THE SHADOW (1963)

Full Name:	Lamont Cranston
Series Name:	The Shadow
Nationality:	American
Organization:	-
Occupation	Freelance Agent

Creator:	Maxwell Grant
Time Span:	1963 - 1966

ABOUT THE SERIES

The Shadow is an independent agent.

The history of The Shadow character is a long and old one and really demonstrates the beauty, financially, of good cross marketing.

In 1930, the publishing house of Street and Smith had a detective magazine cleverly titled Street and Smith's Detective Story. As the sales for it were starting to slip, the company knew it had to come up with a way to rebuild interest and it found that way on the radio. The new program, first aired on CBS in July of that year, accomplished two things when it gave listeners enjoyable suspense stories while constantly reminding the audience that these stories came out of the pages of the Detective Story magazine.

To really give the broadcasts an added dimension for people to remember it by, they created the mysterious narrator they called The Shadow. Though not an actual participant in the tales themselves, the Shadow had such a malevolent and eerie persona to him that the scheme nearly backfired. The viewers did rush to the newsstands to get their hands on the magazine but they were expecting the Shadow!

With considerable consternation, the publishers realized that there were two problems. First, the potential customers were walking away empty-handed. Second, and worse, the creators did not have any form of copyright existing to protect their own creation. They didn't have much time to solve both dilemmas.

The salvation came in the form of a writer named Walter Gibson, who was is in New York trying to work up interest in a sequel to a history of Houdini he had done. This sometime journalist and sometime assistant to Houdini and other magicians was told about the new series and grew intrigued enough to head home and very quickly put together the first in the Shadow series. Though it was altered somewhat in the editing stage, it went out largely as Gibson had drafted it.

At last the Shadow Magazine was born. The publishers had a legal hold on the name and concept and the readers had a magazine to go along with the increasingly popular radio program.

One huge difference, however, was that the Shadow in the magazine was an integral part of each adventure while the radio programs had the Shadow as just the narrator. Apparently this would not be too much of a problem as it stayed that way for several years. It wasn't until 1937 when the program, which had switched to NBC in its second full year, now moved to the Mutual broadcasting network. With the move came the change of putting the Shadow into the storylines as he had already been in the magazine for six years.

And so the series would last for another full decade. Every week the Shadow would fight evil and injustice over the airways and every two weeks he would do so in the pages of the magazine. Of course, on occasion he would show up on the big screen in a movie or a serial. And, in 1940, he became popular in newspapers as a syndicated comic strip.

In 1945, the series took a dramatic turn when the primary writer, Gibson, had a falling out with a new editor at the magazine. Soon that man who had written well over 200 of the Shadow stories over the past 14 years, would be replaced by another writer named Bruce Elliott. (Another author, Theodore Tinsley, had also written a score or so of episodes throughout the years, all under the house pseudonym of Maxwell Grant.)

Elliott's emphasis for the Shadow was on murder mysteries and not crime fighting and he made less and less use of the mysterious figure of the Shadow and more of its alter-egos (he had several identities to choose from), most notably Lamont Cranston. Moreover, the character didn't hunt down and blast the perpetrator away - he worked closely with the Police Commissioner to lawfully apprehend the miscreant for trial.

Whether a product of age or of the change, the popularity of the Shadow magazine quickly waned and it moved from a monthly publication to a quarterly. Finally, in 1949, the last issue was released and the Shadow disappeared from the printed page. The radio program would continue on until the end of 1954.

In the early 60's, Belmont Towers decided it would resurrect the series with a 'Return of' novel followed by reprints of the original stories. Gibson was brought in to pen the story which he gladly did and the Return Of The Shadow was released in paperback in 1963. Then, however, things changed dramatically.

Whether it was a change of heart or, as I personally feel it to be, a bowing to financial pressure, BT decided the reprints would be out and new, original stories would be done instead. However, rather than keep the character had he had so popularly been for over 300 adventures, drastic changes would be made.

The first changes were mainly to do with the powers of the character. Where the original character had, especially on the radio, the ability to 'cloud men's minds', the revamped Shadow had mental powers far beyond normal humans. Remember that this was golden age of comics and the prowess was a result of training from an Oriental mentalist, usable only when combined with the special cloak, slouch hat, and girasol ring that the Master passed on to the Shadow (where would an Oriental master get a slouch hat?).

Later, even greater changes would occur as the type of enemy was altered. It is important to remember that James Bond was just hitting it really big and the Man From U.N.C.L.E. was hitting the airways. Spies were in! Moreover, as Bond had SPECTRE and Solo had THRUSH, It apparently seemed a natural to BT to make the resurgent Shadow an agent fighting an evil organization. Thus was C.I.P.H.E.R. born and Lamont Cranston was there to challenge it.

Die-hard fans of the old Shadow grimaced deeply. Walter Gibson flat out refused to go along with the changes, leaving the writing to a far younger Dennis Lynds. And it didn't last very long, going only 8 adventures when the original went over 300. That is the downside of the series.

The upside is that it piqued the interest of a good friend of mine, .John, who then passed that interest on to me. This made me a big fan of the Shadow in specific and spy adventures in general.

If you are expecting the Shadow from the pulp novels, you'll be confused and certainly disappointed. If you are expecting the Shadow from the hundreds of 30 and 60 minute radio broadcasts, you'll be even more confused and disappointed. If you are looking for a cross between a spy and a superhero, with a really cool slouch hat thrown in, who knows?

[Sorry, I've got to do it!] The Shadow knows!

BOOKS

Number of Books:	8
First Appearance:	1963
Last Appearance:	1966

The Shadow graced the pages of his own magazine from 1931 to 1949, providing readers with 325 tales of suspense and action and blazing guns. None of these stories were spy novels. They all were of The Shadow and his crew fighting crime all over the country. The following is a list of the titles and when they were first published:

001. "The Living Shadow", published April 1, 1931
002. "Eyes of the Shadow", published July 1, 1931
003. "The Shadow Laughs", published October 1, 1931
004. "The Red Menace", published November 1, 1931
005. "Gangdom's Doom", published December 1, 1931
006. "The Death Tower", published January 1, 1932
007. "The Silent Seven", published February 1, 1932
008. "The Black Master", published March 1, 1932
009. "Mobsmen on the Spot", published April 1, 1932
010. "Hands in the Dark", published May 1, 1932
011. "Double Z", published June 1, 1932
012. "The Crime Cult", published July 1, 1932
013. "The Blackmail Ring", published August 1, 1932
014. "Hidden Death", published September 1, 1932
015. "Green Eyes", published October 1, 1932
016. "The Ghost Makers", published October 15, 1932
017. "The Five Chameleons", published November 1, 1932
018. "Dead Men Live", published November 15, 1932
019. "The Romanoff Jewels", published December 1, 1932
020. "Kings of Crime", published December 15, 1932
021. "Shadowed Millions", published January 1, 1933
022. "The Creeping Death", published January 15, 1933
023. "The Shadow's Shadow", published February 1, 1933
024. "Six Men of Evil", published February 15, 1933
025. "Fingers of Death", published March 1, 1933
026. "Murder Trail", published March 15, 1933
027. "The Silent Death", published April 1, 1933
028. "The Shadow's Justice", published April 15, 1933
029. "The Golden Grotto", published May 1, 1933
030. "The Death Giver", published May 15, 1933
031. "The Red Blot", published June 1, 1933
032. "The Ghost of the Manor", published June 15, 1933
033. "The Living Joss", published July 1, 1933
034. "The Silver Scourge", published July 15, 1933
035. "The Black Hush", published August 1, 1933
036. "Isle of Doubt", published August 15, 1933
037. "The Grove of Doom", published September 1, 1933
038. "Master of Death", published September 15, 1933
039. "The Road of Crime", published October 1, 1933
040. "The Death Triangle", published October 15, 1933
041. "The Killer", published November 1, 1933
042. "Mox", published November 15, 1933
043. "The Crime Clinic", published December 1, 1933
044. "Treasures of Death", published December 15, 1933
045. "The Embassy Murders", published January 1, 1934
046. "The Wealth Seeker", published January 15, 1934
047. "The Black Falcon", published February 1, 1934
048. "Gray Fist", published February 15, 1934
049. "Circle of Death", published March 1, 1934
050. "The Green Box", published March 15, 1934
051. "The Cobra", published April 1, 1934
052. "Crime Circus", published April 15, 1934
053. "Tower of Death", published May 1, 1934
054. "Death Clew", published May 15, 1934
055. "The Key", published June 1, 1934
056. "The Crime Crypt", published June 15, 1934
057. "Charg, Monster", published July 1, 1934
058. "Chain of Death", published July 15, 1934
059. "The Crime Master", published August 1, 1934
060. "Gypsy Vengeance", published August 15, 1934
061. "Spoils of The Shadow", published September 1, 1934
062. "The Garaucan Swindle", published September 15, 1934
063. "Murder Marsh", published October 1, 1934
064. "The Death Sleep", published October 15, 1934
065. "The Chinese Disks", published November 1, 1934
066. "Doom on the Hill", published November 15, 1934
067. "The Unseen Killer", published December 1, 1934
068. "Cyro", published December 15, 1934
069. "The Four Signets", published January 1, 1935
070. "The Blue Sphinx", published January 15, 1935
071. "The Plot Master", published February 1, 1935
072. "The Dark Death", published February 15, 1935
073. "Crooks Go Straight", published March 1, 1935
074. "Bells of Doom", published March 15, 1935
075. "Lingo", published April 1, 1935
076. "The Triple Trail", published April 15, 1935
077. "The Golden Quest", published May 1, 1935
078. "The Third Skull", published May 15, 1935
079. "Murder Every Hour", published June 1, 1935
080. "The Condor", published June 15, 1935
081. "The Fate Joss", published July 1, 1935
082. "Atoms of Death", published July 15, 1935
083. "The Man From Scotland Yard", published August 1, 1935
084. "The Creeper", published August 15, 1935
085. "Mardi Gras Mystery", published September 1, 1935
086. "The London Crimes", published September 15, 1935
087. "The Ribbon Clues", published October 1, 1935
088. "The House That Vanished", published October 15, 1935
089. "The Chinese Tapestry", published November 1, 1935
090. "The Python", published November 15, 1935
091. "Zemba", published December 1, 1935
092. "The Case of Congressman Coyd", December 15, 1935
093. "The Ghost Murders", published January 1, 1936
094. "Castle of Doom", published January 15, 1936
095. "Death Rides the Skyway", published February 1, 1936
096. "The North Woods Mystery", published February 15, 1936
097. "The Voodoo Master", published March 1, 1936
098. "The Third Shadow", published March 15, 1936
099. "The Salamanders", published April 1, 1936
100. "The Man From Shanghai", published April 15, 1936
101. "The Gray Ghost", published May 1, 1936
102. "City of Doom", published May 15, 1936
103. "The Crime Oracle", published June 1, 1936
104. "Murder Town", published June 15, 1936
105. "The Yellow Door", published July 1, 1936
106. "The Broken Napoleons", published July 15, 1936
107. "The Sledge-hammer Crimes", published August 1, 1936
108. "Terror Island", published August 15, 1936
109. "The Golden Masks", published September 1, 1936
110. "Jibaro Death", published September 15, 1936
111. "City of Crime", published October 1, 1936
112. "Death By Proxy", published October 15, 1936
113. "Partners of Peril" by Theodore Tinsley, published November 1, 1936
114. "The Strange Disappearance of Joe Cardona", published November 15, 1936
115. "Seven Drops of Blood", published December 1, 1936
116. "Intimidation, Inc.", published December 15, 1936
117. "Vengeance Is Mine", published January 1, 1937
118. "Fox Hound" by Theodore Tinsley, published January 15, 1937
119. "Loot of Death", published February 1, 1937
120. "Quetzal", published February 15, 1937
121. "Death Token", published March 1, 1937
122. "Murder House", published March 15, 1937
123. "Washington Crime", published April 1, 1937
124. "The Masked Headsman", published April 15, 1937
125. "The Cup of Confucius" by Theodore Tinsley, published May 1, 1937
126. "Treasure Trail", published May 15, 1937
127. "Brothers of Doom", published June 1, 1937
128. "The Shadow's Rival", published June 15, 1937
129. "Crime, Insured", published July 1, 1937
130. "House of Silence", published July 15, 1937
131. "The Shadow Unmasks", published August 1, 1937
132. "The Yellow Band", published August 15, 1937
133. "Buried Evidence", published September 1, 1937
134. "The Radium Murders", published September 15, 1937
135. "The Pooltex Tangle" by Theodore Tinsley, published October 1, 1937
136. "The Keeper's Gold", published October 15, 1937
137. "Death Turrets", published November 1, 1937
138. "Teeth of the Dragon", published November 15, 1937
139. "The Sealed Box", published December 1, 1937
140. "Racket Town", published December 15, 1937
141. "The Crystal Buddha", published January 1, 1938
142. "Hills of Death", published January 15, 1938
143. "The Fifth Napoleon" by Theodore Tinsley, published February 1, 1938
144. "The Murder Master", published February 15, 1938
145. "The Golden Pagoda", published March 1, 1938
146. "Face of Doom", published March 15, 1938
147. "The Crimson Phoenix" by Theodore Tinsley, published April 1, 1938
148. "Serpents of Siva", published April 15, 1938
149. "Cards of Death", published May 1, 1938
150. "The Hand", published May 15, 1938
151. "Voodoo Trail", published June 1, 1938
152. "The Rackets King", published June 15, 1938
153. "Murder For Sale", published July 1, 1938
154. "The Golden Vulture" cowritten by Lester Dent, published July 15, 1938
155. "Death Jewels", published August 1, 1938
156. "The Green Hoods", published August 15, 1938
157. "The Golden Dog Murders" by Theodore Tinsley, published September 1, 1938
158. "Crime Over Boston", published September 15, 1938
159. "The Dead Who Lived", published October 1, 1938
160. "Vanished Treasure", published October 15, 1938
161. "The Voice", published November 1, 1938
162. "Chicago Crime", published November 15, 1938
163. "Shadow Over Alcatraz", published December 1, 1938
164. "Double Death" by Theodore Tinsley, published December 15, 1938
165. "Silver Skull", published January 1, 1939
166. "Crime Rides the Sea", published January 15, 1939
167. "Realm of Doom", published February 1, 1939
168. "The Lone Tiger", published February 15, 1939
169. "River of Death" by Theodore Tinsley, published March 1, 1939
170. "The Vindicator", published March 15, 1939
171. "Death Ship", published April 1, 1939
172. "Battle of Greed", published April 15, 1939
173. "Death's Harlequin" by Theodore Tinsley, published May 1, 1939
174. "The Three Brothers", published May 15, 1939
175. "Smugglers of Death", published June 1, 1939
176. "City of Shadows", published June 15, 1939
177. "Noose of Death" by Theodore Tinsley, published July 1, 1939
178. "Death From Nowhere", published July 15, 1939
179. "Isle of Gold", published August 1, 1939
180. "Wizard of Crime", published August 15, 1939
181. "The Crime Ray", published September 1, 1939
182. "The Golden Master", published September 15, 1939
183. "Castle of Crime", published October 1, 1939
184. "The Masked Lady", published October 15, 1939
185. "Ships of Doom", published November 1, 1939
186. "City of Ghosts", published November 15, 1939
187. "Shiwan Khan Returns", published December 1, 1939
188. "House of Shadows", published December 15, 1939
189. "Death's Premium", published January 1, 1940
190. "The Hooded Circle", published January 15, 1940
191. "The Getaway Ring", published February 1, 1940
192. "Voice of Death", published February 15, 1940
193. "The Invincible Shiwan Khan", published March 1, 1940
194. "The Veiled Prophet", published March 15, 1940
195. "The Spy Ring", published April 1, 1940
196. "Prince of Evil" by Theodore Tinsley, published April 15, 1940
197. "Death in the Stars", published May 1, 1940
198. "Masters of Death", published May 15, 1940
199. "Scent of Death", published June 1, 1940
200. ""Q"", published June 15, 1940
201. "Murder Genius" by Theodore Tinsley, originally published July 1, 1940
202. "Gems of Doom", originally published July 15, 1940
203. "Crime at Seven Oaks", originally published August 1, 1940
204. "The Fifth Face", originally published August 15, 1940
205. "Crime County", originally published September 1, 1940
206. "The Man Who Died Twice" by Theodore Tinsley, originally published September 15, 1940
207. "The Wasp", originally published October 1, 1940
208. "City of Fear" by Theodore Tinsley, originally published October 15, 1940
209. "Crime Over Miami", originally published November 1, 1940
210. "The Devil's Paymaster" by Theodore Tinsley, originally published November 15, 1940
211. "Xitli, God of Fire", originally published December 1, 1940
212. "The Shadow, The Hawk and the Skull", originally published December 15, 1940
213. "Forgotten Gold", originally published January 1, 1941
214. "The Green Terror" by Theodore Tinsley, originally published January 15, 1941
215. "The Wasp Returns", originally published February 1, 1941
216. "The Chinese Primrose", originally published February 15, 1941
217. "Mansion of Crime", originally published March 1, 1941
218. "The White Column" by Theodore Tinsley, originally published March 15, 1941
219. "The Time Master", originally published April 1, 1941
220. "The House on the Ledge", originally published April 15, 1941
221. "The League of Death", originally published May 1, 1941
222. "Master of Flame" by Theodore Tinsley, originally published May 15, 1941
223. "Crime Under Cover", originally published June 1, 1941
224. "The Thunder King", originally published June 15, 1941
225. "The Star of Delhi", originally published July 1, 1941
226. "The Blur", originally published July 15, 1941
227. "The Crimson Death" by Theodore Tinsley, originally published August 1, 1941
228. "The Shadow Meets The Mask", originally published August 15, 1941
229. "Gems of Jeopardy" by Theodore Tinsley, originally published September 1, 1941
230. "The Devil Master", originally published September 15, 1941
231. "Garden of Death", originally published October 1, 1941
232. "Dictator of Crime", originally published October 15, 1941
233. "The Blackmail King", originally published November 1, 1941
234. "Temple of Crime", originally published November 15, 1941
235. "Murder Mansion", originally published December 1, 1941
236. "Crime's Stronghold", originally published December 15, 1941
237. "Alibi Trail", originally published January 1, 1942
238. "The Book of Death", originally published January 15, 1942
239. "Death Diamonds", originally published February 1, 1942
240. "Blue Face" by Theodore Tinsley, originally published February 15, 1942
241. "Vengeance Bay", originally published March 1, 1942
242. "Formula for Crime", originally published March 15, 1942
243. "Room of Doom", originally published April 1, 1942
244. "The Jade Dragon", originally published April 15, 1942
245. "The Northdale Mystery", originally published May 1, 1942
246. "Death's Bright Finger" by Theodore Tinsley, originally published May 15, 1942
247. "Twins of Crime", originally published June 1, 1942
248. "The Devil's Feud", originally published June 15, 1942
249. "Five Ivory Boxes", originally published July 1, 1942
250. "Death About Town", originally published July 15, 1942
251. "Legacy of Death", originally published August 1, 1942
252. "Judge Lawless", originally published August 15, 1942
253. "The Vampire Murders", originally published September 1, 1942
254. "Syndicate of Sin" by Theodore Tinsley, originally published September 15, 1942
255. "The Devil's Partner" by Theodore Tinsley, originally published October 1, 1942
256. "Clue for Clue", originally published October 15, 1942
257. "Trail of Vengeance", originally published November 1, 1942
258. "The Murdering Ghost", originally published November 15, 1942
259. "The Hydra", originally published December 1, 1942
260. "The Money Master", originally published December 15, 1942
261. "The Museum Murders", originally published January 1, 1943
262. "Death's Masquerade", originally published January 15, 1943
263. "The Devil Monsters", originally published February 1, 1943
264. "Wizard of Crime", originally published February 15, 1943
265. "The Black Dragon", originally published March 1, 1943
266. "Young Men of Death" by Theodore Tinsley, originally published April 1, 1943
267. "The Robot Master", originally published May 1, 1943
268. "Murder Lake", originally published June 1, 1943
269. "The Golden Doom" by Theodore Tinsley, originally published July 1, 1943
270. "Messenger of Death", originally published August 1, 1943
271. "House of Ghosts", originally published September 1, 1943
272. "King of the Black Market", originally published October 1, 1943
273. "The Muggers", originally published November 1, 1943
274. "Murder by Moonlight", originally published December 1, 1943
275. "The Crystal Skull", originally published January 1, 1944
276. "Syndicate of Death", originally published February 1, 1944
277. "The Toll of Death", originally published March 1, 1944
278. "Crime Caravan", originally published April 1, 1944
279. "Freak Show Murders", originally published May 1, 1944
280. "Voodoo Death", originally published June 1, 1944
281. "Town of Hate", originally published July 1, 1944
282. "Death in the Crystal", originally published August 1, 1944
283. "The Chest of Chu Chan", originally published September 1, 1944
284. "The Shadow Meets The Mask", originally published October 1, 1944
285. "Fountain of Death", originally published November 1, 1944
286. "No Time for Murder", originally published December 1, 1944
287. "Guardian of Death", originally published January 1, 1945
288. "Merry Mrs. Macbeth", originally published February 1, 1945
289. "Five Keys To Crime", originally published March 1, 1945
290. "Death Has Grey Eyes", originally published April 1, 1945
291. "Tear-Drops of Buddha", originally published May 1, 1945
292. "Three Stamps of Death", originally published June 1, 1945
293. "The Mask of Mephisto", originally published July 1, 1945
294. "Murder By Magic", originally published August 1, 1945
295. "The Taiwan Joss", originally published September 1, 1945
296. "A Quarter of Eight", originally published October 1, 1945
297. "The White Skulls", originally published November 1, 1945
298. "The Stars Promise Death", originally published December 1, 1945
299. "The Banshee Murders", originally published January 1, 1946
300. "Crime Out Of Mind", originally published February 1, 1946
301. "Mother Goose Murders", published March 1, 1946
302. "Crime Over Casco", published April 1, 1946
303. "The Curse of Thoth", published May 1, 1946
304. "Alibi Trail", published June 1, 1946
305. "Malmordo", published July 1, 1946
306. "The Blackest Mail" by Bruce Elliott, published August 1, 1946
307. "Happy Death Day" by Bruce Elliott, published September 1, 1946
308. "The Seven Deadly Arts" by Bruce Elliott, published October 1, 1946
309. "No Safety In Numbers" by Bruce Elliott, published November 1, 1946
310. "Death on Ice" by Bruce Elliott, published December 1, 1946
311. "Death Stalks the U.N." by Bruce Elliott, published January 1, 1947
312. "Murder in White" by Bruce Elliott, published March 1, 1947
313. "Room 1313" by Bruce Elliott, published May 1, 1947
314. "Model Murder" by Bruce Elliott, published July 1, 1947
315. "Svengali Kill" by Bruce Elliott, published September 1, 1947
316. "Jabberwocky Thrust" by Bruce Elliott, published November 1, 1947
317. "Ten Glass Eyes" by Bruce Elliott, published January 1, 1948
318. "The Television Murders" by Bruce Elliott, published March 1, 1948
319. "Murder on Main Street" by Bruce Elliott, published May 1, 1948
320. "Reign of Terror" by Bruce Elliott, published July 1, 1948
321. "Jade Dragon", published September 1, 1948
322. "Dead Man's Chest", published Fall 1948
323. "The Magigals Mystery", published Winter 1949
324. "The Black Circle", published Spring 1949
325. "The Whispering Eyes", published Summer 1949

       A decade and half would pass before new tales of adventure about The Shadow would be published. Belmont Books wanted to capitalize on the James Bond craze so went to the original author, Walter Gibson, to bring back the man in the hat and cloak, which he did with:
       The publisher were very unhappy with the fact that the man who knew more about The Shadow than anyone else had not given them what they wanted by giving them The Shadow as he was, dangerous and mysterious but not spy-ish.
       So they went to Dennis Lynds who produced what was asked but not, apparently, what the readership wanted. Only 8 of those were created and it is those 8, definitely spy-ish, that are shown below.


1			The Return of The Shadow Written by Walter Gibson Copyright: 1963 Numerous men of importance, all connected to the U.N. have been acting strangely recently. The Shadow is certain they are either under considerable stress or have been replaced with impostors. He send Harry Vincent to a section of the Appalachian Trail each man had been to not long before to see what he can find.

2			The Shadow Strikes Written by Dennis Lynds Copyright: 1964 Both the Shadow and the FBI are extremely interested in a group calling itself the Liberation Front and supposedly handling the escape from behind the Iron Curtain of hundreds of freedom-seeking people. Something is definitely wrong with the Front, however, as the bodies start to pile up.

3			Shadow Beware Written by Dennis Lynds Copyright: 1964 When a man working for the Peace Corps shows up in London dead, that organization fears nefarious forces are at work and asks for the help of Commissioner Weston and his friend, Lamont Cranston. This takes the Shadow to England in search of a killer and a mad scheme involving international relations.

4			Cry Shadow Written by Dennis Lynds Copyright: 1964 Someone is stealing artwork from various galleries around New York, prompting Lamont Cranston and Margo Lane to investigate. All evidence points to a Columbian smuggling ring that even the Shadow will have trouble breaking.

5			The Shadow's Revenge Written by Dennis Lynds Copyright: 1964 A demon out of the darkness of the jungles of Africa has arisen to kill, destroy, and totally dominate the west African area of the Congo. When the head of a relief mission, a friend Cranston and Weston, disappears while investigating the fantastic stories, the Shadow decides a visit to that region is in order.

6			Mark Of The Shadow Written by Dennis Lynds Copyright: 1966 The first introduction of CYPHER, this adventure deals with one man's desire to control an entire state. To accomplish this, he needs to remove several powerful men and for that he needs the help of C.Y.P.H.E.R., an organization willing to provide any illegal service to anyone with enough money.

7			Shadow - Go Mad! Written by Dennis Lynds Copyright: 1966 Now that CYPHER knows that the Shadow is after them, they lay a terrific trap by unleashing a series of bizarre murders around the world, killings that have no apparent motive except to lead first Margo Lane and then Lamont Cranston into a deadly trap.

8			The Night Of The Shadow Written by Dennis Lynds Copyright: 1966 The Red Chinese, seeking to extend their influence into Latin America, is backing a secret plan to overthrow one of the nations there. Also on hand to stop the downfall of one of the few democracies in the region is the Shadow, along with his team of highly trained agents.

9			Destination: Moon Written by Dennis Lynds Copyright: 1966 Someone is out to destroy America's space program. Thus far they have sabotaged the last three missions, causing death and great embarrassment. As the fourth attempt to send a rocket to the moon gets ready, the Shadow is on hand to find out who is behind the mayhem, the Russians, the Chinese, or C.Y.P.H.E.R.?

MY COMMENTS

I don't for a moment claim that the eight adventures of the revamped Shadow are as good as the previous 300+ ones. I don't happen to think that at all. The changes move the character from the mysterious to the superhero and loses too much along the way. So if you followed the storyline from the 1931 character up through the 40's and then met the new one, you wouldn't like him at all.

But if, like me, you started with them as a teenager and then branched out both into fuller spy fiction as well as the original stories, they will always hold a very special place in my memory.

As I reread them for this compendium, I lose 35+ years, at least for a short time. And that is not a bad thing at all.

GRADE

My Grade: C

YOUR OPINIONS

Rock Savage	-	4/6/2013 10:17:32 AM	I only read "Cry Shadow" and it was dull and mundane! If the rest of the series is this bad, you might want to skip it!!

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