Who said it?

 "You wanted wealth - all for yourself. You found it. You pretended death, and therefore you deserved it. It is yours at present. Death to the dead!"

Identify the speaker and the tale it came from.  Good luck, agents.

Fingers of Death... Who did it better?

 Rozen?

Steranko?

"The Slaugherhouse" page 14-15

 "I couldn't get it all down.  But I kept my head."

Does anyone have this sculpt?

 I chose not to pick this up when it came out because I thought it was bit too cartoony.  Over time I've grown to appreciate it.  I love the bust by Bowen and Kaluta and feel that sculpt is the benchmark.  Maybe I'm a bit too harsh when it comes to The Shadow and art...

The Shadow 1940 15 part serial

 

If you haven't seen this chapter play from Columbia I have to say "Give it a try".  The Shadow isn't who we we've gotten to know through the pulps but that's alright.  It's pretty standard hero fare from this era.  Lots of punching and near death experiences.  Harry Vincent takes the role of Shrevvy for most of the film.  Margo is a lab assistant who screams a lot.  Joe Cardona is a bit player and Weston blusters a lot.  The Cobalt Club plays a big part in this and The Black Ship makes an appearance.  The Shadow survives more explosions in these 15 chapters than all of the pulps combined, it seems.

It's overlong but when taken in the context of 15 weekly installments I'll bet it was a bit of a thrill.  I'm watching it through the disadvantage of 81 years of movie making evolution.  Just like reading the pulps, one has to put themselves into the time it was created.

"The Slaughterhouse" page 13

 "The master needs us, Shrevnitz..."

What I'm watching now

 The 1940 serial "The Shadow" starring Victor Jory and Veda Ann Borg.  Nearly 5 hours long, we'll see how far I get.

The Shadow... master pitchman!

 Look at all of the sponsorships behind the radio program, the comics and the magazine.  A money machine in the day.

Early Kaluta

 This looks like Kaluta's early attempts as finding his version of The Shadow, Lamont & Margo.  I love the fluid ink work, looks like he was very influenced by Wrightson and possibly Jones.  It is signed "1977" but feels earlier.

"The Slaughterhouse" page 12

 "Ha! Who's laughing now, huh?"

On my wish list

"The Shadow Ablaze" would be a great addition to my collection.  I kind of wish it were a darker color palette, though.  A little bright for The Shadow.  Still, beautiful and iconic and pure Kaluta.

What I'm reading now...

 Oh, yeah!  The David Byrne novel.  (Okay, a bit of a stretch and a slip into pop music but I couldn't resist)

I haven't read this since I ran across the Dover double novel so long ago.  Really looking forward to getting into it.  With such a deliciously pulpy cover painting by G. Rozen, how can you go wrong?  Heck, John Olsen gives it his approval and that's all I need...

"The Slaughterhouse" page 11

 "Get this guy!"

William Magner

 I wish I could find more images and information about the model who became the face of The Shadow.  William Magner modeled for many pulp covers (one is in the background of this image) over his career.  He was in a couple of movies but I can find no other pictures of him or biography.  I think the image I am posting has been heavily Photoshopped but that doesn't diminish the power of his face or those massive hands.  He must have been a dream model for pulp artists much Steve Holland was for Bama and those Doc Savage covers.

Like The Shadow, his origin and life are shrouded in the shadows of time.

I can see the Magner influence with these covers.

ON THE AIR: November 26, 1939

"Several workers in a tunnel construction project are killed in a depressurization chamber when the air pressure in it drops too quickly. The Shadow investigates to see if a rival contractor is behind it." 

The Shadow Wiki 

 

Sandhog Murders is a classic episode that once again finds The Shadow encountering crime lurking under the streets of (presumably) New York City.  This script shines a light on how hard the job of building the infrastructure of a city is and introduces us to the term 'Sandhog'.  A great episode and if you haven't listened now's your chance.  Adventure is just a click away.

"The Slaughterhouse" page 10

 "I've got news for you, Harry.  He did."

Under The Blue Light

 Calling this done.  I added the code digitally and dropped in some solid black for the masthead if this were ever to be used as a cover.  If it were to be used as an interior spot illustration then it might look something like this...

Just a bit of fun (for me, anyhow) and now I must concentrate on some work that can pay the bills.  As a side note, when I tackle The Shadow again I'll use a board and not canvas.  The nap of the fabric, which can enhance some paintings, really hurts my attempts to get smooth detail.  If this were a fine art piece and I were using a more impressionistic approach, canvas would work out great.  However, a smooth gessoed particle board would have been smarter for this one.  Still, a lot of fun to do and now I move onto the next project where I can apply what I have learned.

"The Slaughterhouse" page 9

"Life's just full of surprises, isn't it?"

Just for comparison...

 Here's G. Rozen's original cover to "Shadowed Millions" just so you can see how Steranko was inspired.  And there is the ring!  As action packed as the Pyramid version is with the flowing money and the dramatic pose of The Shadow, this one really feels like our hero is looming over crime.  Love this cover!  What say you?

Again with Steranko? What gives!

 Because I said so, that's why...

Now, which cover appeals most to the agent in you?  The Pyramid edition ...

or the H B Jove version?

Me?  Well I have to say the Pyramid cover image has been an absolute favorite of mine.  Maybe because it was the first "new" paperback I bought.  This book sealed my fascination with Gibson's creation and the cover is nearly a perfect pulp image.  Beautiful.

"The Slaugherhouse" page 8

 "A salad and a ticket to New York?"

Another Steranko double take

 

I don't want to influence anyone but if you don't pick the original Pyramid Books version, well, only The Shadow knows what kind of hell will rain down...

How 'bout a peek at E R Cruz?

 

Cruz has a style that is reminiscent of many great Latin American artists like Alex Niño, Nestor Redondo, Alfredo Alcala, Tony DeZuniga and Rudy Nebres (a favorite inker of mine).  So much texture in these illustrations.  I honestly think this suffers from the color and would have looked so much better just black and white.  Anyhow, Cruz finished of the original run with issues 10-12. 

"The Slaughterhouse" page 7

 "Damn it, I can't think with those cows.  Why can't they--"

Which cover works best for you?

I appreciate the nod to the M. Stein cover that was recycled for the premiere issue back in April of 1931, I have to give my vote to the Rozen homage.
 

Revisiting Frank Robbins

 After Kaluta left the series at issue #6, Frank Robbins knocked out three more tales before E. R. Cruz finished the twelve issue run.  Robbins had his first story wedged between #4 and #6.  I have to say that I have really grown to appreciate the style and story telling of Frank.  When this came out I couldn't stand it, probably mostly due to being a fan of Kaluta.  As the (many) years have passed I haven't just accepted these four stories, I've come to really look forward to them.  Very fun look to our hero and his cohorts as well as over the top bad guys.  If you haven't checked these out, do yourself a favor and take a look.  I posted this series waaaaaay back in 2010 and 2011.  Here is the link to the cover of "Night of Neptune's Death" and you can read the story by accessing the following posts by using the archive on the right side of the blog.  Enjoy.

"The Slaughterhouse" page 6

 "Criminy.  You can hear those things in here."

A definite favorite Steranko cover

 But why wouldn't it be?  It's pretty much a "hands" cover and I've made it pretty well know how I feel about those.  Have a great weekend, agents.

ON THE AIR: November 19, 1939

I love this episode.  Maybe I've just listened to it enough to think of it as an old friend but The Shadow on the high seas and smugglers and our hero having to become a doctor... well, if you haven't listened to The Shadow Returns then I won't spoil it for you.

"The Slaughterhouse" page 5

 "Now all the threads have been woven into my grand design..."

An early Chaykin version of The Shadow

Cody Starbuck and The Shadow.  If I hadn't seen it I never would have thought it possible, let alone believe it. 

The Shadow Movie Adaptation #2 page 24

 And this is all I have of the black and white pages.  I may post the complete series as published.  Just a thought.