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The Private Files of the Shadow
Book by Dennis O'Neil
128 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1989
47 people want to read
About the author
Dennis O'Neil
1,754 books276 followers
Dennis "Denny" O'Neil
was a comic book writer and editor best known for his work for Marvel Comics and DC Comics from the 1960s through the 1990s, and Group Editor for the Batman family of titles until his retirement.
His best-known works include Green Lantern/Green Arrow and Batman with Neal Adams, The Shadow with Michael Kaluta and The Question with Denys Cowan. As an editor, he is principally known for editing the various Batman titles. From 2013 unti his death, he sat on the board of directors of the charity The Hero Initiative and served on its Disbursement Committee.
His best-known works include Green Lantern/Green Arrow and Batman with Neal Adams, The Shadow with Michael Kaluta and The Question with Denys Cowan. As an editor, he is principally known for editing the various Batman titles. From 2013 unti his death, he sat on the board of directors of the charity The Hero Initiative and served on its Disbursement Committee.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 2, 2021
I love the old Pulp heroes and the Shadow is one of my favorites. This is an awesome collected edition of the DC shadow run with the incredible Kaluta art that seems just perfect for this character. Highly recommended
September 14, 2016
I would actually rate this a 4.5 if that was an option because I liked it that much.
Though The Shadow does share many similarities with my favorite caped crusader, such as emerging from/disappearing into the darkness, stalking/tormenting criminals, and consistently remaining one step ahead of law enforcement, I am well aware that he staked out this territory in the pulps nearly a decade before Batman even came on the scene (in fact, the first Batman comic strip was basically a reworked version of The Shadow story "Partners of Peril"). Also, the two crimefighters do have some stark differences (at least in their most well-known iterations) The Shadow's favorite crime deterrents are two .45 caliber automatic pistols and he not only has no qualms with sending evil-doers to their graves but often laughs maniacally as he seals their fate.
Admittedly, the storylines are typical fare for the crime/detective genre but I really dug O'Neil's portrayal of the character. This series makes you understand why criminals feared him because, as Denny says in the introduction, he wanted The Shadow to appear god-like, albeit of the dark, vengeful, Old Testament variety. In "The Private Files of . . . " it is easy to see the influences he had on Batman, though one could argue that that's due to a regular Batman writer being at the helm. There are many times where it is left unexplained how The Shadow manages the defeat of a villain or survives a deadly scenario, enough that one could accuse O'Neil of lazy writing as if he wrote himself into a situation he couldn't find a way out of, but for me it always worked adding to The Shadow's mystique and seeming omnipotence.
All things considered, I would still consider myself somewhat new to The Shadow lore but of the comics I have read thus far this one is my favorite.
Though The Shadow does share many similarities with my favorite caped crusader, such as emerging from/disappearing into the darkness, stalking/tormenting criminals, and consistently remaining one step ahead of law enforcement, I am well aware that he staked out this territory in the pulps nearly a decade before Batman even came on the scene (in fact, the first Batman comic strip was basically a reworked version of The Shadow story "Partners of Peril"). Also, the two crimefighters do have some stark differences (at least in their most well-known iterations) The Shadow's favorite crime deterrents are two .45 caliber automatic pistols and he not only has no qualms with sending evil-doers to their graves but often laughs maniacally as he seals their fate.
Admittedly, the storylines are typical fare for the crime/detective genre but I really dug O'Neil's portrayal of the character. This series makes you understand why criminals feared him because, as Denny says in the introduction, he wanted The Shadow to appear god-like, albeit of the dark, vengeful, Old Testament variety. In "The Private Files of . . . " it is easy to see the influences he had on Batman, though one could argue that that's due to a regular Batman writer being at the helm. There are many times where it is left unexplained how The Shadow manages the defeat of a villain or survives a deadly scenario, enough that one could accuse O'Neil of lazy writing as if he wrote himself into a situation he couldn't find a way out of, but for me it always worked adding to The Shadow's mystique and seeming omnipotence.
All things considered, I would still consider myself somewhat new to The Shadow lore but of the comics I have read thus far this one is my favorite.
August 31, 2014
If you're only experience with The Shadow is Alec Baldwin, you should give this a try.
This collection was put out before the movie as evidenced by the intro where Dennis O'Neil talks about the history of The Shadow in pop culture. It's interesting that they talk about how the book started and how it ended without much ceremony. I'd like to see The Shadow again, especially if he was made with the correct moral take on the character's use of death as punishment. It would require no tongue in cheek which Hollywood has shown a problem with recently.
The art and the writing on this are great. I read it quickly and it was fun. The romanticism of the 1930s is really what makes this piece work. he fits perfectly in his era. A time that was akin to the Wild West, at least in our memories of it.
This collection was put out before the movie as evidenced by the intro where Dennis O'Neil talks about the history of The Shadow in pop culture. It's interesting that they talk about how the book started and how it ended without much ceremony. I'd like to see The Shadow again, especially if he was made with the correct moral take on the character's use of death as punishment. It would require no tongue in cheek which Hollywood has shown a problem with recently.
The art and the writing on this are great. I read it quickly and it was fun. The romanticism of the 1930s is really what makes this piece work. he fits perfectly in his era. A time that was akin to the Wild West, at least in our memories of it.
July 13, 2020
These are the comics that introduced me to The Shadow, and the mental picture I have of The Shadow is by Kaluta (and the cover of The Living Shadow by Steranko.)
It's startling how much information O'Neil puts into the first story about the Shadow, his team and his attributes, and Kaluta captures the mood perfectly. Bernie Wrightson shows up as the inker in the 3rd story.
This IS the place to start investigating the Shadow.
It's startling how much information O'Neil puts into the first story about the Shadow, his team and his attributes, and Kaluta captures the mood perfectly. Bernie Wrightson shows up as the inker in the 3rd story.
This IS the place to start investigating the Shadow.
December 22, 2019
As far as The Shadow goes, these stories are about average or slightly above. He takes the center stage still a bit too often to my tastes, but his character and backstory are left in complete mystery, just as I like it. His agents come across as fine, if a little sidelined, and the stories themselves are fun and occasionally tense.
Art is a bit inconsistent, though.
Art is a bit inconsistent, though.
January 19, 2025
Not bad but Kaluta's work in this isn't as good as his later stuff. And Frank Robbins' on this same book later is my personal favorite.
September 6, 2021
Interesting more for Mike Kaluta's art, though this early in his career his style isn't fully developed, than for the stories. The final story is one Kaluta did by himself years later, and though narratively it is slight (not to mention unfortunate in its Orientalism--which gives Kaluta cool stuff to draw but relies on stereotypes that might have been fine back when the Shadow was first being published back in the 1930s but which aren't so much today), it is visually more fluid and interesting. Generally, though, the stories are forgettable.
March 24, 2022
The best Shadow comic is this short-lived DC series.
They are all done in ones, all titled "Night of the..." and all feature great moody art.
At the time, finding the pulp reprints was tough in the 70's-80's, so these comics were my gateway into the Shadow of a character, and became the version that I compare all others, even the original, to.
They are all done in ones, all titled "Night of the..." and all feature great moody art.
At the time, finding the pulp reprints was tough in the 70's-80's, so these comics were my gateway into the Shadow of a character, and became the version that I compare all others, even the original, to.
May 15, 2019
I read these in the 70s when they first came out. I love them then, and I still do now, upon re-reading them roughly 40 years later. I think this depiction of The Shadow may be better even than the pulp version.
September 6, 2021
Five tales from the Dennis O'Neil and Mike Kaluta revival in the early 70s PLUS an extra new tale by Kaluta. Well reproduced and a hardback of a classic series. What's not to like? As far as I can see the extra tale has never been reprinted!
January 31, 2012
With anything that has a beginning, I like to start there. So I was happy to find this collection of O'Neil and Kaluta's first effort of The Shadow. Classic, and entertaining, if a little bit obvious. But I think much of that is the stories' being a product of the time, as well as hamming it up with the material. I'm now even more excited to read what these two came up with next in the collection, "Hitler's Astrologer."
November 18, 2012
A re-printing of the early Kaluta/O'Neil stories.
As another reviewer said, it would have been nice had they included the covers.
All-in-all, generic DC stories matching the epoch.
In my case, The Shadow is actually a character I like reading whoever the writer or artist is. That's not to say I like all the stories, but I like the character enough to try them out.
So yeah, if you like the Shadow, then get this... but if you prefer very good writing and great art... then you may as well pass.
As another reviewer said, it would have been nice had they included the covers.
All-in-all, generic DC stories matching the epoch.
In my case, The Shadow is actually a character I like reading whoever the writer or artist is. That's not to say I like all the stories, but I like the character enough to try them out.
So yeah, if you like the Shadow, then get this... but if you prefer very good writing and great art... then you may as well pass.
January 17, 2016
" Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men... The Shadow know. " Well, you will too, when
you start reading the 6 issue reprinting of the slouch hat avenger done by DC comics and
artist Michael Kaluta.
Kaluta captures that bygone era with passion and delicate detail.
I think this is the hero that defines him best.
June 10, 2011
A nice little collection compiling the Kaluta stories, with some inking by Bernie Wrightson even.
Lacking the covers though, sadly.
Lacking the covers though, sadly.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews