BACK TO THE BASICS-by SARGE PORTERA
In this column from the esoteric Sarge Portera, he will endeavor to give us the basic 'just-the-facts' approach on whatever pulpy goodness tweaks his fancy.... and we kick this off with...
THE AVENGER
“The Avenger” was published as a magazine by Street & Smith for 2 years from September 1939 to September 1942. All twenty-four cover stories in “The Avenger” were written by Paul Ernst under the house name of Kenneth Robeson. Most issues of “The Avenger” even sported a byline that read “Complete mystery novel by the Creator of Doc Savage” or something like it on their covers.
“Justice, Inc.” was the cover story for Volume 1, Number 1, September 1939 issue of “The Avenger.” This was the issue where Richard Benson was transformed into The Avenger, met Mac & Smitty, and established Justice, Inc. as his crimefighting organization.
“The Yellow Horde” was the feature story in Vol. 1, No. 2, October 1939 issue. It was in this issue that Nellie Gray joined Justice, Inc. This edition’s cover carried a byline which read “Presenting a sensational New Character by the Creator of Doc Savage.”
“The Skywalker” was the lead story in Vol. 1, No. 3, November 1939 issue.
“The Devil’s Horns” the featured mystery in Vol. 1, No. 4, December 1939 issue.
“Frosted Death” was the lead mystery in Vol. 1, No. 5, January 1940 issue.
“The Glass Mountain
“The Blood Ring” was the lead feature in Vol. 2, No. 1, March 1940 issue.
“Stockholders in Death” was feature story in Vol. 2, No. 2, April 1940 issue.
“Tuned for Murder” was the featured mystery in Vol. 2, No. 3, May 1940 issue.
“The Smiling Dogs” was the leading mystery in Vol. 2, No. 4, June 1940 issue.
“The River of Ice
“The Flame Breathers” was the cover story in Vol. 2, No. 6, September 1940 issue.
“Murder on Wheels” was the cover mystery in Vol. 3, No. 1, November 1940 issue.
“The Three Gold Crowns” was the featured story in Vol. 3, No. 2, January 1941 issue.
“House of Death” was the lead feature in Vol. 3, No. 3, March 1941 issue.
“The Hate Master” was the cover story in Vol. 3, No. 4, May 1941 issue.
“Nevlo” was the feature story in Vol. 3, No. 5, July 1941 issue.
“Death in Slow Motion” was the lead story in Vol. 3, No. 6, September 1941 issue.
“Pictures of Death” was the featured mystery in Vol. 4, No. 1, November 1941 issue.
“The Green Killer” was the lead mystery in Vol. 4, No. 2, January 1942 issue.
“The Happy Killers” was the cover mystery in Vol. 4, No. 3, March 1942 issue.
“The Black Death” was the leading story in Vol. 4, No. 4, May 1942 issue.
“The Wilder Curse” was the cover feature in Vol. 4, No. 5, July 1942 issue.
“Midnight Murder” was the featured mystery in Vol. 4, No. 6, September 1942 issue.
Here’s some questions for the trivia buffs who are reading this:
1. What Avenger mystery introduced Josh & Rosabel Newton?
2. Six short stories featuring The Avenger appeared in “Clues Detective” & “The Shadow” after his character pulp folded. Who wrote them?
3. Who reprinted The Avenger’s original twenty-four stories?
4. Who wrote twelve new Avenger paperback novels for this publisher?
5. Who published The Avenger anthology in 2008?
(Here’s the answers: 1. The Skywalker, 2. Emile C. Tepperman, 3. Warner Paperback Library, 4. Ron Goulart, 5. Joe Gentile’s Moonstone Books)