Mark of The Black Claw

Mark of the Black Claw (Pulp Fiction)

By Douglas D. Hawk

BOOBRMEB46

Raptor Mountain Publishing

221 Pages

Price $2.99 (Kindle)

Rating 5-Stars

“Great Pulp Action, And New Character.”

It’s April 1942, not long after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and pulled America into the world war. In an unnamed city, Nazi agents sabotage key points and are after secret documents from a military installation. The Operation, a government organization is set up to battle the threat; just who the organization is, is never revealed. One of their operatives is a masked vigilante called The Black Claw, dressed all in black, and carrying twin automatics; on the left glove is a claw, which can be used as a deadly weapon against foes.

Definitely one of the best new pulp characters we’ve seen in quite a while. The author is a fan of the old pulps, like Doc Savage, The Shadow, The Spider, and The Black Bat, and it can be seen in his writing. Although ten stories have been mapped out, only two have been published so far. These were actually written in 1998, but only recently published. The author could have used a proofreader, but the story is topnotch regardless of a few missing words and typos. We find streets named Wentworth Drive and Cranston. People are reading Spicy Detective Stories, The Shadow – “The Jade Dragon” – and fedoras are worn by good and bad alike. It will be a shame if the author doesn’t continue the series, these are fun reads with lots of action, and interesting characters. Just like reading old pulp stories! Highly recommended for readers of purple prose and fast action.

Tom Johnson

Author of GUNS OF THE BLACK GHOST