Sigh -- this is the kind of thing I fear will be produced...

 ... when the copyright to The Shadow becomes public domain in 2027.  At that point there will probably be more pathetic efforts like the recent James Patterson novel.  I'm hoping a better quality literature will be produced with the likes of Will Murray and John Olsen writing and high quality of art like Ross or Steranko rather than this...

Alex Ross does The Shadow

 A wonderful study for (I assume) Dynamite's run of The Shadow comics.  Seems to have been inspired by the Graphitti bust.

Does anyone have this sculpt?

 I chose not to pick this up when it came out because I thought it was bit too cartoony.  Over time I've grown to appreciate it.  I love the bust by Bowen and Kaluta and feel that sculpt is the benchmark.  Maybe I'm a bit too harsh when it comes to The Shadow and art...

A comparison

I have the Bowen sculpt but believe the other is a unique one and done.  I put these up to show the differences in two very well done sculpts. 

The most obvious to me is the slouch hat.  The Bowen piece is very much the classic version of The Shadow, specifically the M W Kaluta version.  The other piece shows a stylized fedora, not what I think of when I image my hero.  Again, the scarf is something I can't emphasize enough as to being hated.  Yes, the Bowen sculpt has the scarf but it ain't in color so it plays better.  I like both of the faces but the nose has been shaved down for the one off piece and just comes off more as a regular man than the striking profile that has cast hundreds of shadows across classic covers for nearly ninety years.

This is one of my favorite things

Just having fun with my amazing sculpt of The Shadow by Bowen.  A little dramatic lighting and and fun hint of a background.

Not The Shadow but certainly a relative

Thanks to my oldest and best friend for this gift.  Sitting on my desk this morning.

Finally

I know it's only a replica but it really makes me happy to finally have a ring that represents The Shadow. Based on the ring that Walter B. Gibson wore and his wife Litzka designed, it is a pretty cool prop.

I got mine!!!!

Oh, yeah! I finally was able to purchase one of the M W Kaluta/Randy Bowen Shadow busts. It had a little damage on it but I've touched it up and am now moving it from spot to spot in my studio/sanctum. As soon as my office becomes available (Monday) I'll probably work the studio around this little gem of a sculpt. I love it. Definitely worth the very long wait.

Unique Shadow sculpt

Brian Hamilton, son of fan artist extraordinaire Frank Hamilton, created this really nice sculpture for his father. I think it looks like Lon Chaney, Jr. Ironic that the man with no face is represented, in my mind, by the man of a thousand faces.

More things that I covet

The first two images are of Walter B. Gibson's custom ring, commissioned by Litzka Gibson, his wife. Electric Tiki recently introduced a Shadow sculpture with the ring recreated, as shown in the bottom photo.

I approached a jeweler I deal with and proposed a copy be made from the photos of the original but, as of now, nothing has come of it. There are many things that I want but this is very close to the top of my list. I would probably try to design one myself that had a distinctly Russian look to it, mimicking the idea that it came from the Czar of Russia. That and the flip top to reveal the seven pointed star within.

I personally like the Czarist angle with the Dark Eagle more than the Ying Ko storyline, giving the Shadow more of a connection to the Great War and the intrigue of the Romanoff (Romanov?) family. But either way, the ring is the thing and I covet it as much as anything dealing with the Shadow.

What I covet

I still kick myself when I think back to some of the things I could have done or bought over the many years. The Kaluta sculpt from Graphitti Designs is one of them. Beautiful.