Monday, July 30, 2012

River of Death

Originally titled "Davy Jones' Locker" this tale is by Theodore Tinsley and seems to get a thumbs up from this review.  As I can't speak to the story I'll stick to a brief critique of the cover.  Just not my favorite.  The colors don't work for me and the way the row boat is "anchored" by the lower left corner stops any feel of action (although this isn't an action cover) that may have been intended.  I would like to have seen the logo kind of show through the skull, giving it a more "spectral" feel.  Not very well rendered and missing some elements that push this to the realm of The Shadow's familiar look.  This looks like it could have any character standing in the dinghy casting a nondescript shadow against the pink hull of a nameless ship.  Okay, I'll lay off.  Just not one of my favorites.

"Out of the Past" page 21


Thursday, July 26, 2012

The Lone Tiger

Gotta love a cover with many of the agents on it.  I just question whether The Shadow would gather all of them in his sanctum for a meeting.  Oh well, all for the sake of excitement, I suppose.  I'm sure someone knows the identities of these men but I'm going to guess that starting on The Shadow's right we have Hawkeye, Harry Vincent, Burbank, Cliff Marsland, Jericho Druke, Clyde Burke & Moe "Shrevvy" Shrevnitz.
Alas, this is yet another tale that I have yet to read.  Try here if you want an overview of this one.

"Out of the Past" page 19


Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Face of Doom

Gotta love the parallels to Batman that pop up in The Shadow.  Oh, wait, these came first!  I guess if you're gonna steal, steal from the best. 
Cool cover even if there isn't a lot of depth to the illustration, but that's the power of pulps, it just has to grab you and entice the viewer to want to buy the magazine and hopefully read what's between the covers.  I admit that I have not read this one (according to this review it's one I have to read)but I will get to it before I kick the bucket.  In fact I'm pretty sure that my entire bucket list consists of reading all of The Shadow novels.

"Out of the Past" page 17


Friday, July 20, 2012

Vengeance is Mine!

Great cover, in my opinion.  If you've read this blog in the past you know I love the covers with hands and the ring. My only gripe is the low hanging blue light.  It would have to be hanging from The Shadow's neck to be where it is.  Still, I love the cover.
  I can't speak to the novel, but you can (as always) check out a review here.  I hope to get to this story in the near future but I read so darned slow.  I suppose that is so I can make the adventure last.

"Out of the Past" page 15


Wednesday, July 18, 2012

"Out of the Past" page 13

A peek into the Sanctum.  Not sure The Shadow would allow his agents into this most secret of rooms for a chat but that's how it goes sometimes.

Messenger of Death

I'm told by a very reliable source that this is a good story, despite the lackluster cover art and the fact that this tale comes from 1943.  It is by Walter B. Gibson so it has that going for it.  I haven't read it and won't get to it for some time but it has been reprinted by Sanctum Books recently (issue #60) so it is readily available for your reading pleasure.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Friday, July 13, 2012

Thursday, July 12, 2012

The Voice of Death

I've always been a fan of this particular cover.  Very simple and well executed.  I love the addition of the small eye in the skull's socket.  Rather than have the large, leering eyeball that screams pulp, this is done very elegantly, perfect for the feel of this painting.  I don't have a clew about the story but this review gives a good overview.  If you get a chance to read it, well it's a Shadow story for crying out loud.  Ya gotta read it!

"Out of the Past" page 9


Tuesday, July 10, 2012

City of Crime

No guess?  It's just as well since I think I may have run this one before.  I hear a lot of people love this cover and consider it a classic but I've just never been a fan of covers that show The Shadow in broad daylight.  If the background had been in a deep blue tone to at least make it seem that he was cloaked in black to blend into the night I'd have liked it more.  Since Batman hadn't premiered yet I wouldn't have felt that this was playing off of his popularity.  I guess the reverse is true, isn't it.  Maybe we could get Christopher Nolan interested in doing a trilogy of our beloved hero.  Check out this review if you haven't read the story or even if you have, since it's fun to hear another fan's take on the tales.
As an aside, I think I prefer the working title of "Killer's Vengeance".  Probably would have had a bit more of an exciting, Shadow-ish cover.

"Out of the Past" page 7


Monday, July 9, 2012

Friday, July 6, 2012

Brothers of Doom

Not often we see The Shadow's incredible tolerance to pain!  This image looks like it hurts and would have had me plowing through the chapters to get to the scene that is illustrated on this cover.  If it were Batman of the 50's & 60's the answer would have been simple enough... Bat-Molten Metal Repellant.  Holy Hot Lava!
The novel is another one I haven't read yet (I'm only about 20% through the massive backlog of tales) but you can read a review of it here.

"Out of the Past" page 5


Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Legacy of Death

Truly I am posting this for it's patriotic symbolism.  I know nothing of the story and I believe this art was used on many titles that appeared on the newsstand at that time.  You can find out more about the novel "Legacy of Death" here, if you are so inclined.  There is a spoiler in the review (clearly marked) so beware.
Happy Independence Day to all of the agents out there.  Celebrate safely and remember those that have given their all and continue to protect the freedoms we all enjoy.

"Out of the Past" page 3


Monday, July 2, 2012

The Gray Ghost

Rather dramatic cover.  But why is the villain not wearing his right hand glove?  Where is the girasol?  And where is The Shadow firing with his left (ringless!) hand?  Perhaps these pressing questions will be answered within the pages of this tale from 1936. 

"Out of the Past" page 1

The untold story of Margo Lane.  Enjoy.