"The Shadow Killers" is the unofficial title to the first story featured in issue #69 of the ongoing super-hero anthology series More Fun Comics published by DC Comics. It was written by Gardner Fox with artwork, inks, and lettering by Howard Sherman. The story features Kent Nelson as Doctor Fate. The second feature is a four-page mystery strip featuring Sergeant Carey called "The Aqueduct Case" by writer and artist Joe Donohoe. Next is a Clip Carson feature by an unknown writer and artist George Papp. After that is a Captain Desmo feature illustrated by Ed Winiarski followed by a Radio Squad tale by Jerry Siegel and Fred Ray. Next is a Lance Larkin adventure drawn by Harold Wilson Sharp. This is followed by a Sergeant O'Malley of the Red Coat Patrol romp by artist Jack Lehti. It all caps off with a Spectre tale called "The Strangler" by Jerry Siegel and artist Bernard Baily. All stories were edited by Whitney Ellsworth. This issue shipped with a July, 1941 cover date and carries a cover price of .10 cents per copy.
Kent Nelson and Inza Cramer attend a party hosted by Everett Dahlen. They go into a room and discover Dahlen lying down dead. A dark shadowy figure escapes out the window. Kent chases after the figure, but as he swipes at it, his hand passes right through it. Kent and Inza return to the Tower of Fate to research folklore relating to shadows.
Meanwhile in New York City, a scientist named Karkull marvels over his success in creating a device that can turn a man into a shadow form. Using this device, he sent his henchman Hart to murder Everett Dahlen. Dahlen was Karkull's ex-business partner, who betrayed them while the two were on an archaeological dig in the Sahara Desert. Having satisifed his need for revenge, Karkull focuses on using his new technology to rob banks, such as the First Federal Bank.
Doctor Fate investigates and traces the shadow men back to Karkull. Karkull temporarily incapacitates Fate with a laser weapon, but Doctor Fate bounces back and takes the other cronies with his fists. Seeking to avoid capture, Karkull turns his materializer on himself, transforming into a living shadow. Doctor Fate destroys his machine so Karkull can never again revert to human form.
"The Shadow Killers" is reprinted the Golden Age Doctor Fate Archives, Volume 1, released in September, 2007.
"The Strangler" is reprinted in the Golden Age Spectre Archives, Volume 1, released in May, 2003.
Includes an advertisement for Daisy Air Rifles by the Daisy Manufacturing Company.
This is the first appearance of Ian Karkull, who becomes a major foe for Doctor Fate, as well as Fate's colleagues in the Justice Society of America. He is identified only as Karkull in this issue. He appears next in the first story in More Fun Comics #70.
