New Pulp And New Pulp Heroes

New Pulp And New Pulp Heroes

Clancy O’Hara’s PULP #7

The hero pulp magazines ended in the summer of 1953, while genre pulp magazines continued through the late fifties, and even into the 1960’s. One had the gall to hang on until about 1972. But the end had arrived. Men’s adventure paperbacks were taking the place of those old magazines on the racks, and digest magazines replaced the SF, Mystery, Western & Romance pulps.

The pulp magazines had kept to a strict moral code watched over by publishers and editors, though some of the covers might have gave a different impression of what was inside. By 1953, however, the hero pulps were not immune to the changing time, and the morals were beginning to evaporate. The final issues of The Phantom Detective, Dan Fowler (G-Men Detective), and The Black Bat (Black Book Detective) contained strong hints of sex and rougher language. But by then their time was dying, and the paperbacks had taken over for good.

Jerry Page’s The Armadillo

Let’s concentrate on the pulp hero, or I might use the term NEW PULP HERO at this phase. When did it start? That’s easy. The first we absolutely know of for sure, was Jerry Page’s The Armadillo, a masked hero that appeared in print just a few years after the hero pulp magazines ceased in the mid 1950s. By the 1960s there were new stories of The Shadow, to prove that OLD PULP HEROES were not dead. And others were writing clones of Doc Savage and Tarzan, like Phil Farmer and Lin Carter, among others. I don’t have a good track on all the new pulp heroes that were strangely appearing in paperback, but I could name some, if pressed. Even major comic book houses like Marvel and DC were bringing their characters out in prose paperback editions.

Tom Johnson’s The Black Ghost

Unfortunately, there wasn’t a concerted effort to maintain this new pulp/new pulp hero tradition until 1995. In January of that year – dated Winter - it all changed. The culprit was Clancy O’Hara’s PULP FICTION MAGAZINE - changed to PULP, A FICTION MAGAZINE with the third issue and just plain PULP with the seventh issue. And the first new pulp characters to arrive in Clancy’s magazine were Aaron B. Larson’s Haakon Jones, and Tom Johnson’s The Black Ghost, both appearing in early issues. In June 1995, Tom & Ginger’s FADING SHADOWS magazines kicked off with CLASSIC PULP FICTION STORIES and ran through December 2004, and the new pulp/new pulp heroes were claiming their place as “new pulp fiction”. Clancy may have been the first to call it NEW PULP, but we at FADING SHADOWS called it NEW STORIES IN THE PULP TRADITION. I’m not really sure when the NEW PULP banner started, but I imagine someone at Pro Se could fill us in.

As the reader can see, NEW PULP is really quite old. I still prefer NEW STORIES IN THE PULP TRADITION, however. Doesn’t that make sense? But whatever we call it, since 1995 NEW PULP FICTION has been going strong, and we’ve definitely seen some interesting characters show up on radar. In January 2015, the modern day pulp fiction will be twenty years old. Haakon Jones and The Black Ghost will also share that honor.

The Celluloid Burglar

In issue #58, Fall 2001, of BEHIND THE MASK, we published a story by G.T. Fleming-Roberts titled, “Death From Damascus”, sent to us by Monte Herridge. The story originally appeared in the April 1938 issue of DETECTIVE NOVELS MAGAZINE, a magazine from Ned Pines’ Standard line, ruled over by head editor, Leo Margulies. At the time I never thought much about the story.  But as you will see, I think this story may have a similar connection to this magazine group as “Funny Face”, by Norman Daniels, and “Murder On Parade” by George Green.

Before Daniels and Green started writing The Phantom Detective novels, they had to show Leo they could handle the hero/masked character. “Funny Face” and “Murder On Parade” were their initiation, so to speak. After their stories were turned in, and Leo liked them, the authors started churning out Phantom Detective yarns. So where am I going with this? Well, 1939 was just ahead. And 1939 was going to be the beginning of several new pulp characters under Leo’s guiding hand. Leo was looking for authors to spearhead those new series.

Norman Daniels, who had been away from the Phantom Detective series for a while, suddenly appeared writing a new Phantom yarn. I imagine there were some other authors that we haven’t paid enough attention to yet, but one name does stick out, and that’s G.T. Fleming-Roberts, who had been spearheading the Secret Agent X series for a few years. The April 1938 issue of DETECTIVE NOVELS MAGAZINES suddenly has a masked hero appear under the Fleming-Roberts byline.  A coincidence? It is possible, but highly doubtful.

Dated January 1940, but likely released November 1939, was a new series from Ned Pines called The Ghost Detective by G.T. Fleming-Roberts. Normally, stories had a “wait” period of about six months, so Fleming-Roberts was probably writing the series early in 1939. Was “Death From Damascus” his “try out” for spearheading a masked hero for Leo? My guess is, yes.

            The story features The Celluloid Burglar who is something of a Robin Hood, robbing from crooks to give to the poor, or something like that. Here is how we meet him:

A figure appeared from the shadows. He wore a black mask that glittered like polished ebony, hiding the man’s features. Two menacing eyes bored at them through the slanting eye slits of the mask. A hand held a small .25 trained on the three men.

He leaves a thin piece of black celluloid the size of a calling card at the scene to identify his work; the card is blank, except for a shiny black dot of ink – the dot is a piece of gleaming celluloid, shaped like a face – two tiny slanting eyes, and a slit of a mouth in the tiny black mask.

He carries pens in his coat pocket that contain an assortment of things: tear gas, tiny flashlight, and fake blood, among other items. He also wears a bulletproof vest.

Crooks sometimes call him a comic opera burglar. The case involves the theft of The Prince of Damascus dagger, a jeweled dagger that once belonged to the Middle Eastern conqueror, Melek-ed-Dhaher-Bihras. It is purported to be worth thousands of dollars.

The Celluloid Burglar is actually Detective-sergeant Harrison Hasty, better known as “Pretty Damn Hasty” because he solves crimes so fast. About the only description we have of him, is his wavy brown hair.

Lucky McGee is his assistant, and drives him everywhere, even on duty. McGee is an ex-con (his nickname come from his prison #1313). Hasty had found him when he was just a kid, starving in the gutter. When the boy was older he went to prison for something we are never told what, but when he was released and couldn’t find a job, Hasty had fed and clothed him. Lucky became his friend and companion, and aided him during his outings as The Celluloid Burglar.

We are told that Hasty had a good friend, P.I. Dick Connell, who was murdered, thus giving rise to The Celluloid Burglar.

There are two city officials, Police Commissioner Brady, and District Attorney Snathe.

G.T. Fleming-Roberts was a prolific writer, but I really doubt there were sequels to this story. I still feel that this was his “show” story to Leo, proving that he could handle the hero characters. If so, then we are aware of at least three such “show me” stories, and I bet there are others we haven’t discovered yet.

Murder Town & The Legend

“Murder Town” & “The Legend by Tom Johnson, available in print for $10.00 post paid from Tom Johnson (fadingshadows40@gmail.com) and Kindle on Amazon for $.99.

Murder Town

Compere had not been able to get Peggy away from the door leading to the stairwell, and he knew that danger lay in that direction. He increased his deadly fire, but had become a non-moving target himself. A bullet from one of the gangster’s guns clipped the little gas container on his belt, and suddenly two skull-faced apparitions appeared, one on each wrist of his hands. With a slight movement of his wrists, the gas-filled balloons were disconnected and flew from his outstretched arms with a loud hiss, each flying in opposite directions.

The appearance of the banshees was so sudden, gangsters turned their fire on the two escaping gas balloons, and Compere accounted for another four hoodlums as their guns had been diverted from him.

Unfortunately, his luck was running out. He heard a light sound from behind, a short sigh from Peggy, and then he felt the cold hard steel of the barrel of a revolver digging into his spine. A vicious voice grunted from behind, "Drop your cannons, friend, or this girl gets a bullet in the head!"

The Legend

After cleaning up the town in 1953, the mysterious crime fighter disappeared. Many thought he had been killed in his last battle with gangdom. None thought he would ever return. But when an old menace surfaces again in the late ‘60s, a gray haired man takes up the mantle of the city’s paladin once more. The Legend had returned.

Pulp Archives

 

March 1, 2013

It's the 80th Anniversary of King Kong and Doc Savage

Radio Archives has some great King Kong and Doc Savage products for you in the next couple months. Four exciting products in fact and you can order the first one, Doc Savage: Skull Island today! Here's Will Murray to tell you more:

“For eight decades, fans of both characters have tried to imagine a face-off between Doc Savage, the Man of Bronze, and King Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World. These legendary characters debuted only weeks apart in the Winter of 1933. Now, I am privileged to have written the previously untold tale of what happened after King Kong fell from the Empire State Building, which just happened to be Doc Savage’s headquarters! Don’t miss this latest and greatest Wild Adventure of Doc Savage—Skull Island!”

 

Will Murray's Monumental New Novel

Doc Savage: Skull Island

 

Doc Savage vs. King Kong!

 

Eighty years ago in February, 1933 the Street & Smith company released the first issue of Doc Savage Magazine, introducing one of the most popular and influential pulp superheroes ever to hit the American scene. Doc Savage was the greatest adventurer and scientist of his era, and while his magazine ended in 1949, he influenced the creators of Superman, Batman, Star Trek, The Man from UNCLE and the Marvel Universe—to name only a few.

 

While that first issue of Doc Savage was fresh on Depression newsstands, RKO Radio Pictures released one of the most important fantasy films of all time. Everyone knows the story of how King Kong was discovered on Skull Island and hauled back to New York in chains, only to perish tragically atop the world’s tallest skyscraper, the Empire State Building.

 

As it happened, that was where Doc Savage had his world headquarters. For decades, fans have wondered: Where was Doc the day Kong fell?

 

On the eightieth anniversary of these fictional giants, Altus Press is proud to release the first authorized clash between The Man of Bronze and the Eighth Wonder of the World—Doc Savage: Skull Island. Written by Will Murray in collaboration with Joe DeVito, creator of KONG: King of Skull Island, Doc Savage: Skull Island is a new pulp epic.

 

The story opens when Doc returns from his secret retreat in the North Pole to discover the cold corpse of Kong lying on his doorstep.

 

“I know this creature,” Doc tells his dumbfounded men.

 

Tasked to dispose of the remains, the Man of Bronze then relates the untold story of his epic encounter with Kong back in 1920, after Doc returns from service in World War I, long before Kong became known to the civilized world as “King” Kong.

 

Doc Savage: Skull Island is a multi-generational story in which Doc and his father—the man who placed him in the hands of scientists who made him into a superman—sail to the Indian Ocean in search of Doc’s grandfather, the legendary Stormalong Savage, whose famous clipper ship has been discovered floating, deserted, her masts snapped by some incredible force.

 

The quest for Stormalong Savage leads to the fog-shrouded Indian Ocean and—Skull Island! There, Doc Savage faces his first great test as he encounters its prehistoric dangers and tangles with the towering, unstoppable Kong.

 

“When Joe DeVito brought this idea to me,” says Will Murray, “I knew it had to be written with reverence for both of these immortal characters. So I used the locale of Skull Island to tell a larger story, an untold origin for Doc Savage. It all started back on Skull Island….”

 

“Pulling off the first ever face-off between Doc Savage and King Kong was both challenging and exhilarating,” adds DeVito. “Will’s unique take on the tale scatters the primordial mists surrounding Skull Island long enough to reveal secrets of both classic characters hidden since their creation.”

 

Doc Savage: Skull Island has already been hailed as “The Doc Savage novel that Doc fans have been waiting on for 80 years!”

 

Doc Savage: Skull Island will be released in March, as the fifth entry in Altus Press’ popular Wild Adventures of Doc Savage series. Cover by Joe DeVito. $24.95.

 

 

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Volume 1

 

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is considered one of the greatest tales of horror to date. When one of the best, but most underrated producers of the Golden Age Radio added in his production and vocal skills, a true radio serial classic was born and is now collected in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Volume 1.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is just one of over 300 radio series and serials produced by George Edwards over the course of his twenty year career in radio. Telling Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale of a man divided, this fifteen minute serial debuted in 1943, running for 52 episodes, and was produced by Edwards, a well-known Australian radio personality. The man behind other Australian series, such as Afloat with Henry Morgan and Adventures of Marco Polo lent not only his production skills to Jekyll and Hyde, but shared his amazing vocal talents as well. Edwards’ skill to do multiple voices in a single episode definitely fit the needs of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Dr. Jekyll and Mister Hyde, Volume 1 collects the first 28 episodes, 7 hours, of one of the best serial adventures of the radio era. The intense pacing of each episode as well as the high quality production values and the talented voice acting of George Edwards and the rest of the cast make this a must have for any fan of Classic Radio. 7 hours $20.98 Audio CDs / $10.49 Download.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Will Murray's Pulp Classics #22

Captain Zero Audiobook

#1 City of Deadly Sleep

by G.T. Fleming-Roberts

Read by Michael C. Gwynne. Liner Notes by Will Murray

 

 

In 1949, Popular Publications, which had been out of the hero business since the cancellation of The Spider in 1943, decided to renter the fading field. The Shadow was still going strong on radio, even if his pulp magazine had been folded a few months before.

 

Veteran mystery pulpster G. T. Fleming-Roberts was tapped to pen the new series under his own name. He had a knack for clever plots, contemporary dialogue, and avoiding the most egregious pulp clichés. In that post-war era, readers expected their heroes to be more realistic, so Fleming-Roberts and his editors went for broke.

 

Their hero, Daily World copywriter Lee Allyn—apparently named in a nod to serial Superman Kirk Alyn—was a meek horn-rimmed fellow who possessed few heroic qualities. But between midnight and dawn, thanks to a scientific experiment that went awry, he turned invisible—except for his floating disembodied eyes.

 

It was as if Clark Kent had learned to become as invisible as Lamont Cranston, but remained a mild-mannered newspaperman.

 

Captain Zero fought crime in small-town settings, aided by fellow journalist, Doro Kelly. He had a lot in common with the early Spider-Man. Luck—both good and bad—dogged his nocturnal forays. He was often outnumbered, not to mention outfought and outwitted. For Lee Allyn, fighting crime was no lark. Especially when you didn’t even have a car—never mind a super-car.

 

In his first bumbling case, City of Deadly Sleep, Captain Zero gets the tar repeatedly beaten out of him by rival gangs before pulling out a victory by the skin of his invisible teeth.

 

Unfortunately, despite a trio of well-crafted stories, the time had passed for heroes like Captain Zero. He expired after only three stories. But they are refreshingly different, and RadioArchives.com is proud to bring them to crackling life in a series of audiobooks narrated by the unseen Michael C. Gwynne.

 

Also included are a fascinating fact story featuring Sherlock Holmes’ creator, Arthur Conan Doyle, called “Elementary, my Dear Corpse!” along with Russell Bender’s tense crime tale, “Killer for Sale!” 7 hours $27.98 Audio CDs / $13.99 Download.

 

 

 

New Will Murray's Pulp Classics eBooks

 

The best of timeless Pulp now available as cutting edge eBooks! Will Murray's Pulp Classics brings the greatest heroes, awesome action, and two fisted thrills to your eReader! Presenting Pulp Icons such as the Spider and Operator #5 as well as wonderfully obscure characters like the Octopus and Captain Satan. Will Murray's Pulp Classics brings you the best of yesterday's Pulp today!

 

The Spider #59 August 1938 The Devil's Candlesticks

Over Manhattan fell the mystic murder-spell which had transformed America’s moneyed aristocracy into ruthless fiends and criminals! New York’s First Families, no longer the sturdy pillars of society, had launched upon a career of slayings and thievery that outdid even the Underworld! Against this high-hatted holocaust, the law was powerless. Only Richard Wentworth, as the Spider, could fight for a betrayed civilization — battling a Hindu horror league that had worked a monstrous miracle by turning the Best People into butchers! Total Pulp Experience. These exciting pulp adventures have been beautifully reformatted for easy reading as an eBook and features every story, every editorial, and every column of the original pulp magazine. $2.99.

 

The Spider #60 September 1938 The City that Paid to Die

Deeper and deeper New York had sunk in the toils of the Underworld czar — until its entire population had been regimented by the Black Police into a Kingdom of Crime! Everywhere marched the evil emperor's cohorts, collecting the taxes that meant death; and the law was at a standstill. In that moment of desperation, one man had a heaven-sent inspiration. For now Richard Wentworth, as the Spider, resolved to fight the Underworld with its own merciless weapons. With New York's own police commissioner at his side, he raised a fugitive, fighting legion of honest men who, like Robin Hood's band of old, took the law into its own hands — to come from secret lairs, strike and punish criminals — then slip back into the shadows again! Total Pulp Experience. These exciting pulp adventures have been beautifully reformatted for easy reading as an eBook and features every story, every editorial, and every column of the original pulp magazine. As a special bonus, Will Murray has written an introduction especially for this series of eBooks. $2.99.

 

Operator 5 #29 December 1936 America's Plague Battalions

The United States forces have been driven to their last, desperate stronghold before the blood-maddened ruthless hordes of the self-styled emperor, Rudolph I, even as a courageous but blind nation, wrapped in the dreams of false security, had practiced the foolish doctrine of “It can’t happen here!” America’s patriotic Death Battalion was the last ragged hope of embattled patriots — the women of the nation who hurled themselves bravely and futilely against the war-mad forces of the Purple Invaders. When they fell before the terror-inspiring and deadly barrage of cholera bombs, a few stricken survivors turned for their hope of averting ultimate disaster to one man — Jimmy Christopher — who, as Operator 5, was to face the most overpowering and deadly odds in all his embattled career! Total Pulp Experience. These exciting pulp adventures have been beautifully reformatted for easy reading as an eBook and features every story, every editorial, and every column of the original pulp magazine. As a special bonus, Will Murray has written an introduction especially for this series of eBooks. $2.99.

 

Terror Tales Wyatt Blassingame, Book 2

In 1934 a new type of magazine was born. Known by various names — the shudder pulps, mystery-terror magazines, horror-terror magazines — weird menace is the sub-genre term that has survived today. Terror Tales magazine was one of the most popular. It came from Popular Publications, whose publisher Harry Steeger was inspired by the Grand Guignol theater of Paris. This breed of pulp story survived less than ten years, but in that time, they became infamous, even to this day. This ebook contains a collection of stories from the pages of Terror Tales magazine by Wyatt Blassingame, reissued for today’s readers in electronic format. $2.99.

 

The Mysterious Wu Fang #7 March 1936 The Case of the Hidden Scourge

Into the city of Bagdad, once host to the forty thieves and hot bed of ancient sin-has come the Dragon Lord of Crime, Wu Fang — his purpose and his mission Death — but death more ghastly than any the mind of man can conceive, wrested from the secrets of forgotten centuries and now employed in gaining the mastery of the earth. Wu Fang is a Chinese criminal mastermind and scientific genius. With his hybrid monkey-men, he plans to conquer America. He is member of various secret societies and has spies everywhere. Opposing him is Val Kildare of the F.B.I.  His aides, reporter Jerry Hazard, archaeologist Rod Carson and newsboy Cappy, help him in his battles against the sinister man of evil known as Wu Fang. $2.99.

 

 

99 cent eBook Singles

Each 99 cent eBook Single contains a single short story, one of the many amazing tales selected from the pages of Terror Tales and Rangeland Romances. These short stories are not included in any of our other eBooks.

 

Terror Tales The Cat Goddess by E. Hoffman Price

From the measureless crypt of Time, Frazier called Sekhmet, Queen of the Lions. But the price he paid was dear... In 1934 a new type of magazine was born. Known by various names — the shudder pulps, mystery-terror magazines, horror-terror magazines — weird menace is the sub-genre term that has survived today. Terror Tales magazine was one of the most popular. It came from Popular Publications, whose publisher Harry Steeger was inspired by the Grand Guignol theater of Paris. This breed of pulp story survived less than ten years, but in that time, they became infamous, even to this day. This ebook contains a classic story from the pages of Terror Tales magazine, reissued for today’s readers in electronic format. $0.99.

 

Rangeland Romances #8 Senorita Dark Eyes by Thelma Knoles

Lovely Benedicta made lively plans to surprise her sweetheart and his cantina-dancer lady friend at the forbidden fiesta. One of the most popular settings for romance stories was the old west, where men were men and women were women. As many a swooning damsel could attest, "There's something about a cowboy." The western romance became one of the most popular types of magazines sold during the early and mid-twentieth century. $0.99.

 

All eBooks produced by Radio Archives are available in ePub, Mobi, and PDF formats for the ultimate in compatibility. When you upgrade to a new eReader, you can transfer your eBook to your new device without the need to purchase anything new.

 

Find these legendary Pulp tales and more in Will Murray's Pulp Classics, now available at:

 

 

Search for RadioArchives.com in iTunes.

 

 

 

 

 

FREE Spider eBook!

Receive an exciting original Spider adventure FREE! Part of the Will Murray Pulp Classics line, The Spider #11, Prince of the Red Looters first saw print in 1934 and features his momentous battle with The Fly and his armies of crazed criminal killers.

 

For those who have been unsure about digging into the wonderful world of pulps, this is a perfect chance to give one of these fantastic yarns a real test run. With a full introduction to the Spider written by famed pulp historian and author Will Murray, The Spider #11 was written by one of pulp's most respected authors, Norvell W. Page. Writing as Grant Stockbridge, Page's stories included some of the most bizarre and fun takes on heroes and crime fighting in the history of escapist fiction.

 

Even today Page's scenarios and his edge-of-the-seat writing style are still thrilling both new and old fans everywhere. For those who have never read one of these rollercoaster adventures, you are in for a thrill. If you already know how much fun a classic pulp is, make sure you get a copy of this classic.

 

See what the Total Pulp Experience is for yourself. These exciting pulp adventures have been beautifully reformatted for easy reading as an eBook and features every story, every editorial, and every column of the original pulp magazine.

 

Send an eMail to eBooks@RadioArchives.com and start reading your FREE copy of  the Spider #11 within seconds! Experience The Best Pulps the Past has to offer in the most modern way possible!

 

 

 

DOC SAVAGE: SKULL ISLAND

A review by Jim Beard

 

If you’re like me, you probably wondered what exactly we’d be getting in the new Doc Savage novel, SKULL ISLAND, it being both a Doc story featuring King Kong and a way to celebrate the 80th anniversaries of both legendary creations. Well, after reading the book, I’m happy to report that author Will Murray’s put some definite heart and soul into it and crafted what is now my most favorite of the recent “Wild Adventures of Doc Savage” series of novels.

 

But, that said, it’s different from just about any other Doc book you’ve ever read, something we’re clued in on by the “Will Murray” byline and the absence of the traditional “Kenneth Robeson” house name.

 

For me, the story was literally one that I didn’t want to put down; it’s that engaging. It begins at the end, right after Kong’s infamous nosedive off the Empire State Building, which leads directly to Doc’s involvement – or, rather, his telling of a tale to his aides of when he first met the giant simian. Yes, the great majority of the novel is a flashback to Doc Savage’s early days and therein is found its fascinating core. In essence, what we have here is the heretofore Secret Origin of Doc Savage.

 

Doc and his father – yes, you read that right; his father – head off on a quest for Doc’s grandfather, Stormalong Savage, which takes them into strange waters and exotic climes…and ultimately Skull Island. There they run afoul of enemies of many different stripes and discover wonders beyond their imagining. And a humongous ape-like “god-beast” called Kong.

 

Murray’s defining of the relationship here between Clark Senior and Clark Junior is practically worth the price of admission alone. This is a young Doc, fresh out of World War I and not exactly the bronze hero of the pulp adventures we know so well, and it’s with that admission that I can see some potential backlash with diehard Doc fans. This is a Doc who has not quite found his mission in life yet, nor honed all his skills and formed his famous tenets – most especially the rule against killing. This Doc kills and kills in often savage ways, which at points drenches the narrative in a bloodbath that may even disturb some readers. But, and it’s important to point this out, there’s a method behind Murray’s seeming madness – it all leads to something and something significant, namely the forging of the Doc Savage of the famous pulp adventures. And Murray does this all with style and careful thought and exciting imagery and action.

 

One of the things I loved about this novel is its use of language, precisely that which flies back and forth between elder and younger Savage in many bouts of witty verbal “fencing.” Will Murray has obviously crafted all his Doc books with care, but in SKULL ISLAND I believe I saw even more attention to detail, to dialogue, to atmosphere and to adventure. The story moves right along, only slightly bogging down a bit past its mid-section, and really defines the term “page turner.” Murray gives this one his best and finest and the book benefits from that in ways too numerous to list.

 

As I said before, this is a story of origins. Here we learn the origin of Doc’s trilling, of his disdain of guns and his inexhaustible search for knowledge, even the origin of the Hidalgo Trading Co. hanger. We also discover more information on the Savage family then we’ve ever had revealed to us before and hints of not only some of Doc’s other early adventures – did you know he was on the Titanic? – but also those of his father and grandfather, both famous explorers in their own right. Heck, we even hear about Doc’s uncle, another adventurer in the family. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the author is suggesting here that readers might care to hear more of these adventures, as separate works.

 

But, again, it’s the relationship between father and son that really stands out in the novel, one that careens between dysfunctional and loving, and it’s that which will stay with me for some time to come. In fact, knowing the fate of Clark Savage Senior in 1933’s MAN OF BRONZE will perhaps add another layer of pathos to your reading of SKULL ISLAND.

 

And, oh yes, King Kong is here, too. You will discover much more about his origins, also, as well as Skull Island’s original inhabitants. And that’s all fascinating as well. Dinosaur fans will especially have reason to love this book. Kong and his environs are not given short shrift in the slightest; the King looms over this book with all the weight and gravity he deserves.

 

In all, I’m a richer pulp fan for having read SKULL ISLAND. Will Murray takes our expectations and delivers upon them while still striking off on his own path, assembling a story that will please both Savage and Kong aficionados and remind us all just how cool pulp can be. There’s heart and soul here, like I said, and I for one can’t quite see how Murray will manage to top this one….but I know he will, somehow.

 

Get this book and settle in for a trip to the South Seas and beyond, Savage style.

 

The Spider, Volume 5

Richard Wentworth, in the guise of his crime-fighting alter-ego, returns in two 1930s tales of The Spider. First, in "Builders of the Black Empire" (1934), swift and terrible death rides the waves as modern day pirates turn the seas into a battlefield, striking down majestic ocean liners and lumbering cargo ships with violent abandon. To defeat these seafaring slaughterers, The Spider must match wits with a criminal genius whose cruelty runs the gamut of terror, mass destruction and torture! Then, in "Satan's Shackles" (1938), Wentworth hangs up The Spider's guns and seeks peace and contentment in the rural countryside  while his fiancee Nita van Sloan recovers her health. But even here, a gang of vicious criminals is at work, threatening not only the citizens of Harper's Falls but The Spider's own hidden identity! These two exciting pulp adventures have been beautifully reformatted for easy reading and feature both of the original full color covers as well as interior illustrations that accompany each story. $14.95. On sale for $12.95, save $2.00

 

The Shadow, Volume 70

The Master of Darkness teams with Scotland Yard's Eric Delka in two thrilling tales of international intrigue by Walter Gibson writing as "Maxwell Grant." First, The Shadow investigates an international spy ring with the assistance of "The Man from Scotland Yard" (in his first appearance). Then, The Shadow and Delka's investigation of missing submarine plans sets them on the trail of the legendary Parisian super-criminal, Gaspard Zemba, in Walter Gibson's all-time masterpiece of misdirection! This instant collector's item showcases both classic pulp covers by George Rozen and all the original interior illustrations of Tom Lovell, with commentary by popular culture historian Will Murray. $14.95.

 

 

 

Doc Savage, Volume 65

The pulp era's greatest superman returns in two action-packed novels by Lester Dent writing as "Kenneth Robeson." First, what could cause an entire island to vanish into thin air? Doc Savage and his aides must unravel the strange secret of "Mystery Island" to save England from environmental armageddon. Then, the Man of Bronze (in a rare solo adventure) encounters a strange bearded giant floating in the Bay of Fundy. This double-novel collector's edition leads off with a classic color cover by Emery Clarke, and showcases all of Paul Orban's original interior illustrations and new historical commentary by Will Murray, writer of eleven Doc Savage novels. $14.95.

 

Featured Girasol Replica: The Magic Carpet #4 October 1933

This is an authentic replica of an original pulp magazine published by Girasol Collectables. This edition is designed to give the reader an authentic taste of what a typical pulp magazine was like when it was first issued - but without the frailty or expense of trying to find a decades-old collectable to enjoy. The outer covers, the interior pages, and the advertisements are reprinted just as they appeared in the original magazine, left intact to give the reader the true feel of the original as well as an appreciation for the way in which these publications were first offered to their avid readers. To further enhance the “pulp experience”, this edition is printed on off-white bond paper intended to simulate the original look while, at the same time, assuring that this edition will last far longer than the original upon which it is based. The overall construction and appearance of this reprint is designed to be as faithful to the original magazine as is reasonably possible, given the unavoidable changes in production methods and materials. $25.00

 

 

 

Review of The Pirate of the Pacific from Doc Savage, Volume 6

By Dr. Art Sippo

 

In ‘The Pirate of the Pacific’, on their return from their arctic adventure in which they travelled underneath the north polar ice cap, Doc Savage and his crew are attacked by hostile aircraft.  Cleverly escaping from this trap, Doc returns to New York where he receives an urgent message from his friend Juan Mindoro of the island nation, the Luzon Union.  He and his country are in serious trouble and only Doc can help.  But the crafty Liung-Sun and his band of Mongol cutthroats roam New York seeking to kill Doc and anyone who might assist him or Juan Mindoro.  Sugar Magnate Scott Osborn become the target of the wily villain’s wrath.  But Liung-Sun is only the advanced agent for the infamous Tom-Too, the mastermind called the Pirate of the Pacific who is planning to overthrow the Luzon Union as a stepping stone to conquering the entire Pacific region.

 

Doc Savage finds himself in a series of battles fighting his way across the Pacific Ocean to the Luzon Union.  He becomes enmeshed in an all-out revolution that threatens to destabilize the entire region.  The powerful Juan Mindoro is in hiding for fear of his life.  Who is the mysterious Tom Too?  Can Doc and his crew of five aides defeat this horde of marauding pirates?  Doc and his crew find themselves in the midst of a war.  Can even they prevail against these odds? Find out when You pick up this and another full length Doc Savage novel in Doc Savage, Volume 6. Double Novel reprint $12.95

 

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Fifty years ago, I used to collect radio transcription discs and made the original open reel recordings of more than a few programs. Since then, I’ve heard an enormous number of OTR recordings, and your CDs are simply best in class. Your efforts to restore and preserve this content deserve to be supported.

 

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Edward Conca writes:

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Curtis Fukuda writes:

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