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The Shadow Magazine

The Shadow Magazine was the first, and arguably the best, of the "character hero" pulp magazines. Launched in 1931 it soon established a monthly schedule and then, in 1932, doubled that to a twice-monthly schedule, which it maintained for over 10 years, before dropping back to a monthly schedule in 1943. This marked the beginning of the end with the schedule dropping to bimonthly in 1947 and then to quarterly in 1948, before the magazine finally expired in Summer 1949.

In all, 325 issues appeared, each containing a lead novel featuring Kent Allard, "The Shadow", as well as a small number of short stories and other features. Most of the novels were written by Walter B. Gibson (under the byline Maxwell Grant) although a small number were written by Lester Dent, Bruce Elliott and Theodore Tinsley (all under the Grant byline). There were also three reprint volumes entitled The Shadow Annual in the 1940s.

For much of its life there was also a parallel Canadian reprint edition, although full details of this are unclear. From May-1932 to Apr-1936 it seems to have reprinted the US issues from 5-6 months previously, and then, for a few months at least, reprinted the US issues of the same date. Following the War Exchange Conservation Act of 1940 which banned the direct import of US pulps, a new series started with (very poorly) redrawn cover art. This ran on a monthly basis from the middle of 1941 to early 1945 (at least) reprinting consecutive US issues starting from early 1941 (and thus continually falling further behind as the US magazine was publishing twice monthly during this period).

A British reprint edition ran for about a dozen isues under the name Street & Smith's Shadow Mystery Magazine. It then changed its name to Street & Smith's Mystery Detective reprinting stories from a variety of US magazines, running to a total of 40 issues for the two series together.

1931      
v1 #1
Apr
   
v1 #2
Jul-Sep

v1 #3
Oct

v1 #4
Nov

v1 #5
Dec
1932
v1 #6
Jan

v2 #1
Feb

v2 #2
Mar

v2 #3
Apr

v2 #4
May

v2 #5
Jun

v2 #6
Jul

v3 #1
Aug

v3 #2
Sep
     
1932            
v3 #3
Oct 1

v3 #4
Oct 15

v3 #5
Nov 1

v3 #6
Nov 15

v4 #1
Dec 1

v4 #2
Dec 15
1933
v4 #3
Jan 1

v4 #4
Jan 15

v4 #5
Feb 1

v4 #6
Feb 15

v5 #1
Mar 1

v5 #2
Mar 15

v5 #3
Apr 1

v5 #4
Apr 15

v5 #5
May 1

v5 #6
May 15

v6 #1
Jun 1

v6 #2
Jun 15
1933
v6 #3
Jul 1

v6 #4
Jul 15

v6 #5
Aug 1

v6 #6
Aug 15

v7 #1
Sep 1

v7 #2
Sep 15

v7 #3
Oct 1

v7 #4
Oct 15

v7 #5
Nov 1

v7 #6
Nov 15

v8 #1
Dec 1

v8 #2
Dec 15
1934
v8 #3
Jan 1

v8 #4
Jan 15

v8 #5
Feb 1

v8 #6
Feb 15

v9 #1
Mar 1

v9 #2
Mar 15

v9 #3
Apr 1

v9 #4
Apr 15

v9 #5
May 1

v9 #6
May 15

v10 #1
Jun 1

v10 #2
Jun 15
1934
v10 #3
Jul 1

v10 #4
Jul 15

v10 #5
Aug 1

v10 #6
Aug 15

v11 #1
Sep 1

v11 #2
Sep 15

v11 #3
Oct 1

v11 #4
Oct 15

v11 #5
Nov 1

v11 #6
Nov 15

v12 #1
Dec 1

v12 #2
Dec 15
1935
v12 #3
Jan 1

v12 #4
Jan 15

v12 #5
Feb 1

v12 #6
Feb 15

v13 #1
Mar 1

v13 #2
Mar 15

v13 #3
Apr 1

v13 #4
Apr 15

v13 #5
May 1

v13 #6
May 15

v14 #1
Jun 1

v14 #2
Jun 15
1935
v14 #3
Jul 1

v14 #4
Jul 15

v14 #5
Aug 1

v14 #6
Aug 15

v15 #1
Sep 1

v15 #2
Sep 15

v15 #3
Oct 1

v15 #4
Oct 15

v15 #5
Nov 1

v15 #6
Nov 15

v16 #1
Dec 1

v16 #2
Dec 15
1936
v16 #3
Jan 1

v16 #4
Jan 15

v16 #5
Feb 1

v16 #6
Feb 15

v17 #1
Mar 1

v17 #2
Mar 15

v17 #3
Apr 1

v17 #4
Apr 15

v17 #5
May 1

v17 #6
May 15

v18 #1
Jun 1

v18 #2
Jun 15
1936
v18 #3
Jul 1

v18 #4
Jul 15

v18 #5
Aug 1

v18 #6
Aug 15

v19 #1
Sep 1

v19 #2
Sep 15

v19 #3
Oct 1

v19 #4
Oct 15

v19 #5
Nov 1

v19 #6
Nov 15

v20 #1
Dec 1

v20 #2
Dec 15
1937
v20 #3
Jan 1

v20 #4
Jan 15

v20 #5
Feb 1

v20 #6
Feb 15

v21 #1
Mar 1

v21 #2
Mar 15

v21 #3
Apr 1

v21 #4
Apr 15

v21 #5
May 1

v21 #6
May 15

v22 #1
Jun 1

v22 #2
Jun 15
1937
v22 #3
Jul 1

v22 #4
Jul 15

v22 #5
Aug 1

v22 #6
Aug 15

v23 #1
Sep 1

v23 #2
Sep 15

v23 #3
Oct 1

v23 #4
Oct 15

v23 #5
Nov 1

v23 #6
Nov 15

v24 #1
Dec 1

v24 #2
Dec 15
1938
v24 #3
Jan 1

v24 #4
Jan 15

v24 #5
Feb 1

v24 #6
Feb 15

v25 #1
Mar 1

v25 #2
Mar 15

v25 #3
Apr 1

v25 #4
Apr 15

v25 #5
May 1

v25 #6
May 15

v26 #1
Jun 1

v26 #2
Jun 15
1938
v26 #3
Jul 1

v26 #4
Jul 15

v26 #5
Aug 1

v26 #6
Aug 15

v27 #1
Sep 1

v27 #2
Sep 15

v27 #3
Oct 1

v27 #4
Oct 15

v27 #5
Nov 1

v27 #6
Nov 15

v28 #1
Dec 1

v28 #2
Dec 15
1939
v28 #3
Jan 1

v28 #4
Jan 15

v28 #5
Feb 1

v28 #6
Feb 15

v29 #1
Mar 1

v29 #2
Mar 15

v29 #3
Apr 1

v29 #4
Apr 15

v29 #5
May 1

v29 #6
May 15

v30 #1
Jun 1

v30 #2
Jun 15
1939
v30 #3
Jul 1

v30 #4
Jul 15

v30 #5
Aug 1

v30 #6
Aug 15

v31 #1
Sep 1

v31 #2
Sep 15

v31 #3
Oct 1

v31 #4
Oct 15

v31 #5
Nov 1

v31 #6
Nov 15

v32 #1
Dec 1

v32 #2
Dec 15
1940
v32 #3
Jan 1

v32 #4
Jan 15

v32 #5
Feb 1

v32 #6
Feb 15

v33 #1
Mar 1

v33 #2
Mar 15

v33 #3
Apr 1

v33 #4
Apr 15

v33 #5
May 1

v33 #6
May 15

v34 #1
Jun 1

v34 #2
Jun 15
1940
v34 #3
Jul 1

v34 #4
Jul 15

v34 #5
Aug 1

v34 #6
Aug 15

v35 #1
Sep 1

v35 #2
Sep 15

v35 #3
Oct 1

v35 #4
Oct 15

v35 #5
Nov 1

v35 #6
Nov 15

v36 #1
Dec 1

v36 #2
Dec 15
1941
v36 #3
Jan 1

v36 #4
Jan 15

v36 #5
Feb 1

v36 #6
Feb 15

v37 #1
Mar 1

v37 #2
Mar 15

v37 #3
Apr 1

v37 #4
Apr 15

v37 #5
May 1

v37 #6
May 15

v38 #1
Jun 1

v38 #2
Jun 15
1941
v38 #3
Jul 1

v38 #4
Jul 15

v38 #5
Aug 1

v38 #6
Aug 15

v39 #1
Sep 1

v39 #2
Sep 15

v39 #3
Oct 1

v39 #4
Oct 15

v39 #5
Nov 1

v39 #6
Nov 15

v40 #1
Dec 1

v40 #2
Dec 15
1942
v40 #3
Jan 1

v40 #4
Jan 15

v40 #5
Feb 1

v40 #6
Feb 15

v41 #1
Mar 1

v41 #2
Mar 15

v41 #3
Apr 1

v41 #4
Apr 15

v41 #5
May 1

v41 #6
May 15

v42 #1
Jun 1

v42 #2
Jun 15
1942
v42 #3
Jul 1

v42 #4
Jul 15

v42 #5
Aug 1

v42 #6
Aug 15

v43 #1
Sep 1

v43 #2
Sep 15

v43 #3
Oct 1

v43 #4
Oct 15

v43 #5
Nov 1

v43 #6
Nov 15

v44 #1
Dec 1

v44 #2
Dec 15
1943
v44 #3
Jan 1

v44 #4
Jan 15

v44 #5
Feb 1

v44 #6
Feb 15

v45 #1
Mar 1
             
1943      
v45 #2
Apr

v45 #3
May

v45 #4
Jun

v45 #5
Jul

v45 #6
Aug

v46 #1
Sep

v46 #2
Oct

v46 #3
Nov

v46 #4
Dec
1944
v46 #5
Jan

v46 #6
Feb

v47 #1
Mar

v47 #2
Apr

v47 #3
May

v47 #4
Jun

v47 #5
Jul

v47 #6
Aug

v48 #1
Sep

v48 #2
Oct

v48 #3
Nov

v48 #4
Dec
1945
v48 #5
Jan

v48 #6
Feb

v49 #1
Mar

v49 #2
Apr

v49 #3
May

v49 #4
Jun

v49 #5
Jul

v49 #6
Aug

v50 #1
Sep

v50 #2
Oct

v50 #3
Nov

v50 #4
Dec
1946
v50 #5
Jan

v50 #6
Feb

v51 #1
Mar

v51 #2
Apr

v51 #3
May

v51 #4
Jun

v51 #5
Jul

v51 #6
Aug

v52 #1
Sep

v52 #2
Oct

v52 #3
Nov

v52 #4
Dec
1947
v52 #5
Jan

v52 #6
Feb/Mar

v53 #1
Apr/May

v53 #2
Jun/Jul

v53 #3
Aug/Sep

v53 #4
Oct/Nov

v53 #5
Dec/Jan
1948  
v53 #6
Feb/Mar

v54 #1
Apr/May

v54 #2
Jun/Jul

v54 #3
Aug/Sep

v54 #4
Fall
1949
v54 #5
Winter

v54 #6
Spring

v55 #1
Summer
 

The Shadow Annual

1942
1943
1947

The Shadow (Canada)

Some issues are extrapolated and have not been confirmed. Other issues probably exist.

1932        
v1 #1
May

v1 #2
Jun

v1 #3
Jul

v1 #4
Aug

v1 #5
Sep

v1 #6
Oct

v2 #1
Nov
 
1932                    
v2 #2
Dec 1
v2 #3
Dec 15
1933 v2 #4
Jan 1

v2 #5
Jan 15
v2 #6
Feb 1
v3 #1
Feb 15
v3 #2
Mar 1
v3 #3
Mar 15

v3 #4
Apr 1

v3 #5
Apr 15
v3 #6
May 1
v4 #1
May 15

v4 #2
Jun 1
v4 #3
Jun 15
1933 v4 #4
Jul 1

v4 #5
Jul 15

v4 #6
Aug 1

v5 #1
Aug 15

v5 #2
Sep 1
v5 #3
Sep 15

v5 #4
Oct 1

v5 #5
Oct 15

v5 #6
Nov 1
v6 #1
Nov 15

v6 #2
Dec 1

v6 #3
Dec 15
1934 v6 #4
Jan 1

v6 #5
Jan 15
v6 #6
Feb 1
v7 #1
Feb 15

v7 #2
Mar 1
v7 #3
Mar 15

v7 #4
Apr 1

v7 #5
Apr 15

v7 #6
May 1
v8 #1
May 15

v8 #2
Jun 1
v8 #3
Jun 15
1934
v8 #4
Jul 1
v8 #5
Jul 15

v8 #6
Aug 1
v9 #1
Aug 15

v9 #2
Sep 1

v9 #3
Sep 15

v9 #4
Oct 1

v9 #5
Oct 15

v9 #6
Nov 1

v10 #1
Nov 15

v10 #2
Dec 1

v10 #3
Dec 15
1935
v10 #4
Jan 1

v10 #5
Jan 15

v10 #6
Feb 1

v11 #1
Feb 15

v11 #2
Mar 1

v11 #3
Mar 15

v11 #4
Apr 1
v11 #5
Apr 15
v11 #6
May 1

v12 #1
May 15

v12 #2
Jun 1

v12 #3
Jun 15
1935 v12 #4
Jul 1

v12 #5
Jul 15

v12 #6
Aug 1

v13 #1
Aug 15
v13 #2
Sep 1
v13 #3
Sep 15

v13 #4
Oct 1

v13 #5
Oct 15
v13 #6
Nov 1

v14 #1
Nov 15

v14 #2
Dec 1
v14 #3
Dec 15
1936
v14 #4
Jan 1
v14 #5
Jan 15

v14 #6
Feb 1

v15 #1
Feb 15
v15 #2
Mar 1

v15 #3
Mar 15

v15 #4
Apr 1

v15 #5
Apr 15

v17 #5
May 1
v17 #6
May 15
v18 #1
Jun 1

v18 #2
Jun 15
1936 v18 #3
Jul 1
v18 #4
Jul 15
v18 #5
Aug 1

v18 #6
Aug 15

v19 #1
Sep 1

v19 #2
Sep 15
           
 
1941            
v1 #1
Jul
v1 #2
Aug

v1 #3
Sep
v1 #4
Oct

v1 #5
Nov

v1 #6
Dec
1942
v1 #7
Jan

v1 #8
Feb

v1 #9
Mar

v1 #10
Apr

v1 #11
May

v1 #12
Jun

v2 #1
Jul
v2 #2
Aug

v2 #3
Sep
v2 #4
Oct
v2 #5
Nov

v2 #6
Dec
1943 v3 #1
Jan

v3 #2
Feb
v3 #3
Mar
v3 #4
Apr
v3 #5
May
v3 #6
Jun

v3 #7
Jul

v3 #8
Aug

v3 #9
Sep

v3 #10
Oct

v3 #11
Nov

v3 #12
Dec
1944
v4 #1
Jan
v4 #2
Feb

v4 #3
Mar
v4 #4
Apr

v4 #5
May

v4 #6
Jun

v4 #7
Jul

v4 #8
Aug

v4 #9
Sep

v4 #10
Oct
v4 #11
Nov
v4 #12
Dec
1945
v5 #1
Jan

v5 #2
Feb
                   

Street & Smith's Shadow Mystery Magazine (UK)

Titled Street & Smith's Mystery Detective from August 1955.

1954          
v1 #1
Jun

v1 #2
Jul

v1 #3
Aug

v1 #4
Sep

v1 #5
Oct

v1 #6
Nov

v1 #7
Dec
1955
v1 #8
Jan

v1 #9
Feb

v1 #10
Mar
v1 #11
Apr

v1 #12
May

v2 #1
Jun

v2 #2
Jul

v2 #3
Aug

v2 #4
Sep

v2 #5
Oct

v2 #6
Nov

v2 #7
Dec
1956
v2 #8
Jan

v2 #9
Feb

v2 #10
Mar

v2 #11
Apr

v2 #12
May

v3 #1
Jun

v3 #2
Jul

v3 #3
Aug
v3 #4
Sep

v3 #5
Oct

v3 #6
Nov

v3 #7
Dec
1957
v3 #8
Jan

v3 #9
Feb
v3 #10
Mar

v3 #11
Apr
v3 #12
May

v4 #1
Jun

v4 #2
Jul

v4 #3
Aug

v4 #4
Sep