The Shadow Reports #10

The Shadow #8 was written by Denny O'Neil and illustrated by Frank Robbins who also does the cover. It's titled "The Night of The Mummy".

The tale begins in the jungles of Central America and almost immediately a Mummy attacks a Professor's assistant (not unlike the original Mummy movie from Universal). Margot Lane is at the dig and surprisingly so is the Shadow who jumps in and battles the Mummy and some natives who run to his assistance. There's a trap, gunplay and all sorts of mayhem, possibly the most rockem sockem beginning yet in the series. The assistant, named McMasters is saved, and the Professor, Margot, a guy named Louis and he are taken back to the city in a plane flown by Kent Allard. (An aha moment for all Shadow pulp readers indeed!)

Louis is killed aboard the plane which is met by Lamont Cranston. Margot who thinks Cranston is the Shadow is shocked and she is told that as we know the Shadow only takes Cranston's place from time to time. Harry Vincent is involved and the story rolls along with more gunplay and a Mummy threatening folks here and there, and whatnot until the finale in which it is revealed that McMasters was the Mummy after they returned to the city and the mastermind behind the scheme all set up to make sure he got the credit for the great archeological find. He ends up hanging himself accidently when his wrappings catch as he falls off a building.

This is a solid adventure, and points to a move to the pulp side of the Shadow's backstory away from the radio play.

More to come.

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