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The Shadow Pulp #97
The Voodoo Master: The Shadow
The Shadow matches wits against Dr. Rodil Mocquino, the so-called Voodoo Master. Dr. Mocquino possesses a strange hypnotic power over men that causes them to do his bidding like mindless zombies. When the evil Voodoo Doctor creates an army of walking dead drones to carry out his latest vile plan, it's up to The Shadow to put an end to the black magic and the doctor himself.
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Published December 26, 2017
34 people want to read
About the author
Maxwell Grant
653 books32 followersMaxwell Grant was a pseudonym often used by Walter B. Gibson to write stories of "The Shadow".
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 7, 2024
The Shadow, voodoo, crime and zombies? It doesn't get more pulpy than this! This is easily one of the best Shadow/pulp stories out there. Oh, and the bad guy has some depth too!
Someone is turning an army of men into zombies to do their master's evil bidding and it's up to the Shadow to take them down!
Highly recommended. You could start here if you're looking to get into the character, though I'd highly recommend "the Living Shadow" as a more proper intro to the character. TLS really sets up the crime world and the types of people we run into over the course of the 325 issues of the Shadow starting from April of 1931 through the summer of 1949.
This works as a really fun pulp action story, but not if you aren't familiar with the Shadow.
Someone is turning an army of men into zombies to do their master's evil bidding and it's up to the Shadow to take them down!
Highly recommended. You could start here if you're looking to get into the character, though I'd highly recommend "the Living Shadow" as a more proper intro to the character. TLS really sets up the crime world and the types of people we run into over the course of the 325 issues of the Shadow starting from April of 1931 through the summer of 1949.
This works as a really fun pulp action story, but not if you aren't familiar with the Shadow.
October 25, 2018
A pretty good Shadow yarn. These adventure stories obviously aren't Gone with the Wind or anything, but if you like pulp you will have a good time here.
It seems that every Shadow story paints the character differently. Sometimes he is just a guy with guns, other times he has mystical powers. Sometimes he is mostly Lamont Cranston with a little Shadow thrown in here and there. Here, he is The Shadow all the time (unless he throws on a disguise to sneak around a bit). I liked this, because a lot of other Shadow stories use The Shadow as a plot device to ramp up the action, which means you don't actually see him very often.
This is also the first appearance of the Voodoo Master, a recurring Shadow villain. If you like the Shadow, this is really one that you should read, and if you aren't familiar with the character, this isn't a terrible place to start.
It seems that every Shadow story paints the character differently. Sometimes he is just a guy with guns, other times he has mystical powers. Sometimes he is mostly Lamont Cranston with a little Shadow thrown in here and there. Here, he is The Shadow all the time (unless he throws on a disguise to sneak around a bit). I liked this, because a lot of other Shadow stories use The Shadow as a plot device to ramp up the action, which means you don't actually see him very often.
This is also the first appearance of the Voodoo Master, a recurring Shadow villain. If you like the Shadow, this is really one that you should read, and if you aren't familiar with the character, this isn't a terrible place to start.
March 30, 2024
The Story was highly entertaining. I had found my self in a reading rut and this book brought me out of it. Its the typical comicbooky hero story but the villain had real depth. I would recommend.
March 7, 2016
When it comes to pulp heroes there are 2 or 3 great standouts and the Shadow is one of those. The stories are fast paced and action filled. The mystery just adds to the excitement. With his army of agents to help the Shadow never lets you down for a great read. Highly Recommended
December 7, 2022
The Voodoo Master by Maxwell Grant is an awkward story. I never got the impression that the villain was as great a threat as the narrative wanted me to, which is most of the pull for this pulp. It even is meant to continue ask a hook at the end into the future of the series, but Mocquino is a weak entry into The Shadow's Rogue Gallery. His powers are too tropey, his motivations less than that of even lackluster Bond villains, and Grant's writing leans way too much into racialized stereotypes. How many times will I read of villainous darkened faces from the West Indes?
So, why 4 stars? Well, the writing is still good and interesting, the intrigue builds, and you see far more of the Shadow and his operations here. The Shadow himself is also vulnerable at times, though there is a bit too much contrivance. It seemed like the villain lucked into his standing far more than deserving it for himself, which is something I would have bought with the Romanoff book - which was just genuinely great in comparison to this one.
As a result, I'm left wishing that all the good elements of this book were part of a different one. Otherwise, this book is half a 2 star, and half a 5 star.
So, why 4 stars? Well, the writing is still good and interesting, the intrigue builds, and you see far more of the Shadow and his operations here. The Shadow himself is also vulnerable at times, though there is a bit too much contrivance. It seemed like the villain lucked into his standing far more than deserving it for himself, which is something I would have bought with the Romanoff book - which was just genuinely great in comparison to this one.
As a result, I'm left wishing that all the good elements of this book were part of a different one. Otherwise, this book is half a 2 star, and half a 5 star.
June 29, 2022
Again, these remain cracking good yarns a century or so later, pushing the story forward constantly. This one is classic Shadow, with his team of agents and secret identities against a capable mastermind with a specific agenda. OK, so no part of this is Voodoo, so that dings it a little, but it's still fun.
January 28, 2024
The Voodoo Master isnt my favourite Shadow villain, but this novel cleverly walks a tightrope between making him a decent threat while never really taking Voodoo out of the realm of science (hypnosis and persuasion)
July 11, 2020
Pulp novel featuring The Shadow. The Voodoo Master and his zombies terrorize New York City. Much chaos ensues.
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November 12, 2016read some time in 2007
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews