‘The New Adventures of the Man in Purple’

The Man in Purple is one of many characters created by Johnston McCulley, better known for Zorro. Over his long career as a pulp writer, McCulley created several serialized characters, some more long-lived than others. I’ve already posted on several of these, including the Man in Purple.

The Man in Purple appeared in only three stories over three months in Detective Story Magazine in 1921 (October through December). Altus Press has reprinted the whole series, adding a new MiP story by Tom Johnson as an added bonus.

So who is the Man in Purple and what is his shtick? Well, the MiP is really well-off man-about-town Richard Staegel. He’s handsome and young and athletic, and engaged to Betty Hayler. But they both want thrills, so decide to go into crime and steal from the rich, but only the rich who have gotten their wealth by ripping off “widows and orphans.” So all their take is given to charity.

The MiP persona is created, which is Richard dressed in an all purple outfit, including a full face mask. To prevent any connection, Richard has special purple material that he uses to make the outfits, and destroys them after using them so nothing is traced back to him. Assisting them is Broph, a down-and-out guy Richard rescues and recruits in the first story. Broph serves as a chauffeur and assistant. Opposing them is Detective Troman.

This is not your standard hero, but more of a Robin Hood character, stealing from the rich. This was something that was more common in the 1920s than in the later 1930s period of pulp hero. No idea why there were only three stories. Prehaps the character didn’t click with readers, and McCulley abandoned the character in favor of new ones.

Now as part of their Pulp Obscura line, Pro Se Press has released “The New Adventures of the Man in Purple.” With these four new stories we now have more new (five) than old (three).

Of the four stories in this collection, we get a story by Russ Anderson Jr., which pits the Man in Purple against a criminal who figures out the source of his purple outfits and tries to horn in. He has also killed someone, which makes things harder. Will the real Man in Purple be able to stop this impostor?

Lee Houston Jr. gives us a story where the Man in Purple’s next victim turns the tables on him, and leaves the MiP to die in his stead, as he leaves to start a new identity for himself. Will the MiP be able to free himself before its too late, or will Betty and Broph be able to get there in time. And will they stop the bad guy?

The next story by Ashley Mangin has the Man in Purple turning the tables on a crooked landlord. He makes sure the landlord will get what’s coming to him when he sends his secret ledger to the police.

The final story by Terry Alexander has the Man in Purple dealing with a dangerous crime lord who tries to setup the Man in Purple. But the MiP is able to figure out who is behind it all, and makes sure he’s taken down (after reliving him of his ill gotten loot, of course).

Overall, a good collection of new stories. It will be interesting to a see a second Man in Purple collection, or another collection of new stories with a lesser-known McCulley character.