The Shadow - Hitler's Astrologer!

In 1988, fifteen years after the end of the original Shadow series at DC, Denny O'Neil and Mike Kaluta joined forces again to bring another tale of the Shadow to the readers. This time the venue was Marvel Comics and the format was the graphic novel. The story was inked by Russ Heath, though according to sources Berni Wrightson was originally sought to fulfill that chore. What we get is an elegant Shadow story filled with intrigue, violence, and the kinds of twists and turns that Shadow stories are renowned for. The problem with the original series, as juicy as it was, is that always the stories were necessarily simplified to fit the limited number of pages available. Here with sixty-one pages and not a mere nineteen or twenty at their disposal these storytellers really unwind a corker. 

Set in 1941, the story "Hitler's Astrologer" begins in the hectic streets of NYC as we follow a young blonde woman who is immediately assaulted by German agents. Despite the work of the Shadow's agents the young woman is kidnapped and nearly sent back to Germany. She is the daughter of Hitler's astrologer, and herself seen as a particularly adept student of that strange art. There are secrets inside secrets, and I am loathe to spoil them for this particular yarn. But know that the story winds its way from NYC to Berlin and we encounter many notorious Nazis such as Heinrich Himmler, Josef Goebbels, Rudolph Hess and even Adolph Hitler himself. In the course of protecting the beautiful young woman Harry of course falls in love which makes the ending of this subtle tale all the more tragic. This one pulls few punches, yet is still a tale told largely within the confines of the classic comics code. If you have always wanted to learn why Hitler decides to invade Russia and why Hess notoriously flew to Scotland this is a real treat. 

To read this one for yourself check out the Internet Archive and use this link. O'Neil really liked writing the Shadow and seemed to have a talent for it. Writing all those Batman tales must have helped. Mike Kaluta produced far too few Shadow stories in his career, but like a great showman always left me as a reader wanting more. This one is a gem and highly recommended. 

Check in later today to glimpse O'Neil's and Kaluta's swan song on The Shadow. 

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