Season 3, Episode 3 - THE SHADOW (Film Serial) & THE LONE TIGER

 

The Shadowcast · The Shadowcast 21 - The Shadow 1940 Serial

 

 

 

"Me? The Shadow? 
Why, Vincent... The Shadow doesn't exist."

—Lamont Cranston

(The Shadow Serial, 1940)

Veda Ann Borg (Margot Lane), Jack Ingram (Flint) and Victor Jory (The Shadow)

Reputed to be the most faithful film adaptation of the pulp incarnation of The Shadow, today's episode reviews the entire series in FULL! In the early '40s, Columbia were still cutting their teeth on episodic Serials, overspending on properties like Shadow imitator, THE SPIDER, and losing money as a result.

 

By 1939, the new head of Columbia Serials had a fresh idea:
Spend less money on the serial itself... and more money on a popular license!

And so, to kick off the 1940 Serial season, THE SHADOW (1940) hit American theaters. 

A massive success, and one that features perhaps more direct elements of Gibson's original Shadow stories

than any other adaptation to date!

 

But it didn't come from a vacuum... 

 

The Agents of The Shadow pose for the cover of 'The Lone Tiger' (1939)
 

 Like 'The Shadow Strikes' before it, 'The Shadow' (1940) drew explicit inspiration from The Walter B. Gibson pulp novels: Namely, the trio of 'The Lone Tiger', 'The Silver Skull', and 'The Green Hoods'!

But The Shadowcast has noted similarities between this serial and at least one other story in The Shadow's late-'30s pantheon! Find out which one it is in our full review of this action-packed pulp classic!

 

Artwork by Edd Cartier
 

...REPORT!

Season 3, Episode 2 - THE SHADOW RETURNS / THE SHADOW: 1941

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Beg Satan for forgiveness, for you'll not find it this side of hell!"

—The Shadow
(The Shadow 1941, 1988)

 

 

 Our journey through The Shadow on film continues with a full review of the underrated

1946 B-picture, "The Shadow Returns", starring magician/actor Kane Richmond and Barbara Reed!

Is it worth watching? Or yet another low-budget blunder? Listen and learn, fellow agents! 

 

 

And, at long last, we explore the 1988 graphic novel classic "The Shadow: 1941"!

Does this World War II Shadow classic hold up? 

 Come and see how Marvel's one and only Shadow offering has

withstood the test of the cynical internet age!

 

REPORT!

90th Anniversary Special! - 'GANGDOM'S DOOM' and 'THE SHADOW STRIKES: GANGLAND DOOMED'

 

"Nick Savoli," said the sinister voice, "you have led a life of crime. While you were one of

many, you were ordinary. Now you believe yourself supreme. You are wrong. 

You are dangerous—that is all. 

You are mistaken when you believe that you are supreme."

"Is this a warning?" asked Savoli, with a grim smile. "Or is it a threat?"

"It is a judgment," said The Shadow sternly. 

-Gangdom's Doom, 1931

Artwork by Tom Lovell

The Shadow turns 90 years old! 

The Shadowcast commemorates the event with dueling automatics ablaze! Twin crime tales set in

Chicago's Gangland!

First, it's the formative 1931 masterpiece, where The Shadow outwits an obvious stand-in for Al Capone and the Chicago Mob, 'GANGDOM'S DOOM'!

Artwork by Jerome Rozen

Then, The Shadow returns 4 years later, in comic book form, to deal with the fallout of Al Capone's fall in DC Comics' 'THE SHADOW STRIKES: GANGLAND DOOMED!'

Artwork by Eduardo Barreto

REPORT!

Buy Gangdom's Doom here

Buy The Shadow Strikes here

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 1, Episode 3 - 'LINGO' and 'DEATH TO THE SHADOW'

"Rook stopped abruptly. Bart and Prexy had released their victim. 

Trembling, the henchmen were raising hands above their shoulders as they

stared toward the door. Rook saw terror in their bulging eyes. 

He wheeled, then became rigid also. 

Weird against the glow, reflected from the white walls of the hotel across the street

stood a blackened shape that the big shot recognized. 

Mammoth automatics projected from gloved fists. 

Burning eyes surveyed the villains from beneath the brim of a slouch hat.

"The Shadow!"

-'Lingo'
Walter B. Gibson (1935)

The Shadowcast returns with a review of two pioneering works

in the history of The Knight of Darkness!

First, we review the memorable Walter B. Gibson novelette "Lingo" - featuring

the birth of the BATARANG!

Artwork by Tom Lovell

Second, we revisit a classic episode of The Shadow radio drama dealing with 

prescient issues of mass surveillance and CCTV: "Death to the Shadow!"

Buy 'The Shadow - Lingo / Partners of Peril Double Novel Reprint Here!

Listen to 'Death to the Shadow' here!

Season 1, Episode 1 - 'THE LIVING SHADOW'

"Your life," said the stranger's voice slowly, "is no longer your own. It belongs to me now. But you are still free to destroy it. Shall we return to the bridge?"

"I don't know," blurted Vincent. "This is all like a dream; I don't understand it. Perhaps I did fall from the bridge, and this is death that I am now experiencing. Yet it seems real, after all. What good is my life to anyone? What will you do with it?"

"I shall improve it," replied the voice from the darkness. "I shall make it useful. But I shall risk it, too. Perhaps I shall lose it, for I have lost lives, just as I have saved them. This is my promise; life, with enjoyment, with danger, with excitement, and— with money. Life, above all, with honor. If I give it, I demand obedience. Absolute obedience. You may accept my terms, or your may refuse. I shall wait for you to choose."

"I accept," he said.

Illustration by George H. Wert

Artwork by Eduardo Barreto

From the mists of mystery emerges episode 1 of The Shadowcast! 
In this first episode, we explore the origins of the Dark Avenger with the very first pulp story: THE LIVING SHADOW, and review The Knight of Darkness's first film appearance in the rare 1931 DETECTIVE STORY MAGAZINE Film Shorts!

Frank Readick, Jr. as The Shadow

Buy 'The Living Shadow/The Black Hush' Pulp Reprint #47 here!

Buy the 'Detective Story Magazine' Film Serial featuring Frank Readick as The Shadow!