The Black Master

The Black Master was the eighth pulp magazine story to feature The Shadow. Written by Walter B. Gibson, it was submitted for publication under the same name on November 11, 1931, and published as "The Black Master" in the March 1, 1932 issue of "The Shadow Magazine".

Summary

• Shadow Disguises: himself, Henry Arnaud, Clifford Gage (both first appearances of these characters).
• Shadow Agents: Harry Vincent, Burbank, Clyde Burke
• Plot: A tale of revenge as five die and many are injured when Wall Street is bombed, followed by Grand Central Station and the subway entrance at Columbus Circle. When a reporter for The Classic claims to have information on the bomber's identity, the office explodes. As the death toll rises, The Shadow races to uncover who is the bomber known as The Black Master, a fiend who blackmails people into working for him, then kills them.

The Black Master, dressed in black and with his face hidden like The Shadow is a genius who challenges The Shadow as none have before. Harry Vincent is nearly driven mad and The Shadow doubts his ability to defeat him, or even survive. The Shadow is captured in a death trap but escapes, finally confronting the Black Master who reveals he has three more big bombs planted to kill more people, one of which is in a large hospital, as well as a fourth bomb in the room they are in, which is due to explode in five seconds.