Tuesday, December 30, 2014

The Chinese Disks

Great cover.  Well rendered and fairly iconic.  I love the use of the Chinese characters that form a bit of a clew on the tapestry.  I don't even mind the yellow background.
  This was the third story reprinted by Anthony Tollin therefore it was the one of the first "new" stories I had read since the late 70's.  Very exciting and long overdue.  If you haven't read it turn off your computer and read it now.  If you need more of a push then check out this review.

"Blood & Judgment" part 3 page 13


Monday, December 29, 2014

Friday, December 26, 2014

Great Christmas Gift

This was a complete surprise to me.  My stepdaughter did some internet trolling and found this little gem.  I had bought my son a lot of the toys from this line back in '94 but they are long gone now.  This brought back a lot of memories for me even if I didn't think much of the toys themselves.  They tried to make The Shadow into a Batman-like superhero.  We did send away for the hologram ring, although I believe we never received it.  As to the gift, just the fact that she searched out anything Shadow for me is the best gift of all.

The Crimson Phoenix

Read this review for an interesting insight into the title.  This cover is okay as a pulp cover, but not as a Shadow cover.  Sure, there is the silhouette present but that seems like a patch done in Photoshop (and yes, I know Photoshop didn't exist in '38) rather than an original painting just for this tale.  This is a Tinsley story and I haven't gotten that far in the series so I can't comment from experience about this entry into the annals of "The Shadow".

"Blood & Judgment" part 3 page 11


Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Christmas clew

This clew should leave no shadow of a doubt as to the cover it's from.  Didn't feel like taxing your holiday brain this close to Christmas.

"Blood & Judgment" part 3 page 9


Friday, December 19, 2014

River of Death

AKA  "Davy Jones' Locker" by Theodore Tinsley.  I hope the tale is better than the cover.  I agree, Agent T, that Rozen would've done it better.  The cast shadow is inexcusable in it's absence of the Dark Eagle's distinctive profile.  And I can't overstate how much I dislike the use of pink on this illustration.  Sheesh, just not up to the standards we are used to.

"Blood & Judgment" part 3 page 7


Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Death's Masquerade

Very conceptual cover.  In my mind it's not very successful but at least it's painted well enough.  And this review seems to indicate that story beneath this cover follows the same formula.  Not very successful.

"Blood & Judgment" part 3 page 5


Friday, December 12, 2014

Jade Dragon

A nice Bob Powell cover, even if it doesn't work as a "pulp" cover.  But seeing as how he was an interior artist there is a nice tie to the pulps.  I won't be getting to this story for some time but it was the return of Walter Gibson to the writing duties of this great magazine.  Alas, it would be short lived.

"Blood & Judgment" part 3 page 2


Thursday, December 11, 2014

From the tongue of land...

... that led to Castle Point came a strange weird laugh that shivered into fading echoes that were lost by the lapping sound of the waves along the Hudson's shore.
  It was The Shadow's mirthless knell for Peter Winstead, the master mind who had outguessed himself for the last time!

Easy clew

Give this a go, agents.  Not that it's very difficult.

"Blood & Judgment" part 3 page 1


Wednesday, December 10, 2014

"Blood & Judgment" part 3

And so it begins.  Part 3.

The London Crimes

I really love the lion sculpture on this cover.  The silhouette is very nice as well.  Other than that it's a pretty dull image.  Kinda British, I'd say.  A bit staid.  I have yet to read this one so I can't review it from a personal standpoint.  You'll have to rely on this review and see if you want to take a trip to merry old England with The Shadow.

Monday, December 8, 2014

Ships of Doom

There is nothing wrong with the rendering of this cover other than the grey brown tone of the clothing.  It just doesn't seem very Shadow-ish to me.  The cloak is too short and I'm not sure who or what our hero is shooting at.  If we are to believe that he is high enough to be in danger of falling to his death then he can't be firing at villains on the ground.  If they are aboard another aircraft then is should be indicated.  This cover just doesn't do it for me.  Well painted technically but just not well conceived, in my opinion.  I have yet to read this one so I'm hoping this review gives me hope for a great tale.

"Blood & Judgment" part 2 page 27


Friday, December 5, 2014

A clew for the week's end

Big wheel keep on turnin'... Proud M...  nah.  Have a great weekend, agents.

A voice spoke...

... through the darkness.  It was a weird, chilling voice- scarcely more than a whisper, yet clear and penetrating.

"Blood & Judgment" part 2 page 26

I like the historical nature of this page.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

The Ribbon Clues

Submitted as "Xerxes" in '35, this looks like a generic pulp cover.  If not for the purple silhouette we'd be unable to discern this from a basic adventure magazine.  Not my favorite, by a long shot.  Maybe the story will redeem the cover art.  It has been reprinted by Tollin and is one of the next on my list to read.

"Blood & Judgment" part 2 page 25


Monday, December 1, 2014

First clew of the last month of 2014

Hopefully this clew will light your way.  Hope everyone had a very good Thanksgiving with family and friends and that the holiday season brings the best out of everyone.  Wouldn't want to have to turn The Shadow loose on the Christmas crowd...

"Blood & Judgment" part 2 page 22


Thursday, November 27, 2014

Stop thinking about that turkey leg...

 
There is no turkey leg.  If there were you'd be Elenore Roosevelt.


Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Murder Every Hour

Love this cover.  Since I haven't read this story I didn't know the significance of five o'clock rather than the typical midnight.  After reading this review I now understand.  Wish the background were something more than a basic green but that is not uncommon for this magazine.  Otherwise, a compelling illustration that adds to the pantheon of wonderful covers that graced this great publication.

"Blood & Judgment" part 2 page 20


Monday, November 24, 2014

The Crystal Buddha

My problem has been with the small stature of the .45 that is so often described as a "massive smoke wagon".  Otherwise this is a very nice cover that captures the feel of Ying Ko.  Emerging from the inky shadows to confront the villain, eventually to put an end to the menace.  I haven't read this one yet but will.  This review may help any of you who haven't read it yet, either.

"Blood & Judgment" part 2 page 18


Friday, November 21, 2014

A clew to take you into the weekend

Have a great weekend, agents.  Remember, The Shadow is keeping his eye on you...