Happy Easter

The master has decided to send me on a mission for a few day.  I'm turning out the blue light for a few days. 

Tower of Death

Just finished this novel.  Have to say I couldn't figure how the floor could drop and nobody notice.  Very elaborate gimmick, to say the least.  The clews were all there although the optical illusion was kept in reserve.  Not fair, Mr. Gibson.  All in all a very enjoyable read.  I was very upset with myself for having read "The Death Clew" before this one.  I've been trying to read the stories in the order they were written and I made a mistake and flipped these two novels.  The last paragraph of "Tower of Death" references "The Death Clew".  I don't know if that had been done before or since but it was the first time I can remember a passage in the story leading the reader to the next issue.  That would have hooked me in the day.

Bells of Doom

Great cover from the mid '30s run of The Shadow Magazine.  Nice design and I love the execution of the illustration.  The bells look like they could have been painted by JC Lyendecker from a Saturday Evening Post out of the '20s.  From an illustrator's point of view that is high praise.  I haven't read the story yet but this review and the opinion of Agent T says you can't go wrong with "Bells of Doom".

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One ringy dingy

Clew for the middle of the week.

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City of Ghosts

A fairly static cover.  I know the flames are supposed to create drama and danger, however this doesn't  feel truly dramatic nor dangerous.  Alas, this is just a middle of the road cover.  The tale?  According to this review it's an average story that somehow rises above the ordinary to something a bit more.  Ringing endorsement?  No.  Still, it's intriguing and it is The Shadow.

"Death Sits Down"

A new two part adventure from the Master of Men!

Ruby Clewsday

Give it a go.

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The End.

Atoms of Death

A more sinister Shadow would have made this cover a winner.  That and losing the yellow background.  Always cool when the reader gets to see the characters that have become so familiar.  Cranston meets Cranston!  Henry Arnaud!  The return of Bruce Duncan!  Dr. Sayre!  Even a rare appearance by Tapper!  I love seeing returning characters who aren't the everyday agents of The Master of Men (Harry, Clyde, etc...).  All this and an Atomic Ray Gun!  Wow, what a fun time to be a pulp fan!  Check out this review for a deeper study of this story.

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Weekend Clew

Have a better one, agents.

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House of Shadows

My Shadow should never be seen as a captive.  That's fine for the lesser heroes, but the Master of Men should never be seen in such a compromised position.  Hey, it's well painted but I'm not a fan of this cover.  And I agree, Agent T, the white cuffs have to go.  I think that Rozen would have come up with a better solution for the art.  I haven't read the story but this review thinks it is a pretty good tale.

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Midweek Clew

Um... Burbank... this is a bit embarrassing but I seem to be a bit tied up.  Could you send Vincent around.  Just don't tell Margo, she might get ideas...

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Smugglers of Death

Ah... the infamous "Lady Shadow" cover.  Decent enough design but not my favorite.  I really would rather see our hero confronting the bad guy and not some supposedly naked woman acting the role of "The Master of Men".  This review says that this is pretty good read so check it out.

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A little puzzle to start the week

Have fun, agents.

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Tower of Death

Deduction of points, Agent T.  No "The" in this title.  However, you are correct.  I just started reading this one and am looking forward to the early thrills that this one promises to deliver.  The submitted title was "Tower of Doom", potato/potahto in my mind.  The cover is, well, pretty cool even though it doesn't showcase our hero in a physical sense.  I guess it really embodies the early concept that Gibson wrote so well, the eerie elongated shadow that seemed to come from nowhere.  All in all, I am pretty taken with this illustration and it should have really helped sales.  After all, the cover art was designed to serve one purpose in the pulp world, sell dime magazines that no one thought would hang around after the initial reading.  Heh, I wonder if they would have spent a bit more time on the art overall if they knew how long this character would last.

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Clew to the New story I've just started

I'm excited to be reading this story and here is a bit of cover for you to... um... uncover.

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Crime Circus

Originally titled "Crime Clew" this one appears to be a very good issue.  Probably couldn't tell that from the cover.  It looks like The Master of Men is doing his impression of Carnac from the Tonight Show.  Although that would be a neat trick since Carnac wouldn't make an appearance until 1964, thirty years into the future.  Hmmm, maybe it's true... The Shadow Knows.

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Take a look into the future...

and come up with the answer to this clew.

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Crime Over Miami

I've always liked this cover, although it probably wouldn't have jumped out at someone who didn't know about The Shadow (although in 1940 I doubt that there were very many people who were unaware of the man of mystery) and was just picking up the magazine for the first time.  This one seems like a good read and I've always wanted to get to it.  At the rate I'm going it'll be some time till that happens. 
Regarding the cover, I'm a bit confused as to who is who.  The fact that the Cranston opening the door isn't wearing the famous girasol ring although the text indicates that he is The Shadow doesn't make sense.  Also, the Cranston holding the "Please Do Not Disturb" sign has the placid expression of someone in control while the other figure looks more emotional.  The red cuff link doesn't cut it as far as hinting at who's who.  However, a well painted cover and a seminal one as well.  If you're curious about the story just click here.

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More clew to get you through the weekend

We'll meet again on Monday.

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Easy ysaE

Give it a go, agents.  Pretty simple yet a watershed moment.

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Chain of Death

Awesome cover!  The colors are classic.  The great rendering of The Shadow is as good as it gets.  The fact that he is performing a little shadowy lock picking is pretty cool.  Under the cover the story, submitted as Crime, Inc., has visits to the sanctum, secret codes and a look at The Shadow "molding" his face.  I can't wait to read this one.  If you want a preview go to to this link.

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A clew, as usual

A cover I rather like.  I hope the same can be said of you.

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Crime at Seven Oaks

Kinda reminds me of Ace, the Bat Hound.  Not a great cover but not as bad as the Modest Stein covers.  Still, the blue background really annoys me.  Just doesn't jump off the stands for me.  The story?  Have no idea other than what this review reveals.  I hope it's better than the cover.

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Weekend clew

Have a great spring weekend, fellow agents.  Give this a go.

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