Obviously, this is a pretty bad story, and blandly written on top of it. However, I'm glad I read it. Both because it's such an important landmark in the evolution of American pop culture, and because it offers a look into early Depression-era escapism.

The story isn't *technically* going slower than most stories would, in terms of pages spent describing the actions. It's just that a lot of stories make much better use of these sorts of pages and use a range of techniques to make them fun to read

The Shadow actually having to take the L once in a while makes me hate him slightly less.

I like the Shadow's pointed nails. I choose to think he has them painted bright, pastel pink too.

"WHO KNOWS WHAT EVIL LURKS IN THE HEARTS OF MEN?"

I can also see the logic in placing this chapter right after the previous one. Johnny isn't just a foil to Harry; he's also a much more experienced version of Harry who's been playing this game for many years to Harry's couple of months. Highlighting Johnny's skill and cunning against Harry's clumsiness and inexperience really builds Johnny up as a major challenge for him, as well as, ironically, sort of an aspirational figure.

"Can be in multiple places at once" is becoming a hard conclusion to avoid.