Meet the Moon Man

The Moon Man is one of the most unusual pulp heroes.

Sometimes called the “Robin Hood of the Pulps,” he is really Det. Sgt. Stephen Thatcher, who is the son of Police Chief Peter Thatcher. Upset by the injustice he sees in Great City during the Depression, Stephen Thatcher assumes the role of the vigilante thief the Moon Man by disguising his features beneath a one–way Argus glass globe.

Helped by his loyal aide, former boxer Ned “Angel” Dargan and his fiance, Sue McEwen, the daughter of the man sworn to capture him, his own boss, Lt. Det. Gil McEwen, he makes sure that the ill gotten money is distributed to those in need.

Created by pulp author Frederick C. Davis, the Moon Man’s exploits appeared in the pages of Ten Detective Aces, published by Ace, for 38 stories from 1933–37.

I wish someone would reprint these classic stories in a more economic volume. The two-volume set, “The Compleat Adventures of the Moon Man,” from the Battered Silicon Dispatch Box are pretty pricey at $180. Considering how popular the Moon Man seems to be among New Pulp authors, one would think he’d have been reprinted elsewhere by now. The Moon Man has co–starred with several characters, and even gotten his own novel by Lance Curry (sadly out of print).

Airship 27 has the first volume of new Moon Man stories. This one contains five new adventures written by Ken Janssens, Gary Lovisi, Erwin K. Roberts and Andrew Salmon.

Lovisi’s “The Bait Trap” is a good introduction to the character. The police setup a trap to capture the Moon Man with false money, not realizing one of their own is the Moon Man and knows everything. With false direction, the Moon Man is able to turn the tables and get the real money and avoid capture.

Roberts’ “The False Globe” has the Moon Man dealing with a false Moon Man.

Janssens’ “Fire and Glass” has the Moon Man battle an arsonist in Great City to clear an old friend. But there is a lot more to the arsonist than meets the eye.

Salmon’s “Black Moon” has both the police and a mercenary force out to get the Moon Man. And the mercenaries are much worse then the cops.

Lovisi is back with another story, “Out of Business.” Ned is in jail, and the Moon Man must operate alone, and work to get Ned out.

Overall, this is another great volume from Airship 27. I look forward to them doing another Moon Man volume.