Swag!

 It looks like there are some things we, as fans, can buy.  First up, The Shadow.

And for you Doc Savage fans...

Where can one buy these shirts (at $35 a pop)?  For The Shadow you drop by BJonas... no, no that would be too cool.  theshadow.shop

Doc Savage can be had at docsavage.shop

 

Hopefully they can produce some other items as time goes on.   

ON THE AIR January 29, 1939

"A mobster plunges the city into darkness by planting explosive light bulbs everywhere."  That's the synopsis from The Shadow Wiki.  It's a little deeper than that but only a bit.  It's another solid episode from Bill Johnstone's first season as The Shadow.  Take a listen if you haven't heard this one or, better yet, if you have heard it many times.

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"The boy is mine now!"

And an added bonus... the original art.

The Shadow of a Doubt

 

An odd little photo-play, for sure.  I hope the radio program was better.  At least they let The Shadow make an appearance in panel 6.

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 "You hot-headed, crazy little fool!"

Cast of The Shadow radio program

 Using Shadowiki as my source, as best as I can figure this is for the cast starting with "Spotlight on the Duchess" November 4, 1945 and ending with "They Kill with a Silver Hatchet" May 26, 1946.  Bret Morrison came back for his second stint and ran until the end of the series but Leslie Woods seems only to have appeared during this period.  I may have to do more digging and if I find out something to add or change, I'll let you know.

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"...taught me something I didn't even know myself..."

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"So you must be the one they call 'The Terror of Chinatown'."

What I'm reading now

 

Taking a break from The Shadow's adventures and returning to Burroughs' great character, Tarzan.  The sequel to the classic "Tarzan of the Apes".  Not sure if I will read the entire series since some of them get very poor reviews from his most ardent fans.  Still, the first few should be worth the time.

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 "The tong wars went out with silent pictures, Jake."

ON THE AIR January 22, 1939

Another wonderful episode that has made the rounds for many years.  If you haven't listened to it then pull up a chair and let the past wash over you as "Valley of the Living Dead" returns you to 1939.  Enjoy.

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"What the heck is wrong with kids these days?"

Whatever side of the aisle you are on let's hope we can come together as a united country

 

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 "I w-was running from some...some..."

Again, this bodes ill

 I really hope that this is a temporary cover design.  I already have no faith in this new version The Shadow.  sigh

Seriously, "Crime has a new enemy"? 

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 "I said dump it!  Quick-quick-quick-quick-quick."

Building anticipation

This little ad probably gave fans a thrill of expectation.  A Paul Orban illustration to prepare the millions of readers for this, the second of four adventures with Shiwan Khan.

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"Of course you weren't.  I was."

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 Khan-Shai!  Gultag!

(Not sure what 'Gultag' means.  I did a Chinese and a Mongolian to English translation and it only referred me to a German translation meaning 'valid day')

ON THE AIR January 15, 1939

 Pretty much a classic that has been available for some time.  I have listened to this many times and enjoy it always.  Give this a listen even if you've heard it many times and enjoy a trip back to a simpler time.

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"Dr. Gum!  What--"

"Stop them--

--the Hatchet Men!"

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"It's never over, Cap...

...not when Chinatown's in trouble."

Joseph Clement Coll

 Tim, since you asked here are a few links (1, 2, 3) re: J C Coll.  I was introduced to this phenomenal artist by another awesome artist, Al Williamson.  He gifted me "The Magic Pen of Joseph Clement Coll" while I was a student of his at The Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic art in the mid 80s.  This book has been an inspiration to me for nearly 40 years.

He influenced Frazetta, Williamson, Stout, Krenkle and so many more.  His work sparked imaginations and brought a level of believability to the fantastic stories that populated the newpapers and popular publications of the time.  He died at the age of 41 and one can only wonder what he could have accomplished had he lived to a ripe old age.

A bit of his technique...

... and an unfinished piece to get an idea of how he worked.  This is actually quite large and it was hanging in Al Williamson's kitchen back in the day.  I wish I could study it more closely now but, alas, I have no idea where it resides.

Do an image search for Coll, it'll blow your mind.  And just for good measure, another that could have been Shiwan Khan.

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 "Banion?  It is I!"

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KROMP

If Joseph Clement Coll had drawn Shiwan Khan

I love a lot of the interior illustrations that graced the tales of The Shadow but I'd love to have seen what Mr. Coll would have done with these stories.

"Fireworks Part One" page 11

"Wh-what if he's a... he's a wh-white..."

 

ON THE AIR January 8, 1939

"A falsely accused spy thinks of nothing but revenge for twenty years while sitting in jail, but the man who will pardon him is murdered before he can reach the prison."   The Shadow Wiki 

I've listened to this one a few times and really enjoy it.  If you haven't heard this adventure then take a moment and listen to Island of the Devil.

"Fireworks Part One" page 10

 "... a place where anything can happen."

WWTSD

 The first week of 1934 saw this cover on newsstands across The United States of America.  Who would have thought 88 years to the week later this cover could have looked like this...

No matter what your political viewpoint may be, this cannot stand in our country.  What Would The Shadow Do?  Not this.  I only hope this is a one off event that brings us closer and doesn't drive us even further apart.  At this point in our history "United We Stand" should truly be our rallying cry.  Let's do better.

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"But you've gotta be a man..."

 

Spotlight on The Shadow!

 The only decent thing about the monthly Dynamite Comics series was the Alex Ross covers.

"Fireworks Part One" page 8

 

WHOK!

GYAAAAAAAAAA

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BEWARE THE MONGOL!

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 "Please, Mr. Vincent!  You make me blush!"

ON THE AIR correction

 I apologize for placing last weeks radio episode a week ahead.  It appears that I have been relying too heavily on a single source and the date was incorrect for "The Man Who Murdered Time".  Since it dealt with the new year I should have been a bit more aware but instead just posted it.  The show should be this week's post and last week should have been "Give Us This Day", the 1938 Christmas show.  The Shadow Wiki gives us this synopsis.  

"A Dickens' tale where a "Scrooge" is pocketing the money from the orphanage, leaving the children to starve until The Shadow pays a visit." 

Since it is one of the missing episodes it was skipped over.  I'll try and be more diligent in the future.

Anyhow, here's a fervent wish that 2021 gets things back to normal so that we can once again start making strides for a better future.  Happy New Year, agents.

"Fireworks Part One" page 5

"Some girls a guy can go out with once, and then he's bored.

Some he can go back to a hundred times."

I'm not sure this is how W. B. Gibson envisioned his main agent to be.  A bit of a rouge, it seems...