When you name a thriller Stoker, you immediately have people concluding it has something to do with Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, and therefore maybe the movie involves vampires. The film’s characters address that at one point but let’s stipulate that there are no members of the undead here. Instead, we have a stylish, noirsh film that marks a mostly successful American debut for Korean director Chan-Wook Park. Starring Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, and Matthew Goode, it’s an uncomfortable story of family.

India Stoker (Wasikowska) has just lost her father, shattering their close bonds. Distraught, she is withdrawn, and initially shrinks further within Goth herself when Uncle Charlie (Goode) turns up and comes to live with her and her mother Evelyn (Kidman). In her eighteen years, India has never heard of an Uncle Charlie and more, what she begins to hear strikes her as fantastic and contradictory. Is he a rich adventurer, an ex-con, an opportunist? Maybe all of the above. But, as Charlie insinuates himself into their Tennessee home, life changes.

India is uncomfortable around Charlie until his charismatic personality begins to change how she acts and more, how she sees herself. There’s a hint of sexual desire pouring forth while her own mother, dealing with the loss in her own way, seems equally drawn, making dinner time more than a little awkward. There’s a piano duet that is nicely sexually charged and the film is filled with visual metaphors that make this a cut above most thrillers.

Wentworth Miller’s script was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s Shadow of a Doubt down to naming the mysterious stranger Uncle Charlie. There are plenty of structural ticks Miller picks up from the old master, successfully maintain the tension throughout the 99 minutes. Unfortunately, like Hitchcock, the characters are cold, never quite warming up to one another or the audience and undercuts the movie’s impact. And trust me, this film has plenty of impact, especially when things get violent and here Park exceeds Hitchcock, bringing his natural talents to the fore.

The performances are strong and should have been stronger and this might be a culturally issue as Park works with his Australia/English cast in an American setting. Goode (Watchmen) is nicely creepy while the women vie for coolest character.

This is a strong transfer to Blu-ray, out this week from 20^th Century Home Entertainment. Cinematographer Chung Chung-hoon’s imagery is well preserved, letting the atmosphere ooze into your home. The matching audio allows you to enjoy the splash of rain, the crack of a hardboiled egg and the eeriness of Clint Mansell’s excellent score.

The disc, which comes with an Ultraviolet digital copy, contains a handful of extras. There are three deleted/extended scenes (10:01), none of which are really missed; Stoker: A Filmmaker’s Journey (27:50), a Making Of mini-documentary that is cut above others of its ilk; Photography by Mary Ellen Mark (11:15), on-set photographs that can be auto-played or manually advanced;

London Theater Design (2:35), showing how a London theater was transformed for the film’s premiere; and,  Theatrical Behind-the-Scenes, seven short featurettes that were repurposed from the documentary and rehashes that material. You also get the theatrical trailers.

I’ve little to no doubt by the time I write this article everyone on this site, and every other comic-ish site will have weighed in on Man of Steel. For what it’s worth? I liked it a whole bunch. Disaster porn? Sure. The controversial ending? Made complete sense to me. And I’m not even a pessimist. I found the flick to be a popcorn chomping, scenery eating behemoth on par with Marvel’s Cap or Thor. Feel free to disagree with me. This li’l op-ed though isn’t about Man of Steel as much as it’s about what it means for DC in the near and not-so-near future.

The fact is the movie is making money. Good money. The most money to come in for the month of June in fact. And with no “big” weekend coming to theaters presumably until The Lone Ranger bombs, DC should be on the road now to adding some serious shekels to their calamitous coffers. Many nerds (myself included) all figured that all this time Marvel was running away with all the sick-movie profits. But let’s look at the tale of the tape:

According to Box Office Mojo: Iron Man 1 and 2, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, and The Avengers totaled roughly 1.75 billion dollars domestically. In the same amount of time Nolan’s Batman franchise, Watchmen, The Losers, Jonah Hex, and Green Lantern earned 1.45 billion. All things considered? It’s not necessarily a run away gravy train for Mickey now is it?

We all know the old adage: war is won with a single battle. Man of Steel rights a train derailed with Green Lantern. The fact of the matter is in the last five years of blockbusters, Mickey was laying foundation while DC merely rented a timeshare. It’s no secret (especially if you read comic book movie news on the Internet) that the Brothers Warner wanted Man of Steel to be the initial volley towards a larger franchise universe of their own. It’s fair enough to consider the movie to be a success. So, what’s next?

We know there’s talks to get Supes back in the multiplex as soon as late next year. Unless they actually know how to reverse time by flying around the Earth though? Color me doubtful. And the rumor mill has also turned out gems like a possible Batman / Superman team up. Or a Justice League movie that will spin-out into single character franchises. I envision the execs over at the Warner lot looking at a pile of New 52 books, with a sweaty Dan DiDio and Geoff Johns (no doubt wearing a dunce cap over his Green Lantern: The Movie cap) doing their best to help them plan. And somewhere behind two-way glass, Christopher Nolan sits in his private Inception pod (yeah it’s a pod now) smugly scoffing.

Enough pussy-footing around. If the reigns were in my hands, I’d bank on what made Warner money. While every comic-classicist sharpens their knives I boldly say the unthinkable. If you made money going real and dark? Go real and dark. There was optimism, hope, and smiles to be had in Man of Steel. Seriously. If DC uses that at it’s base, and builds a Justice League that stands with Big Blue in their front court? Those are big shoulders to do it with. Add in Jospeh Gordon-Leavitt’s Batman (heresy!) and introduce the movie-going public to Flash, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and Cyborg? Well, it’ll sure give Whedon and his Bro-Vengers a little competition. Put the movie in the hands of a capable comic-inspired director. Say… Brad Bird. And if Nolan can assist in crafting a picture that isn’t just filler, quips, and a fifty minute fight sequence… you’ve got yourself the making of a real counter blow to the powerhouse mouse.

At the end of the day, Man of Steel was a solid start to a new beginning. While many our brethren ball their fists and curse at the wind, many others are finding a new take on a familiar face. I hope sincerely that DC and WB figure out what worked (Optimism. Confidence.) and what didn’t (Wanton destruction.) and use it to find solid footing on a new course. The world needs a Justice League movie. We need a great Wonder Woman franchise. They need a movie DCU. It’s time to look up, up, and away from the past and soar towards a more profitable future. And I for one will be looking forward to the movies.

Because you know, their comics sure ain’t doing it for me right now.*

*My apologies to Scott Snyder and Gail Simone who totally get a pass

SUNDAY: John Ostrander

MONDAY: Mindy Newell

Casey, Crime Photographer

Volume 3

 

“…ace cameraman who covers the crime news of the great city…”

 

The origins of Jack “Flashgun” Casey can be traced to the 1930s detective pulp magazine “Black Mask”; the hard-boiled photojournalist was introduced in the March 1934 issue by former newspaperman/ad exec George Harmon Coxe. Coxe discussed the inspiration for Casey in a 1978 interview:

 

I had read and enjoyed the fiction exploits of reporters from time to time, but I also knew that it was the photographer accompanying such newsmen who frequently had to stick their neck out to get an acceptable picture. This is turn meant that while the reporter with his pad and pencil could describe a warehouse or dockside fire from a safe distance, the guy with the camera had to edge far closer to get a negative that would merit reproduction. So why not give the cameraman his due? If the reporter could be a glamorous figure in fiction, why not the guy up front who took – and still does take – the pictures?

 

So radio audiences received a formal introduction to Coxe’s creation over CBS Radio beginning July 7, 1943. The series was originally titled “Flashgun Casey,” but during its run it was also referred to as “Casey, Press Photographer,” “Crime Photographer.” and “Casey, Crime Photographer”. Casey snapped photos for the fictitious Morning Express, and often found himself cast in the role of amateur sleuth by getting involved in the stories he covered. Many of the plots had him stumbling across a clue in a photo he had taken (something the police had overlooked), and with the help of fellow reporter and romantic interest Annie Williams, they would inevitably bring the culprit(s) to justice.

 

What set “Casey, Crime Photographer” apart from its radio crime drama competition was its laid-back atmosphere, chiefly personified in its backdrop of Casey and Annie’s favorite dive, The Blue Note Café. There, in between assignments, they would engage in badinage with their philosophically sardonic bartender pal Ethelbert, often to the melodious accompaniment of the Blue Note’s background piano.

 

Matt Crowley was the first actor to tackle the role of Casey; replaced by Jim Backus and finally taken over by Staats Cotsworth, a radio veteran who also portrayed the title fourth-estate hero of NBC’s daytime serial “Front Page Farrell”. The part of Annie was essayed by many different actresses: Jone Allison, Alice Reinhart, Lesley Woods, Betty Furness, and Jan Miner were all heard at various times as the photographer’s main squeeze. Ethelbert was faithfully played by John Gibson throughout the entire run, and Captain Bill Logan – Casey and Annie’s contact on the police force – was portrayed by Jackson Beck and, later, Bernard Lenrow. The Blue Note’s pianist was played by Herman Chittison for most of Casey’s run, but Juan Hernandez and Teddy Wilson (formerly with the Benny Goodman Trio) were also on hand to tickle the ivories from time to time.

 

For most of the series’ run, “Casey, Crime Photographer” was sustained by CBS, except for brief periods of sponsorship by Anchor Hocking Glass (1946-48), Toni Home Permanents (1948-49), and Philip Morris Cigarettes (1949-50). The show’s association with Anchor Hocking is particularly noteworthy in that most of this series’ extant episodes were obtained from transcriptions saved by the glass company.

 

“Casey, Crime Photographer” left CBS Radio November 16, 1950 and enjoyed a brief live television run (with Miner and Gibson in their radio roles) from April 19, 1951 to June 5, 1952. (Casey was originally played by Richard Carlyle, but was replaced by a young Darren McGavin two months later.) The series then returned to radio on January 13, 1954 and hung on for another year before finally getting the axe April 22, 1955 – the same day that “Mr. & Mrs. North” and “Mr. Keen” also turned in their gumshoes. Fifty years later, strong characterizations and good scripting continue to make this private-eye drama a genuine keeper. 6 hours $17.98 Audio CDs / $8.99 Download.

 

D-Day

38 Hours of NBC Coverage

 

It was the largest, most ambitious, and most successful military operation ever attempted — and radio was there to cover it.

D-Day, the invasion of Normandy. It was the turning point of the war in Europe, the beginning of the end for the Axis as the Allies started their drive towards Germany. It was a momentous event that would change not only the course of World War II, but the history of the world. Radio Archives is pleased and proud to offer the complete and continuous NBC network coverage of the events of June 6 and 7, 1944.

 
Noted inspirational author Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, King Haakon VII of Norway, Premier Gerbandy of the Netherlands, Premier Pierlot of Belgium, and US Senators Clark, Barkley, White, Hill and Congresswoman Clare Boothe Luce speak, as does the President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. General Eisenhower speaks from SHAEF headquarters.

 

Regular NBC shows were included in the broadcast, “The Bob Hope Show”, “Fibber McGee & Molly”, “The Guiding Light”, “Vic & Sade”, “The Red Skelton Show”, “The Road of Life”, “Today’s Children”, “Ma Perkins”, “Pepper Young’s Family”, “Mary Noble, Backstage Wife”, “Stella Dallas”, “Lorenzo Jones”, “Young Widder Brown”, “When A Girl Marries” and “Front Page Farrell” among them.

 

Hear the events of the day as reported by Ben Grauer, Cesar Saerchinger, Charles F. McCarthy, David Anderson, Don Goddard, Don Hollenbeck, Ed Hocker, Edward R. Murrow, Elmer Peterson, George Wheeler, H. V. Kaltenborn, Herbert M. Clark, James Willard, John W. Vandercook, Louis P. Lockner, Lowell Thomas, Merrill Mueller, Morgan Beatty, Ralph Howard, Richard Harkness, Robert McCormick, Robert St. John, Tommy Traynor, W. W. Chaplin and Wright Bryan. Alex Dreier, in Chicago, recalled his experiences as the last western correspondent in Nazi Germany while Stanley Richardson offered an eyewitness account of the invasion from the Channel boats, and George Hicks reported from the beach-head itself!

These are recordings that many historians believe to be among the most valuable audio documents ever preserved. The NBC broadcasts — containing over 38 hours of continuous programming of news, music, drama, comedy, and entertainment — are history as it happened, in a special collection that is sure to occupy a special place in your radio collection. 38 hours. Normally priced at $113.98 Audio CDs / $56.99 Download, D-Day is Specially priced through the month of June at only $99.98 Audio CDs / $49.99 Download.

 

 

On June 6, 2004, in remembrance of the 60th anniversary of the Normandy invasion, the ABC Radio program Perspective featured a fascinating story detailing radio’s coverage of D-Day as it happened in 1944. Written, edited, and narrated by ABC reporter Chuck Sivertsen, the feature utilized clips from the D-Day collection described above. We think this in-depth and well-presented piece provides an excellent overview of the historic content of this collection.

 

 

Special 50% discount Offer

The Great Gildersleeve

Volume 1

 

 

“The Great Gildersleeve” is considered one of old-time radio’s best examples of the situation comedy format, and it differed from its parent show, “Fibber McGee & Molly”, in that it emphasized a gentler humor that grew out of its realistic characters and situations as opposed to Fibber’s vaudeville-based verbal slapstick. “Gildersleeve” was also unique in that many of its episodes utilized a semi-serialized format; while the shows certainly could be enjoyed as stand-alone episodes. They often featured extended story arcs – examples of this include Gildy’s run for mayor in 1943-44, and an abandoned baby storyline featured in the 1948-49 season.

But perhaps the most interesting facet of “The Great Gildersleeve” was the fact that the titled character was in possession of old-time radio’s most active libido, or as authors Charles Stumpf and Ben Ohmart put it, “was involved in more matters of the heart than a cardiologist.” Throckmorton P. was Summerfield’s most notorious bachelor on the prowl, and as a ladies’ man had a bevy of quail…er… girlfriends. The best remembered was the syrupy Southern belle Leila Ransom (played by Shirley Mitchell), who always threw in a few extra syllables when calling him “Thrawk-maaahhhtin”, and who also managed to get Gildy to the altar (in a broadcast dated June 27, 1943) before a fluke of luck saved him from being manacled to the coquettish flirt till death do them part. Other girlfriends included schoolteacher Eve Goodwin (Bea Benaderet), who was romanced and proposed to by Gildy during his mayoral campaign, Leila’s cousin Adeline Devereaux (Una Merkel) and Nurse Kathryn Milford (Cathy Lewis).

“The Great Gildersleeve” remains a favorite for old-time radio enthusiasts even today, as its fine writing, engaging characters and brilliant blend of comedy and drama sets a high watermark for classic situation comedy. You’ll be certain to enjoy the twenty original broadcasts offered in this collection, transferred directly from original 16” NBC Orthacoustic master recordings and presented exactly as broadcast, complete with commercials for Kraft Foods. 10 hours. Regular Price $29.98 – Specially priced until July 4 for $14.99 Audio CDs / $7.49 Download.

 

 

Will Murray’s Pulp Classics #28

The Spider Audiobook

#64 Claws of the Golden Dragon

by Norvell W. Page writing as Grant Stockbridge

Read by Nick Santa Maria. Liner Notes by Will Murray

 

 

For our latest Spider audiobook, we’ve jumped ahead in time to 1939 and one of the most dramatIc and horrific exploits of Richard Wentworth’s nightmarish career.

 

“Exploits” might not be the operative term for Claws of the Golden Dragon. It’s actually one of the most intense ordeals the Master of Men ever endured in his decade-long career as a crime hunter. And that’s saying a hell of a lot!

 

It begins with the arrival in New York of a Chinese supercriminal known as the Golden Dragon. His true identity shrouded in secrecy, the Dragon plans to loot America in order to fuel his planned conquest of Asia. Author Novell W. Page took his inspiration from Sax Rohmer’s Dr. Fu Manchu, obviously. The editors at Popular Publications loved the sinister Oriental arch-villain. They published Dr. Yen Sin, The Mysterious Wu Fang, and frequently pitted their other heroes, like Operator 5 and G-8, against similar human scourges. The Golden Dragon is among the worst of these.

 

Claws of the Golden Dragon dates from the period when The Spider magazine was infused with Weird Menace elements, like the fare offered by companion magazines Terror Tales and Horror Stories. In this case, the Golden Dragon has cultivated a hothouse orchid that insinuates its suffocating roots and tendrils into the victim’s still-beating heart! Forget Terror Tales, this is Weird Tales territory.

 

Page milks this new menace for all it’s worth. Victims begin succumbing in the first chapter. And by the time Richard Wentworth and the valiant Nita van Sloan have struggled to defeat the Blood Orchids, they too fall victim to this most hideous doom!

 

Has Norvell Page gone too far this time? Can even the Spider survive this soul-paralyzing predicament? Or will he and his beloved be buried with their own personal funeral flowers feeding off of their stopped hearts?

 

Once again, Nick Santa Maria takes on the dual persona of Richard Wentworth and his arachnid alter-ego for this nail-biting audio rendition of the January, 1939 issue of The Spider. Michael C. Gwynne reads the thrilling Doc Turner story by Arthur Leo Zagat, “Death’s Wedding March!” 6 hours $23.98 Audio CDs / $11.99 Download.

 

 

 

FREE Pulp Audiobook!

 

RadioArchives.com and Will Murray are giving away the downloadable version of the newly released Strange Detective Mysteries audiobook for FREE.

 

If you prefer the Audio CDs to play in your car or home CD player, the coupon code will subtract the $11.99 price of the download version from the Audio CDs. That makes the Audio CDs half price.

 

Add Strange Detective Mysteries to the shopping cart and use the Coupon Code AUDIOBOOK.

 

“Strange Detective Mysteries #1 is one of my favorite pulps and I am excited to produce it as an audiobook with my good friends at Radio Archives. It leads off with Norvell W. Page’s bizarre novelette, “When the Death-Bat Flies,” and includes thrilling stories by Norbert Davis, Paul Ernst, Arthur Leo Zagat, Wayne Rogers and others. Popular Publications went all-out to make this 1937 debut issue a winner. And they succeeded!”

 

Happy listening,

Will Murray

 

 

 

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 #70 July 1939 The Spider and the Slaves of Hell

In a hushed room of his stronghold, Richard Wentworth watched over his beloved. Crippled, her healing limbs held by carefully adjusted pulleys, Nita van Sloan hovered between life and death. It was then that a man — an underworld denizen, bloodied, beaten and terrified — burst in upon Wentworth’s sanctuary. “You are doomed,” was his warning. “The underworld has roused again. Even now the dynamiters bore under your home!” With a trumped-up charge of murder on his head, could Wentworth battle that new underworld master, single-handedly?… For, where that master struck, death by explosion was instantaneous, frightful! 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 Secret 6 #2 November 1934 House of Walking Corpses

Two months ago James Waldorff had died and his body placed in the family vault. Now he walked again, a thing resurrected from the tomb! What was the secret of the strange curse that was turning one of America’s wealthiest houses into a family of living dead? The Secret 6 come out of hiding to tackle this weird mystery — and unravel the murder scheme of a corpse master! Criminals quaked at the name The Secret Six.  And for four glorious issues, this team of six crimefighters took on some of the weirdest and most fantastic antagonists that ever reared their heads in the pulp magazines. It was where weird menace met six normal men with no strange gadgets or outlandish skills. The utterly amazing stories were written by Robert J. Hogan, better known for writing the G-8 and his Battle Aces stories.  But after four issues, the over-the-top action came to an end and Popular Publications pulled the plug on the series.  These vintage pulp tales are now reissued for today’s readers in electronic format. $2.99.

 

Terror Tales H. M. Appel and Robert C. Blackmon

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, all written by H. M. Appel and Robert C. Blackmon, reissued for today’s readers in electronic format. $2.99.

 

Dime Mystery Magazine Frederick C. Davis Book 1

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. Dime Mystery 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 Dime Mystery Magazine, all written by Frederick C. Davis, reissued for today’s readers in electronic format. $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 Swamp Madness by Laurence Donovan

The Thing that came from the swamp had once been a man. Now it shrieked madly, its skeleton body jumping from pavement square to pavement square, its hollow eyes seeing only things that were not there. In 1934 a new type of magazine was born. Known by various names — the shudder pulps, mystery-terror magazines, horror-terror magazines — weird me 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.

 

Terror Tales Take My Hand and Die! by Cyril Plunkett

David Hilton shuddered as the lovely girl took his hand — the hand that had killed so many such as she… In 1934 a new type of magazine was born. Known by various names — the shudder pulps, mystery-terror magazines, horror-terror magazines — weird me 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 #5 Her Phantom Heart-Throb by Jane Hardey

Deep in her young heart, Liberty knew that only she was to blame — when Brit Farnum told her there’d be a slight change in their wedding plans… that he’d take another girl to the little rangeland church! 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.

 

Rangeland Romances #25 Petticoat-Corralin’ Hombre by Lorraine Cox

Innocent little Trudy was at wit’s end figuring how to awaken the wounded stranger — till she thought that a kiss might do it… 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!

 

 

 

The Spider, Volume 13

Pulp fiction’s Master of Men returns in two thrilling and horrific stories from 1938 and 1943. First, emerging from Manhattan’s subways is an army of albino killers, attacking, sacking, and slaying all that cross their path. Neither bullets nor cold steel have any effect on the seemingly invulnerable horde, so debonair man about town Richard Wentworth, alias The Spider, decides to take on the murderous scourge in “The Grey Horde Creeps” (1938). Then, where better to recruit a band of heartless killers than from the ranks of condemned murders? Only the most ruthless henchmen are chosen to wield the power of “The Howling Death” (1943), a terrible secret that makes its victims scream out their lives like dogs gone mad! 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. On sale for $12.95, save $2.00

 

The Shadow, Volume 73

The Knight of Darkness proves that crime does not pay in two pulp classics by Walter B. Gibson writing as “Maxwell Grant.” First, The Shadow follows a trail of murder to retrieve the priceless rubies known as “The Seven Drops of Blood.” Then, to prove the innocence of a man accused of an impossible crime, the Dark Avenger must uncover the strange secret behind “Death from Nowhere.” BONUS: The Whisperer brings true sight to “The Eye of Zion” in a thriller by Alan Hathway writing as “Clifford Goodrich.” This instant collector’s item features the classic color pulp covers by Graves Gladney and George Rozen, the original interior illustrations by Tom Lovell and Edd Cartier, and commentary by popular culture historian Will Murray. $14.95.

 

The Avenger, Volume 10

The pulps’ original “Man of Steel” returns in three action-packed pulp thrillers by Paul Ernst and Emile Tepperman writing as “Kenneth Robeson.” First, smuggled “Pictures of Death” are only the sinister prelude to deadly sabotage and mass destruction. Then, Justice Inc. hunts for the antidote to a deadly malady that transforms men into apelike monstrosities in “The Green Killer.” Will the cure bring death to The Avenger? PLUS “Calling Justice Inc.,” a bonus Avenger thriller by Spider-scribe Emile Tepperman! This classic pulp reprint showcases the classic color pulp covers by Lenosci and William Timmons, Paul Orban’s interior illustrations and commentary by pulp historian Will Murray. $14.95.

Doc Savage, Volume 67

The Man of Bronze and his daredevil cousin Pat Savage return in two classic pulp novels by Lester Dent and William Bogart writing as “Kenneth Robeson.” First, Doc Savage is accused of serial murders and jailed. Can Pat and Doc’s aides help unearth the strange secret of “The Invisible-Box Murders” and prove the Man of Bronze’s innocence? Then, Doc journeys to Honolulu after a strange letter makes Pat’s friend, Sally Trent, a “Target for Death.” BONUS: “The Hang String,” a rare 1933 tale by Lester Dent from the back pages of The Shadow Magazine. 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 Spider #64 January 1939 [Pulp Replica]

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. $35.00.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing to Celebrate the 80th Anniversary of Doc Savage and King Kong

Radio Archives continues to offers new King Kong and Doc Savage products. We are proud to offer high-quality limited edition Joe DeVito posters. Click here to take a look at these four gorgeous paintings by this award winning artist.

 

Doc Savage: Skull Island Series 1, wraparound cover
Doc Savage: Skull Island Series 2, front cover
KONG: King of Skull Island, full montage
KING KONG

 

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 is the fifth entry in Altus Press’ popular Wild Adventures of Doc Savage series. Cover by Joe DeVito. $24.95.

 

Review of The Shadow’s Justice from The Shadow, Volume 6

By John Olsen

 

“The Shadow’s Justice” was published in the April 15, 1933 issue of The Shadow Magazine. It’s an early Shadow tale that shows us The Shadow at his most deadly. His blasting .45’s never miss. He shoots; he scores! And there’s one less gangster to worry the police.

 

This is the story of young Carter Boswick and his search for his inheritance. It’s the story of a conspiracy to murder him and collect the millions by the forces of evil. It’s the story of The Shadow who enters the picture to not only safeguard young Carter, not only discover the hiding place of the treasure, but unmask the hidden mastermind behind the sinister scheme and put an end to his evil ways.

 

As our story opens, Farland Tracy, attorney at law, enters the old mansion of Houston Boswick. Tracy is still in his forties, firm-faced, square-jawed and stalwart with a dynamic air combined with self-assurance. Houston Boswick, owner of the mansion, is aged and weary. He’s a man past sixty whose thin face marks him as one who has lost all former initiative.

 

The two meet in Boswick’s second-floor study. Away from the prying ears of his servant Headley and his nephew Drew Westling, the two feel free to discuss old Houston Boswick’s financial affairs. But little do they realize that ears are listening in on them. Two pairs of ears! One from outside the study door, and another pair outside the second-floor window.

 

The Shadow clings to the rough stone wall outside the study window, hanging far above the ground. Clinging bat-like to the side of the building, the weird phantom of the night overhears the secret conversation. But he’s not the only one. Young nephew Drew Westling, slight of form, sallow of complexion and drooping in appearance, crouches outside the study door, also listening.

 

Old Houston Boswick tells his attorney that he hasn’t long to live. He accepts the fact, but lives with one final hope: his son’s return. Ten years before, young Carter Boswick had left to seek his fortune, traveling to many parts of the world. Old Houston has just received a letter from Carter stating that he is returning home. He should arrive in two weeks. But Houston feels he will not live to greet his son.

 

Click here to read the rest of John Olsen’s indepth Shadow Review

Double Novel reprint $12.95

 

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