The Great Pulp Heroes

La verdad este libro es un oasis en el desierto. Es una lectura rapida pero llena de informacion de lo mas variada. Es una verdadera joya para cualquiera que quiera profundizar en el tema pulp o lector curioso. Un gran trabajo Don Hutchison

This book, finally reprinted in a better and clearer format with fewer mistakes, is quite possibly the greatest account of pulp magazine/fiction history. Don Hutchinson recounts the stories of some of the greatest pulp fiction heroes and villains, while sharing the history of the publishers, books, authors, and the evolutions of the genre. I learned things about pulp heroes that I never knew, and was re-introduced to things I did. It's very interesting to read the similarities between the classic pulp heroes and the now-famous comic book heroes. It's great to see how much inspired the creators of and writers for Spiderman, Superman, Batman, and James Bond. Inspiration from these heroes of the pulp magazines, books, radio shows, comic books, and movies can be seen everywhere, it's amazing! Whether it's an introduction to the pulp genre, or a new book for an old fan, I highly recommend to it anyone interested in the subject. I've already read it twice and now I use it as reference material, or pick it up every so often to re-read the history of The Shadow, Doc Savage, Operator #5, or G-8 and His Battle Aces. It's really a fantastic read!

El libro del canadiense Don Hutchinson es una buena y muy interesante guia para conocer las historias, estilos y superheroes de la epoca dorada del PULP. Indiana Jones, Sky Captain y Jack Burton (de MASACRE EN EL BARRIO CHINO) son muestra de estos personajes que actualemente son más atractivos por cargar con ese estilo "retro" de un mundo donde todabia habia maravillas por descubrir, organizaciones secretas por encontrar, poderes fantásticos, tierras perdidas, civilizaciones olvidadas, criminales científicos egomaniacos que querian conquistar la tierra. Darse cuenta de los personajes e historias que se movian en esa epoca enriquece el acervo cultural del lector fantástico y a los neofitos les habre un nuevo mundo que no conocian y que querran disfrutar despues de leer este libro: La SOMBRA, Doc Savage, Los pilotos G-8, La Araña, Capitan Futuro y muchos más analizados y recordados en este excelente libro.

The coverage of the characters, content, authors, and even some of the artists of the pulp hero era of American popular literature within this volume are excellent and help you really understand the blood, sweat and tears that went into the development of the pulps. A Must-read on the subject!

From about the mid 1920's to the mid-1950's, one of the most popular entertainments available that were serious competition to radio and the movies was the pulp magazine. Printed on the cheapest kind of paper and with the most lurid covers, these magazines provided some of the most vivid action and suspence in print in the 20th century. While the medium is largely dead now and replaced by TV, comics and the paperback novel, the most famous heroes still created descendents of some of our most popular current fictional adventure characters. They include Batman(inspired by the pulp character, The Shadow), Superman(Doc Savage) and James Bond (Operator #5). In this book, Don Hutchison talks about this influential medium focusing on the major characters and the writers who spun these wild yarns. With detailed knowledge, the reader can learn about these characters, their development and the source of their appeal with wonderful vividness. The only shortcoming I see is that I would have preferred to have some more detailed thoughts on their latter day influence. However, if you want learn about what popular literature was like before TV was developed and the comic book hit its full stride, then this is a book for you.