New Year's, 1950--the end of a tumultuous decade...and LAMONT CRANSTON, the man the world and the underworld know all too well as THE SHADOW, has had enough. It's time for the Mysterious Nemesis of Crime to hang up his cloak, his slouch hat, and his twin .45s, and retire from public life...

...But despite this momentous decision, MARGO LAINE and the rest of the Shadow's AGENTS fear that mankind, teetering on the brink of nuclear Armageddon, may not be quite ready to be bereft of the Dark Avenger.