Tom's Altus Press Hardbacks

Tom’s Altus Press Hardbacks

It’s time to advertise my hardback books from Altus Press this week. I have two short story collections, and five research books available. I only have a few of the hardback editions, so check with Altus Press on the availability of these, and confirm the prices. What I have listed may be incorrect.

The Pulp Detectives: For the first time, nine all-new stories starring the classic pulp heroes of the 1930s, featuring characters such as The Phantom Detective, The Black Bat, The Lone Eagle, The Masked Detective, Secret Agent X and Nightwind. Paperback $22.46. Written by pulp scholar Tom Johnson, it's nearly 400 pages of excitement! Hardback is $34.95 from Altus Press www.altuspress.com

The Phantom Detective Companion: The longest-running hero of the pulp era! For the first time, the history of the Phantom Detective is bought under one volume, completely updated! Includes an index to nearly 175 stories, 100s of pages of articles, two unused Phantom story plots from the mid-1930s and nearly all of the Phantom's comic book appearances. Paperback is $26.96. It's 400 pages of must-own information for any pulp fan to enjoy. The hardback is $39.95 from Altus Press www.altuspress.com

The Secret Agent X Companion: The classic investigation of SECRET AGENT "X," revised and updated by the original writers, Tom Johnson and Will Murray, including new chapters, images and information! It's the last word on this classic character! Paperback edition is $13.46. I’m not sure if this one is in hardback yet, check with Altus Press www.altuspress.com

G-Man Companion: For nearly 20 years, Dan Fowler and his G-men battled crimedom in the pages of G-Men Detective. Now, author Tom Johnson has indexed each issue, listing everything you need to know about the series. Also included are complete reprints of the two best Dan Fowler stories as chosen by Johnson and pulp historian Will Murray: "Give 'Em Hell" by Norvell W. Page and "Bullet Justice" by Charles Greenberg. And reprinted in its entirety for the first time: "I Cover the Murder Front," the lost, rejected Dan Fowler story. Paperback is 31.46. Featuring additional articles by Johnson and Murray, this is the ultimate history of the series. The hardback is $44.95 from Altus Press www.altuspress.com

Exciting Pulp Tales: The exciting sequel to Tom Johnson's 2010 anthology, PULP DETECTIVES, EXCITING PULP TALES brings you ten more all-new stories featuring classic pulp heroes such as The Angel, The Green Ghost, The Cobra, The Crimson Mask, Gentle Jones, The Purple Scar, Funny Face, Mr. Death, The Jungle Queen, and Ki-Gor. Paperback is $22.46. The hardback is $34.95 from Altus Press www.altuspress.com

Operator #5: The entire history of the The Purple Invasion, the War and Peace of the pulps which ran for over a year in the pages of Operator #5! Loaded with illustrations from the original pulps. Paperback edition is $13.46. The hardback is $24.95. I think the hardback is still available. Check with Altus Press www.altuspress.com

The Black Bat Companion: This one is not in hardback yet, but I wanted to list it anyway. One of the most beloved pulp characters, The Black Bat, is finally celebrated with this 340 page deluxe retrospective. Author Tom Johnson has indexed each issue, listing everything you need to know about the series, along with the following highlights: - A complete reprint of the rejected Black Bat adventure, "The Lady's Out for Blood" - A breakdown of the newly-discovered final Black Bat story, "The Celebrity Murders" - All 800 German Black Bat stories newly identified for the English audience - Nine complete reprints of the Black Bat's golden Age comic book stories - An interview with series creator Norman Daniels as well as his complete payment records... available here for the first time Featuring additional articles by Will Murray, this is the ultimate history of the series. Paperback edition $26.96 from Altus Press www.altuspress.com

Pulp Research Books From Altus Press

From Altus Press, five research books by pulp fan and scholar Tom Johnson. Visit Altus Press at www.altuspress.com for pricing and ordering.

One of the most beloved pulp characters, The Black Bat, is finally celebrated with this 340 page deluxe retrospective. Author Tom Johnson has indexed each issue, listing everything you need to know about the series, along with the following highlights: - A complete reprint of the rejected Black Bat adventure, "The Lady's Out for Blood" - A breakdown of the newly-discovered final Black Bat story, "The Celebrity Murders" - All 800 German Black Bat stories newly identified for the English audience - Nine complete reprints of the Black Bat's golden Age comic book stories - An interview with series creator Norman Daniels as well as his complete payment records... available here for the first time Featuring additional articles by Will Murray, this is the ultimate history of the series.

The longest-running hero of the pulp era! For the first time, the history of the Phantom Detective is brought to fans under one volume, completely updated! Includes an index to nearly 175 stories, hundreds of pages of articles, two unused Phantom story plots from the mid-1930s and nearly all of the Phantom's comic book appearances. It's 400 pages of must-own information for any pulp fan to enjoy.

The classic investigation of SECRET AGENT "X," revised and updated by the original writers, Tom Johnson and Will Murray, including new chapters, images and information! It's the last word on this classic character!

For nearly 20 years, Dan Fowler and his G-men battled crimedom in the pages of G-Men Detective. Now, author Tom Johnson has indexed each issue, listing everything you need to know about the series. Also included are complete reprints of the two best Dan Fowler stories as chosen by Johnson and pulp historian Will Murray: "Give 'Em Hell" by Norvell W. Page and "Bullet Justice" by Charles Greenberg. And reprinted in its entirety for the first time: "I Cover the Murder Front," the lost, rejected Dan Fowler story. Featuring additional articles by Johnson and Murray, this is the ultimate history of the series.

The entire history of The Purple Invasion, the War and Peace of the pulps which ran for over a year in the pages of OPERATOR #5! Written by Tom Johnson under the mythical Harrison Steivers, who chronicled the fall of America by the Purple Invaders, then its slow recovery.

Tom's Pulp Research Books

One of the most beloved pulp characters, The Black Bat, is finally celebrated with this 340 page deluxe retrospective from Amazon and Altus Press www.altuspress.com/  for $29.95. Author Tom Johnson has indexed each issue, listing everything you need to know about the series, along with the following highlights:

•   A complete reprint of the rejected Black Bat adventure, "The Lady's Out for Blood"

•   A breakdown of the newly-discovered final Black Bat story, "The Celebrity Murders"

•   All 800 German Black Bat stories newly identified for the english audience

•   Nine complete reprints of the Black Bat's golden Age comic book stories

•   An interview with series creator Norman Daniels as well as his complete payment records... available here for the first time 

•   Featuring additional articles by Will Murray, this is the ultimate history of the series.

For nearly 20 years, Dan Fowler and his G-men battled crimedom in the pages of G-MEN DETECTIVE. Now, author Tom Johnson has indexed each issue, listing everything you need to know about the series. Also included are complete reprints of the two best Dan Fowler stories as chosen by Johnson and pulp historian Will Murray: "Give 'Em Hell" by Norvell W. Page and "Bullet Justice" by Charles Greenberg. And reprinted in its entirety for the first time: "I Cover the Murder Front," the lost, rejected Dan Fowler story.

Featuring additional articles by Tom Johnson and Will Murray, this is the ultimate history of the series. 414 pages, $34.95 from Amazon and Altus Press www.altuspress.com/

The entire history of The Purple Invasion by Harrison Stievers (Tom Johnson), the War and Peace of the pulps which ran for over a year in the pages of OPERATOR #5! Loaded with illustrations from the original pulps; 129 pages. $14.95 from Amazon and Altus Press at www.altuspress.com/

The longest-running hero of the pulp era! For the first time, the history of the Phantom Detective is bought under one volume, completely updated! Includes an index to nearly 175 stories, 100s of pages of articles, two unused Phantom story plots from the mid-1930s and nearly all of the Phantom’s comic book appearances. It’s 400 pages of must-own information for any pulp fan to enjoy.  $29.95 from Amazon and Altus Press www.altuspress.com/

The classic investigation of SECRET AGENT "X," revised and updated by the original writers, Tom Johnson and Will Murray, including new chapters, images and information! It's the last word on this classic character! 157 pages, 6" x 9", perfect binding, black and white interior ink  $14.95 from Amazon and Altus Press at www.altuspress.com/

Dan Fowler: G-Man V#2

Dan Fowler: G-Man V#2

Various Authors

Airship 27 Productions www.airship27hanger.com

ISBN #978-0615820231

149 Pages

Price $16.99

Rating 5-Stars

Dan Fowler was the hero of G-Men Detective, a pulp magazine that ran from 1935 till 1953. One of the most popular of the g-men titles, supposedly each story had to be approved by J. Edgar Hoover himself. Whether or not that was true is anyone’s guess, but I’m sure J. Edgar kept his eye on the magazine. Another rumor says it was also a favorite of Al Capone. Again, who can say? Fowler usually worked carte blanche, answering only to his chief, and was often assisted by young Larry Kendal (his name also went through several different spellings due to the number of writers involved). Like most of the Ned Pines pulp line, there were many authors writing the Fowler stories, which made it uneven, but the stories were fun, and the authors were the best writing for the publisher.

This volume, the second in the series from Airship 27, features four exciting stories: “The Undercover Puzzle” by Derrick Ferguson; “Monkey Business by Aaron Smith; “Proof of Supremacy” by Josh Reynolds; and “Feasting On The Predator’s Corpse” by B.C. Bell. Each story captures Dan Fowler, but with the author’s own touch, so much like those original magazine stories. Although there were no disappointments in this book, I thought “Monkey Business” by Aaron Smith might have made a better Phantom Detective story, as Fowler goes undercover to find the killer of a mob boss, not something the Director would have assigned to Fowler, but would have been perfect for the Phantom Detective. Normally I don’t like team ups, as most writers tend to have the heroes fight each other at least once. How can one win, when both are heroes? But in “Proof of Supremacy” by Josh Reynolds, Fowler is joined by Jim Anthony. Jim is tracking the kidnappers of a financier’s daughter, while Fowler is investigating a series of bank robberies. The two seem to work fine together, and there is no fight between them, thankfully. Still, for my book, I would rather the author just bring in Larry Kendal, why bring in a second hero when we already have Fowler?

The front cover and interior art is also top notch. Volume Two far surpasses the first volume in this series, and I expect only good things for Airship 27 in the future, and looking forward to more great stories from this publisher.

Tom Johnson

Echoes Magazine