Shadow Comics – Volume 05 Issue 09

“The Trail Of The Talon – Part 03”

The Talon has installed hidden teledictapones  inside the Cranston Mansion. Now everything Lamont and Margo say are instantly relayed to The Shadow’s arch nemesis. So how will Lamont Cranston gain the upper hand on a crime syndicate that knows his every move?

Gold and technology! Talon is well known for his addiction to gold and scientific inventions. The fiend has stolen thousands of patents and wealth from those with greater minds than his own. The Shadow must work his far eastern magic to entice the villain, for the weed of crime bears bitter fruit.

Can Lamont Cranston and Margo Lane stop The Talon from stealing a shipment of experimental explosives from inventor Simon Solo? Will The Hag aid Talon in his quest to destroy The Shadow? Why did Simon Solo dig such a shallow swimming pool?

“Melting Welding”

Someone has been sabotaging the plane, train, and shipping industries with faulty welding materials. Now thousands of American servicemen and private citizens have perished in horrifying accidents. Enough is enough! It’s time to call Doc Savage and solve this mystery! But can his high-tech laboratory equipment crack the case of The Melting Welding?

“The Cards!”

How does the automation known as Abdul win every hand of cards? Either Dr. Deeds is a mechanical genius, or there is something fishy going on with his contraption. As keen investigator, Nick Carter, and the other guests of Mr. Baronne take turns playing cards with Abdul, another mystery is about to unfold. Someone, or something, is in the next room  emptying Baronne’s safe of thousands of dollars in precious jewels.

“Inner Circle”

No one is safe from scam artists these days; not even military veterans returning home from the war. Nick Carter and his Inner Circle have discovered a new racket that defrauds everyone with a motor vehicle. This is the great fuel replacement scam. Get ready to take notes, crime-stoppers. These criminals need to be stopped ASAP!

“Takes Some Lip!”

The career criminal, Big Lip, has just escaped federal prison, and now he is out for revenge! The very first person he intends to settle the score with is Detective Flatty Foote – the copper who put him in the big house to begin with. Unfortunately, Foote is being distracted by the case of the stolen bone. Mr. Pilgib has accused a pack of dogs for performing the heist. What will Mrs. Van Der Pole do to prove their innocence?

“Hands Of Doom”

Someone is bumping off everyone around wealthy businessman, Hiram Maytree. Unfortunately, the police had no leads until today. It would take amateur criminologists, Lamont Cranston and Margo Lane, to recover a note stolen from the Maytree estate by recently murdered thief, Rufe Hixer. To solve this case, Lamont and Margo will need to decipher the secret meaning of CLUJIN. Get ready, Shadow, you are in charge of security!

Review

The Shadow is one of those timeless characters who has graced every form of media since his 1931 debut in Street & Smith Publications magazines. Lamont Cranston, aka The Shadow, and his faithful sidekick, Margo Lane, have been my favorite crime fighting duo since the early 1980s when I was given several cassette tapes with episodes of the radio show. I was hooked ever since.

I was not around in 1945 when this comic book series was in circulation. However, to me, Shadow Comics appears to be a version tailored for younger readers. The plots are quick and simplified, leaving no real mystery to solve. As a fan and collector, I’m glad to have this book for nostalgia purposes. The writing is solid, and the art is a fun reminder of the times. But for adult readers, this was not very engaging. As an adult now, I give Shadow Comics Vol.05 No.09 (#57) three out of five stars.

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