Avenger Saturday presents: "The Cartoon Crimes" paperback

 I probably would have picked this up even had I not a clue about The Avenger.  C'mon, a comic page on the cover of a novel?!  Fantastic.  Okay, it's not the best comics page but still, it brought my love of pulps and comic books into the same image.  That's worth the price, in my opinion...

ON THE AIR: December 1, 1946

 It's bad enough to hit hard times and end up homeless, but to put your life in the hands of people like Mike and his wife Minnie, is just evil.  Don't believe me?  Listen to "Makeup for Murder" and count your blessings that can wake up in your own home and the worst part of your day is going into a job.  The Shadow knows!

"Blood & Judgment" part Four page 12

 

RAID!

"Blood & Judgment" part Four page 11

 

"You got sex and death."

"Blood & Judgment" part Four page 10

 

"...now, listen, baby-- relax-- you wanted sex and death--"

"Blood & Judgment" part Four page 9

 

"Wanna g-g-go to the 'Guana Room--"

"Blood & Judgment" part Four page 8

 

"--and you-- oh, damn-- it completely slipped my mind-- those tests we took came back positive-- we both have AIDS--"

The Sunday Comics: The Shadow Comics "The Winged Dagger" page 8

 

"As it was writ, so shall it be.  We have trained the boy well for what the future holds.. Om Mani Padme Hum...The Shining Jewel..."

 

Avenger Saturday presents: "Black Chariots" paperback

This cover seems to be pretty timely with the threat of alien spacecraft coming to Earth.  I haven't read this so I don't know if the cover reveals the truth or just some scam by a master criminal... yadda yadda yadda.  I like the cover art though.  It seems to utilize the space better than many of the other paperbacks.

ON THE AIR: November 24, 1946

 Good gravy!  Paraffin?  To change a face?  This is a pretty freaky episode just because of that idea.  Of course, it all works out when it comes... well, just sit back and take a listen to "Gang Doctor" to find out.

"Blood & Judgment" part Four pages 6 & 7

"What's your sense of the element of surprise, Master?"

"Blood & Judgment" part Four page 5

 

"--a network financed originally by drugs--"

"Blood & Judgment" part Four page 4

 

"Vincent reporting, Burb-- Lorelei--"

"Blood & Judgment" part Four page 3

 

"Bazooka-- Kalamaz--"

"Yakuza--"

"Blood & Judgment" part Four page 2

 

"Call me Cookie--"

The Sunday Comics: The Shadow Comics "The Winged Dagger" page 7

 

"You dirty rats..."

Avenger Saturday presents: "The Nightwitch Devil" paperback

 The treatment of the devil feels very pulpy but doesn't mesh well with the rendering of The Avenger.  But I like this cover anyhow.  Not very action packed but at least it piques my interest.

ON THE AIR: October 20, 1946

 Counterfeiters!  Mobsters!  Vicious shotgun killer!  This is more along the lines of The Shadow that I know and love.  Sure, in my opinion this isn't up to the early days but it does have our hero and his obnoxious sidekick tracking down some callous and morally corrupt bad guys.  Pour a shot of your favorite libation and enjoy "Blood Money".

"Blood & Judgment" part Four page 1

 

"Well, y'know-- it's Monday--"

"Blood & Judgment" Part Four: Brothers in Blood!

 

The beginning of the end?

"Blood & Judgment" part Three page 28

 

"-- or I nuke New York..."

"Blood & Judgment" part Three page 27

 

"This is what America wants--

"Blood & Judgment" part Three page 26

 

"LIAR!  You stink of guilt--"

The Sunday Comics: The Shadow Comics "The Winged Dagger" page 6

 

"What's that?  How did that door open?"

Avenger Saturday presents: "Dr. Time" paperback

 This cover is a bit washed out with the choice of background color.  It's nicely painted but the only thing that intrigues me is whether the time (10:47 am or pm) on the clock is a clue within the pages of the book.

ON THE AIR: October 13, 1946

And so we begin Season 10, albeit missing the first four episodes.  "Vampires Prowl by Night", "The Killer on High Cliff Road", "Die, Lover-Die!" & "Death Rides the Merry-Go-Round" constitute the missing four.  We begin with a jungle adventure with "The Valley of Living Terror".  Sit back and be glad you're not trapped in a plane with a distraught woman with a gun and a desire to die.

"Blood & Judgment" part Three page 25

 

 

"Listen, you moral cripple -- and listen well--"

"Blood & Judgment" part Three page 24

 

"So, hey, Baby -- do the world a favor--"

"Blood & Judgment" part Three page 23

 

"-- I'm better off sneaking in the back--"

"Blood & Judgment" part Three page 22

 

"HOLY--!"

"Blood & Judgment" part Three page 21

 

"--a Heinie -- dark--"

The Sunday Comics: The Shadow Comics "The Winged Dagger" page 5

 

"Shh... this is a good break... thanks for saving my life, son."

Avenger Saturday presents: "The Purple Zombie" paperback

 If this cover had no title, perhaps one would think it was called "Spotlight on The Avenger".  Again, this one feels too modern with the "director", or whomever it is, sporting those sideburns and turtleneck.  Again, since I haven't read the paperback I don't know if they updated it for the time that it was reprinted.  Decent art, however.

ON THE AIR: June 2, 1946

 This is a repeat episode originally broadcast September 29, 1940.  I was never a big fan of this episode for whatever reason.  It's decent but it never clicked with me.  Richard Widmark starred in this tale.  The very same actor who would appear in "Kiss of Death", "Coma", "Murder on the Orient Express", "The Swarm" and "Against All Odds" to name a few of his 78 credited movie roles (according to IMDB).

  Just because "Death in a Minor Key" doesn't trip my trigger doesn't mean you shouldn't kick back with your favorite beverage and take a trip back to 1940 or 1946, however you want to view it.

"Blood & Judgment" part Three page 20

 

"Coked up Longhairs with blowdryers instead of rubber saps--"