Comic Title: Shade, the Changing Man:The American Scream TPB
Publisher: DC
Imprint: Vertigo
Cover Date: 2003
On Sale Date: March 19, 2003 Direct Market Date February 26, 2003
Source: Previews, Vol. 12 #12 (#168)

Direct Market Date March 19, 2003
Source: ComicList, New Comic Book Releases List for Wednesday, March 19, 2003

Cover Price: $17.95
Page Count: 168
Editor: Scott Nybakken

See Also: The Guide to Graphic Novels and Collected Editions

Title: "Execution Day"
Pages: 39

Feature(s):
Shade the Changing Man (Post-Crisis)

Writer: Peter Milligan
Penciller: Chris Bachalo
Inker: Mark Pennington
Letterer: Todd Klein
Colorist: Daniel Vozzo

Reprinted From:
Shade, the Changing Man #1 (1990)

Feature Character(s)

• Shade the Changing Man (last appearance in Suicide Squad #37; next appearance in Shade, the Changing Man #2)

Supporting Character(s)

• Kathy George (also appears in flashback; first appearance; next appearance in Shade, the Changing Man #2)

Villain(s)

• Troy Grenzer (a serial killer; also appears in flashback; next appearance in Shade, the Changing Man #2)
• American Scream (first appearance; next appearance in Shade, the Changing Man #2)

Other Character(s)

• Kathy's parents (both die in flashback; no further appearances)
• Roger (Kathy's boyfriend; dies in flashback; no further appearances)
• Richard Conlon (a student at Farmhouse Mental Hospital; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Stringer (an agent of an unnamed agency; next appearance in Shade, the Changing Man #2)
• Connor (one of Stringer's men; next appearance in Shade, the Changing Man #2)
• Greaves (one of Stringer's men; no further appearances)
• Several prison guards and staff (Floyd named; no further appearances)

Comments:
This story continued in part in Shade, the Changing Man #2.

Synopsis:
Three years ago Kathy George brought her boyfriend Roger home to meet her parents. When she arrived, she discovered them dead at the hands of serial killer Troy Grenzer. Roger tried to stop Grenzer, but he was instead shot by police. The incident drove Kathy crazy, and she spent time in a mental institution. When her money ran out, she got kicked out.

Meanwhile, Grenzer was arrested, tried and convicted. He was then scheduled for execution. Kathy drives to a field near the prison where the execution is to take place. As Grenzer is put into the electric chair, his body is possessed by Shade. Shade then teleports from the execution chamber into the field near Kathy.

Kathy does not believe his story and plans to murder Grenzer. First she goes to buy alcohol, then returns with a knife. Shade is disoriented, but he is still connected to the M Vest which conjures images of Kathy's parents, Roger, and Grenzer. Kathy kills this last apparition. She then leaves with Shade as the police arrive.

Elsewhere the Farmhouse Mental Hospital becomes the site of a strange wave of madness, death, and a terrible explosion. One of the victims claims the event was caused by the American Scream who has come to Earth from the Area of Madness.