AUSTRALIA’S HERO THE SHADOW (1950-1966)

This weekend’s escapist, light-hearted superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog will look at Australia’s very different version of a superhero called the Shadow. 

THE SHADOW

Secret Identity: Jimmy Gray

Debut Year: 1950

Origin: When Jimmy Gray inherited the family fortune, he used the money to train himself physically and mentally to fight crime and wrongdoing around the world. He would often rob the criminals and give the proceeds to charity.

Powers: The Shadow was in peak physical condition, was more agile than an acrobat and was a master of unarmed combat.

He wore a tight purple custom mask to conceal his face and tight rubberoid gloves to conceal his fingerprints.

Comment: Many of this hero’s villains were femmes fatale along the line of the Spirit’s foes. For the Shadow, that included Fifi Daniels, commander of an all-female crew of pirates in a submarine, Mira, an Arabian belly dancer, Senora Montez, a former Nazi spy turned Communist spy, and Lol Soho, international smuggler and jewel thief. 

Despite his 1950 series being canceled in March 1952 after 23 issues, a new Shadow series was launched later in 1952. That second series ran until 1966, making it the 2nd longest running comic book series in Australian history.

THE SHADOW: 1950-1952 SERIES

THE SHADOW Vol 1 #1 (May 1950)

Title: ENTER THE SHADOW 

No other details available at present, but my research continues. Any help would be appreciated.

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THE SHADOW Vol 1 #2 (June 1950)

Title: Unknown 

No other details available at present, but my research continues. Any help would be appreciated.

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THE SHADOW Vol 1 #3 (July 1950)

Title: JET BOMBER PLANS 

Villain: Alexei Malakoff and his spy ring

Synopsis: The Shadow clashes multiple times with a Soviet spy ring to prevent them from stealing Top Secret plans for a new jet bomber, then the bomber itself. 

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THE SHADOW Vol 1 #4 (August 1950)

Title: THE JEWEL SMUGGLERS

No other details available at present, but my research continues. Any help would be appreciated.

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THE SHADOW Vol 1 #6 (October 1950)

Title: THE SUBMARINE SPIES

No other details available at present, but my research continues. Any help would be appreciated.

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THE SHADOW Vol 1 #8 (December 1950)

Title: MISSION TO BERLIN

No other details available at present, but my research continues. Any help would be appreciated.

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THE SHADOW Vol 1 #9 (January 1951)

Title: THE SHADOW VS MR. MIDNIGHT  

Villain: Mr. Midnight

Synopsis: While in London the Shadow clashes with a villain called Mr. Midnight, who first manages to steal biological warfare agents from a scientist’s lab and then demands a million pounds in gold for their return.

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THE SHADOW Vol 1#10 (February 1951)

Title: SECRET OF THE NILE 

Villain: The Asp

Synopsis: In Cairo, the Shadow saves Betty Archdale from a criminal called the Asp. He and his gang killed Betty’s father and our hero must keep Betty alive while keeping the jewels of King Tutahkram III’s tomb out of the hands of the Asp and company.

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THE SHADOW Vol 1 #11 (March 1951)

Title: THE SINKING ISLAND 

Synopsis: During World War Two, Sir Arthur Night (groan) buried the Night Family Jewels on a tiny island off the coast of England. During the war the island apparently sank beneath the waves because it – and the jewels – disappeared. The Shadow helps Phyllis Night solve the mystery and recover the family jewels. 

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THE SHADOW Vol 1 #12 (April 1951)

Title: THE WHEELS OF DEATH 

No other details available at present, but my research continues. Any help would be appreciated.

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THE SHADOW Vol 1 #13 (May 1951)

Titles: Unknown, plus this issue marked the Shadow series doing two stories per issue instead of just one longer tale. 

No other details available at present, but my research continues. Any help would be appreciated.

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THE SHADOW Vol 1 #14 (June 1951)

Titles: Unknown

No other details available at present, but my research continues. Any help would be appreciated.

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THE SHADOW Vol 1 #15 (July 1951)

Titles: THE JUNGLE OF FEAR and THE CROOKED CONTRACTOR

I. The Shadow, in Africa scouting landing strips for the Australian armed forces, saves the land of rancher Nola Rutherford. Her evil foreman poses as an African god to make the indigenous people try driving Nola away.

II. The Shadow solves a murder and shuts down a crooked contractor using unsafe materials in his city projects.

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THE SHADOW Vol 1 #18 (October 1951)

Titles: MURDER BY THE STARS and THE BLACK ORCHID 

I. The Shadow gets to the bottom of astrology-based killings of members from a Pacific Ocean expedition from back in 1937. 

II. Jimmy Gray becomes the Shadow to avenge an old friend who was murdered in the shady Black Orchid Club run by criminals called Sleek and Mugsy.

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THE SHADOW Vol 1 #20 (December 1951)

Titles: Unknown

No other details available at present, but my research continues. Any help would be appreciated.

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THE SHADOW Vol 1 #21 (January 1952)

Titles: Unknown

No other details available at present, but my research continues. Any help would be appreciated.

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THE SHADOW Vol 1 #22 (February 1952)

Title: RAILROAD MURDER Apparently the Shadow series was back to one story per issue by this point.

No other details available at present, but my research continues. Any help would be appreciated.

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THE SHADOW Vol 1 #23 (March 1952)

Title: THE DEATH’S HEAD TRIO 

No other details available at present, but my research continues. Any help would be appreciated.

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And so ended the 1950-1952 Shadow series. In the future I will examine the 1952-1966 series, of which MUCH more information is available. FOR OVER TWO DOZEN MORE AUSTRALIAN SUPERHEROES FROM THE GOLDEN AGE CLICK HERE.