Pulp Power: The Shadow, Doc Savage, and the Art of the Street & Smith Universe

Packed with quality color plates and fascinating interior illustrations of THE SHADOW, DOC SAVAGE, THE AVENGER and other Street & Smith pulp adventure mags and comic books, their paperback reprint editions, and all their associated memorabilia manifestations. The biggest and most inclusive volume I've seen in all my decades of collecting materials and artwork on these hero pulp characters. Well worth the high price tag.

It's great to have a well produced coffee table book that focuses on the main pulp heroes of Street and Smith. However, some of the artwork has been reproduced with a stylistic blur (see James Bama's "Fortress of Solitude" cover) that robs the viewer of the detailed work that the illustrators brought to the page. Also some of the perspective is strange: A look at the Shadow comics completely overlooks the reintroduction of the character in the 70s by Denny O'Neil and Michael Kaluta like it didn't exist, while the examination of the paperback revival of The Avenger ignores Illustrator Peter Callas' original 8 covers that established the look of the character (along with iconic model Steve Holland) and gives complete attention to the work of George Gross, which, while impressive, clearly was influenced by the foundation Caras built. But I'd rather the book exist in its current state than not at all.

Im giving this book 5 stars pretty much just because it exists, is huge, and beautifully made. BUT, it does have some strange choices. I too was disappointed with the reproduction of Bama's Fortress of Solitude. To devote a whole page to it but then blur the details was an absolute crime and totally unnecessary. Given that, there are many, many beautiful cover reproductions of Shadow and Doc Savage pulps as well as numerous interior illustrations. I know this was a Street and Smith focused book but i was glad of the inclusions of the paperback cover contributions of James Bama and Jim Steranko, two of my very favorite artists in any format. These guys helped sell books to young boys that were not even old enough to understand the stories inside. I know because i was one of them! I had quite a boyhood collection of Bantam Doc Savages just because of the covers. Everytime we'd go to TG&Y I'd head for the paperback racks to see if any new Docs were out and then beg my mom to buy me one. Those were all lost to my childhood but today i have everyone of them plus tons more pulp related stuff. I never got to meet Mr Bama (R.I.P.) but did meet Jim Steranko a few years back in Dallas and they dont come any nicer or more talented. I'll always remember our amazing discussion about Walter Gibson, much to the aggravation of the people in line to see him behind me. ANYWAY, sorry for straying off course. This book is ABSOLUTELY worth the money just for the look at Dwight Fuhro's Shadow memorabillia alone. This is not a book that you can read in one sitting but one that should be sipped over time like a good bourbon. Maybe with a slouched Fedora, fire opal ring, and Colt 1911 nearby- just in case!