The Shadow coloring book in 66 parts: Part 15

 

Ah, yes.  The polite version of The Master of Men.

The Shadow coloring book in 66 parts: Part 13

 

Ah, yes... Burbank.  The version that M W Kaluta popularized in the first DC comics run.

"Margo's Story" page 6

 

"You're not my friend just because you ain't his."

"Citadels" page 25

 

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

"Citadels" page 21

 

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

"Citadels" page 17

 

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

"Citadels" page 16

 

<"Forget buying it!  That's the signal of The Black Avenger!  Call Yat Soon!">

"Two Million Eyes" page 12

"Awready on my way, Burbank."

"Two Million Eyes" page 10

"Speak, Master!"

Baldwin does The Shadow

 Say what you will about the 1994 Universal film "The Shadow" it sure had some nice visuals.  

A nod to the man behind The Man

 Burbank, the man who (apparently) never sleeps.  I always wondered if he had another agent who backed up this unsung hero.  Even R. Mann (and before him C. Fellows) only had to disseminate information from 9 - 5.  So raise a glass to Burbank, the man who worked in the shadows of The Shadow.

"Out of the Past" page 9

 "I will relay this to the Master."

Burbank

 I know this ain't what Gibson wrote back in the day but I really thought this was a great idea and set from "The Shadow" film of 1994.  It makes a lot of sense and gives the viewer the idea of how many agents and hidden messaging centers The Shadow employed.  For all it's flaws this film is still a fun trip.

"Twin Trails" page 19

"Burbank.  It's Hawkeye.  I think sumpin's goin' wrong!"

"Death's Head" page 11

"Is this urgent?  Because it's dinner-time and I was just whipping up a little dish..."

"And what the hell, anyway.  Some dishes are better if you let them stew for a while"

"Death's Head" page 10

"Oh,  You.  Yes, yes, of course I'm free... that's the arrangement, isn't...?"

Burbank? Hello? Is anybody there?

Seriously, how hard is it to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for a couple of decades?  Good help is so hard to find!

The answers are...

"Agent J reports: Smith & Street, 1933, Tigger, Vincent and Burke's faces swapped. That's all I can find!"

  Only miss is the extended top hat.  Dirty trick to change two things within one character.

Burbank and the Sanctum

  One of the coolest aspects of the 1994 Alec Baldwin film.  As much as the sanctum didn't conform (at all) to the pulp iteration, I really liked it.  The entrance to the hideout is really, to me, the best part of that room.  The retro equipment really screams cutting edge 30's era technology and design.

  And Burbank... such a great concept.  I really hoped that a system like that really wound its way through the city of New York.  Even now it would be really awesome.  I wish Burbank had more of a role but I'll take what I can get.

Burbank

Possibly The Shadow's most important agent.  A man who lives in the shadows perhaps more than his boss.  Let's take a look at a few different takes on the man in the headset.

This is how I see him when I read the pulps.  Maybe not in a suit but a faceless agent keeping the vast network connected.  I never felt that he should have a visage but I guess the editors felt differently because...

with the publication of "The Lone Tiger" many of The Shadow's key agents made the cover.  In a way, Burbank has the most generic face so that helps but I still didn't think he should have made an appearance.

Fast forward to the mid 70's and the resurgence of The Shadow thanks to M W Kaluta and Denny O'Neil.  This is when the popular version of Burbank emerged, a look I never understood in context of the character from the pulps but somehow made Burbank more interesting.

And then in 1994 I think they got it right for the most part with Andre Gregory as Burbank.  I loved the tube system and even got on board with the video.  I think this is pretty much a perfect compromise between the pulp and the comic.