Wednesday, November 30, 2011

A now a message from this blogs raconteur...


Aiden Joseph Grier, my third grandchild, decided that yesterday was the perfect time to make his debut. I couldn't agree more. I'll be back tomorrow with more stuff re: The Shadow.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

The Crime Oracle

Awesome cover. Come on, what else is there to say. This says it all. I picked this up in the late 70's when it was reprinted with "The Teeth of the Dragon". This will always be one of my favorite covers. I even made it one of my desktops for my computers. As for the story, well check out this synopsis.

"The Big Boom" page 9

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving

Take some time away from making the world safe from bad guys and enjoy family and friends.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

No new clews until next week

Take some time off and enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday. Christmas will come on it's own without any help from those commercial ventures that think they can squeeze a couple more nickels out of people by opening as early as Thanksgiving Day. Perhaps The Shadow should look into this idiotic practice.

"The Big Boom" page 4

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

The Shadow Annual 1943 Edition


Would love to own this just for the unique nature of being hardcover. I know very little about the annuals. Do they have the original illustrations in them. Do they show the actual covers from the tales? Not sure. However, I kinda like this even if the painting is weak.

"The Big Boom" page 3


Nifty illustration even if the ring is on the wrong hand.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

A sudden loss

I apologize for a lack of posting this weekend. We have recently lost a friend and valued artist, Sheila Rieman.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Lingo


One of the classics. I thoroughly enjoyed this story (thanks to Anthony Tollin for reprinting this early in his run) and found it to be one of the defining moments in The Shadow's great adventures. If you haven't read this one do so now! To get an idea about this tale click here.
As to the cover it is one of the best. The Shadow is rendered as well as he has ever been. In later years Batman would recreate the feel of this cover many times over. Our hero was truly a trend setter.

"The Conflagration Man" part 3

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

The Black Circle

I agree, Agent T. Great concept but just a so so execution. I do like the rendering of The Shadow. Second to last issue of the original run. I probably won't read this for some time so this review will have to suffice for the time being.

"Uneasy Allies" page 24

Friday, November 11, 2011

Veteran's Day 2011

Thank you to all those that have kept Old Glory waving. We all owe more than we can ever repay.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

House of Silence


Nice cover with all of the elements I like to think of when I envision The Shadow. The ring, a mighty .45, the shadowy figure of our hero & an unsuspecting character about to confront dark justice. Too bad the woman isn't rendered particularly well. That is my only complaint of this cover since I really like the manner in which The Dark Eagle has been painted.
Submitted under the title "House of Death" this tale received a very high review from "The Shadow In Review". I like the title they went with, death was used so very liberally when trying to grab the buying audience's attention.

"Uneasy Allies" page 20

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

The Broken Napoleons


"Dread Tokens of Broken Lives & Ruined Fortunes"

That line really accentuates the sinister cover art. This is how I envision The Shadow. Gathering information while in the background of some, surely, evil congregation of criminals. The look in his eye tells the reader that "Crime does not pay!"
This one really does capture the essence of our hero and is rendered pretty well. Sure, without the original to compare it to we are at the mercy of a 75 year old cover printed with less than ideal technology. Nevertheless, the hawklike profile is classic and really illustrates the original title "The Vulture" very nicely. Check out a review of this classic tale here.

"Uneasy Allies" page 18

Friday, November 4, 2011

"Uneasy Allies" page 14

Loot of Death

I actually like this cover, even though the ring isn't on display. The old school printing press almost looks like it could be a torture machine. Perhaps the title should have been "Pressed for Cash". Okay, maybe I'm a bit punchy at this moment. According to this review, this tale is one of the weaker ones, not just of the 30's but of the series. Too bad because I was looking forward to this one.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Xitli, God of Fire

I kind of like this cover. Not crazy about the girl, the rendering of her face pulls this cover down. The colors are nice and muted, although that might not be how the original painting looks. Good composition and I like the action depicted. I wish the gun were bigger but you can't have it all. I haven't read this one but clicking here will get you to a synopsis.

"Uneasy Allies" page 12