Friday, January 26, 2018

The Sanctum will be empty


The master has sent me on a very hush hush mission.  The blue light will be out for a few.

The Devil's Feud shares its secrets


Pretty good job, Agent J.  Here are the changes.

1) The clock
2) Missing vase
3) Trigger on villain's gun is cocked
4) Extra red stripes on chair legs
5) Missing button on The Shadow's jacket
6) Extended barrel on our hero's smokewagon

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Devil Kyoti


Fire!  Devil!  Creatures!  A leaping Shadow & a great "rising sun" background.  Another fun Shadow Comics cover.  If he has to wear a kerchief I prefer the blue/black type he is sporting here.  Love the caption dropping from outside the cover and on fire.  Love it!

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Decay, Vermin & Murder...


... in the BAYOU!

  This cover is like a bullseye.  Three concentric circles drawing the eye right to The Shadow and that skull.  Throw in the scurrying rats practically coming right at the viewer and you've got a great horror/mystery cover, perfect for The Shadow Comics.

Monday, January 22, 2018

Just arrived


So excited to listen to the recently unearthed episodes on this.  Gigglin' like a six year old...

Friday, January 19, 2018

The Keeper's Gold

Again, you are correct Agent J.  Well done rendering but one never wants to see their hero injured.  I mean, geez Louise, his arm is already damaged and then a knife is savagely thrown into the shoulder of said arm.  C'mon!  How will The Shadow possibly get out of this one?  Guess we'll just have to read this one.

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Kilroy Was Here


Keeping the "comic" in comic books.  Almost an Eisner feel to this cover.  I really like it just for its simplicity and clean art.  Love the odd balance of the large mask with the heavy imagery on the right side of the cover.  Very fun.

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

The Shadow 1937





I've been revisiting the radio series again and, of course, starting at the beginning with Orson & Agnes (Lamont & Margot).  It's a lot of fun reliving these old programs and listening to Welles' performances knowing the story behind the production, with Orson never rehearsing and just showing up and reading cold.  Much like another favorite performer of mine, Dean Martin.
The program has next to nothing to do with the pulp version and it has taken some time for me to really appreciate the adventures for what they are, wonderful tales with great performances by some truly talented actors and actresses.  The Theatre of the Mind really is the most apt description for The Shadow radio program.

Monday, January 15, 2018

The Hydra


Action packed but bizarre cover.  Pretty cool, though.  I like this one.  I really appreciate the print technique used.  This is very much a "comic" cover right down to the masthead.  Fun.

Friday, January 12, 2018

Voice of Death


You are correct, Agent Jeff.  An absolute classic cover the is completely recognizable as The Shadow.  I haven't read this one yet but this review let's me know that Burbank gets a rare trip into the field so that's pretty cool. 

Thursday, January 11, 2018

Just a bit of fun


What a spectacularly over the top, in your face, buy this or die cover.  As cool as the image of DEATH, er, THADE is I think what sells it for me is the simple addition of the cast shadow of his hand over his word balloon.  And the blood on that dagger... priceless.

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

The Shadow for President


With the announcement that Oprah Winfrey might make a run for POTUS (which I don't take seriously) I really had to wonder what is wrong with the voting public who just don't take politics seriously.  People are so angry with "career" politicians that they vote in unqualified candidates who they feel they could have a beer with.  We have given over control to fools and small minded persons who really don't have the best interests of the population in mind.

I try not to pontificate on politics but I have been despairing ever since the death of  Justice Antonin Scalia.  With politics being played to a degree of corruption that made me ill, the Supreme Court was left without a full set of judges for nearly 14 months until Neil Gorsuch was sworn in.  This is not an indictment of Justice Gorsuch (although I'd prefer a less conservative judge) but a real concern about where we, as the American public, stand when taking care of our own (as a society) interests and concerns.  Far too many special interests are running our country and too few people in power wanting to put us back on track as a nation of the people, by the people, (and most importantly) for the people.

I know this isn't the place to go off on this type of stuff and I definitely don't want to step on anyone else's political views because I believe, generally, that there is something of value in almost all views (throwing out the those of people who hate just to hate).  But we need to take a step back, take a deep collective breath, and start working together.  Whew, all this triggered by that little Tom Lovell illustration up there.


Monday, January 8, 2018

Which do you prefer?





I really like Steranko's paperback cover art from the 70's but overall I have to side with the originals.  I love the secret code that is included on this cover but not the inclusion of an uncovered face of The Shadow.  However the overall mood of the cover is more Gibson than the damsel in distress of the Steranko version.  On top of it all, this is one the least of the reprint covers.  But this is all just my opinion and preference.  What say any of the agents who may be blurking about?

Friday, January 5, 2018

Charg, Monster





The answer to the puzzle clew is, well, one of the all time classics.  Not just as a Shadow cover but any pulp cover.  So simple, so well rendered and so iconic.  LOVE THIS COVER!!!!  This would have caught my eye and had me running across the busy street to get to the newsstand and grab this and hunker down in the nearest alley to start this one.  On top of it all, it's a great story

Thursday, January 4, 2018

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy...

Thank you, Anthony, this is a wonderful holiday gift to all of us fans of The Shadow.  Yes, The Death Tower and The Silent Seven in one wonderful issue!!! 






I read these for the first time back in the 70s when I found the paperbacks and just loved them.  Very early tales (#s 6 & 7, respectively), my favorite adventures.





I believe that having The Silent Seven publish at this point in time is perfect as it can be read to cleanse the palette after reading the Dynamite Comics "The Shadow/Batman" team-up that is currently being foisted on us. 




(at least the Kevin Nowlan cover is nice...)

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Didn't know about the Kaluta cover






Instead, I got this one.  Bummer.


However, the Kirkham cover better conveys the "story" inside.  Unfortunate.

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

First puzzle clew of 2018


Here's hoping everyone had a wonderful New Year's Day.  Let's see if we can make 2018 a great year, not just for fans of The Dark Eagle but for everyone.  Now, take a crack at this classic cover.