The Shadow

:This article is about the radio/pulp magazine/comic book hero. For other meanings, see shadow (disambiguation).

Adaptations

The character has been depicted in comic books several times. The Shadow was first depicted in comics by Vernon Greene in 1938. The most acclaimed depiction was in the 1970s Shadow comic written by Dennis O'Neil and Mike Kaluta published by DC Comics. Other noteworthy Shadow comics from DC were created by Howard Chaykin, Andy Helfer and Kyle Baker, and Gerard Jones and Eduardo Barreto.

Related Topics:
Comic book - Vernon Greene - 1938 - 1970s - Dennis O'Neil - Mike Kaluta - DC Comics - Howard Chaykin - Andy Helfer - Kyle Baker - Gerard Jones - Eduardo Barreto

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The character has been adapted for film numerous times. The movie The Shadow Strikes was released in 1937, and starred Rod Larocque in the title role. Larocque returned to the following year in International Crime, although in this version "The Shadow" was merely a radio gimmick. A serial starring Victor Jory and two short subjects starring Kane Richmond were each made in the 1940s. An interesting fact is that Richmond's Shadow wore a black face-mask similar to the type worn by the serial hero 'The Masked Marvel'.

Related Topics:
Film - The Shadow Strikes - Rod Larocque - International Crime - Serial - Victor Jory - 1940s

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A 1994 feature film version of The Shadow, starring Alec Baldwin, recast the story yet again. In this version, Lamont Cranston was a disaffected veteran of The Great War (World War I) who drifted through Asia and ultimately became a brutal warlord and opium smuggler. Cranston was then kidnapped by a Tibetan order of monks and brought to their monastery. A tulku, their leader, recognizing the power of harnessing Cranston's inner darkness, reformed and trained him to use that darkness against evil rather than for it. Cranston learned how to confuse and control the minds of others, particularly how to become invisible except for his shadow. His nemesis in the film was an evil warlord and fellow telepath named Shiwan Khan, the last descendant of Genghis, played by John Lone. Cranston's lover and partner-in-crimefighting, Margo Lane, was played by Penelope Ann Miller. The film was intended to launch a new franchise, but was commercially unsuccessful and no series resulted.

Related Topics:
1994 - Alec Baldwin - World War I - Asia - Warlord - Opium - Tibet - Monastery - Tulku - Telepath - Genghis - John Lone - Penelope Ann Miller

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Dark Horse Comics published three mini-series based on the movie's version of the character. It also published a two-part team-up between The Shadow and Doc Savage, another well-known pulp hero.

Related Topics:
Dark Horse Comics - Doc Savage

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The Shadow is also a member of the Wold Newton family.

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An analogue of The Shadow also shows up in Warren Ellis' Planetary series as a member of Doc Brass' (Doc Savage) group of superheroes.

Related Topics:
Warren Ellis - Planetary - Doc Savage

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