Thursday, December 31, 2020
What I'm reading now...
I feel like I should wait until tomorrow to start reading "The Ghost Murders" as the cover date is January 1, 1936. 85 years ago this tale was on newsstands and I'd feel like I was in a community of sorts reading this adventure. Granted it was submitted February 21, 1935 (under the title "The Cigarette Cipher") but still all of the fans and even casual readers wouldn't get a shot at this one until about 1/1/36. I'm looking forward to this one as the new year dawns on us.
Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Gangland's Doom by Frank Eisgruber, Jr.
The awesome original cover art by Frank Hamilton to this early study of the history of The Shadow by Frank Eisgruber, Jr.
This is the copy I own. I've read this a few times (a pretty easy read) with a couple observations that are unique to this book. This is not the best of the books to review the character but it is possibly the first to take a somewhat deep dive in the murky depths of the pulp magazine's tales.
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Chronology of Shadows
I really appreciate this book as Rick Lai puts all of the adventures in a timeline that tries to make sense of how the novels could have played out in real time. Some of the novels overlap and Mr. Lai explains that The Shadow could have left one case for another and then come back so that the many weeks some cases took could make more sense. A fun exercise in world building. Find a copy if you don't already have one.
Monday, December 28, 2020
The Night Master by Robert Sampson
This has been one of my favorite studies of The Shadow. Maybe it's because it's a hardcover with an awesome dust jacket or that it was something that I tracked down back in the day (without aid of the interweb) which made it all the more sweet to get. I read this every couple of years. There are better books but sometimes one just gets attached, for whatever reason, and cherishes something. If you don't have a copy I wish you luck in tracking down one for a reasonable price.
Friday, December 25, 2020
ON THE AIR: December 25, 1938
I don't know if this is a classic but it is one that I have listened to many times. It's not a Christmas episode even though it aired on that day 82 years ago. Sit back and listen to "The Man Who Murdered Time" about a man who wanted to live forever just to exact revenge in perpetuity. Hmmm, seems a bit apropos for the times we are living in... Merry Christmas, agents.
Thursday, December 24, 2020
"...to Cloud Men's Minds!" page 24
"...it seems you might aid me after all... in making The Shadow an even greater source of terror to the underworld than he is already. And terror is my greatest weapon."
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
The Shadow Scrapbook... essential to your Sanctum's library
Another well worn and well loved book about all things Shadow. Before the internet this and the Duende History of The Shadow Magazine were my go to references (and still are, truth be told). If you don't have either of these books find a copy and enjoy.
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
500th post for 2020
First time since I started this blog to hit this mark. It's been fun but sometimes a bit of a struggle to come up with new ways to present old stuff. On The Air and The Week Of were new and I'll continue with the radio posts as long as I can find them. Not a problem at the moment but there are a lot missing. I'll keep doing this as long as agents drop in to see what's here. Thanks for taking the time to check out this little dusty corner in the office of B Jonas.
...to the end?
As we know, The Shadow never seems to come to an end. We just won't let that happen.
Monday, December 21, 2020
Duende History of The Shadow Magazine
One of my favorite books, about The Shadow or otherwise. I wore mine out some time ago but that doesn't stop me from thumbing through it often. Probably thought it was expensive at the time, heh. Always liked Frank Hamilton's take on The Shadow.
Friday, December 18, 2020
ON THE AIR December 18, 1938
"A man with a special visitor pass to a prison takes a tour of the "Death House." The deranged guard forces the guest to sit in the electric chair, then straps him down and gives him the ultimate thrill." The Shadow Wiki
I've listened to this episode quite a few times. Not my favorite but I like the idea of the executioner getting a bit out of control. Apparently, according to The Shadow Wiki, this script was reused in 1944. Sit back, relax and listen to Guest of Death.
Thursday, December 17, 2020
New English Library presents Hands in the Dark
This is the last cover I have been able to find. Not a bad cover. Very pulp in nature and contemporary in style since these books were published in 1976 - 1977.
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
No, no, no, no, no!!!!!
I just did a quick search regarding the upcoming James Patterson novel of The Shadow. I thought the first place I looked was a mistake Goodreads) but then I went to a listing on Amazon and got the same story outline.
Even time cannot stop the Shadow.
Only two people know
Lamont Cranston's secret identity as the Shadow, a vigilante of justice:
his greatest love, Margo Lane -- and his fiercest enemy, Shiwan Khan.
Then Khan ambushes the couple, who have the slimmest chance of survival
... in the uncertain future.
A century and a half later, Lamont
awakens in a world both unknown and disturbingly familiar. The first
person he meets is Maddy Gomes, a teenager with her own mysterious
secrets, including a more than passing familiarity with the legend of
the Shadow.
Most disturbing, Khan's power continues to be felt
over the city and its people. No one in this new world understands the
dangers of stopping him better than Lamont Cranston. He also knows he's
the only one who stands a chance. The Shadow must prove that he's not
only a super crime-fighter, but an icon.
If this is true then I am truly saddened. I was really hoping for adventures set, maybe, prior to The Living Shadow or in the early to mid 1930s. I hope this is just a bad joke or someone didn't vet the accuracy of a "rumor". Alas, what with the terrible treatment Dynamite Comics gave The Shadow, I fear this may be accurate.
What came out the week of December 15th, 1940 - 1942
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
What came out the week of December 15th, 1932 - 1939
Monday, December 14, 2020
New English Library presents The Mobsmen on the Spot
Friday, December 11, 2020
ON THE AIR: December 11, 1938
Murder by Rescue. I haven't heard this one before but the awesome Shadow Wiki has a synopsis:
"A young man is about to inherit his parent's estate. His evil uncle hypnotizes him by playing a record, hoping his nephew will believe he's rescuing a little girl from being hit by a car. In reality, he's rescuing a life-size doll, and his uncle wants him to die in the hit-and-run."
Take a listen and let me know what you think. I'm gonna sit back and do the same.
Thursday, December 10, 2020
New English Library presents The Black Master
I can't help but see The Black Master, aka Dr. Heinrich Zerndorff, as Ernst Stavros Blofeld in this illustration. And that hat just doesn't work for The Shadow. This cover doesn't do it for me but I can't complain when another generation gets introduced to our hero.
Wednesday, December 9, 2020
The Living Shadow... a different look
I've always kinda liked this cover art even though it absolutely is not The Shadow. Just a bit too pimp-ish for it to be The Master of Men. Still, the artwork itself is quite well done.
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
The Shadow and the Ghost Makers: A Better Little Book
Now I want to see what moves when one just flips the pages. I hope that it would be The Shadow doing something heroic.