"The Shadow!" he exclaimed. "I have heard of him.
I have listened to his voice over the radio. They say that his identity is unknown,
even when in the broadcasting studio.
Some have said he is a supercriminal. Others have claimed that he is
a great detective. Which is true?"
"I don't know," replied Harry frankly.
-The Death Tower (Jan, 1932)
Artwork by Michael Kaluta
Welcome to the inaugural season of The Shadowcast!
As most of you know (and the rest soon will) The Shadow has a rich mythology, with over 300 pulp magazines published, along with hundreds of comics, multiple films, TV pilots, serials and so on. Having a history stretching back nearly 90 years can prove daunting, so to keep things coherent, each season will represent a specific theme. Albeit a loosely enforced one.
Season 1 is entitled 'Birth of a Dark Legend'. As the title suggests, it will introduce fans young and old to the exploits of Knight of Darkness, by exploring prominent 'firsts' in his publication history. The first issue of The Shadow magazine. The first film. The first radio program. The first appearance of ______. This criteria will be liberally applied, and certain episodes may contain more origin information than others, but hopefully by doing this, we can keep the show interesting for all of you for seasons to come!
I thank everyone who's sent an encouraging message my way after episode 1. The Shadowcast is a labor of love, and it's a privilege to present it to you. As for next episode?
We'll explore a more recent 'first'.
The first crossover between The Shadow... and another pioneering pulp-era character.
"The sun is shining..."
