The Shadow Chapter One "The Doomed City" (1940)

Starting today and for the ensuing 14 weeks thrill to the 1940 chapter play "The Shadow"!  Victor Jory stars in the dual role of Lamont Cranston and The Shadow.  His gal Friday aka Margo Lane is played by Veda Ann Borg.  Today's episode... "The Doomed City".

"City of Crime"

Classic cover that presaged an ordinary crime caper.  Number 111 in the publishing order this story was submitted under the title 'Killer's Vengeance'.  Potato/Potahtoe, title-wise.  It did have the distinction of including a preview of the next issue in the last paragraph.

"It marked the end of another life-risking battle against crime, and at the same time it presaged greater difficulties ahead. The Shadow, who escaped death a million times, was to face a new kind of death, and a new kind of crime, in Death by Proxy... A strange menace hung over an ancient family home; death struck with uncanny regularity. Into this scene of fear and danger The Shadow must enter; here he must fight anew that justice would not be misled; that criminals get their deserved punishment - death, real death, not Death by Proxy."

While this practice was apparently common for Street & Smith's Doc Savage pulp, it was most peculiar for The Shadow Magazine.  This is the adventure that has Theo D. Shaw as one of our hero's disguises.  This is a pretty easy anagram to break, but it is fun.  Another note, this marked the first issue that Edd Cartier did the interior illustrations for the main story.

One last thing, the cover seems to have been an inspiration for Alex Ross' Dynamite Comics The Shadow issue 23 cover seen here...

ON THE AIR: December 22

 In the mood for yet another Christmas tale of redemption and goodwill?  This one fills that yen to a T.  Listen to "Joey's Christmas Story" and fill your heart with Christmas in April cheer.

"Jibaro Death"

 This George Rozen illustration always felt more like a Doc Savage cover than The Shadow.  I haven't read this one but John says give it a go so, of course, I'll give it a go.

"Two Million Eyes" page 15

 

"No.  Let this one through.  No one stops him."

"The Golden Masks"

 "Get this, Markham, I told you The Shadow was on the move, when we heard about that find on Long Island. Well, they saw The Shadow up by that warehouse that's been raided. They grabbed a bunch of phonies with gold faces when they broke in there. Now The Shadow's been seen here. They think he's gone into this house. If he has, he's got some more of the tribe to handle. We're going in there and give him a hand." - Joe Cardona

Nice cover that 'masks' a mighty great adventure yarn.  Run to your nearest bookshelf and spend a few hours with The Shadow as he and his cohorts fight their way to the answer to the mystery of The Golden Masks.  You won't be sorry.

"Two Million Eyes" page 14

 

"Shanghai."

"Terror Island"

"Mr. Farrow, I have come here on a matter which concerns The Shadow. Both of us have served him. Posing as an investment broker, I work for The Shadow. Your part has been a different one. As a criminologist, you have knowledge of the underworld. In times of emergency, you have supplied able workers to The Shadow. Men who were once crooks, but who have gone straight. He requires them at present."  - Rutledge Mann

"Two Million Eyes" page 13

 

"I'll just walk."

Rest in Piece James Elliott Bama

 

Mr. Bama had a long and glorious career in illustration and fine art.  I know him from the cover of Star Trek 1 and then, of course...

 

...Doc Savage!  I won't try and sum up a life I know only from art, but I do know his art inspired me and still does to this day.  A true master and a true legend.

Rest well.

"The Sledge-Hammer Crimes"

 What a fun cover!  The Shadow smashes crime for all to see.  He even takes out a dame!  Justice truly turns a blind eye.  A great 'hands' cover that gives life to the tale that was submitted under the title "The Disintegrator".  I haven't read this one but John gives this his stamp of approval so that's good enough for me.

"Two Million Eyes" page 12

"Awready on my way, Burbank."

"The Broken Napoleons"

Originally submitted as "The Vulture" this is a terrific tale with golden coins broken in half, tokens of death that lead The Shadow into adventure a'plenty!  Hey, we even find that The Shadow has a ship, The Reciprocity. 

"Two Million Eyes" page 11

"I see you've got some learning to--"

Tune in next Saturday

 We'll start a new weekly post to keep you entertained.  At least for 15 weeks...

"The Yellow Door"

I'm going to let John Olsen give you an a taste of what this novel is all about.

 " Just what is the Yellow Door? Is it a real door? Or is it a hidden password? Or is it a secret society? The Shadow discovers that it is all three. And only The Shadow can defeat the sinister organization reaping millions in illegal wealth.

  And just what is behind The Yellow Door? Members who are privileged to pass through this strange yellow door set in a purple room, will encounter "golden walls that hear" and "jeweled panels whose gems are seeing eyes." And power... Power lies behind The Yellow Door. If you want to know more, you'll just have to read the story for yourself! You won't regret it."

  The cover is a real keeper, except for that book in the lower left corner.  Seems like a bad design decision to me.  Oh well, it's still an exciting scene of our hero in terrible peril.  How would he get out of it?  I guess you had to read the story to find out.

I'm not sure about these...

I don't know where I ran across these images but they are tagged as being from "The Living Shadow".  As far as I know, this is the only interior art from that issue.

Does anyone know where these illustrations may have appeared?  The caption of the third illustration cites "the Laidlow house" and that fits with the first published tale.  A mystery... for now.
 

"Murder Town"

 "I have spoken at length because I had need to linger here. While I have been recounting facts, other work has been accomplished. Those who represent the law have arrived to take charge of culprits."

- The Shadow

I read this last year and found it a fun and baffling mystery.  A train wreck.  An injured Shadow.  Murder run amok.  Okay, maybe a bit of hyperbole on that last one.  Still, a great story from 1936.  Crack open this fine vintage of pulp and savor the intricacies that only Walter B. Gibson could concoct.  Cheers.

ON THE AIR: December 15, 1940

 A dark and stormy night.  An old road house.  A group of strangers.  And The Shadow.  The bad guy ain't got a chance!  Listen to "The Killer's Rendezvous" and revel in the glory of the OTR man in black.

"The Crime Oracle"

 What can I say, from the awesome George Rozen cover to the mystery laden Walter B. Gibson story beneath, this is an all around classic.  I've read it a couple of times, mostly since it was published as a double novel by Dover in 1975... 

...along with "The Teeth of the Dragon".  This book was a well worn and loved addition to my small collection until the Sanctum series was published.  It now gets to have a well deserved rest among my much larger collection today.  The cover art was also used for this issue of Shadow Comics.

"Two Million Eyes" page 10

"Speak, Master!"

"The City of Doom"

"I have awaited you. Be seated. We have much to discuss, you and I. You cannot afford to kill me when you know the facts that concern your agent, Harry Vincent. He is my prisoner - he and others who tried to block my path! There are five of them in all. My death will mean theirs!"  - The Voodoo Master

The Voodoo Master returns!  How?  Didn't he die in the last confrontation with The Shadow?  I guess you'll have to read this one to answer that question.  The cover?  A wonderful rendition of the threat posed by Dr. Mocquino and seeing our hero... well, just read it and you'll find out.

"Two Million Eyes" page 9

 

"The Gray Ghost"

 Never cared for this cover.  It just felt like pieces pasted together.  Does that bode poorly for this adventure?  I'm not sure since I haven't gotten to this novel.  It's from 1936 so I think that it will hold some fun twists and turns.  It also turned up in a shortened form in this issue of The Shadow Comics from 1942.

"Two Million Eyes" page 8

"Cha-sur, jugga taxi-sha gashong bilaka ba jia-- jia-- jia--"

"The Man from Shanghai"

 The 100th issue to hit the stands finds our hero fending off a killer who, judging by the title, must be from Shanghai!  Will he survive the knife?  Will he survive the fall?  One need only read this exciting adventure to find out!  Hyperbole?  Not at all.  This is a classic novel from 1936 and you should waste no time checking it out.

"Two Million Eyes" page 7

"Blast it."

"Blast it!"

"The Salamanders"

Apparently this was a pretty popular issue.  Sure, it has an exciting cover that previews the novel quite well.  It really lives up to the art, if not the title.  So it is no surprise that it not only made it into a comic... 

but also into 'The Thriller' over the pond in England.  Nice cover on that, as well.

It also features a better title.  I sure would like to get my hands on an issue or two of 'The Thriller' someday.

"Two Million Eyes" page 6

GRRKHHH!

Happy Easter

Just for fun.

Kaluta does The Shadow again

 C'mon, it's Kaluta!  It's The Shadow!  It always just seems to work.  Would love to see how Jones or Wrightson would have inked this.