The Spider Slaughter, Incorporated

Originally slated to appear in The Spider Magazine in the 1940s, "Slaughter, Incorporated" was ultimately shelved when that magazine was cancelled. Never before published directly from author Donald G. Cormack's original manuscript, this edition has been faithfully reconstructed as an exact copy of the never-published February 1944 issue of The Spider Magazine, complete with vintage interior illustrations. In addition, The Spider: Slaughter, Incorporated (Facsimile Edition) marks the first publication of the never-before-published lost Red Finger story, "Red Finger and the Murder Trio," penned by Arthur Leo Zagat. Also including a story by longtime Spider author, Norvell Page. Rounded out by an introduction by Spider scholar, Will Murray, The Spider: Slaughter, Incorporated (Facsimile Edition) is the most important pulp publication of the year.

The Spider Slaughter, Incorporated (Pulp Reprint)

By Grant Stockbridge (Donald G. Cormack)

Altus Press www.altuspress.com

ISBN #978-1618273178

Price $19.95 (Paperback)

96 Pages

Rating 5-Stars

This was the last Spider novel written in 1943 for Popular Publications, scheduled for publication February 1944. It was obvious that PP had decided to drop the series, as the main author, Norvell Page, was working for the government now. They had hired Donald G. Cormack to write the final entry, but the series ended before Slaughter, Incorporated was published. There wasn’t much of a plot; it was all about the ending. The Spider and Richard Wentworth in a fight to the death. It was a plot to kill The Spider once and for all, and as the story ends we see The Spider dead and Richard Wentworth standing victorious above him. Even Police Commissioner Kirkpatrick buys the finale. I had read this story years ago when Robert Weinberg published it in paperback under the title of Blue Steel.

It took many years, but Altus Press has finally published this important novel in the style of the old pulp magazines, including interior artwork, with short stories in the back pages. One of the short stories is an unpublished Red Finger story that was rejected during the pulp period, Red Finger And The Murder Trio, so readers are not getting just one unpublished story, but two in this lost volume featuring The Spider. There is also a Norvell Page and Wayne Rogers short story in the back. This book is a must for any pulp fan, and highly recommended.

Tom Johnson

Author of THE BLACK BAT COMPANION

The Spider: The Doom Legion

When a weird meteor crashes in the heart of Central Park on Halloween night, its uncanny light attracts the attention of Richard Wentworth—alias The Spider! Investigating, the millionaire criminologist encounters a maelstrom of madness in the making. Drawn, too, are two sinister figures from the past—international master criminals who join forces to harness the power of the pulsing meteorite. Alone, The Spider confronts his greatest challenge, but he is not alone this time. For the unholy power of the meteorite draws James Christopher, alias Operator 5, and another government agent from the past, known only as G-8…. Together, this heroic trio must battle a pair of powerful adversaries intent on harnessing and unleashing the malevolent power of the Green Meteorite. But how can they work together when one of them is branded an outlaw?

The Spider: The Doom Legion (Pulp Fiction)

By Will Murray

ALTUS PRESS www.altuspress.com

ISBN #978-1618273550

Price $24.95 (Paperback)

360 Pages

Rating 5-Stars

“Author Scores Another Hit”

A month after Machines-guns Over The White House, and almost twenty years after WWI, Herr Stahlmaske and Count Carmine Calypsa show up at a Halloween costume ball where Richard Wentworth and Nita Van Sloan are in attendance. Stahlmaske is after his old helmet from WWI, while Calypsa wants to kill Police Commissioner Stanley Kirkpatrick. Neither villain is aware of each other yet. Before anything can happen a green radioactive meteorite crashes into Central Park and starts turning people into zombies. Calypsa and Stahlmaske join forces and use the terror caused by the zombies for their own purposes.

Jimmy Christopher, Secret Service Operator 5, is assigned to the case, while Diane Elliot covers the situation for her paper. Z-7 is also present. Captain George Gate, better known as the WWI Master Spy G-8, is assigned by G-2 out of Mitchell Field. Alas, poor G-8. Twenty years after WWI he is still a captain in the Army Air Corps. I would think he should be a general by now, or at least a colonel, but he remains a lowly captain in G-2. Ronald Jackson and Ram Singh are also present, but this story revolves around The Spider, Operator 5, and G-8, as they battle Stahlmaske and Calypsa.

Typical of The Spider series, New York is devastated with thousands killed as the zombies turn others into the mindless dead. Buildings are burnt to the ground; police must kill police, as they become walking dead men. In the meantime no one can get close to the green meteorite without turning into a zombie, so it remains in Central Park pulsing out its deadly rays. Highly recommended.

Tom Johnson

Author of THE PHANTOM DETECTIVE COMPANION