Friday, September 30, 2011

The Green Hoods


Not that great a cover, in my opinion. I really don't like the manner in which Rozen painted the girl nor the boring pose of The Shadow. Agent T, you nailed it regarding the "formula" being applied. As to the story Gibson submitted as "Lords of Crime" just go here for a synopsis or wait until November for the reprint (paired with "Silver Skull") to hit the stands.

"Twin Trails" page 9

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

The Yellow Door

I wish that stupid book wasn't on this cover. I like the rest of it well enough. Even if our hero is injured we know that he'll get out of this and exact his revenge. I like the fact that Rozen didn't paint a white shirt under the jacket like Gladney did. The story is one I have yet to get to but you can find a little bit about it here.

"Twin Trails" page 6

Sunday, September 25, 2011

click

The blue light is back on.

Hidden Death


Great cover! The hands that seem to move of their own accord. The mysterious ring gleaming on the left hand. The piercing eyes and the masklike face (what we can see of it) all make for what has become a classic image of The Shadow. I read this story back in the 70's when I first became fascinated with our hero. It wasn't until years later that I saw the artwork that first accompanied this tale. It always makes me long for days that were simpler and had less gray areas. A time to let your imagination run free as the words conjured up scenes that only you were privy to. Now we have video games that, as cool as they are, take all of that away from you. The story? Well now, just click this link for a synopsis.

"Twin Trails" page 4

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

"Twin Trails" page 2

The Silver Scourge


Awesome cover. The crooks aren't rendered as well as I would like but the composition is great and the concept is pure pulp. I am almost done with the story and have been enjoying it. It doesn't have a mastermind scheming to enslave humanity or turn everyone into zombies, but I have always liked the pedestrian stories that deal with only regular criminals. If you want to find out more, check out this link.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

The Dark Eagle

I ran across this in a magazine devoted to the 1911 .45 automatic pistol. This is how I envision Kent Allard during his Dark Eagle phase in WWI, dropping behind enemy lines carrying his trusty "smoke wagon" and thwarting der bad guys!

Friday, September 16, 2011

"Bitter Fruit" page 24

Up next: Doc Savage meets The Shadow! Stay tuned...

Serpents of Siva

Well done cover with the "Eastern mystique" element very prominent. Before world travel became so common and the internet gave us, well, everything our minds could conjure up, covers like this one served as a sort of travelogue. Albeit, a skewed and slightly lurid (in a good way) travelogue. The story? Haven't read it yet but I'm told it's a good one.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Racket Town

Exciting cover with that oft used yellow background. Back in the day I would have had a hard time not sitting on the curb and getting lost in the latest adventure of our hero. This was submitted as "Greed Town" and has a different ending than we've seen before. Check this link out if you want an outline of this last of the 1937 Shadow Magazines.

"Bitter Fruit" page 22



Monday, September 12, 2011

"Bitter Fruit" page 20

The Death Sleep

Now this is a pulp cover. The shadow cast over the gangsters and their molls. The angry fright that is pasted on their faces is truly pulp. Wow, I wish I owned this one. No ring, no hands, no classic visage, yet this really captures what The Shadow was all about. The story? Check out a synopsis of the tale originally titled "The Death Fleet" here.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

September 11

The Shadow surely knows that we will never forget.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

"Bitter Fruit" page 17

Anyone else feel this was a long, drawn out battle scene?

Alibi Trail


Not the worst of the worst but certainly not a cover to be proud of. The art is mediocre and the layout is atrocious. Is the story any better? Check out this synopsis to give yourself a clew.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

City of Ghosts

Nearing an end to the '30's run of pulp stories. The cover has the potential to be great but lackluster execution (perhaps printing to a greater degree) doom this to just a run of the mill illustration of our hero. Stronger light and shadow generated by the inferno would have done wonders for this painting. That and a stronger composition. The story? I have no idea but you can check out the synopsis here.

"Bitter Fruit" page 15

Thursday, September 1, 2011

"Bitter Fruit" page 10



Isle of Gold

I don't know why orange seems to be a favorite color for the covers with large, flat areas of color. Doesn't do much for me although I like the Shadow shape for the body of water. It's well rendered but not a real iconic image. The story has been reviewed here. Apparently this is a classic tale. If so, the old adage of "You can't judge a book by..." seems to apply here.