"The Blackmail King"

 Lotsa gunplay in this one.  The Shadow going for center mass.  The jealous husband shooting at our hero's face.  And some cowardly sniper shooting The Dark Eagle in the back!  It's quite the cover but it brings up one of my gripes... daylight?  Really?  That always bugs me.  Anyhow, it's exciting and that's all a pulp cover is supposed to be.

"Margo's Story" page 24

 

"The lady I'd thought I was in love with had turned out to be... what?"

"Dictator of Crime"

 "Centralba has only one enemy. His name is Luis Castenago! If you give me my freedom, I shall allow you one privilege, Castenago - that of suicide for the honor of the country that was never yours." - The Shadow

An action packed cover from Rozen is just the start to this great adventure.  The Shadow must free the populace of a banana republic from the clutches of an evil dictator!  If John's recommendation ain't enough then check out the comic adaptation.  Hey, it has to be good if it ends up in a comic!

"Margo's Story" page 23

 

"Just like a parlor-house lady, she was!"

"Garden of Death"

 Rozen is back!  Well, not at his best but he is back for another run with The Shadow Magazine.  There will be some classic covers in this shorter run but this ain't one of them.  The story is pretty good but not up to 1930's standards.  But it feels good to have the old gang back.

"Margo's Story" page 22

 

"My Mary swore to be a bad girl."

The Sunday Comics: The Shadow Solves the Mystery of the Missing Uranium page 2

 

"But Lamont, this is your vacation !!  Won't it wait for two weeks?!"

The plot thickens... and Margo gets denser.  

"The Devil Master"

  "Which is the more powerful? One who burrows deep into the ground, or one who vanishes off into the air? Which is the more dangerous: the beast that growls from its den, or the creature that lurks where it may stalk its prey? Both Su Yeng and Prince Yeddo have similar designs. Each can recuperate, and begin a new campaign. Both will menace you, Tam, because they know you are my friend." - The Shadow

If I hadn't read the review by John Olsen I would have judged this by it's cover.  I think it's a bit too much like Doc Savage.  A bit too sci-fi.  But John straightened me out and rates this as one of the best stories of 1941, along with The Chinese Primrose.  The cover is well done, I just don't like seeing The Shadow in overly unbelievable situations.  If you choose to read the review be forewarned... there is a spoiler involved.

Clark "Doc" Savage, Jr...

So, when you read or think about Doc Savage, what version comes to mind?  Me?  James Bama's version from the cover of Man of Bronze.  The Baumhofer version from the pulps is probably the most faithful since Clark Gable was the man that Dent had in mind when he wrote the character.  Or maybe the editors and publishers told him what they wanted him to look like.  I'm not sure.  However I really like the lithe figure at the top of this post that Jim Steranko (yep, that Steranko, of The Shadow paperback fame) drew.  The special shirt he is wearing really seems to be straight from the pages of the original stories.  That and he's not so muscle bound like the final image I have posted.  I know that a lot of people think The Rock aka Dwayne Johnson, would be a great choice (and he was chosen a few years ago when Shane Black was trying to get the movie off the ground) but I think someone like Alexander Skarsgård from The Legend of Tarzan would be a better choice.  Anyhow, I was just curious how fans imagine Doc when they read the novels.

"Gems of Doom"

 

"We can't quit now! Dead or alive, we are sworn to carry out the orders of The Shadow.  He told us what he wanted. Are you quitting or coming along with me?" - Margo Lane 

 

Mr. X!  Princess Zena!  The Colonel!  This story was published just three months before America entered the war but Europe had been embroiled for quite some time.  These evil foreign criminals would have been part and parcel of the consciousness of the American reader from newspapers to radio programmes.  (I presume that Princess Zena is no relation to Xena: Warrior Princess).  This is a Tinsley tale and he has no qualms about making a woman just as vile as a man!  As Billy Joel wrote; "She's so good with her stiletto, you don't even see the blade".

Another pretty good Gladney cover.  Very pulpy.

ON THE AIR: April 13, 1941

 The title is a bit misleading and the episode is, well... I'll let you decide.  Sit back and take a listen to "Death on the Rails" from April Fools Day of 1941.

"The Shadow Meets The Mask"

 Police Commissioner and ace inspector, both representatives of the law, were staring at the face of the bold killer who had delivered open death! It's frozen expression, the fact that mouthed words had brought no lip motion, was proof that the face was false. Masked murder had been done in the very presence of the law! If the law was powerless to uncover this frozen-faced fiend, could The Shadow unmask the Mask? 

This was the first of two unrelated novels to share the title.  Judging by the cover art and the review by Mr. Olsen, this is the better of the two.  And speaking of the cover it looks as though Gladney was starting to round into his own.  Nice composition and nice finish.  He just makes our hero a bit too human for my tastes.

"Margo's Story" page 21

 

"Not for what a father should have."

"The Crimson Death"

 "Shane is innocent. One of you three men is guilty. To the guilty man, I say now - confess! Your name is known, your motive is known. You were too clever for the police. But not too clever for - The Shadow!" - The Shadow

Ah, now this is a wonderful Gladney cover.  That skeleton is just terrific and the composition, though a bit cramped, works really well.  I wish he had made The Shadow paler and thrown more (heh) shadows on his face.  Still, a really solid cover that showcases a solid story from Tinsley. 

"Margo's Story" page 20

 

"Now just what are you to my little girl?"

"The Blur"

 

"Where he comes and where he goes, only he - The Shadow - knows!" - The Shadow

 

This cover borders on comic book.  I probably would take a pass on this story if I only had the cover to judge by.  However I have John over at The Shadow in Review and he says it's a clever and fun story.  That's good 'nuff fer me.  And speaking of comic books...

 

This issue features not only a simplified adaptation of "The Blur" but also "Death in the Crystal" and "The Chest of Chu Chan"

"Margo's Story" page 19

 

"I'm her mother."

"The Star of Delhi"

 An okay cover.  I would rather have seen The Shadow with his hands around the throat of his attacker, as if he was giving as good as he got.  At least have him trying to pry the choke hold loose.  Plus the aim of the police officer is atrocious.  That bullet is gonna whiz behind the big guy and do no harm.

This tale has Gibson trying to give an explanation as to The Shadow's supposed power of invisibility.

"Using the system of remaining absolutely immobile, with even his thoughts fixed, The Shadow was practicing the ways of the Tibetan mystics.

"It was their belief that such concentration could produce the equivalent of invisibility. Through experience, The Shadow had demonstrated that complete immobility did reduce an observer's chances to almost nil.

"It produced the semblance of a power through which he could cloud men's minds; and many of The Shadow's enemies had sworn that he had suddenly appeared in the midst of a lighted room before their startled eyes.

"Only a few could claim that they had seen The Shadow vanish, for the simple reason that it was much more difficult the other way about. Though The Shadow could fade rapidly into darkness, he required ideal conditions if he sought to remain on the very ground, unnoticed. Once crooks saw The Shadow, their minds became too excited to be readily quieted."

Gibson must have felt that he needed to delineate the differences between the radio version and the pulp iteration.  A nice nod to the other guy.

"Margo's Story" page 18

 

"I'd never seen people so alive."

"The Thunder King"

I haven't read this one but I'm guessing that the woman in the background is Margo given that this is the first pulp appearance of Agent Lane.  This isn't a bad cover at all, just not up to the level of Rozen.  The story was simplified and included in the November 1943 issue of Shadow Comics.

"Margo's Story" page 17

 

"...and Abe Lincoln says so!  Now lead on, MacDuff."

The Sunday Comics: The Shadow Solves the Mystery of the Missing Uranium cover & page 1

 I'm starting a new Sunday feature where I'll run some of the stories from the first comic run featuring The Shadow...Shadow Comics.  These stories will be random choices picked for no particular reason.  I'm starting with this one because the bad guy on the cover reminded me of early Kaluta.  So, for your reading pleasure I present the inaugural posting of "The Sunday Comics" and "The Shadow Solve the Mystery of  the Missing Uranium".

 

"Crime Under Cover"

 "Crime was in the making in the nation's capital! Could The Shadow stop plans for death and disaster before it was too late?" - The Shadow Wiki 

It seems that the best aspect to this issue is the cover and that's not saying a lot.  Oh, it's painted well enough, it's just that there is a static quality to it that feels staged, rather than designed.  And the cute gimmick of the upturned corner of the cover does little to create interest.  The Shadow in Review ranks this as one of Gibson's lesser efforts of any year.  Now, that doesn't mean one of you agents won't find it fascinating but I just put it out there as a caveat.

Alex Ross knows how to treat The Shadow in red

Just because I really don't like how Gladney didn't use the flames to really the best effect on The Shadow's garb.  Enjoy.
 

"Master of Flame"

Ahhhh... a much better cover.  Sure, it's not a great as the cover to "The Voodoo Master" or even "Masters of Death" but this one feels like The Shadow.  I wish he had treated the costume like Rozen did, but hey, I'm sure time constraints and multiple deadlines created a need to simplify the process of making a cover.  

  This is a Tinsley tale but not one of the better ones.  So it goes...

ON THE AIR: April 6, 1941

 This one starts with a bang.  Sit back and listen to the tale of undead gangsters terrorizing the city.  Listen to "Murder From The Grave".

"The League of Death"

"The league is a group of young men who are murdering wealthy industrialists... and then committing suicide! Yes, double death: death to their victims, and death to themselves. Truly a league of death!" - The Shadow in Review

A better cover than the previous effort, although I really don't like how he has rendered the likeness of The Shadow.  Gladney's style is evolving, whether that is a good thing or not is up to everyone's personal taste.  My taste runs towards Rozen.

"Margo's Story" page 16

 

"It was bruised pretty.  Pretty that was bleeding inside.  Like Margo?"

"The House on the Ledge"

 Boring title with a static cover.  Gladney tried to put action in this but it just looks... odd.  A knife flying out of a crook's hand from The Shadow whacking him with his .45.  In the meantime he seems to be gently disarming the dapper crook with his left hand.  Fine, I can deal with that.  But what is that large putty colored gap below Dapper Dan's right arm?  Is that the wall?  Did Gladney just forget to paint it?  Sheesh.  At least The Shadow in Review says it is decent tale for 1941.

"Margo's Story" page 15

 

"I remembered something I'd nearly shut out of my mind..."

"The Time Master"

 10th Anniversary!  Huge deal.  So big they had to use 10 images of The Shadow on the cover.  A Decade of Death to Evildoers.  The title sure makes it sound like one of the radio adventures, but it is not.  No, The Time Master is merely a master of split second timing in the commission of his crimes.  A fun story with a fun cover.

"Margo's Story" page 14

 

"She hired Mr. Druke to use his connections, find her somebody from New Orleans... somebody who knew the old Storyville scene.  He found me."

"The White Column"

 "The Shadow battles saboteurs! Five Nazi agents parachute from the sky to cripple the rearmament efforts of a free America and soften her up for invasion by land, sea and air. A secret vigilante organization is formed. They call themselves the White Column.

But there was trouble with this secret White Column. It was designed to attract honest men who sincerely wanted to rid the country of Fifth Columnists. But the White Column was not a patriotic vigilante society at all. The White Column was actually a front for the saboteurs, organized by the Fifth Columnists. Patriotic citizens were being exploited by the very foes they were trying to punish! Only The Shadow could take on and defeat these foes of democracy.

This Shadow pulp novel was, quite probably, the best Shadow adventure published in 1941. It's got mile-a-minute thrills. It's got flag-waving action. It's got a mystery mastermind who controls the five foreign agents. It's got amazing death traps. It's got sinister Nazi spies. Death. Destruction. Blood and guts. Whew! It just doesn't get much better." - John Olsen, The Shadow in Review 

   A pretty exciting cover from Gladney.  Does The Shadow have no nerve endings in his hand?  Perhaps the horrible disfiguration that left him with a "horror face" damaged the nerves in other parts of his body.  Or maybe Graves just wanted to show the reader what a tough guy The Shadow is.  Either way, it's a pretty great image.  I love the rolled eyes of the hooded bad guy as he absorbs a killing shot from the ever present smokewagon!  

"Margo's Story" page 13

 

"Then how about Margaret Lorn?"

"Mansion of Crime"

 If there had been a decent background on this one I could get behind it.  Eh, it's okay.  The story, however, gets a recommendation from John over at his "The Shadow in Review" site.  So give it a go, agents.

"Margo's Story" page 12

 

"Cardona thought she was 'slumming.'  But coming here wasn't like club-hopping on Lenox Avenue.  Here you didn't find every 'Lulu Belle' puttin' on the Ritz, or however the damn song goes."

Just because it's a cool image...

 Alex Ross really does a great job with The Shadow.  Not always a fan of his rendition of Margo but this image is really a solid knockout.

"The Chinese Primrose"

 For some reason I always think of "The Living Shadow" cover by Modest Stein when I see this.  Boy oh boy, that green skin tone on the Chinese character... how times have changed.  The story must have had a little something to it as it was simplified into a 1947 tale in Shadow Comics.

From 1940 to 1994

 We finished the Columbia Chapter Play last weekend and I hope it was a fun rewatch for you (or, quite possibly, a first viewing) and that it made for a little trip back to a simpler time.

I can't seem to find a free link to the Baldwin film so here is a link to the 1994 teaser trailer.

It's been 28 years since The Shadow graced the silver screen.  Before this film hit theatres the last film was 1958's "The Invisible Avenger".  From 1937 through 1958 there were 6 films, the serial and one television pilot.  1931-32 also featured four film shorts that had The Shadow as a narrator but not as a participant in the actual tales.  I don't count those.  My point is that in the last 64 years we have had one, ONE, look at our hero on the screen... movie or television or even a phone.  It is shameful!  I would even settle for Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon or Paramount to do a series a la NBC's "Cliffhangers" series from 1979.  Instead of "The Secret Empire", "Stop Susan Williams" and "The Curse of Dracula" it could be "The Shadow", " Doc Savage" and "The Avenger".  It could even lead up to them meeting at the end of Season One and having their storylines converge.  I guess I'm saying that these characters, left in the early to mid 1930s could really have some punch to a new legion of fans, to say nothing of the existing fan base.  Even fans of Batman and Superman or that whole Marvel contingent could make this a profitable venture even if it would probably not be a billion dollar deal.  Look at John Wick.  A 30 million dollar film does $76+ million.  Borderline for a sequel but it blows up on streaming and DVD sales.  JW2 has a $40 million dollar budget and and does $171.3 million while JW3 sports the same budget but brings in $327.78 million.  Three film haul... $575,106,156 against $110 million investment.  This franchise started with only one thing going for it, Keanu Reeves.  The Shadow, Doc Savage and The Avenger have 91 years of history, bankable history.  500+ original stories, comics, films, radio and just about every type of media one could hope for.  With today's CG technology 1930s NYC is a few keystrokes away.  Okay, I'm done.  I could go on ad nauseam as I'm sure many could.  But I should be careful what I wish for.  One need look no further than Patterson's absolute abortion of a book, 2021's 'The Shadow'.  That gives my spine more shivers than the mocking laughter of The Dark Eagle.