Bitter Fruit #10: "The Incredible Alliance of Shiwan Khan and Attila the Hunter!"

We resume my journey into Archie Comics' 1960s Shadow comic book with 1965's Shadow#6. I sincerely hope the cover says it all:

So yes, per the title we're yet again being treated to a Shadow versus Shiwan Khan tale (seriously, he doesn't have to be in every issue!), but with a difference: Khan has allied himself with Attila the Hunter! Wait, Hunter? Not "Hun?" Perhaps a thoughtful copy editor "fixed" Hun to Hunter before it went out the door.

Ah, but as I switch to the title page, the opening caption reveals Attila the Hunter is a descendant of Attila the Hun, just as Shiwan Khan is descended from Genghis Khan! Why, it's a match made for the ages! Perhaps they can join forces with Alexander the Greater and Timor the Lamer! But seeing as Shiwan uses modern technology (like the machine gun, above), why is Attila stuck in the dark ages?

We open near the "New England rock-bound coast" as a storm rages at sea while a lighthouse refuses to shine its light. The spandex-clad Shadow is on the scene, having determined Shiwan Khan is responsible for taking over the lighthouse in the hopes of wrecking a ship with valuable cargo. The Shadow boards the lighthouse using a rifle which fires a grappling hook, but as he climbs up the side of the lighthouse, Shiwan appears above and slices the rope with a knife; the Shadow falls to his death!

On Shiwan Khan's island base, Shiwan wakes up to realize the story of the Shadow dying was all a dream; for those keeping track, this is the second time in Archie's Shadow that a dream sequence has tried to fool the readers (the previous was "Margo Lane's Honeymoon!"). In the room next door to Shiwan Khan, we find our old friend Yukal Torrg dressed as the Shadow. You'll recall Yukal from last month's story, where he impersonated the Shadow in a practice attempt on Shiwan's life, but then made a real attempt at killing his master, so Shiwan sentenced him to death. It's rare to find real issue-to-issue continuity in this series; well done writer (who I assume is Jerry Siegel yet again).

As Yukal nears Shiwan's bed, garotte in hand, he recalls how Shiwan had him before a firing squad when he convinced Shiwan to let him live because by trying to kill him, he'd help prepare Shiwan to eventually destroy the Shadow. Shiwan liked the sound of this. Just as Yukal is near the bed, an alarm goes off because Shiwan placed a protective circle around his bed. Yukal leaps at Shiwan to kill him, but Shiwan handily outfights him, then dismisses him as a message sounds on Shiwan's monitor-alarm.

Over a television monitor, one of Shiwan's men informs his master of intruders on the island. Shiwan assumes it's the Shadow, but as he joins his men in confronting the intruders, he discovers it's the animal skin-wearing Attila the Hunter (all of Attila's men wear normal clothes, it's interesting to note). Attila claims his ancestor was more powerful than Genghis Khan and will destroy Shiwan to prove his superiority. Shiwan begs to differ, declaring "Attila the Hun was a lily-livered weakling! His men did the fighting! Attila took the credit!" Attila retorts, "Genghis Khan fought women and children! His followers did the real fighting!" Perhaps Deadliest Warrior could settle this grudge match?

Shiwan Khan & Attila the Hunter line up on opposite sides with their mobs, ready to battle, when suddenly the aged Lu Kwan walks out of Shiwan's ranks and sounds a trumpet, halting the battle because he's "the wise counsellor to whom even Shiwan Khan pays heed." Great, but why does Attila pay him heed? Lu Kwan points out the Shadow is too powerful for either of them to defeat alone, so why not declare a truce to destroy him? You may recall this brilliant notion as the same idea behind every Shiwan Khan matchmaking effort thus far. Shiwan and Attila agree to join forces to kill the Shadow, then go back to killing each other. They gather their forces together in a dining hall and drink a toast to the Shadow's death, but Shiwan & Attila each secretly anticipate killing each other.

We turn now to Lamont Cranston's Manhattan townhouse as Al Falco, "common thief" breaks into the premises ("you can never have too many antagonists" is the Siegel motto). Finding a steel door with a combination lock, Falco decides to crack it open, certain something valuble must lie within. Amazingly, he succeeds in cracking a lock he hadn't prepared for. This sets off an alarm which Lamont sees in his office, informing him someone's entered the "Survival-Course Room," another feature from last issue! Changing to the Shadow identity, Lamont races the room and can hear screams coming from inside. Is it Lamont's pet lion?

We now begin the second chapter, "the Captive of Terror Island!" The Shadow enters the Survival-Course Room just as Falco is nearly flattened by a giant metal block falling from the ceiling. Automatic machine guns open up from the walls, but the Shadow pushes Falco out of their path; when the lion enters the room, Falco faints; the Shadow scares the lion by creating the illusion of himself as a lion, chasing the lion back into his cage. The Shadow fears Falco may now know Lamont's secret identity, so he carries him outside to the curb then fills Falco's mind with hallucinations, including a giant snake and a Native warrior attacking him. Falco decides for himself that he imagined everything about Lamont's house and departs, although the Shadow could've simply hypnotized him into forgetting all about the Danger Room.

Back on Shiwan Khan's island, Shiwan & Attila have made their plan: knowing the Shadow is friends with Lamont Cranston and secretary Margo Lane, Attila will kill Lamont and Shiwan will kidnap Margo. Uh, "killing Lamont" is quite an undertaking in itself - laying aside these two don't know Lamont is the Shadow, he's an agent of C.H.I.E.F. and has all manner of super-spy resources. Regardless, they depart in Shiwan's submarine for Manhattan. Late next evening, Margo receives a phone call informing her someone covered with bruises has stumbled into the Purple Fox saloon, calling her name. Thinking it's Lamont, Margo speeds to the scene, only to be kidnapped by Shiwan Khan and his men.

Meanwhile, at the Cranston Museum of Art (seriously? he has a bank and a museum now? will he have a water park next issue?), Attila sneaks into Lamont's office (one can never have too many offices). In his office, Lamont is talking into a microphone recorder as he views statues for a new display of "some of the worst villains of all history." These include Nero, Genghis Khan, Attila the Hun, Hitler and Herod. As Lamont inspects Attila the Hun's statue, he describes his "ugly face" and "beady, wild-animal eyes." At this, Attila the Hunter breaks into the office, outraged at Lamont badmouthing a statue of his ancestor (it's not as though the statue could hope to be an accurate representation of the real Attila). Wielding an "electro-blast gun" Shiwan loaned him, Attila shoots Lamont in the back, stunning him. Attila daws out his axe to kill Lamont, but at the last moment refuses, unable to kill a defenseless foe because of his honour. Instead, Attila takes Lamont prisoner.

Shiwan is a little put out to find Attila on his island with Lamont Cranston, but Attila believes "two lures are better than one!" Lamont is thrown into a prison cell. In Shiwan's throne room (throne room?), Shiwan and Attila rest side-by-side on matching thrones. When's the wedding? Well, funny I should ask... Margo is brought before the two villains for interrogation, but Attila doesn't want to harm her - he wants her to be his queen! Shiwan reacts badly to this and decides to propose to Margo himself, urging her to "spurn the braggart and marry me!" They aren't even kings yet, but they're already falling out over a woman. Why, it's almost like the Man Who Would be King... except it's not very good. Shiwan and Attila talk of claiming Margo's hand as though it were the key to ruling the world; fun fact: when you're "king of the world," you can have anyone as your queen!

Being no fool, Margo claims if they face each other in combat, she'll marry the winner. Shiwan agrees and even dons a costume to make him resemble Genghis Khan. Each equipped with swords, the two villains face each other in the courtyard, but it transpires Shiwan's sword contains an electrical charge, enabling him to electrocute Attila by touching him! However, the fight is broken up by... the Shadow?

No, it's Yukal again, fulfilling the day's "practice attack on Shiwan Khan." This is actually a pretty hilarious development; Shiwan is knocked cold, but the ever-honourable Attila rejects Yukal's aid and shoves him out of the arena. Shiwan revives, but Attila refuses to resume the swordfight, declaring they'll wield axes instead. As the axe duel commences, Margo slips away and steals a motorboat, unnoticed. When one of Shiwan's men notices the boat departing he informs Shiwan & Attila, who finally realize they've been duped. They resume their alliance and board Shiwan's submarine to blast Margo's boat out of the water! Meanwhile, Lamont is still trapped in his cell!

We begin chapter 3: "The Shadow vs. the Shadow." Awakening in his cell, Lamont switches to the Shadow... wait, you mean he'd have had his secret identity compromised if Shiwan & Attila had simply the presence of mind to order a full body search of his person? Anyway, the Shadow hypnotizes a guard into believing the cell is full of gold, tricking him into opening the door. The Shadow escapes and wanders freely on the island, telling Shiwan's men he's actually Yukal! An excellent plan... but the Shadow's never met Yukal! How does he know about Yukal wearing his costume and practicing on Shiwan? Anyway, the Shadow claims he's going to follow Shiwan in the hydrofoil for another practice session.

However, Yukal sees the Shadow boarding the hydrofoil and realizes what's going on. Drawing out a sniper rifle, he prepares to assassinate the Shadow, but then decides to let him live, since with the Shadow alive, Yukal has a job, with the Shadow dead, Shiwan would certainly put Yukal to death. There is a sense of weird logic to it, although an even better plan would be to kill Shiwan & the Shadow, then swear allegiance to Attila.

The hydrofoil catches up to the motorboat & submarine, so there's just one thing for the Shadow to do: become Lamont Cranston! ...Wait, huh? He steers the hydrofoil into a collision course with the submarine then leaps away. The hydrofoil destroys the submarine and Lamont swims to Margo's boat; and since he wasn't wearing his costume, his secret identity remains concealed from Margo. Margo muses about how terrible it is Attila died in the explosion, considering he was a man or honour. Lamont, however, thinks both Shiwan & Attila could have survived.

Weirdly, I'm beginning to develop an affection for this comic. Perhaps it's because of the issue-to-issue continuity creeping in; perhaps it's because the Shadow has ceased behaving like a jerk to one and all; perhaps it's the Brian Blessed-like antics of Attila the Hunter warming my heart. I'll be doing a wrap-up post on the series when I'm done, but at this stage I don't think my final opinion will compare to those I read in publications about the series. It's a juvenile super hero comic book from the 1960s... is it really such a surprise it should read like a juvenile super hero comic book from the 1960s?

Once again, Grand Comics Database credits this tale to Jerry Siegel and Paul Reinman (Reinman also on cover); I'm going to be very good at identifying Reinman's art when this is done! This issue also features another "Adventures of the Shadow" text story. This continues the tale of how the Shadow met Weston, agent of C.H.I.E.F. (come to think of it, after introducing C.H.I.E.F. last issue, it's only referred to in the text story of this issue). The Shadow helps interrogate the men who attacked Weston and hypnotizes them into thinking he's the Devil so they'll give up the name of their master: Shiwan Khan!

Next time in Bitter Fruit: The Shadow#7, penultimate issue of the series!

The ever-lovin' ever-expandin' film collection

I pride myself at keeping current with the luxuries of modern technology; this is why I have an extensive VHS collection! To this end, I just picked up a massive set of VHS tapes, courtesy of a donation to a good cause. The tapes I picked up include a lot of older titles which are hard to find on DVD; some are major favourites of mine, while others I wouldn't normally want for my home collection, but the cause (and price point) were right; the list of titles in full is:

• Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
• The Bank (1915)
• The Big Heat (1953)
• The Big House (1930)
• The Big Parade (1925)
• Black Orpheus (1959)
• Blood on the Sun (1945)
• Blood Simple (1984)
• The Bride Wore Black (1968)
• By the Sea (1915)
• Chimes at Midnight (1965)
• Christmas in July (1940)
• College (1927)
• Compulsion (1959)
• Crime and Punishment (1935)
• Crossfire (1947)
• Cruel, Cruel Love (1914)
• The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
• The Devil Bat (1940)
• Les Diaboliques (1955)
• The Ex-Mrs. Bradford (1936)
• A Film Johnny (1914)
• The Floorwalker (1916)
• The Frozen Ghost (1945)
• The Fugitive (1947)
• Get Carter (1971)
• The Getaway (1972)
• The Great McGinty (1940)
• Hail the Conquering Hero (1944)
• Hangmen Also Die! (1943)
• Hell's Angels (1930)
• High Fidelity (2000)
• His Musical Career (1914)
• His New Job (1915)
• His Prehistoric Past (1914)
• Ikiru (1952)
• The Immigrant (1917)
• The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)
• The Informer (1935)
• The Inspector General (1949)
• Intolerance (1916)
• It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
• The Lady Eve (1941)
• The Lady From Shanghai (1947)
• Laffing Gas (1914)
• The Land of the Pharaohs (1955)
• Lost Horizon (1937)
• The Lost Patrol (1934)
• Macao (1952)
• The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944)
• Mister Roberts (1955)
• Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
• Nick of Time (1995)
• A Night at the Show (1915)
• O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
• On Dangerous Ground (1952)
• On the Waterfront (1954)
• Onibaba (1964)
• Only Angels Have Wings (1939)
• Operation Condor 2: Armour of God (1986)
• Othello (1952)
• The Paradine Case (1947)
• The Pawnshop (1916)
• The Prisoner (1990)
• The Racket (1951)
• Ruggles of Red Gap (1935)
• The Rules of the Game (1939)
• Sahara (1943)
• Seven Sinners (1936)
• The Seventh Victim (1943)
• Shanghaied (1915)
• Spartacus (1960)
• Stagecoach (1939)
• Stranger on the Third Floor (1940)
• Sullivan's Travels (1941)
• Tango Tangles (1914)
• The Thin Blue Line (1988)
• Three Comrades (1938)
• The Time of Your Life (1948)
• The Trial (1962)
• Triple Trouble (1918)
• The Vagabond (1916)
• Weird Woman (1944)
• White Heat (1949)
• The Wild Bunch (1969)
• The Window (1949)
• Witness for the Prosecution (1957)

Also, these episodes of the Twilight Zone:

• "Death's Head Revisited"
• "The Dummy"
• "The Fever"
• "The Four of us Are Dying"
• "The Fugitive"
• "A Game of Pool"
• "I Sing the Body Electric"
• "The Invaders"
• "The Lateness of the Hour"
• "The Lonely"
• "Long Distance Call"
• "Mr. Dingle, the Strong"
• "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street"
• "Nick of Time"
• "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"
• "Nothing in the Dark"
• "The Obsolete Man"
• "The Odyssey of Flight 33"
• "Once Upon a Time"
• "A Passage for Trumpet"
• "The Passerby"
• "Perchance to Dream"
• "The Prime Mover"
• "Probe 7 - Over and Out"
• "The Purple Testament"
• "A Quality of Mercy"
• "Shadow Play"
• "Steel"
• "Third From the Sun"
• "Time Enough at Last"
• "The Trade-Ins"
• "Two"

It's at least a month's diversion.

I backed a successful project; why am I not happy?

The Hero Initiative has just announced they were able to pay for a funeral for recently-deceased comic book author Robert Washington III, who died in poverty; 365 industry professionals and fans contributed to this cause - I was one of them.

I was not actually a fan of Washington's work; I learned about him and his plight when I bought this year's Hero Initiative fundraiser Hero Comics, which featured a one-page story written by him about how he'd been unable to sustain a career in comics and was living hand-to-mouth.

When friends first began to hear I'd been working in the comic book industry they would ask me if I was going to quit my "day job" and work in comics full-time. I always had to carefully respond no, because I knew whether in freelance or even staff positions, comics have more people who want into the industry than the industry could ever sustain. Turnover is quick and ruthless; I can still recall how shocking it seemed circa '99 when Herb Trimpe went public about how he'd been let go from Marvel and struggled to find a new occupation for himself. The internet has made stories such as Trimpe's common place.

None of which deterred me from supporting the fundraising for Washington's funeral. As I've indicated before on this blog, I now care more about the people who make comics than I do the comics themselves. Robert Washington III was the most recent tragedy of the industry - there will be others. It's not simply that people who toiled for years in the industry may die as nobodies, it's that they die as nobodies who can't afford a coffin.

"If I had it to do over again, I'd cut my hands off." - Wally Wood, one of the industry's all-time greatest talents; when faced with declining health, he committed suicide.

Bitter Fruit#9: "Menace of Radiation Rogue!"

Our latest story from Archie's 1965 Shadow series seems to be missing an article in its title; "the Radiation Rogue," surely?

As the cover demonstrates, the Shadow#5 features a new villain! Hooray! ...Also, the fifth issue running to feature Shiwan Khan. Bleh. There's no rule stating the Shadow has to fight Shiwan Khan all the time, surely? Glancing at the new villain we see... Moltar? No, he wouldn't be created for another year. Radioactive Man? Possibly - he already existed, although I suspect he wasn't the first radioactive super villain in history.

 
In this very busy splash page, a lot of information is dumped in our laps. Shiwan Khan has employed the Radiation Rogue, who demonstrates his powers to kill a man-eating plant, while imagining himself doing the same to the Shadow. Radiation Rogue knows he'll die in a few days from radiation poisoning, but on the bright side, Shiwan Khan will be ruler of the world! Boy, he must really like the ol' Khanster.

Our story begins in earnest at Lamont Cranston's townhouse. We follow him around his home as he rises from bed and eats breakfast while Shrevy waits on him (Shrevy is a butler-chauffeur?). Entering his sound-proof Survival-Course Room, Lamont becomes the Shadow and goes on a tour of the survival course, dodging automated machine guns and arrows. A noose drops from the ceiling and tries to strangle him, but he uses the razor-sharp blade on his watch to sever the rope. Wait, since when has he had a razor-sharp blade inside his watch? And since when has the Shadow worn his watch on the outside of his glove? As of page 3, panel 4, I suppose.

The last challenge is a lion, which the Shadow defeats by hypnotizing it. Since the Survival-Course Room is kept secret from all of Lamont's staff and friends (no one knows he's the Shadow for no good reason), one wonders who takes care of the lion when Lamont's out of town. Finished with his morning "danger tonic," Lamont goes to work in his office alongside his secretary, Margo Lane. His work includes sending a check to a cancer fund and a series of checks to the widow of a heroic police officer. It's nice to find Lamont's business being charitable for a change.

"Thousands of miles away, on the island kingdom stronghold of the cruelly cunning tyrant Shiwan Khan..." Since when has Khan had this island? Or a kingdom? Shiwan examines a portrait of his ancestor Genghis Khan and remarks how Genghis' pillaging and looting was a "great inspiration" to him. Suddenly, the Shadow enters the room and attacks Shiwan, but Khan steps on a hidden trigger which causes the floor tile the Shadow is standing on to become a spring, vaulting the Shadow out of the castle. However, it turns out this isn't the Shadow at all, but Yukal Torrg, one of Khan's followers who was ordered to test Shiwan's resources against an attack from the Shadow. Shiwan isn't ready to destroy the Shadow yet, but thinks he'll get started by killing Lamont Cranston. Poor Shiwan! Always in neutral, never in first gear.

Khan orders his hireling Hans Gerling to fire an ICBM at Lamont Cranston's townhouse. Geez, Khan doesn't indulge in such overkill, usually adopting complicated plots to perform his assassinations. Hans is in a hurry to attach the ICBM's atomic warhead and is exposed to a deadly dose of radiation. To save his life, he quickly makes a serum which will keep him alive for a few more days; wow, the things you can when you're motivated! He soon notices his presence causes plants to wilt and die, so he dons a radiation-proof suit.

Just as Shiwan is readying to fire the ICBM, Yukal attacks him from behind with a dagger. Shiwan stuns Yukal with tear gas and demands an explanation; Yukal simply wanted to rule the world in Shiwan's stead. Shiwan orders his loyal men to carry Yukal away for a later punishment, then launches the ICBM.

At Lamont's townhouse, while continuing to work Lamont reminisces about the time he was summoned to "a meeting at the secret hollowed-out mountain sanctum of C.H.I.E.F.... the abbreviation for Command Headquarters, International Espionage Forces..." All of a sudden this series has become a Nick Fury rip-off! In the flashback, Lamont is known as "Zero-11," because he doesn't have enough identities, I suppose.

At this point, the story is really beginning to pile up and... man, this is a chore. Just as the conference begins, suddenly a gang of Shiwan Khan's men "got past our security measures, somehow! We'll be massacred!" one official intones. "How true!" Khan's men declare. Lamont ducks under the table to change his costume, because obviously Khan's men aren't going to pull the triggers on their automatic weapons within the time it takes for him to switch clothing and it's not as though his powers allow him to hypnotize people so they wouldn't be able to tell who he is and whether he's wearing a costume or not. Therefore, the Shadow leaps out from under the table and attacks Khan's men, then hypnotizes them so they think he's a "shadow demon." Khan's men were so terrified they declared they'd serve the Shadow from then on instead. Meanwhile, in the present, the ICBM is still en route to Lamont's townhouse.

Suddenly, the ICBM falls out of the sky and crashes into the ocean. One wonders why it was so important to rush the launch of the ICBM within a few minutes if there was no follow-up plan. The Shadow lives because his enemies are idiots! Shiwan is outraged and runs to Hans to kill him, only to discover Hans wearing his radiation-proof costume. Hans demonstrates his powers by letting a giant carnivorous plant grab him, then removes his glove and kills the plant with his touch. Khan declares with his power, Hans could murder the Shadow and become notorious, attaining fame which will endure ages after his death. Hans likes the idea and Khan dubs him "Radiation Rogue." Soon, Radiation Rogue is being ferried via submarine to the USA with Shiwan; Shiwan will kill Lamont, Radiation Rogue will kill the Shadow.

We move now to part 2: "the Sinister Triumph of Shiwan Khan." Lamont goes sunbathing on the roof of his townhouse, when a carrier pigeon arrives with a message from C.H.I.E.F. (I guess Lamont is an agent of C.H.I.E.F. now instead of the Secret Service?) The message for Zero-11 informs him an attempt will be made on the lives of Lamont and the Shadow but, "That is all we know!" Wow, intelligence gathering is weird. Lamont tries not to let this bother him as he dresses up for a meeting of the board of directors at the Cranston Manhattan Bank (Lamont owns a bank now?). However, when he enters his elevator he finds a man who looks just like him; Lamont's double knocks him out and ties him up, then enters Lamont's Rolls Royce, fooling Shrevy.

Via flashback, we learn this man is "Bugs" Burke, a "small-time hood" who looks like Lamont Cranston. Hey, we've all got a double, right? But does this story really need a third villain? Or another character pretending to be Lamont (after Yukal impersonated the Shadow)? Bugs intends to rob Cranston's bank while posing as its owner. While Bugs attends Lamont's meeting, Lamont gets out of the ropes with the razor blade in his watch. So, now we understand why it was introduced earlier.

At the bank, Bugs draws his gun on the board of directors, but then they unmask themselves as Shiwan Khan and his men. Must there really be so many alternate identities? Bugs recognizes Shiwan Khan and quickly explains who he really is, but Shiwan doubts his story and orders his men to throw Bugs out of the window. However, Lamont sees this drama unfolding from the top of the roof using his "transistorized electronic eavesdropper device." Wow, just like in Iron Man! Lamont becomes the Shadow and fortunately for Bugs, Shiwan Khan's men don't throw him out the window in the time it takes for Lamont to switch clothes then leap into the office.

The Shadow attacks Shiwan's men and creates a terrific hallucination, causing the men to think "A terrible shadow-porcupine-man" is shooting quills at them. Far out! Shiwan bugs out of the bank with Bugs, climbing aboard a helicopter. The Shadow isn't able to hypnotize Shiwan Khan because he isn't looking at him. Leaving Shiwan's men for the police, the Shadow exits and returns to Lamont's townhouse. Meanwhile, Radiation Rogue tests out his powers by destroying some bricks with a blast of radiation.

Shiwan Khan brings Bugs back to his submarine, but when he checks his fingerprints he discovers Bugs' story is true: he isn't Lamont Cranston. Bugs asks to be Shiwan's partner, but Khan refuses and kicks him into the water; Bugs swims to the nearby shore. Shiwan still hopes Radiation Rogue will finish off the Shadow, but intends to steal all the credit for the Shadow's death.

At a gymnasium, Radiation Rogue decides he needs to test his power some more because... I guess we haven't seen him test his powers enough times yet? He picks a fight with three big wrestlers and we see he can jump "like a kangaroo" and weaken his foes with radiation. Then he steals the wrestlers' trophies and throws them in the trash. Oh no you didn't! He leaves a message to the wrestlers to tell the Shadow he wants to meet him at midnight "at a very appropriate spot."

For once, we have an issue of the Shadow which doesn't contain a second feature; instead, we carry into part 3: "Doom Stalks the Shadow!" Radiation Rogue wanders into a construction site and dislodges some girders, then stuns some workers and gives them the same message he gave the wrestlers. He also picks their pockets, but throws their wallets into the sewer. Oh no you didn't!

Lamont Cranston sees the newspaper headlines about Radiation Rogue and believes the "appropriate spot" must be "the new experimental nuclear power plant being built out in the hinterlands." Sure, why not? At midnight, the Shadow enters the plant and calls out for Radiation Rogue to face him. Radiation Rogue suggests they make a deal: he'll sell out Shiwan Khan to the Shadow. The Shadow likes the sound of this so Radiation Rogue offers to shake his hand (removing his glove). Like a fool, the Shadow shakes his hand and is instantly overwhelmed by the villain's radiation; the Shadow collapses to the ground as Radiation Rogue increases his dosage. To save himself, the Shadow causes Radiation Rogue to hallucinate so he sees multiple Shadows; melting into the shadows, the Shadow escapes Radiation Rogue, then hypnotizes the villain. He orders Radiation Rogue to kill Shiwan Khan; Radiation Rogue takes the Shadow with him as they journey to a nearby island where Khan waits at an abandoned prison.

Radiation Rogue attacks Shiwan Khan, but his bolts of radioactivity cause a wall to topple over and crush him. The Shadow hypnotizes Shiwan then goes to check the rubble to see if Radiation Rogue survived, but, hilariously, between panels Shiwan Khan escapes back to his submarine, explaining he painted eyes on his eyelids to trick the Shadow into thinking he hypnotizing him. The Shadow is left to return to the mainland, wondering if Radiation Rogue is still alive. Um, isn't that the reason why you stopped to check the debris? Ah, well. The USA's greatest secret agent, ladies and gentlemen!

Grand Comics Database again attributes this comic to Jerry Siegel & Paul Reinman, with Reinman drawing the cover. This is seriously beneath Siegel's capabilities, given what he was capable of over at DC Comics of the 1960s. It suggests Siegel's editors at DC had a firm hand to help shape the stories, but Archie doesn't seem to have cared too much about Siegel's efforts on the Shadow. Heck, it's only a children's licensed property, after all! Here, we see Siegel's trying to make the series a little more like the Man From U.N.C.L.E. (via C.H.I.E.F.), which isn't too drastic a step since the series premise is that Lamont is a secret agent. I was surprised to find this actually predates the more popular super hero/secret agent mash-up comics of 1965, Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents! The Shadow predicted the next big trend! Radiation Rogue also provides a very Marvel-like super villain. Siegel seemed to have the desire to write something worthy of Marvel, but at best this comic is derivative; at worst, it's insultingly dumb. There's no seeming logic or even spectacle behind this story, just an apparent effort to crank out page after page post haste. Reinman did what he could, but this series needed a Kirby or Wood at its helm.

This issue also features the text story "the Adventure of the Shadow" chapter five. This continues the story of how the Shadow saved the life of Weston of the Secret Service, only we learn Weston sometimes aids C.H.I.E.F. and is investigating a threat to that organization. I suspect this is going to lead to the first flashback from this issue, so at least the series is finding a narrative for itself.

Next time: Bitter Fruit brings you the Shadow#6!

Ray Bradbury: the best OTR!

In my memorial to Ray Bradbury, I noted how some of his work was adapted to Old-Time Radio; in some instances, I heard the radio adaptation of Bradbury's story before I ever found the print version. There are many great Bradbury radio programs; here's what I consider the best of the best (all links lead to the Internet Archive):

Some of Bradbury's earliest work on radio was for Suspense, one of the greatest of all OTR programs. Bradbury's work appeared occasionally over the 20 year span of Suspense; he even wrote the introduction to the series episode log I own! My first recommendation is "Riabouchinska," from November 13, 1947. I've heard some people aren't fond of this adaptation, but I think it's very good and I prefer it over the television versions which appeared on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Ray Bradbury Theater. I think I prefer it because this version is told with a narrator, thus leaving in much of Bradbury's original text.

On November 25, 1948, Suspense adapted "the Screaming Woman." It deviates from the original ending, but it's still quite good.

The Suspense adaptation of "the Whole Town's Sleeping" from June 14, 1955 is pretty creepy; again, it uses a narrator, retaining a very Bradburian voice.

Suspense didn't tell many science fiction stories, but they did a terrific job with "Kaleidoscope" on July 12, 1955. I heard this episode again about two weeks ago; I'd been napping while OTR played on my computer and gradually woke up to "Kaleidoscope," which was very disorienting - it was as though I were a character in the drama being addressed by the men drifting helplessly in space.

Suspense's sister program Escape only adapted a little Bradbury, but they did a great job with their July 25, 1951 version of "the Earthmen," one of the Martian Chronicles stories.

The CBS Radio Workshop brought in Bradbury himself on February 2, 1956 to introduce adaptations of two stories, one from Dandelion Wine: "Season of Disbelief" and "Hail and Farewell."

Finally, there's the many adaptations which appeared on Dimension X (and Dimension X's successor program, X Minus One). The best of these include Bradbury's time travel story "To the Future" from May 27, 1950.

One of the single best Bradbury broadcasts is the Dimension X from June 17, 1950, featuring "There Will Come Soft Rains" and "Zero Hour," two quite different tales representing some of his best writing.

Dimension X did a great spooky version of "Mars is Heaven" from the Martian Chronicles on July 7, 1950, inventing some additional backstory for one of the characters which I think really enhances the tale.

The August 18, 1950 "Martian Chronicles" episode doesn't cover the entire novel - how could it, in just 30 minutes? - but it does get across most of the book's narrative, emphasizing mostly the bridging material which was original to the novel version of the story.

Yet another Martian Chronicles broadcast was "And the Moon be Still as Bright" from September 29, 1950, one of the very best tales from the story.

Bradbury's "the Veldt" covers familiar ground, especially when compared to "Zero Hour," but it probably makes a better case for itself than the latter story. Dimension X adapted "the Veldt" on August 9, 1951.

Finally, I don't think Bradbury's "Marionettes, Inc." is one of his best stories, but it's an effective thriller; Alfred Hitchcock Presents made a superior television adaptation of this story, but the radio version from August 30, 1951 is still pretty good.

Listen and enjoy!

RIP Ray Bradbury

The first Ray Bradbury novel I read would have been during my grade 8 English class, when I found Fahrenheit 451 on the free reading shelf. Many of the books on that shelf were less-than-exemplary and looked to be rejects from the library, but was this a cut above? Oh my goodness, yes! My mother and sister had each read some Bradbury, but they gave me the impression he was a horror author (my sister vividly recalled "the Small Assassin" and for my mother it was "Skeleton"). Fahrenheit 451 was different and not simply because it was science fiction - it was as much about the pleasure of reading as anything and encouraged me to think about what I was reading. Everything else on the free reading shelf I can recall left no lasting impression on me or how I read today, but I still recall the mind's eye images from my first reading of Fahrenheit 451.

More followed. Thanks to the school & public libraries I read Something Wicked This Way Comes, the Martian Chronicles, R is for Rocket, S is for Space... this was around the time I became an old-time radio buff too and found Bradbury adaptations on X Minus One and even Suspense, not to mention the occasional episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents being rerun on Nick at Nite, or the afternoon I found the film version of Fahrenheit 451 playing on the Sci-Fi Channel.

Somehow, I thought less about Bradbury when I began college. My mind drifted off to other pursuits, other authors (Sax Rohmer & John Buchan, primarily).

When I visited the San Diego comic-con in 2009 I made it a point to see Ray Bradbury's panel, not because I suspected it would be particularly noteworthy, but because given his age, I sensed I might not have another chance to see him live and how many opportunities is one given to see one of their favourite authors?

That panel reawakened my love of Bradbury's work like never before; to hear him speak. To hear him speak. If you've never heard him speak, do so, now:

Bradbury's incredible optimism, love of life, breathless passion for being of the moment, I hadn't counted on it; as J.M. DeMatteis put it on his blog, "He’s a preacher, a rhapsodist, an interfaith—no, interdimensional—minister." I heard him and I was convicted; he told the story of his first visit to the movie theater and the story of what he was doing the night Neil Armstrong landed on the moon. His life was, outside of being an acclaimed writer, an ordinary one, but he knew the secret of making the ordinary extraordinary (check his short story "the Last, the Very Last" for a vivid example).

Returning from San Diego, I began building myself a Ray Bradbury library, grabbing the Illustrated Man, the October Country, a Medicine for Melancholy and more. Revisiting familiar and otherwise with a new perspective gave me so much joy; just last week I discovered the existence of the Collected Stories of Ray Bradbury: a Critical Edition and, brimming with quiet excitement, began making plans to buy a copy; but here I am today, mourning his death.

He probably wouldn't want to be mourned. He lived a happy life, so in love with living one would think Death itself would only grudgingly interrupt him. He was told as a child he'd live forever and certainly as an author, part of him will carry on. I only hope he helped inspire others in how they live their lives and express themselves creatively through whatever means they choose.

There, at the water's edge, lay a sand castle, only half built. Just like Tally and I used to build them. She half and I half.

I looked at it. I knelt beside the sand castle and saw the small prints of feet coming in from the lake and going back out to the lake again and not returning.

Then--I knew.

"I'll help you finish it," I said.

I did. I built the rest of it up very slowly, then I arose and turned away and walked off, so as not to watch it crumble in the waves, as all things crumble.

- "the Lake"

Bitter Fruit#8: "The Human Bomb!"

Let's resume our journey through the pages of Archie's 1964 Shadow comic books with the second story from the Shadow#4: "the Human Bomb!"

This man is dedicated to blowing himself up, you can't doubt that. Look at how much dynamite he's wearing! I'm not sure which he reminds of the most:

1. 1940s Quality Comics super hero the Human Bomb?
2. A Klansman wearing firecrackers?
3. One of the suicide bombers from Wrong is Right?

Probably the Human Bomb, which may not be an accident. We open in Lamont Cranston's library as he overhears a conversation between Margo and Shrevy on the office intercom. Because there's no way we could be made to understand such a complicated idea through art alone, Lamont provides exposition about this: "Margo's voice! The intercom switch is open and I can hear everything she says in her office downstairs!" I hope later he approaches the library door thinking, "The door! By turning the doorknob I can obtain access to the adjacent room!"

Margo is telling Shrevy about a letter from "some homicidal maniac" threatening Lamont's life. As you can see above, even though the letter is presented in full on the page, we're treated to Margo reading it aloud. I do believe our scripter was being paid by the word! Margo wants Shrevy's help dealing with this problem so they can show Lamont "we're more than just a secretary and a chauffeur!" Of course, Lamont can hear all of this. I do believe the joke will be on Margo and Shrevy! Let's watch!

Margo & Shrevy wait inside the office, hiding behind the door with pistols drawn. Lamont notes "Shrevy and Margo have no idea what the menace is... yet they think they can cope with it!" Not that Lamont knows any more about the menace, but I suppose as a secret agent/super hero the odds are in his favour. Lamont dons his Shadow costume and rides up to the office through a secret passage, climbing up a rope (up? I thought the office was "downstairs?"). I do believe this is the second secret passage we've seen in Lamont's townhouse!

When Margo & Shrevy see the Shadow they assume he's the one come to kill Lamont, so he hypnotizes them so they'll forget he was there. Mr. TNT breaks through the door (so either Lamont buys cheap doors or he's the Kool-Aid Man?), asking "Cranston! Where are you?" The Shadow answers "Right here!" evidently forgetting which identity he's using at the moment; he quickly hypnotizes Mr. TNT, so I suppose it's a moot point. Now the Shadow manipulates Shrevy, Margo and Mr. TNT all at once, "Like puppets dangling from my mental strings!" So, Superman wasn't the only dickish hero in the Silver Age; we've seen Lamont use his power on allies before (Bitter Fruit#3), but meddling with Margo and Shrevy's minds just to teach them a lesson? Not cool.

The Shadow has done such a great job of mesmerizing everyone that he switches back to being Lamont between panels. I'll never understand this series' whims when it comes to which moments have the hero in costume and which have him in civilian garb. Margo & Shrevy draw their guns on Mr. TNT, but the villain notes if they fire, he'll explode. "I never dreamed a Human Bomb would show up!" Margo declares, providing further evidence that someone at Archie caught the connection to the Quality hero. But what exactly did Margo expect from a man named "Mr. TNT?" Lamont simly gloats to himself, "Margo's beginning to learn her lesson!" Yeah, that'll teach her to try and save your life! Oy! I suppose at Christmas Lamont cries "What folly, to think Margo and Shrevy could buy me a Christmas present!" then hypnotizes them into buying him his favourite hair dye.

Mr. TNT lights his fuse, saying he hates millionaires and would gladly give his life to destroy Cranston. However, the fuse hasn't actually been lit: Lamont has hypnotized Mr. TNT, Shrevy & Margo (and evidently we readers) into thinking the fuse is lit. Lamont creates an illusion of the fuse sputtering out, giving Shrevy the confidence he needs to deck Mr. TNT in the face, while Lamont sneaks back to his library via the rope in his secret passage. Why he snuck out... I have no idea.

"Minutes later, as Shrevy and Margo summon Lamont Cranston..." Seriously? They both knew he was in the office when Mr. TNT attacked, why did he leave just to be called back by them? Shrevy & Margo explain how the fuse sputtered out and Lamont gloats to himself about how they'll never know who saved them. Yeah, you're a real hero.

The Grand Comics Database credits this story to Jerry Siegel & Paul Reinman. This issue also features chapter four of the text story "the Adventures of the Shadow," and resumes just after Lamont had saved a man from some assailants. Even though it ended off with Lamont seemingly giving his name as the Shadow, he actually comes up with it here when the man asks a second time what his name is. In Athens, Lamont has a tailor manufacture his first Shadow costume from black silk. Back in the USA, he saves Weston from some gunment, not realizing Weston is chief of the American Secret Service.

Next: We continue into the pages of the Shadow#5!