When DC acquired the licence for the Shadow in 1972 they gave the book to Denny O’Neil to write. But who could they get to draw it? Initially Alex Toth was approached, but, though he was keen and produced a pitch, ultimately things didn’t work out. Jim Steranko lobbied for it, but his wish to produce the book as a complete package ruled him out of the running. Next Bernie Wrightson took a stab, intending to draw both the Shadow and Swamp Thing at the same time. While one can’t fault his enthusiam, it ought to be fairly clear that such a plan was never likely to work out satisfactorily — and he passed. With O’Neil getting desperate young Mike Kaluta, veteran of several short back-ups and mystery tales, offered his services, even though he’d not drawn a full-length book at that point. He got the gig, and the rest is history: five of the finest comics ever produced.
However, before passing, Wrightson drew this sample page to showcase his approach to the character. Although it couldn’t be used for the book itself, it ran as a house ad to announce the forthcoming arrival of the pulp character at DC. Would a Wrightson-drawn Shadow have been even better than the Kaluta one? I dunno, but it’s interesting that we at least got a glimpse of what might’ve been.
©2010 Conde Nast/DC Comics
These Shadow issues (at least the first 6, the only one I know from a squarebound Danish TPB/magazine) are very, very good!!
I actually thought the page above was part of the story, it was used in the Danish publication as part of one of the stories (sorry, don’t remember which one…).
Wrightson did actually get to draw a little of The Shadow in these issues. Issue #3 “The Kingdom of the Cobra” had a VERY interesting collaboration between Kaluta and Wrightson:
Pencil & Ink Kaluta: 1, 2, 4
Pencil & Ink Wrightson: 8, 20
Pencil Kaluta & Ink Wrightson: 3, 5-7, 9, 12 (last panel inked by Kaluta), 13, 17
Pencil Wrightson & Ink Kaluta: 15, 16 (Layout Kaluta), 18
Rough Pencil & Ink Kaluta, Tight Pencil Wrightson: 10, 11
Pencil Kaluta & Ink Wrightson and Kaluta: 14
Pencil & Ink (Figures) Wrightson, Pencil & Ink (Backgrounds) Kaluta: 19
(Source: “Berni Wrightson: A Look Back”).
At least you got the reprints in your part of the world. The UK saw very little in the way of DC reprints during the 70s, and finding the original US issues was hit or miss at best.
With DC having a second go with Doc Savage, I wonder if they’ll have a fourth Shadow (DC had another two in the 80′s-90′s.)
If not DC’s best house ad ever, its close.
Now I’m going to have to pull out the hardbound collection of these stories, plus the Marvel volume, and wallow in Kaluta goodness this evening
Then Gorilla Daze has done its job, and I can retire happy.
… except I won’t. Plenty more comicy goodness to come yet.