"The Shadow's Shadow"

Let's see how John Olsen sums up this classic novel...

"It's a terrific Shadow pulp adventure. It's got murder and mayhem. There's a romance angle for those so inclined. It gives readers a bit of background on The Shadow's history as well as a brief tantalizing glimpse into his hidden face. There's torture. There's death traps. Plot twists and intriguing characters. It all adds up to a very satisfying Shadow story that I can heartily recommend."

 I like how big The Shadow is on this Steranko cover but I think I prefer the original Rozen pulp illustration.

"The Strike" page 1

 ...and so begins the end.

"The Creeping Death"

 

One of the most famous covers of the entire run of The Shadow Magazine.  Absolutely perfect!  And a pretty great story to boot.

Sorry Jim, you had no chance to improve on this gem.  Plus this feels more like "The Book of Death" rather than "The Creeping Death".  Nice illustration but it doesn't surpass Rozen's classic.

The Shadowed Circle issue 2: A review part 2

 Tim King did a pretty interesting article about Military Heraldry and The Shadow.  Various intelligence units that use a variation of the silhouette motif for shoulder patches and id.  As Tim says it could be coincidence since the image of a cloak and dagger character is pretty much how The Shadow presents.  He does draw some parallels between some cover art, Rozen, Kaluta and Steranko being referenced, and the art that shows up to represent the units.  A fun reveal and one I hadn't ever really considered.

Next is a brief overview of Will Murray's book, "Master of Mystery: The Rise of The Shadow".  Pretty much just a tease for anyone who hasn't read the book.  I'll be reading this book soon myself.

Now we come to the first part of a great look at the pulps and how they came to be.  So many things had to come together just right so that The Shadow Magazine could come into being.  It's a great read by Todd D. Severin and Keith Holt, the authors of "The Shadow - Mysterious Being of the Night part 1".  I've read most of the information in some form or another over the decades but not all put together in such a nice timeline.  You'll enjoy this and I look forward to part 2 in (I assume) issue 3.

The final article takes a look at The Explorers Club and the (possible) membership which included both The Shadow and Doc Savage.  The Explorers League (a fictional version of said club) is used in some of the tales by Will Murray and also by Lester Dent.  It's an interesting "What if" kind of article.  

This issue has another cartoon and introduces a "Comments & Letters" page and also another "The Shadow Inquires" question.

That's it for this issue.  As I said before, if you haven't gotten yours be sure and subscribe.

ON THE AIR: April 7, 1940

 

Another lost episode and the final one of the third season.  A little trivia about this broadcast, Jeanette Nolan stood in for an ailing Marjorie Anderson.  This, according to Martin Grams' synopsis, seems to be a very strange episode involving an escaped lunatic bent on revenge.  He is a doctor who implanted a pituitary gland from an ape in an executed convict and brought him back to life.  One of the people intended for death is Commissioner Weston who, with the aid of The Shadow, tricks the killer into thinking he is in bed with the old 'pillows under the covers' trick.  Pretty sure I'd have to hear this to really understand the whole thing.  

Luckily for us, we have an almost complete Season 4 coming up.

"Shadowed Millions"

 

 

I know, I know... I've featured this a number of times.  It just falls into the daily run I've started.  Great cover.  So symbolic.

The art made its way to issue #3 of Shadow Comics.  This is the third of six Rozen covers the comic books reused.

 

 

And, of course, Pyramid Books' Steranko cover.  Awesome!  This was my first "new" purchase of The Shadow.  I had introduced myself through radio in the early 70's and then found a beat up Bantam edition of "The Living Shadow".  But this is the image that solidified my obsession with this character and thus I never tire of seeing it or putting it up on this blog.  Just a fantastic rendering of The Dark Eagle.

"Kings of Crime"

A "hand" cover!  Seems that there was about 10 percentage of the covers that featured the symbolism of The Shadow's hand for a long time.  19 of the first 189 used a variation on this motif.  Three others had a hand (of sorts) but they weren't The Shadow's hand.  This novel also marks the first appearance of The Shadow disguised as "Phineas Twambley."

 

Pyramid's cover...

...and H B Jove's cover design.  Both are by James Steranko.  I prefer the first of his.
 

"The Strike"

 Part two with a great cover by Eduardo Barreto.

"The Romanoff Jewels"

A personal favorite of mine.  The explanation of the famous fire opal, the girasol ring that makes friend feel safe and foe feel dread.

"You have sought the Romanoff gems. I have brought one here to show you. Gaze upon the stone that gleams from my finger. That priceless girasol was once owned by the Czars of Russia. It, alone, of all the baubles in this room, is genuine! This girasol was a gift, which I accepted as a memento of friendship from the man who owned it."

A nice cover, not action packed but a wonderful early rendering of The Shadow.

 

Now this Pyramid Books illustration is my favorite of the three covers that heralded this great tale.  The third was a second version for the paperbacks that H B Jove used.  Both by James Steranko.

 

"Death Sits Down" pages 24 & 25

To Be Continued

"Dead Men Live"

 "What little of your work I did not know, I have learned tonight. I shall tell you of your crimes, that you may know why I propose grave consequences. Tonight, you shall know the death that you imposed upon others. The death from which men awake. Within this building dead men live. They will be released tonight; you shall remain."

 Awesome cover art by George Rozen.  I kinda like the cover layout better with the horizon line  behind The Shadow's head.  Either way, this is a terrific cover with great symbolism.

"Death Sits Down" page 23

"No! Get away! Get away!"

"The Five Chameleons"

This cover looks like it could be a peek into the Sanctum.  The story is the first time the hidden Man-Cave of The Shadow is described.

"The scene was a windowless room, furnished with bookcases, filing cabinets, a desk, and a single chair. There were lights in the room, but each was centered on a different object.

A green-shaded bulb threw a circle of light upon the desk. Other smaller incandescents glimmered their rays upon the cabinets and the bookcases.

The center of the room was dark and spectral. Only the edges were illuminated. The floor was heavily carpeted in jet black. The walls showed no opening. Despite the fringing lights, not even a shadow could be seen upon the sable floor."

Notice that a "green-shaded bulb" was used rather than the blue light we've all come to know.  Probably because the green shaded table lamps were in use back in the day.  Usually seen in banks.  At least that's my theory.

"Death Sits Down" page 22

"Chief-- Angeli's getting away!  Out the back!"

"Let him."

"The Ghost Makers"

 

This seems to have been a quite popular story.  Being an early tale, it's bound to be great.  Granted it was ten years before it was republished as both a Big Little Book

and in The Shadow Annual 1942 Edition

and then in 1970 by Bantam Books.

This story seems to have taken hold of the public's imagination.  Even John Olsen couldn't contain his love of this adventure.

"Death Sits Down" page 21

"...you're licked, hear me?  You're licked, you're licked, you're li--"

 

And since I just mentioned Kaluta's "1941:Hitler's Astrologer"...

I thought I'd pop up the cover for said graphic novel.  Very evocative and eerie.  But I was wondering if this illustration was the inspiration...

This was done 12 years prior to the publication of "1941".  What do you think?
 

The Shadowed Circle issue 2: A review part 1

 First off, it's a full ten pages larger than the first issue at 62.  The issue #1 lists 49 printed pages, one ad for the Bronze Gazette, a blank and a publication/upc code on the final page.  So, really issue #2 comes in at 13 extra pages.

The first major article is an interesting overview of "1941: Hitler's Astrologer", the graphic novel by Denny O'Neil with artwork by M. W. Kaluta and inks by Russ Heath.  This seems to be the first in a series examining stories in which The Shadow is placed in actual historical events.  I recently reread this for the umpteenth time and so it was great to read Malcolm Deeley's take on the story and how accurate the weaving of fact and fiction was achieved.  A nice read and a good way to start the second issue.

We then move to "Shadow Play" by Will Murray.  This is a fun and fascinating look at how he and Anthony Tollin paired up novels for the epic (and nearly complete) run of The Shadow reprints.  A lingering look at the dive into finding the link between The Shadow and the first appearance of The Bat-Man is great fun.  Mr. Murray brings the reader into the room as he and Tollin make plans, tear up plans and have a few disagreements.  We all know that it turned out okay in the end.

"The Shadow's New York" brings together vintage photographs by Berenice Abbott and words by Steve Donoso, giving us a look at what the city looked like during The Shadow's reign as dark avenger of the mean streets.  You can see one of the photos on the cover at the top. 

I'll post more about this issue in a later post.  If you haven't gotten yours please subscribe.  Keeping the legacy of The Shadow alive is every agents responsibility.

"Green Eyes"

 One of my favorite covers, both the original Rozen one...

and the Steranko version.

I also love the story.  Maybe because it's one of the older tales or because it is one the first ones I read.  If you don't believe me then read this review from John Olsen.  You just can't go wrong with this one!

ON THE AIR: March 31, 1940

 

The second to last episode to Season 3.  Unfortunately, this one is lost to us so I have consulted the Martin Grams, Jr book to find out what it was all about.  It seems that the dead come out to visit their loved ones when said loved ones come by the Cedarwood Cemetary.  It turns out that the caretake, Grumsal, created death masks of the departed and through showbiz trickery tried to convince the world he could bring the dead back to life.  Being nuts, The Shadow guides the old coot out of the mausoleum and into the waiting arms of the police.

I'm sure the episode played out better than my description but we may never know.

"Hidden Death"

And the classic covers keep coming!  I believe the original hung in Walter Gibson's office.  

This is a pic showing it in his and Litzka's home.  He is always watching.

Oh, and then there is this.  I always think of The Spider and not The Shadow when I see this.  Nicely rendered, just not iconic.  And I don't think the ring is present.  Meh.

"Death Sits Down" page 20

"But niente. Get those papers to Trenton. Now!"

A little update...

 I meant to mention that in ZZ...

Rutledge Mann made his first appearance, replacing Claude Fellows, who had been slain a few months earlier in "Gangdom's Doom".  Mann continues throughout the series running the clipping service until Burbank expanded his role as the communications overlord.  Mr. Mann then becomes primarily a financial advisor, actually overseeing Lamont Cranston's investments.

"Death Sits Down" page 19

"Who the hell are you?"

"The Blackmail Ring"

 Ahhhh, a hand cover!  I love this cover!  This really symbolizes the power of The Shadow over the underworld.  I love the various types of criminals portrayed.  Great illustration.  Very powerful.

It appears that the image was flipped when printed.  Of course, that is appropriate since the ring belongs on the left hand in the first place.

Just a wish

 I wish Dean Cornwell had illustrated The Shadow.  Even once.  The wonderful compositions and the superb rendering.  If only...

Margo & Lamont

You may have noticed...

 These two Steranko covers have a little issue with continuity.  Hands in the Dark was published with this cover...

 

but should have used this cover...

The Crime Cult was published with both covers...

"The Crime Cult"

One of the classic images of The Shadow from the pulps covers.  The story?  John Olsen reviewed it on his (now defunct) The Shadow in Review.

"As the title indicates, there's a cult. An ancient India cult has been transplanted to America and is cultivating crime. Terrible murders are its trademark. The victim is strangled. And on the forehead is a small white mark, the size of the dime - a ghastly symbol of the evil deed. But who's the grotesque figurehead of this cult - the one known as Charn? Only The Shadow can uncover the solution in this strange and mystifying tale."

I've read this a few times and enjoyed it every time.  My first time was in 1975 and wrapped in this cover by Jim Steranko.

 This is a true pulp homage.  A hand, a code and a pretty sinister version of The Shadow.  So what do you think?  Pulp or paperback, which cover works best for you.  Hint... there is no wrong answer.