"Pulp Power"

I just received my copy yesterday.  Love it.  I've read some of it and just love the obvious appreciation the team who put this together have for this part of the pulp world.  The Shadow, Doc Savage, The Avenger, The Whisperer, Nick Carter, The Skipper and Supersnipe are all profiled in this along with a look at the paperback renaissance, the comics and the future.  One gripe so far is that it looks as if Kaluta was omitted from the comics section.  Without him, we may never have seen as much of The Shadow in comics form as we have.

"Gems of Doom"

 Now this is a cover I can get behind.  The suction discs!  The blazing .45!  A weird(ish) cast shadow!  The fabulous girasol ring!  Even the suit and shoes don't bother me (too much) since the color is a believable grey/black.  I only wish the cloak were longer and more dramatic.  Very nicely done, Mr. Gladney.  The story itself is only average but an average tale of The Shadow is better than a lot of the schlock out there today that passes for literature.  It's also too bad they didn't pass the cast shadow over the masthead...

The Shadow Chapter 14 "The Sealed Room"

 

Today's episode:"The Sealed Room"

The penultimate episode to the epic Columbia Chapter Play... The Shadow

"Murder Genius"

"Perhaps you'll be more concerned when I tell you that only a complete confession of your real identity will save the life of Rutledge Mann. Keep silent - and you'll have the pleasure of seeing him roasted alive!" - Benedict Stark

 Although the title on the cover states "The MURDER GENIUS" the actual title is simply "MURDER GENIUS".  The upper and lower case apparently denote that it is not part of the title.  Even though the tale was submitted as "The Murder Genius"... enough of that.

This is the second of a four issue story arc that is considered on par with the four issue tales of Shiwan Khan.  At the end of the first novel, "The Prince of Evil" one of The Shadow's agents was kidnapped and the adventure ended on a cliff hanger.  The only time in the series pulps that a tale ended thus.

  The cover is passable although not a classic (in my opinion) and suffers from the damned suit and tie!  C'mon, even if it is there it needn't be shown as it really kills the mysterioso vibe that nearly a decade of pulps has built up.  Oh well, I wasn't the artist or AD, so it is what it is.

ON THE AIR: March 16, 1941

 It's that time again.  Sit back with a glass of iced tea (or whiskey) and listen as The Shadow confronts yet another "ghost" with his gal pal Margot Lane.  Tune in for "The Ghost Walks Again".

  "The friends of Q are here. Meet them, and prove which you prefer: law or crime!" - The Shadow

For the 200th issue of this juggernaut of a magazine I wish they had invested in a better cover image.  And picked a better story.  It just seems that this was business as usual for S & S.  I think that advertising this as a milestone issue would have brought it more business.  Even bringing in Rozen for a one off illustration in the classic style.  Just my opinion.

"Margo's Story" page 1

 

'And because of her, I'm dead again.'

"Scent of Death"

 Classic cover.  Not so classic story.  I believe (and I could be mistaken) that this illustration won an award.  Not sure if it was a Society of Illustrators or some other award.  I'll do some digging.  Whether it won or not, it's a beauty of a cover.

"Margo's Story"

 Harry finds out more than he cares to about Margo.  Check in five days a week to find out what secret Margo has been keeping to herself.

"The Masters of Death"

 "I know the limitations of Shiwan Khan, as well as the extent of his powers. This is to be my own campaign, against a foe whose methods brook no quarter. It will be a battle to the death!" - The Shadow 

 And so we come to the final battle between Shiwan Khan and that Master of Men... The Shadow!  As I have yet to read these issues I can only assume from this review that the cover depicts the "death" of Khan.  Although if that is the case, Khan doesn't look like he did on the previous covers by Gladney.  Guess I'll just have to read it to find out what it all means.

"Citadels" page 25

 

"You need no longer trouble yourself about your duty, Harry Vincent.  You no longer have one."

"Death in the Stars"

 I'd like to like this cover but it just doesn't feel right.  Perhaps Rozen would have distorted The Shadow's image inside the crystal ball or maybe the blue backdrop just needs a bit more interest.  It could also be the terrible title box just slapped on the cover.  The hands look good but it just doesn't do that much for me.  The story review says it an enthralling tale so don't judge a... you know the saying.

This also appeared in a simplified manner as a story in Shadow Comics Vol.2 no. 5.  Must have some redeeming value.

"Citadels" page 24

 

"But-- damn it all-- Margo is---"

"The Prince of Evil"

"Stop frowning, my friend. You look positively sad! One would almost think you had lost your best friend!" - Benedict Stark 

And so begins Theodore Tinsley's answer to Gibson's Shiwan Khan saga.  "The Prince of Evil" is the first of four adventures, all in 1940, that documents the epic battles of The Shadow versus Benedict Stark, aka The Prince of Evil.  Yeah, you don't want to miss this run: "The Prince of Evil" from April 15, 1940, "Murder Genius" from July 1, 1940, "The Man Who Died Twice" from September 15, 1940 and finally "The Devil's Paymaster" from November 15, 1940.

"Citadels" page 23

 

"Now, Miss Lane... let me rescue you from this idiocy."

Kaluta color guide

 This is a fun little panel that really plays up the nature of the cowardly criminal.  Kaluta really hit this one square on the nail's head. 

"The Spy Ring"

A comedown, cover-wise, from the previous issue.  I like the idea that the lockers are a secret entrance but I'm not crazy about the execution of the painting itself.  Just not that exciting.  The tale itself is kind of middle of the road.  It's raised a notch with the spy aspect but it's still just an average tale.  However, this one features a lot of those fun Gibsonian names.  Neal Jorman, Hero Dronz, Armion, Galdo, Kalva, Luthe, Velma Thane, Windle.  Heh, he sure loved those odd names.

The Shadow Chapter 13 "Wheels of Death"

 

Today's episode:"Wheels of Death"

"The Veiled Prophet"

Now we're talkin', Graves!  This is a wonderful cover where it all comes together.  The Shadow looks great with a better color scheme (goodbye to the browns), a slouchier hat and an appropriately sized gat.  The villain looks surprised that he has been interrupted manipulating (what?), as indicated by the three men dangling from marionette strings.  Even the background contributes to the intrigue.  Yep, this is a really solid effort from Mr. Gladney.  Couple the interior art by Edd Cartier and a solid story from Gibson and I wish I had this issue in my collection.

ON THE AIR: March 9, 1941

 A crazy old lady is nuts for nickles in a bunch of buried slot machines below her rooming house.  A mother and her son, rats and coins.  Take a listen to see how The Shadow makes his way out of this weird little death trap.

"The Invincible Shiwah Khan"

 "Be cautious, Ying Ko. Selsby is ready to touch off an explosion that will blow this ship to fragments! What will it profit you to end your life along with mine? There are others who would die. It is not your way, Ying Ko, to deprive innocent victims of the right to live." - Shiwan Khan

This is the third tale of the four adventure story arc.  Another nice cover from Gladney.  Well painted but not particularly exciting.  The cover to the comic is a bit more so, if not as well done.  Khan was establishing himself as the ultimate foe for The Shadow by this time, it seems. 

"Citadels" page 22

 

"You... son of a --"

"Voice of Death"

 An awesomely cool cover!  How cool?  Well, when someone knocks it off you know you have something  great.  Like this...

Apparently no one worried that a 32 year old cover from a defunct pulp magazine in America would make anybody want to sue.  Today I think Conde Nast would be all over this.

"Citadels" page 21

 

"Well dollface... will you listen to me now?"

"The Getaway Ring"

This is one of those rare covers.  Cliff Marsland and Hawkeye are featured alongside The Shadow.  It's interesting, to me, to see the agents given some face time with their boss.  This is an above average gangster tale from Gibson with an above average cover from Gladney.  Although I still take exception to the slouch hat being replaced with a modified fedora.

"Citadels" page 20

 

 "...you ordered Chinese?"

"The Hooded Circle"

"When Hayde painted those hell pictures, he got a lot of tough guys to pose for him. They got a laugh out of it, from what Hayde tells me, but, later, they must have decided that it wasn't so funny. They kind of realized they'd been mugged. Get it? Too many people are going to see those paintings and remember the faces. Important people - the kind that smart crooks might start out to swindle. Suppose some yegg gets spotted cracking a rich guy's safe. Maybe the rich guy would recognize him as the third devil from the left in the painting of the Fourth Hell. The mob that blew in on Hayde wore hoods. That was so he wouldn't know who they were. The idea struck me when I was talking with Hayde, after the robbery. He sort of remembered voices, but wasn't sure whose they were." - Joe Cardona

 I can't give any praise to this cover.  But John does give praise to the story, although he postulates that there may have been a "ghost" writer involved.  A few clews make it seem that someone else added some flourish to some of the descriptions.

"Citadels" page 19

 

"You have asked enough question, Shiwan."

"Death's Premium"

Welcome to 1940.  What a great cover to start the new decade with.  This is one of the books I definitely covet.  And one has to congratulate Gladney for interpreting this passage into a fantastic image.

"Forming his hands into an interlocking pattern, The Shadow held them between the light and the paper on the table. Supple fingers cast a silhouette upon the sheet. It was a hawkish profile, topped by a slouch hat, in miniature. When The Shadow withdrew his hands the silhouette remained, shaded upon sensitized paper."

Yep, this is a great issue to start of the 40s with.

"Citadels" page 18

 

WHOCKO

FWUCH

"House of Shadow" by Edd Cartier

 Let's see how Cartier envisioned "House of Shadows"...

"House of Shadows"

 "Your niece is outside, in my cab. I took her away from all the shooting. When things got quiet, we came back. She wants some more clothes first. She says a nightgown isn't formal enough, considering that you've got company. Particularly a nightgown that needs repairs." - Moe Shrevnitz

And so we end the 30s with The Shadow trying to place a telephone call.  A sad cover to end the greatest decade of pulpdom ever!  (Well, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.)  This is well painted but when you think about the big deal we make about the end of a decade it should have been a humdinger of a cover.  Alas, it wasn't to be.  At least ol' Walter delivered, again.

The Shadow Chapter 12 "Murder By Remote Control"

 

Today's episode:"Murder By Remote Control"

"Shiwan Khan Returns"

The Golden Master returns for another bout with The Shadow.  The second of four tales features a superb cover by Graves Gladney, my favorite of his so far.  No sense in telling you that I haven't gotten this far in the series but I am looking forward to reading the story arc and seeing what all of the fuss is about.  I know Khan from the film and comic books.  I'm guessing he is much different coming from the mind of Walter B. Gibson.

And just as a note of interest the first two novels were simplified and distilled into this issue of Shadow Comics from 1942.  Would love to read the whole run of Shadow Comics one day.  Simpler days when one thin dime bought a person so much entertainment.

ON THE AIR:March 2, 1941

I can't tell you how many times I've listened to this one, although it's been some time now.  Radio Spirits was a life line for guys like me.  My issue was how long they waited in between putting out episodes for us to listen to.  That's all changed now that the internet has all of these mp3 files.  A blessing and a curse.  It kind of takes away the special nature of waiting for a new set to come into our hot little hands.  Now we can dial up any existing episode at any time.  Instant gratification.  Kind of sad, in many ways.  But it has made it easier for new fans to find The Shadow of the Airwaves.

Anyhow, take a listen to "Death Rides a Broomstick".  A classic.

"City of Ghosts"

A fairly static cover.  I know the flames are supposed to create drama and danger, however this doesn't  feel truly dramatic nor dangerous.  Alas, this is just a middle of the road cover.  The tale?  According to this review it's an average story that somehow rises above the ordinary to something a bit more.  Ringing endorsement?  No.  Still, it's intriguing and it is The Shadow.

"Citadels" page 17

 

"You are the one who rebelled against the immortals!"

"Ships of Doom"

 

"This is Vincent! He isn't The Shadow! He's pinch hitting on the job. Good work, too!"

 

The cover may indicate that the "ships" referred to are airships.  They are, instead, ocean liners.  This is a pretty great cover other than the cloak is too small and the "sable hued" outfit that The Shadow requires is a grey brown.  It works well in regards to the color palette Gladney is using, it just doesn't feel "Shadow-ish".