The Shadow Master strikes again!
This is Will Murray’s THIRD fact-packed Shadow book of the
past couple years (following Master of Mystery and Dark Avenger), and much as I
enjoyed the first two, I have to say this is my favorite.
Why? The one blazes a
wide swath through the popular culture of earlier times—and our own. While the
focus remains on all things Shadowiana, Mr. Murray examines them within the context
of the various forms of media, and provides a wide-angle look at the careers
and personalities of the people behind the various programs, publications, stories,
artwork and films
In short, this volume paints a broad canvas, helping to
bring our hero’s long and continuing career into even sharper focus.
The author begins even before the radio show, ruminating on
the roots of the character concept, then delves into the life and career who came
up with name for the radio voice, and takes us behind the scenes to Walter
Gibson’s first encounter with the Shadow, well before his fabled visit to the
offices of Street and Smith. Murray even and delves into the life and career of
the man who chose Gibson to be the Shadow’s raconteur. These are subjects I’ve
seen discussed nowhere else.
The whole book is like that. We’re treated to a lengthy and
highly enlightening interview with Mr. Gibson, followed by articles on Gibson’s
Shadow and non-Shadow work in the pulps, radio and comic books, and finally his
efforts in later years to promote his hero’s revival.
Moving through the years, we take a dive into the Shadow’s
first encounters with Batman, into the little-known TV pilot, relive the modern-age
rebirth of Shadow comic books, and look at the making of the 1994 Universal
film.
The result is over 300
pages of fascinating info, peppered with more than 50 fine illustrations by Mr.
Michael Kaluta, one of the greatest Shadow artists of all time. It’s a
must-have for all admirers of the Knight of Darkness!
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