Thursday, September 27, 2012

A day late...

but 75 years ago The Shadow began his legendary run on radio with the broadcast of "Death House Rescue" starring Orson Welles and Agnes Moorehead.  Although the show had been on in variations before, this is generally recognized as the beginning.

The Creeper

Ah, hands.  However I did profile this a couple of years back here.  Love this cover so it's worth a second look. 

"Butchers" page 11


Monday, September 24, 2012

The Chest of Chu Chan

I apologize for some of these covers but please, don't shoot the messenger.  I didn't have anything to do with some of the awful covers of the later years.  Change isn't always good.  I know nothing of this tale other than to say the cover is wretched.  However, not as wretched as some but it sure is in the discount rack of The Shadow Magazine's vast storehouse. 

"Butchers" page 8

The Shadow will do anything necessary to thwart evil.  But wouldn't a ticket be simpler?

Friday, September 21, 2012

Friday's clew (Yes, Mr. Tollin, CLEW)

Ah, my bias is showing.  But you still don't changed the title just because you think people won't get it.  For shame.  By the way, this rant has absolutely nothing to do with the clew.

"Butchers" page 7


Wednesday, September 19, 2012

The Invincible Shiwan Khan

Not as classic as The Golden Master, which introduced us to Shiwan Khan, but a classic mostly for the story arc it is a part of.  Painted well enough I'm sure this caught many fans eyes as they eagerly awaited another tale involving one of The Shadow's most dangerous foes.  I personally have not read any of the arc as I am waiting for the reprints from Sanctum so I will have to appease myself with this brief synopsis.

"Butcher" page 5

Oh, yeah.  It's on now!

Monday, September 17, 2012

Mother Goose Murders

Yeesh!  I don't know what else to say about such an "unShadow-like" cover.  Like Bill, I read this in a 70's hardcover reprint from Doubleday Crime Club when I came across it in the Public Library.  I was thrilled at the time and even tried to buy the Doubleday editions from them.  They said that at some point they would come up for sale but after years of checking back and being rebuffed I found that they sold them off anyhow.  A bit disappointing but now, with the web, it's not too hard to find this stuff.  However, I'll just wait for the Tollin reprint at this point as the story certainly wasn't the best.  The original title "Mother Goose Means Murder" would have been a better lure to the reader but would probably have made the disappointment that was the novel itself even more so.

"Butcher" page 3


Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Voodoo Death

I like the concept of the cover if not the entire rendering.  Perhaps if The Shadow were an actual voodoo fetish rather than a tiny version of himself it would have been more iconic.  Throw in the ever present cast shadow of our hero and this would have been a great cover.  Oh, yeah, and have George Rozen paint it and add the familiar masthead and then it would have been a memorable cover.  I haven't read the tale but this review says it's worth the time.


"Butcher"

So begins the second of four parts.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Death's Harlequin

I'm interested in reading this one to see how closely the comic adaptation came to the original story.  The cover seems a bit rushed to me.  Almost a prep painting rather than a finished illustration.  All in all not a very memorable cover when it comes to the pantheon of great images from The Shadow Magazine. 

"Meat Hooks" part one page 22


Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Death Jewels

Wonderful cover.  I only wish that the skull were rendered a bit better.This apparently is pretty much a straight illustration of a scene in the story.  That makes me want to read it all the more.  This is a terrific painting of The Shadow and despite his situation it doesn't seem that our hero is truly in trouble.  He's always in control.  Don't believe me, then check out this review.

"Meat Hooks" part one page 20