The Shadow 1941: Hitler's Astrologer by Dennis O'NeilMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
What do Nazi agents want with graduate student Gretchen Baur? The Shadow knows and will do anything to prevent them from getting her...
My first exposure to The Shadow was the 1994 movie. Since then, I've read a few of the pulps and comics. Dennis O'Neil and Michael Kaluta had a great run at DC in the 1970s and Marvel brought them back together in the 1980s during the brief time they had the license. The result is this book.
Hitler's Astrologer weaves real historical events into one of The Shadow's adventures, chiefly Rudolf Hess' obsession with astrology and his influence on Hitler's plans. The Shadow plays his cards close to the vest and comes out on top, of course.
In this volume Dennis O'Neil eschews captions and thought balloons, making this feel like a comic produced in the last few years rather than a relic from the mid-'80s. Michael Kaluta's art has a sort of timelessness to it. His panel layouts are great and the man draws a great Shadow.
Hitler's Astrologer successfully captures the spirit of the early Shadow pulps and is a fun tale. I wouldn't say it's an essential Shadow tale, though. Three out of five stars.
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