The Shadow #5 offers a story titled "Night of Neptune's Death". This one is written by Denny O'Neil but the artwork is by Frank Robbins. There is much debate on the effectiveness of Robbins, but I'm definitely a fan and I like his work here. The cover by Robbins really shows his more action-oriented take on the Shadow.
The story deals with military-style gang who are led by a guy named General Sodom. He wants to make it in with the rising autocratic leaders overseas (Hitler and Mussolini) and works to prevent a peace envoy named Cyril Bench from reaching Europe. He and his gang take over a ship named the Neptune on which Margot Lane is beginning a cruise while the Shadow and Harry board The Boxer, the ship taking Bench. Sodom holds the passengers of the Neptune hostage and demands that the Boxer bring Bench to him. The Shadow makes this happen in spite of the FBI's feelings on the matter and when the ships hook up the action gets underway. After much battling Sodom and the Shadow face off in a lifeboat with Sodom apparently drowning.
This one is a pretty straightforward tale, full of action nicely rendered by Robbins. He puts the emphasis on action and movement as opposed to period atmosphere, but nonetheless a successful translation of the pulp to comics form.
More next time.
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