CGC Certifies The Shadow #1, an Iconic 1931 Pulp

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Pre-dating even the first appearance of Superman, The Shadow was a seminal figure in pulp fiction who made his debut in 1930 in a radio drama series titled "Detective Story Hour," before transitioning to his own pulp magazine in 1931. Created by Walter B. Gibson under the pseudonym Maxwell Grant, the character of the Shadow is cloaked in mystery and darkness, wielding psychic powers and a mastery of disguise to fight crime. Combining elements of detective fiction, mysticism and action, the Shadow became an icon of the pulp era, spawning novels, comics and films, and influencing generations of subsequent crime-fighting characters.

In March of 1940, following the boom of superhero comics, The Shadow made his first comic book appearance in the pages of Shadow Comics #1 from Street and Smith Publishing. Since then, the hero has appeared in comic books published by Archie, Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics and Marvel Comics. Most recently, he has appeared in The Shadow comics published by Dynamite Entertainment.

In February 2024, CGC announced it would begin accepting pulp submissions. Characterized by their low-cost production on pulp paper, pulp magazines featured a wide range of genres, known for their lurid cover art, sensationalist storytelling and serialized content. Pulps played a significant role in shaping modern popular culture, introducing enduring characters like The Shadow and paving the way for the emergence of genres such as noir fiction and superhero comics.

“We're proud to be entrusted with the grading of such a rare gem like The Shadow #1,” said CGC President Matt Nelson. “This iconic piece of pulp and comic history holds a special place in the hearts of collectors, and being able to authenticate and preserve its condition is not only a duty but also a privilege for us at CGC.”

While the value of a CGC-graded example of The Shadow #1 has not yet been determined on the market, this same copy sold raw for $156,000 through Heritage Auctions in May 2021.

About CGC

Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation and more. The newest division of CGC, CGC Home Video, provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of home media.