Shadow

The Shadow
Real Name	Lamont Cranston [in radio and most media], Kent Allard [in print]
First Appearance	The Detective Story Hour (July 31, 1930) [radio], "The Living Shadow" (April 1, 1931)[1] [print]
Creator	Walter B. Gibson
Team Affliations	None
Alias	None
Base of Operations	Chicago
Powers	Able to make himself nearly invisible to the naked eye [radio and film only], Can alter and control a person's thoughts and perceptions [Radio and film only]
Skills and abilities	Genius-level intellect, Peak mental and physical conditioning, Master detective, Skilled marksman and martial artist, Master of disguise, Master of stealth
Tools and Weapons	Twin pistols, Thompson .45 Submachinegun

The Shadow is a pulp hero from the books of the same name which inspired radio shows and movies.

Origin

Kent Allard was a fighter in World War I who decided to fight crime after faking his death in South America and after learning some hypnotic tricks in Asia returns to America as millionaire Lamont Cranston as well as the vigilante The Shadow.

Biography

Print Incarnation

The early childhood of Kent Allard has remained a mystery.  What is known is that he was a famed aviator who fought on the side of the French during World War I.  His skill and accomplishments have even earned him the alias The Dark Eagle (also The Black Eagle). During the war, he also met Cliff Marsland, who became a trusted friend.  After the war, he decided to use his skills to fight crime for reasons known perhaps only to him.  First, he faked his death in the jungles of South America before returning to New York City.  While there, Kent adopts a number of different identities to help him gather information.

The most notable of these identities is Lamont Cranston, an actual wealthy man about town that Kent borrows the identity of to use his wealth, connections and influence in his war on crime.  Allard chose Cranston based on the fact that the two men look nearly identitical.  When Cranston first met the Shadow, the Shadow threatened to take over Lamont Cranston's life permanently if Cranston did not give him the identity while Lamont is travelling.  Rather than being angered, the real Lamont was actually amused by the scenario and gained respect for the Shadow.  The two men came to an agreement that the Shadow would take on Cranston's identity in New York City while the real Cranston traveled the world.  The two men would go on to impersonate each other to protect the identity of the Shadow and confuse and outwit their enemies.

Allard also takes the identity of businessman Henry Arnaud, who, like Cranston, is based on an actual man and has made a similar agreement with the Shadow.  Other notable disguises include an elderly man named Isaac Twambly and a man named Fritz.  He also took the guise of a slow-witted janitor at a police station so that he can listen in on the police without being noticed.

As the Shadow fought evil, he would go on to save people, many of which he recruited as his own agents to act as his eyes and ears throughout the city and calling on their particular talents and resources when needed. This included cab driver Shrevvy, a cab driver who also acts as the Shadow's personal chauffer whenever he is called upon.  He also met and ended up growing close to Margo Lane, a rich socialite.  Initially, she was a nuisance to the Shadow, suspecting his true identity but unable to prove it and eventually she verified the truth and joined his inner circle as a trustworthy ally.