Merry Christmas

HOHOHOHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Margo Lane

Inspired by a photo from Kell Johnson.

Zombie Stalker of the CC

Hey, K, hope you like.

Melvin's Shadow

Melvin over at the Cobalt Club posted this drawing. I felt compelled to play with it a bit. Hope you like it M.

Some covers

These may be of interest to anyone who skulks into this little room with the blue light. "Gangdom's Doom" sports one of my favorite covers simply because it made The Shadow seem real to me. A bit like Bama's covers for the Doc Savage reprints. Alas, the Night Master shouldn't really be seen as real but as unreal, a feeling up the back of one's neck. That glimpse out of the corner of your eye only to find there is nothing there when you turn quickly. Nothing there but inky shadows.

Fritz

"It has been stated that Fritz was a german spy. The Shadow apparently supplanted Fritz not just to watch Joe Cardona, but to curtail Fritz's espionage operations. It has been suggested that Fritz eventually was arrested, or killed before WWII started for the U.S.."

This information was placed in the mail slot of B Jonas yesterday by agent M. I hope to verify the intel and get more on my own as Fritz is my favorite alias of The Shadow.

The Crime Oracle

Okay, I'm getting a little out of control doing this Shadow art thing. But I'm having a ball. Hope anyone who stops by enjoys it.

By the way, if you found this site looking for anything to do with The Shadow I suggest you stop by the Cobalt Club at: http://cobaltclub.ning.com/ and join up to connect with a lot of like minded people.

A couple of images

One is mine, one is E. Mayan's (with a little Rozen for good measure). Just having a little fun.

NPL

The National Protective League. This would eventually become The Shadow Club but started as a sincere way to bring civic minded people together to clean up their streets. Here is the oath:

"I, as a member of the National Protective League, pledge to give my aid to the forces of law and order to help bring about the just punishment of all criminals in this country. I pledge, by my own act, by example and encouragement of others, to do all in my power to abide by the laws of the Nation; to teach others to obey them; and to fulfill my duty in preventing the miscarriage of justice."

A different sign off

Let no man tempt you into crime

For crime is like a strangling serpent

It crushes him who feeds it most

Beware, lest the serpent of crime ensnares you in his hold

Remember, crime does not pay

The Shadow knows

Title change

This is more like the room I envisioned. I felt that the old title was indicative of being another member of a web ring. This is more of the weird Sanctum Sanctorum of that denizen of evil, the master... The Shadow.

The Shadow's stamp of approval

"This is to certify that I have made careful examination of the manuscript known as 'The Living Shadow', as set down by my raconteur, Mr. Maxwell Grant, and do find it a true account of my activities upon that occasion. I have therefore arranged that Mr. Grant shall have exclusive privilege to such further of my exploits as may be considered of interest to the American people."

I recount this familiar statement to delve a bit deeper into a discussion I have going on over at The Cobalt Club. MC Williams stated "As for myself, I always considered Mr. Maxwell Grant as a kind like Dr. John H. Watson. Or....., Perhaps Grant is an actual peudonym and Walter Gibson actually knew The Shadow well enough to be trusted to 'ghost' his exploits."

I feel the same way, however the good doctor was in the stories themselves. Mr. Grant was not. Or was he? Thus my question remains, could M. Grant be Burbank, R. Mann or another recurring character with inside information. I find it hard to believe that The Shadow would sit back after an adventure and recount the details.

Correct Deductions of the Clews Given

Detective Story Magazine July 25, 1931

"By the mark of the cobra on my chest."(The Shadow has a cobra tattooed on his chest.)

"Prison bars? Ha! Ha! A tight squeeze perhaps, but it can be done."(The Shadow is slender.)

"Artistic hands, have I, and at my will, a pack of cards is twain."(The Shadow has long, slender hands, with tapering fingers, and strong ones.)

"Tis hard for me to disguise features akin to those of the winged terror of the feathered tenants of the barnyard. An inky dye must I apply to hide my Nordic forbears."(The Shadow has hawklike features, and is blond, and light complexioned.)

"As the unrelenting hound is to the fox, so am I to malefactors. But a whippet gait I take when on the scent."("Hound" is another name for detective. The Shadow is a detective and "unrelenting". Also fast when on the trail.)

"A dove to those I love; a jungle thing that cannot change its spots to those whose wicked hand I'd stay; and oft like a bird, I take the air when seeking out a lair."(The Shadow is gentle with those he loves, but treats those who have wronged himself and others as a leopard; and he uses an airplane when seeking out a lair.)

"8 triple A," the salesmen say, and Beau Brummel's tastes are mine. But forty ways I look, and for forty persons am mistook."(The Shadow has a slim foot, is a fastidious dresser, and wears fort different disguises.)

"Twenty years ago, for me, precocious youth 'B. A.,' and let those form any clime converse near by, and their secrets will be mine."(The Shadow, being precocious, got his B. A. when he was twenty. Thus, he's now forty. He knows all languages.)

"Low doorways please me not, and in college I stroked my crew."(The Shadow is tall, an athlete.)

"Many have I brought to durance vile, and made to sit where chained lightning strikes."(The Shadow has sent many men to jail and to the electric chair.)

A postulation

Could Burbank be Maxwell Grant, the mysterious author who pens the stories as told to him by the Shadow himself? Thoughts?

To me this makes sense. Although it never crossed my mind before it seems a natural. I was so fixated on the Shadow himself that I gave no consideration to who he may have trusted enough to relate his tales. Just an idea.

On the auction block

Heritage Auctions has this little piece of Shadow memorabilia up for bid.

The sun is shining...

but the ice is slippery. I love codes and secret passwords, but I have to say this one was too cartoony, not even worthy of the Archie Comics version of our hero. I hope to present some codes and such in the future.

Shadow Art

First up, this cover art from "The Black Master" (the eighth issue, March 1932) just went for $33,460 at auction. It was part of the Charles Martignette collection that is being auctioned over the past couple of months.
Next is a little charcoal sketch from yours truly. $33,461 anyone? I thought not.

A question

Just because something is published as "The Shadow" do you consider it part of the "true" Shadow lore? I'm speaking of the '60's novels, the Helfer & Chaykin comics, and especially the "history" as created by P J Farmer. Linking the Master of Darkness to G-8, giving him the Allard Kent Rassendyll family name as well as "Kentov". Fun stuff, I agree, but can it be considered part of the real history? My last post represented the clews as to what the Shadow looked like but W B Gibson completely ignored them as he began to author the novels. Does that mean that the description is not actually canon? I really liked the article by Arn McConnell "Casting a Little Light Among the Shadows" and some of the conclusions. I choose to throw out the newer stuff (sorry PJF, HC & AH) and work from the contest clews forward. What say you?

The Shadow contest "What The Shadow Looks Like"

From Detective Story Magazine February-April, 1931.

"By the mark of the cobra on my chest."

"Prison bars?  Ha! Ha!  A tight squeeze perhaps, but it can be done."

"Artistic hands, have I, and at my will,  a pack of cards is twain."

"Tis hard for me to disguise features akin to those of the winged terror of the feathered tenants of the barnyard.  An inky dye must I apply to hide my Nordic forbears."

"As the unrelenting hound is to the fox, so am I to malefactors.  But a whippet gait I take when on the scent."

"A dove to those I love;  a jungle thing that cannot change its spots to those whose wicked hand I'd stay;  and oft like a bird, I take the air when seeking out a lair."

"8 triple A," the salesmen say, and Beau Brummel's tastes are mine.  But forty ways I look, and for forty persons am mistook."

"Twenty years ago, for me, precocious youth 'B. A.,' and let those form any clime converse near by, and their secrets will be mine."

"Low doorways please me not, and in college I stroked my crew."

"Many have I brought to durance vile, and made to sit where chained lightning strikes."

Master of Darkness

If you read my brief profile, you will see that I bill myself as an artist. I just played around with some Sharpies and Photoshop and this is what I came up with. Could work into something fun.

Comic covers

DC and Dark Horse have kept the Shadow alive in recent years. The new stories may not be seen as canon but I really appreciate his occasional appearance seemingly from nowhere, emerging from the shadows to strike and then merging once again with the inky blackness of the night.

What drew me to The Shadow

My formative years were the Seventies, a great time to grow up. I found Mr. Cranston via the airwaves on Thursdays while sitting in my room at 3030 Nettie. Butte, Montana USA. I'm not sure if I was listening to the originals or not but I was fascinated. I would also put myself to sleep listening to "Radio Mystery Theatre". But I digress.
I used to visit my grandparents in Libby and the same summer that I discovered the radio Shadow I came across the 60's reprint "The Living Shadow". Wow, an eye opener. There was no internet to research my newfound hero so I had no idea he was anything more than a radio character (since that is how my mom and dad remembered him). This book was quickly followed by a coloring book which led me to the DC comic book. I was in heaven. Or so I thought. It got better when the Pyramid books started being published. I proudly wore my t-shirt with the transfer of Steranko's homage cover painting of the Shadow (his graced the new Living Shadow and the original was on The Black Hush). However, it all ended when the books ceased to be published. It hurt but I consoled myself with what I had and kind of held onto that special feeling I had that I thought no one else did. Over time I came across many items (two of which are original pulps) and now there are the double issue reprints which showcase the original illustrations. Again, I am in heaven.

Who knew...

... that one day I could share my love of that greatest of all pulp characters with so many. Perhaps the Shadow did. I will start making the site look the way I want over the coming days. Just wanted to get up and running. The logo will change.