Random Thoughts
Return of the Shadow 26-Oct-2005.
After a hiatus of approximately 30 years (!), I've resumed working my way through my
approximately 180-issue Shadow collection, this time in reverse order (I have my
reasons). I've found the final Gibson stories in the ill-fated pre-war
size revival to be quite authentic. The Bruce Elliott shorties, on the other hand, are
quick, lively reads,, but the character of The Shadow seems all wrong, coming
off from the dialog as an ordinary Joe.
Reign of Terror, ordered up to
be in the Gibson style, mixes the best of both worlds, fast-moving and
with a lot of atmosphere. The Shadow is back in costume, and agents
Shrevvie, Burbank and Hawkeye are utilized effectively.
Ten Glass Eyes
is a swift read, but the protagonist is Lamont Cranston, a gentleman
detective, with no hint of another identity. The word "shadow" appears a few times
in the story, but only as an attempt to heighten the mood. A new reader would
wonder why the sleuth commands respect from the authorities and why he needs
agents (Shrevvie and Hawkeye appear, in passing).
Jabberwocky
Thrust, a brief tale, has Cranston spending more time dressed as the
Lewis Carroll character Tweedledum (Joe Cardona is Tweedledee) than he
does in his familiar black garb, in a story occurring at a costume party
for devotees of the Alice in Wonderland author. Shrevvie and Burbank are
the only agents in this one.