Season 2, Episode 2 - THE SHADOW LAUGHS!

  

"Some people call me The Shadow. That is but one identity. I have other personalities that I assume, as easily as I don my black cloak and hat. One of my personalities is that of Lamont Cranston.
In the past, I have used it while you were away. At present, I choose to use it now.
It would be embarrassing for both of us to be here. 
So you must go."

-The Shadow Laughs!

(October, 1931) 

Artwork by George Wert

The inaugural Shadow trilogy concludes with climactic chapter "The Shadow Laughs!"

in December's edition of The Shadowcast! A dark, mysterious work in which 

The Shadow's signature twin .45 automatics make their debut, and Lamont Cranston...

...meets "Lamont Cranston"! A true classic you'll need to hear to believe. 

Artwork by Francesco Francavilla

We conclude with a bit of disquieting news about Condé Nast's incoming Shadow relaunch,
and wash the bitter taste out of our mouths with one of the greatest Mystery Horror masterpieces
ever aired, 1940's "The Laughing Corpse", featuring a series of serial murders where people
laugh themselves to death and die with a morbid grin. (you're welcome, Joker!)

"Love That Joker!"

See you in 2021, fellow agents!

Buy "The Shadow Laughs!" Here

Buy "The Laughing Corpse" Here

Season 2, Episode 1: THE EYES OF THE SHADOW

 

"As sleep came upon him, Bruce Duncan's mind was filled with confused thoughts of his adventure. But one dominating impression filled his mind. The identity of his rescuer came with startling suddenness. 

He had been drawn from his tomb by The Shadow!"

-The Eyes of The Shadow
Walter B. Gibson (1931)

Agents of the Shadowcast, Report!

Artwork by John A. Coughlin

The Shadowcast has returned for Season 2: The Pulp Avenger! 
Beginning with a brikef summary of the first Shadow pulp, "The Living Shadow" (already covered in episode 1 here) before a full review of the sophomore novelette, "The Eyes of The Shadow"!

Then, we pay tribute to the recently-departed fellow magician and confidant of Shadow creator, Walter B. Gibson, the Amazing James Randi (R.I.P.)

Art by Phil Hester

Finally, The Shadowcast reviews the 2014 one-shot comic story, "The Death Factory", by Phil Hester and Ivan Rodriguez.

Report!

Buy "The Eyes of The Shadow" here!

Buy "James Randi: An Honest Liar" here!

Buy "The Shadow: Death Factory" here!

The Shadowcast - Season 2: "The Pulp Avenger!"

 "The speaker rose and raised the lantern, hooking it to a wire that was suspended from the low ceiling. The range of the light increased. Under its glow the shadows of the three men became grotesque. They were long, sinister shadows. The profile of the ape-faced man was plainly visible upon the floor. Beyond those dark, moving silhouettes, a black blot projected from the corner of the room.  

 

It, too, seemed like a human shadow, except that it was motionless."

-"The Eyes of The Shadow"

(Walter B. Gibson)

Artwork by Jim Steranko

The Shadowcast will soon return from our post-season break with an all new season! The theme of Season 2 will be "The PULP Avenger!" A comprehensive review and retrospective of the first several Shadow pulps, beginning with "The Eyes of The Shadow" and concluding with pulp classic "Gangdom's Doom!"

Artwork by Graves Gladney

Hopefully, this season should serve as the ideal introduction to The Shadow pulps for new readers. Not to worry, for the rest of you less inclined to read The Shadow's prosaic exploits, we will also be covering various comics and radio shows in the very same episodes. So there's something for everyone!

You won't want to miss it, agents. So keep an eye on this space, and your subscription boxes!

New Shadow Novels (And Possible FILM) Announced!

News both great and terrible today on The Shadowcast, as Condé Nast reveals an ALL NEW

series of Shadow prose novels will be written by famed mystery author

James Patterson!

Stay tuned to The Shadowcast for all future developments.

Season 1 FINALE - 'THE SHADOW: YEAR ONE' (R.I.P. Denny O'Neil)

"Only death can absolve your many sins, 'Snow Tiger'!

And I am the vessel of your deliverance!"

-The Shadow

(The Shadow: Year One, 2013)

Artwork by Chris Samnee

The Shadowcast ends its exploration of The Birth of a Dark Legend with 

the first proper 'origin' comic ever published: Matt Wagner's 'The Shadow: Year One'!

And we pay tribute to the late Denny O'Neil, whose influence on the modern

mythos of The Shadow cannot be overstated!

R.I.P.

It's been a BIG first season, and I couldn't have done it without your growing support.
Until next time, fellow agents: We'll see you all in Season 2!

Buy 'The Shadow: Year One' Here!

Season 1, Episode 6 - 'THE SHADOW' (DC Comics, 1973) & Could Shadow Be Headed to TV?

"Young or old, man or woman, crime is a cancer, 

a cancer which must be destroyed!"

-The Shadow #9 (DC Comics, 1975) 

Artwork by Mike Kaluta

The Shadowcast discusses the implications
of the new Doc Savage TV announcement, and whether The Shadow could be next!

And then we review and explore The Shadow's legendary

DC Comics debut in 1973 by Denny O'Neill and Mike Kaluta!

Buy The Shadow (DC, 1973) here!

Season 1, Episode 5 - 'THE VOODOO MASTER'

The Shadowcast · The Shadowcast 5 - THE VOODOO MASTER

"In Hispaniola," purred Mocquino, his tone insidious, 

"the masters of voodoo control beings whom they term 'zombie'. A zombi is a living dead man, whose body has been disinterred from its grave, then imbued with life at the command

of the voodoo worker. 

"The zombie are like slaves, vitalized corpses that behave like mechanical figures. 

But I hold spells and incantations more powerful than those of ordinary voodoo workers!

I can transform a living man into a zombi! It is too bad" - he paused, an evil twist upon his lips - 

"too bad that you cannot live to witness the fate of Elridge Rathcourt."

-'The Voodoo Master'

Walter B. Gibson (1936)

The Shadowcast explores the very first supervillain: Rodil Mocquino, a.k.a. 'The Voodoo Master'! When the voodoo madman and his zombified cult puts The Dark Avenger out of action, it is up to his agents and a wounded Shadow to uncover his hidden lair and rescue his brainwashed victims!

Artwork by Tom Lovell

...and then we review one of the most popular radio episodes of The Shadow: 'Voodoo'! Where The Knight of Darkness does battle with yet another voodoo cult on the island of 'Little Cauldron' when Margot is selected as a blood sacrifice!

Bill Johnstone as The Shadow

Buy 'The Voodoo Master' double-novel

Buy 'The Voodoo Master' on audiobook

Purchase 'Chronology of Shadows' by Rick Lai

Listen to 'Voodoo' here

The Shadowcast: Season 1, Episode 4 - 'THE SHADOW STRIKES' and 'DEATH HOUSE RESCUE'

"What's your game, mister?"

"Well, it's a... form of Solitaire."

-The Shadow Strikes (1937)

This week's Shadowcast continues to explore the Birth of a Dark Legend with The Shadow's

first, flawed feature-length film appearance: THE SHADOW STRIKES! (starring Rod La Rocque)

Rod La Rocque in THE SHADOW STRIKES

Followed by a full review of Orson Welles' debut on radio with the classic, DEATH HOUSE RESCUE!

A young Orson Welles