The Shadow: The Death of Margo Lane Hardcover – November 8, 2016

Enjoyed the book. Not the best story I've ever read by Wagner but the combination of the art and story make a great book. I'm not an old time Shadow fan, most of what i know is from the comics, but, really enjoyed it.

The book is well written and illustrated. I got to know Margo Lane a little better and her relationship to Lamont Cranston. I would recommend this book.

Walter Gibson would be proud. Wagner continues to capture the mood of the pulps and the nuances of the characters. Also great to see more of his agents like Dr. Tam, Jericho Druke, and others. Wagner's son's coloring enhances the visuals and adds to the mood. I really like how Wagner limits the Shadow's presence to his actual shadow in many panels - evoking the only redeeming aspect of the old serials with Victor Jory, Rod Larocque, etc. My only nit is that Wagner's art is more effective with smaller panels. He is a master at using a few, simple strokes to create images (like Mike Mignola), but his style is weakened when exposed to the scrutiny of larger panels, and there are a lot of splash pages in this volume. Regardless, it is so wonderful to see this character flourishing after decades of hibernation.

very happy with product and service

Arrived very promptly - my husband loves this book.

On the radio, the Shadow had a girlfriend named Margo Lane. It took a long time for Margo to become an agent/girlfriend in the pulp magazine, but she eventually became part of the legend of the Master of Darkness.In this graphic novel, the Shadow is up against an implacable foe known as the Red Empress. Her control over the tongs of Chinatown is vast, but her identity is a carefully controlled secret.Thus Margo and the Shadow travel to the Orient seeking answers to the problem of who lurks behind the nom-de-plume of the Red Empress. Upon their return to New York, Margo disobeys orders and follows the Shadow into a warehouse that explodes with her still inside. The Shadow has to be restrained from dashing into the fiery ruins. A woman’s body is found in several burned pieces, and Margo’s funeral makes the Shadow even more determined to ferret out this femme fatal…Both the artwork and story are excellent. There is the feel of one of the old pulp novels, and the big bad very plausible. The inevitable showdown has a number of surprises that I will not spoil. All I will say is I didn’t really see this one coming!Matt Wagner seems to have a firm grasp on how the Shadow should look. I really liked the statement by the Shadow that his invisibility relies on “stillness,” focusing the mind and body so that people will not see him. Excellent! A touch of the mystical aligned with physical control makes a great explanation of the Shadow’s abilities!Wagner shows in this graphic novel that he has respect for the Shadow’s origins in pulp fiction. He has made this book one that could have walked out of the Shadow Magazine. I was impressed. Good show, Matt!I give this addition to the Shadow mythos five stars!Quoth the Raven…

This is an excellent companion piece to 2015 Grendel Vs. The Shadow. It is another classy Hard Cover with Story and Art (unlike Shadow Year One) by Matt Wagner.It collects the five issue Dark Horse Comics mini-series and the eight page short story from Shadow #100 ( also by Wagner). The orginal covers are all also included minus the distracting logos and text.The story is narrated for the first two chapters by the Shadow's trusted associate and sometime love interest Margo Lane But something drastic happens to Margo to end that role. The plot is about the Chinese crime organization the Tongs and their beautiful, but deadly leader the Red Empress. The Red Empress identity is kept a secret to the end.Matt Wagner's art is stunning and totally appropriate for the Shadow. He captures the feel of the 1930's with his gritty "Noir" images.The short story from Shadow #100 is illustrated with text and words and no word balloons. This story is about the actual Skull of Blackbeard the Pirate and how it becomes a totem for a crime family.I certainly hope we have not seen the last of Matt Wagner on the Shadow because they are a perfect match.My Highest Recommendation.