History
During World War I, Kent Allard was an aviator in the air forces of the United States. He was known as "The Black Eagle" because of his fondness for flying at night. When he faked an air crash behind enemy lines, he became a secret agent and set up an espionage network, locating maps of several enemy air bases. He later escaped by plane, flying back to safety to France.
It was during the war in which he would meet his most trusted agent, Cliff Marsland in Paris. However, the details of their war adventures together are now lost.
After the war, the world-famous aviator was believed to be lost somewhere in Central America during his last flight to South America. Of course, in reality, he's been in New York the whole time, fighting crime as The Shadow.
To confuse the crime world at large, he impersonates wealthy world-traveler Lamont Cranston as his own secret identity when the real Cranston is out of the country. Apparently, this works out very well, as Allard and Cranston bear an uncanny resemblance to one another.
The Shadow has recruited a network of agents who assist him in his war on crime. Although he is a completely good hero, he demands unquestioning obedience from them, otherwise they'll face severe consequences.
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Hypnosis: he can "cloud men's minds." With the sight of his burning eyes, his foes become intensified with fears, causing them to reveal or confess to a case being investigated by him.
Abilities
- Disguises: Kent Allard is a master of disguises and often portrays himself as "Fritz the janitor" in order to listen in on conversations at Police Headquarters. Other disguises include: businessman "Henry Arnaud", elderly gentleman "Phineas Twambley", "John Haverson", "George Clarendon", "Clifford Gage", "Terry Blake", "Portuguese Joe", "Northrup Lucaster", "Justin Oswood", "Jose Larribez", and "Louis Revoort", to name only a few!
- Languages: he has the ability to read lips and has an amazing mastery of a variety of languages.
- Codes: being a spy from World War I, he can deduce secret codes in an instant. He also speaks in code to his agents by pronouncing certain words with emphasis. He often writes with special disappearing ink, when giving directions or information to his agents.
- His costume allows him to hide in the shadows: black slouch hat with extra wide brim, cloak collar, turned upward, often shown as red, easily hides his face but also useful in dusty, smoky environments. His thin black gloves allow for sensitivity. He also wears a cloak/cape-black exterior, sometimes with red lining with a black suit underneath. His shoes are black, with soft/padded soles for silent prowling.
Strength level
- He is an expert at jujutsu.
Weaknesses
Paraphernalia
Equipment:
- Girasol Ring: The Shadow wears a unique purple ring which was a gift from the Czar of Russia, whom Allard had befriended. Later, when he faked his disappearance in the jungles of Guatemala, he discovered a tribe of Xinca Indians who bestowed upon him a companion mystical jewel (a second ring). It seems there were actually two identical rings, each with a fire-opal stone, which were the eyes of a Xincan idol.
- The Devil's Whisper is a strange chemical compound that The Shadow rubs on his thumb and finger. When he snaps his fingers, there is a flash of bright flame and a sharp explosion.
- He wears rubber suction cups to cling to sheer surfaces when climbing walls.
Transportation:
- Moe Shrevnitz, one of his agents, is a cab driver who doubles as his personal chauffeur.
- The Shadow's autogyro is a wingless aircraft that can land nearly vertically and features a windmill of blades. It is an early prototype of the helicopter. It is sometimes piloted by Shadow agent, Miles Crofton.
Weapons:
- His weapons of choice are twin Colt 45s.
Notes
- The Shadow is referred to as "Ying Ko" by the Chinese, as the phrase translates to "shadow."
- There are only three people who know that The Shadow is in reality Kent Allard, his good friend Slade Farrow and the two Xinca servants who brought him back from Guatemala.[1]
Trivia
- No trivia.
See Also
- Appearances of Kent Allard (Street & Smith)
- Character Gallery: Kent Allard (Street & Smith)
- Quotations by Kent Allard (Street & Smith)
- Images that include Kent Allard (Street & Smith)