When I think of The Shadow, I think of superhero characters that are more noir than superhero. But that’s what I wanted. These characters have backgrounds that no superhero will ever visit. Maybe as part of a what if, or maybe once in a while, but every superhero story seems pretty modern.
I first met the character in its black and white movies – a series of ridiculous crime movies shown either on TCM or MGM, where the character was mostly shown as a shadow on the wall.
Not the type of movies that would make me want to read a comic-book showcasing the character, but being interested in the genre and the time it takes place in, I had to buy it. Nowadays I kinda miss those movies.

I also bought a trade of The Spirit, and am interested in buying anything else related – Green Hornet, The Question if such a comic still exists, and so on.
But sadly, The Shadow didn’t deliver.
My biggest concern with starting from the second issue was that I wouldn’t know what the hell’s going on. Not so much the case, but not because of a good introduction – there is none, but because nothing much happens.
The bulk of the issue is talking heads, with the occasional action, and then the issue ends.
Buying The Shadow, I mainly wanted action.

But even the action itself isn’t very good – it seems like everything is ramped up to please audiences. Meaning violence is exteremly high, and child rape is hinted at. It’s not as bad as it sounds, but it just took me away. Seeing someone gunned down by four people isn’t my idea of fun. Bad guys are bad guys, but it just seemed gratuitous.
The Shadow is a character I’d love to read another version of, but as far as the Dynamite series goes, it’s not for me.

5 out of 10.