MASTER OF MYSTERY

 

 MASTER OF MYSTERY

The Rise of the Shadow

By Will Murray

Odyssey Publications 2021

310 pgs

We first met Will Murray at a small one day show somewhere in Massachusetts. The year was 1986. We sure of this because Will dated his signature on his autograph in “The Duendes History of the Shadow Magazine” copy that had been published six earlier in 1980. Our best guess is we’d hooked up via fanzines and correspondences long before and we recall being so thrilled to finally having a copy of this amazing history of the classic pulp hero. In person, Will proved to be as personable as he was in his letters and thus begun our very long friendship. Will was one of our favorite writers at Starlog and was the source of boundless research information years later when we dared attempt to bring the Green Hornet back to comics. He was a big part of our making that happen.

So now, after all those years, along comes this new, revised and expanded Shadow book and there was never a doubt we wouldn’t gobble it up fast. Of course much of the material is repetitive, whereas more if it is brand new and expands upon the earlier title offering new interviews with not only Shadow scribes, but their artistic godfathers. Illustrations and covers were such an integral part of the pulps and here they are given their due. The book is a cleaner, better designed and laid out package utilizing the accompanying art pieces a balanced symmetry.

But what stands out above all else is Will’s genuine affection for Walter Gibson. It’s there on every page of interviews and especially his farewell pieces having to say farewell to one of the most amazing writers of the 20th Century. Obviously it goes without saying, we’ve treasured that first book for so many years. Now we are thrilled to have this second title to join it on our bookshelf. Thanks, Will, much appreciated.

 

Comments

  1. TimAugust 7, 2021 at 3:26 PM

    Thanks Ron! I agree with you: love and respect for Walter lives on every page.

    At the recommendation of Barry Reese I had my copy of Duende professionally bound… now after all these years it has a worthy hardcover to join it in my sanctum.

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