Friday, June 30, 2017

Batman/The Shadow #3


I just read this issue Wednesday evening.  I just read several reviews of this issue this morning.  I'm having a hard time reconciling my opinion of this series with that of the comic-verse.  I absolutely am not on board with the characterization of The Shadow, either in prose or pictures.  This series has been a tremendous letdown for me and yet the reviews of this book are high.  I'm guessing the reviewers have no connection to The Shadow because this ain't my Dark Eagle.  Just sayin'...


Really?

Thursday, June 29, 2017

The Shadow Annual 1947 Edition


 Meh.  This cover does nothing for me.  I love the huge cloak but other than that this just seems uninspired.  But it was 1947 and change was all about.  I believe this annual reprinted the Gibson tales "No Time For Murder", "The Toll of Death" & "Murder by Magic".

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

The Crime Crypt


Right you are, Agent T.  I recommend you read this one.  Not the best but pretty good.  The cover, though, is great.  I wish they had been more creative (or even remotely creative) with the type.  Yellow boxes with the title smaller than the "Twice A Month" blurb?  Really?

Monday, June 26, 2017

Thursday, June 22, 2017

Took a little time off

  So I got some reading done (as well as some artwork and other stuff, but reading was very high on my list).  Not sure when the last time I was able to just read through an issue of The Shadow.  Sure makes a difference in the flow of the story.
  After finishing "The Gangster" by Clive Cussler, which I had been reading for a few weeks, I read "Nighthawk" (by Clive as well) in about 3 days.  I then picked up "Mox" and just sat down and read.  Gotta say it was nice.  I really enjoyed getting into Gibson's tale, although it probably wasn't his most subtle.  Really pushed one character as the bad guy only to be a red herring.  The anagram used by the Shadow in disguise stood out too much, in my opinion.  The killer was awesome as well.  As a Star Trek fan it was hard to keep running across the name and not picture the actor. Still, love the old stories.  I had read this back in the 70's when it was reprinted by Pyramid.  On a note regarding the cover, I'm not sure what the original image means although I think it is pretty cool.  The Steranko cover is much more in keeping with the story.






Wednesday, June 21, 2017

House of Shadows

"Can't talk right now, Margo.  I'm a little tied up at the moment."

  Sorry, couldn't resist.  I like the rendering of the this piece just can't say as I'm a fan of our hero being in such a state.  The slouch hat is looking a bit too much like a fedora here and the lack of a background doesn't do this cover any favors.  At least it's got the ring.

Friday, June 16, 2017

The Seven Drops of Blood


Love the title to this one.  This cover, evoking the mysterious East, was probably a bit of a trope in the day.  I like the rendering of this one but question the lack of a great representation of our hero.  If someone was just coming to The Shadow (although I find it hard to believe anyone who read the pulps would not recognize the masthead) would be lost as to whether the man in the turban was the main character or not.  Personally I love that just the hand with the ring is shown and that the cast shadow is not really recognizable as the famous silhouette. (Hold the phone, is that our hero just peeking out from behind the yellow turban?)  Would the fabulous girasol be the eight drop of blood?  I must read to find out.

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Murder on Main Street


Yes, yes, this one wasn't even worth trying to solve.  Not only is this a wretched cover it is one of the Elliott novels.  'nuff said.

Monday, June 12, 2017

Friday, June 9, 2017

Garden of Death


One of my least favorite covers.  A damsel in distress!  A giant bat!  The Shadow firing a "huge smokewagon"!  What's not to like?  It's just poorly composed and the colors are awful.  I can only guess that Rozen was rushed on this one.

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

The Crimson Death


I really like this cover.  Sure, Gladney's version of The Shadow ain't my cuppa tea but I think his rendering skills were quite good.  He had a really nice handle on skulls, something I always responded to.  Love the tuft of hair left on the skull.

Friday, June 2, 2017

The Fifth Napoleon

Okay cover.  That gun looks waaaaayyyyy too small to be considered a "smoke wagon".  Looks like our hero will be in the market for a new hat, though.