My dad enjoyed listening to the Cleveland Indians baseball games on the radio. Me, not so much. I didn’t care for sports and found baseball to be extremely tedious. But I eagerly awaited the end of the game, because that’s when the radio station would play the old-time radio adventures of The Shadow. 

As a shy kid, this invisible avenger really sparked my imagination. How cool it would be to “cloud men’s minds” and wreak havoc on my tormentors. In 1963, Belmont Books released The Return of The Shadow, and I discovered a whole new aspect of this exciting character. From that point, my adolescent self went crazy exploring the pulps, comics, movies and any other manifestations of The Shadow. 

Walter B. Gibson (1897–1985) was an American author and professional magician best known for his work in pulp fiction, particularly as the creator of The Shadow. In 1931 Gibson created The Shadow for Street & Smith Publications based on the mysterious narrator of the Detective Story Hour radio program. The Shadow was one of the most influential characters in the pulp fiction era, eventually inspiring comic books, movies, and a long-running radio series. The character remains a significant figure in American pop culture, influencing later superheroes and detective fiction.

Now, many years later, the character still delights me. Despite some really terrible interpretations (like the Archie Comics Series), the hero still endures. 

When the manic laughter of The Shadow echoes in my mind, I’m transported back to listening to his adventures for the very first time.

If you have any questions or comments, please email me at themythfits@gmail.com.