Aaaaaarrrrrggggh!

Hello,fellow agents. I just picked up my final 3 issues of Sanctum's The Shadow reprints (5 in the last week... not sure why Diamond wasn't getting them to my comics dealer but that's a moot point now) My gripe is that three stories are not going to be reprinted. Granted they are Elliott tales but after over 13 years of collecting the reprints I expected to have a complete series. I'm not going to buy the three issues on eBay or some other marketplace since the stories aren't really worth it.  I found one issue for $45 but would rather put that towards an issue I really wanted.
I guess I'm just disappointed and a bit angry.  I'm a completist and this just throws my world outta whack.

UPDATE:  I got information from Bill "Superfan" Thinnes letting me know that Conde Nast pulled the licenses from everyone and that Anthony Tollin had to scramble to get the last Gibson and Tinsley stories published.  Sad that it couldn't have made it to the finish line but I'm grateful for what we've gotten and understand the situation.

RIP Sandford "Sandy" Kossin

According to Gregory Manchess at Muddy Colors, Sandy Kossin has passed away.  I will forever remember the first image of The Shadow that I saw as his cover for "The Living Shadow", my first paperback adventure of The Dark Eagle.  I still have it, albeit a lot more beaten up from years of being transferred and read.  His version of The Shadow waned for me as I became more familiar with the traditional imagery of Rozen, Gladney, Steranko and Kaluta.  However, as time marches on and my mind has opened up I have come to appreciate his work and contribution to The Shadow's legacy.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Kossin.  Thank you for introducing me to The Shadow and the world of pulp.

Puzzle #92... Atoms of Death!

Six (6) changes to this cover.  Find 'em all and win a... good feeling inside. 

Doc Savage "The Man of Bronze" homage

Pretty much done with this.  I know, I know, this ain't The Shadow!  But I've put so much work into this I just had to share.  A tad more to be done but it's pretty minor and so I move on.  The next piece won't be pulp related so I won't share on this site and I'll get back to The Shadow.

Advertising The Shadow on radio

Would love to have scoured the daily papers for ads like these and clipping them out just to put them in a desk drawer to yellow until one day I pull them out and get transported back to a simpler time.

FINALLY!!!!

I've been patiently waiting for the publication of Sanctum Books 148th issue of The Shadow Double Novels. 

In this case it's a triple novels issue as we begin the final stretch to finish out the epic run of reprints of the even more epic pulp run of The Shadow Magazine.  I've been trying to read them in order of submission to try and get a sense of the flow of Gibson's progression of The Shadow.  I've been stuck waiting on the 37th novel he wrote, "The Isle of Doubt", for quite some time now.  Sure, I'd read a lot of the others before I hit on this OCD inspired order of reading.  Up to now I've read 85 (including Return of The Shadow) of the adventures.  With this issue I'll be able to fill the missing gap and then jump up to the "The Dark Death" and move along from there with only 14 tales that I've read out of order the rest of the way.  This makes me happy.

What came out the week of January 15th, 1940 - 1943

1940_The Hooded Circle

1941_The Green Terror

1942_The Book of Death

1943_Death's Masquerade

It appears that 1943 marked the last year of twice a month publishing the adventures of The Shadow.  Only one of these covers is actually a classic.  "The Book of Death" from 1942 is truly one of the greatest covers of The Shadow Magazine and of all of pulpdom.  Followed a year later by such a mediocre cover as "Death's Masquerade" is a real shame.

Getting on track with what came out the week of January 1st 1940 - 1948

1940_Death's Premium

1941_Forgotten Gold

1942_Alibi Trail

1943_The Museum Murders

1944_The Crystal Skull

1945_Guardian of Death

1946_The Banshee Murders

1947_Death Stalks the U.N.

 

1948_Ten Glass Eyes

I count only one "classic" cover here.  Of course, I'm biased toward "hand" covers so "Death's Premium" is the only one I elevate to that status.  "Forgotten Gold" and "Alibi Trail" fall into the category of good covers with the traditional concept of The Shadow either being menaced or menacing the bad guys.  The rest make me sad with only 1943's "The Museum Murders" even indicating that this is an adventure of The Shadow.  Progress isn't always a positive thing...

No guesses so it's time to reveal...

...the answers!

1) Eyes are now upside down.

2) Back brim of The Shadow's slouch hat is bigger.

3) Missing finger.

4) The billy club in elongated.

5) The gun barrel is elongated.

 And that's the 91st edition of "What's the Difference".  Until next time, have a better one.

Let's get caught up with what came out January 1st 1932 - 1939

 1932_The Death Tower

 1933_Shadowed Millions

 1934_The Embassy Murders

 1935_The Four Signets

 1936_The Ghost Murders

 1937_Vengeance is Mine

 1938_The Crystal Buddha

1939_Silver Skull

What came out the week of January 15th 1933 - 1939?

The week of January 15th (cover date) for the 1930s.   A couple of classics in there.

 1933_The Creeping Death

 1934_The Wealth Seeker

 1935_The Blue Sphinx

 1936_Castle of Doom

 1937_Fox Hound

 1938_Hills of Death

1939_Crime Rides the Sea

First puzzle of the new decade... The Fate Joss beckons you

There are five (5) changes to this 1935 cover.  Lots goin' on in this one, agents.

Again, not The Shadow but...

My newest painting in progress.  Apologies but the images were taken from my phone, not the best but it gives the idea.  A few hours in, many more to go.  A real challenge knocking off a James Bama piece.  Especially one so well known.  Once I get everything where it belongs I'll start the real work, the insane attention to detail that is the hallmark of Bama's work.  We'll see if I can get even 10% of the needed level then I will have learned quite a lot.

Not quite The Shadow but...

... we all know the connection.  I did this knockoff/swipe/homage as a commission for a returning Vet.  I didn't feel that my own take on The Dark Knight would be good enough so I went for one of my all time favorite images (with a little tweaking) and this is the result.  Jim Aparo is my favorite Batman artist so it was a no-brainer for me.  Hope y'all like it.

My homage to George Rozen

Not perfect by a long shot but I just had to get this outta my system.  Fun painting to work on.  Would love to have seen the original as I was working from the reprint of The Black Hush from Sanctum Books.  Very smooth from reproductions so I couldn't get a true feel for the paint strokes and actual color.  I still have to glaze this down so that the green doesn't pop off so dramatically.  Fun diversion regardless.

No guesses?

There are six (6) differences:

1) LEO becomes ELO

2) This novel expands from 80 pages to 88

3) Gypsie's earring has an extra shadow

4) An extra bracelet on her right wrist

5) The Shadow is missing a pinky finger

6) The bracelet on her left arm has a purple stone rather than a red stone