into Shadowhawk," Valentino said in a release. "The story shows a changing of the guard. A death in the family. A crisis of faith. Everything changes for Eddie Collins when he loses more than his helmet as a new ShadowHawk comes takes over the mantle."

Valentino continued, "Eddie Collins is the current embodiment of ShadowHawk, one in a long line of heroes dating back 5,000 years. Throughout his time as ShadowHawk, Eddie has been a little too lax about his role. He's done a little too much listening to others about what they think he should do and, as a result, hasn't learned the full consequences that come with being a hero. "Rise" is going to change all of that. Reality is going to hit him right between the eyes and change everything in his world. In other words, he's going to grow up, and he's going to do it the hard way. When Eddie became ShadowHawk, he was still a boy. By the end of ‘Rise,’ he will need to become a man.

"I'm really enjoying the opportunity to get back into the creative nitty-gritty. I've got a lot of affection for this character, and I've really enjoyed seeing what other creators have done with him, but when this story came up, I knew it was time for me to get back into the driver's seat and lead the character into a whole new era. So far it's been a blast!"

Shadowhawk #9 (NOV051758) is solicited in this month's Previews for titles shipping in February. Shadowhawk #10 (DEC051781) will ship in March.