"Blood & Judgment" Part Three page 1

 

"Ye Gods-- a totally unreconstructed-"

The Sunday Comics: The Shadow Comics "The Winged Dagger"

 

The introduction of Robin, er, an "assistant".  Sigh

Avenger Saturday presents: "The Wilder Curse" paperback

 Nope, this one just doesn't cut it.  It almost looks like a cut and paste job.  Too bad, the technique is very nice but the composition just doesn't work.  At least for me, that is.

Far superior in all ways except for having no idea who the main character is as he looks like any ordinary Joe off the streets of 1942 America. 

ON THE AIR: May 5, 1946

 Margot and Lamont are at the mercy of a madman.  Before the Witchman blows them all up Margot recounts how they came to this moment.  Ultimately, this is another tale that has greed at its root.  Enjoy "The White Witchman of Lawaiki".

Blood & Judgment Part Three: Syndicate of Fear

 

The Shadow arrives!  At least Chaykin's version.

Blood & Judgment Part Two page 28

 

KAA

CHUNCK

Blood & Judgment Part Two page 27

 

"--you might live forever."

Blood & Judgment Part Two page 26

 

"--sometime around the middle of the century, a shift in power will necessitate a permanent sealing off of Shambala from the outer world--"

Blood & Judgment Part Two page 25

 

"--into the third path - the way of the Shadow Warrior--"

The Sunday Comics: The Shadow Comics #3 Bonus story page 7

 

Wow, the tables turned in a panel and the story wrapped up in the next.  Not sure what to think of this comic story.  Howzabout you?

Avenger Saturday presents: "The Black Death" paperback

 I really like this paperback cover.  However...

 

...this pulp cover harkens back to the great earlier Avenger art.  Gotta give the nod to the pulp art.
 

ON THE AIR: April 28, 1946

 Margot dreams that she has killed the Countess Richelieu while staying at her country home.  This spins out of control with the idea of reincarnation and princesses.  There is a scene that may have been the inspiration for the 1994 film where Margo tries to kill Lamont.  Could be wrong, but it may be true.  Tune into "The Dreams of Death" and decide for yourself.

Blood & Judgment Part Two page 24

 

"--you're rather a hard, insensitive witch, aren't you?"

Blood & Judgment Part Two page 23

 

SWUNGK

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"I want you to get the stiffs unloaded--"

Blood & Judgment Part Two page 21

 

"DO YOU KNOW HOW CLOSE TO DEATH YOU ARE?"

Blood & Judgment Part Two page 20

 

KRAK!KRAK!KRAK!

The Sunday Comics: The Shadow Comics #3 Bonus story page 6

 

"They don't look like a working crew to me, Chief!"

Avenger Saturday presents: "The Happy Killers" paperback

 A pretty decent cover although I disagree with the fuchsia color of the masthead.  It does feel a bit cramped, though.  How does it compare to the original pulp art?

If the modern version of The Avenger were used I would have to give the nod to the pulp.  However, when they changed him from having grey skin and hair the character lost, well, his character.  It would be like having Lamont Cranston or Kent Allard on the cover of The Shadow magazine rather than the instantly recognizable Man in Black.  So I give the nod to the paperback on this one.

ON THE AIR: April 21, 1946

I'm not sure if this is a classic but it has been out so long and I've listened to it so many times it just feels like one of the more popular ones.  Smitty looks so much like an ape that, well, you can guess what happens next.  It feels a lot like "Spider Boy" from just a few months earlier.  Sit back and enjoy the mayhem that comes from a disturbed mind as you listen to "The Gorilla Man".

Blood & Judgment Part Two page 19

 

"..he is pathetic..."

Blood & Judgment Part Two page 18

 

"Dangerous in your society-- impotent in ours--"

"He is a flea on a lion--"

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"We are generous and kind-- not stupid--"

Blood & Judgment Part Two page 16

 

"We don't stand on ceremony here, Mr. Allard -- 

-- particularly with people we've reassembled--"

Blood & Judgment Part Two page 15

 

"Cakrin-- the outsiders are here--"

The Sunday Comics: The Shadow Comics #3 Bonus story page 6

 

"Chief!  Look!  The cloud of green mist!  That's supposed to be the Rain God!"

Avenger Saturday presents: "The Green Killer" paperback

 This is a pretty decent cover, although I would have made the skull more prominent and menacing.  Although the pulp cover is more action packed, the paperback is immediately identifiable as The Avenger, even without the masthead.

ON THE AIR: April 14, 1946

 A crook by the name of Deacon is running a phony burial service to obtain dead bodies and swindle insurance companies.  He has a couple of numbskulls who do the dirty work of bringing victims in who can pass as the people that hire him.  They want to "die" and begin new lives for whatever reason.  This is a particularly heinous episode because it could really happen.  Best not to think too hard about "The Unburied Dead" if you want to have a post Fourth weekend free of ghoulish thoughts.

Blood & Judgment Part Two page 14

 

"Wha?  Shambala?  Who?"

Blood & Judgment Part Two page 13

 

CRASH...?

Blood & Judgment Part Two page 12

 

"Hey - what's that?"

Blood & Judgment Part Two page 11

 

 " 'bye, Sugar-- it was swell while it lasted--"

Remember why we celebrate

 Be safe and take the time to appreciate all that we have.  Happy Independence Day, agents.

Blood & Judgment Part Two page 10

 

"...you have been sniffing your own merchandise-"

The Sunday Comics: The Shadow Comics #3 Bonus story page 5

 

"I hope he does solve the mystery!"

Avenger Saturday presents: "Pictures of Death" paperback

 This has a great 70s vibe to it.  The antagonists sure don't look like they are from 1941.  Wouldn't the reader (the casual reader at any rate) be confused once they began reading this story and there are no corduroy jackets or long haired beat-nicks attacking our hero.  Still, a better cover than the original pulp...