Fanzine Focus: ‘Echoes’ #0, 1-9

As previously noted, the fanzine Echoes ran from 1982 to 2002. Published by the late Tom Johnson with his wife Ginger, it is probably the longest-running pulp fanzine. Having recently obtained a complete collection of them (at least the first 100 ones, not the later newszine), I am doing a series of postings examining about 10 issues at a time. Because of the changes in format, I’m not going with a strict 10 issues per posting.

Special #0 issue appeared in April, then we kick off with #1 in August 1982 until #9 (October 1983). These first nine were 8- x 11-inches on newsprint and saddle stitched. Actually only the last two had staples, the others were glued along the spine.  Not sure the correct term for that. Each issue ran about 40 pages. Most issues had front and back cover artwork, as well as interior artwork, by Frank Hamilton.  Starting with issue #3, Echoes got its own logo created by Hamilton.  Tho sadly this was dropped after issue #24.

#0 (April 1982). I only have a scan of that issue. The bulk of this issue is taken up by an article by Ginger Johnson on the “Bloody Seven,” a group of seven pulp fans and researchers. Sadly, all but one of these folks have passed. They are: Earl Kussman, Wooda “Nick” Carr, Robert Sampson, Frank Hamilton, Jack Devany, Don Hutchison, and Tom Johnson. The issue is rounded out by a few articles, including an article on Johnston McCulley’s Spider by Robert Sampson and Nick Carr looks at a villain from Operator #5.

#1 (August 1982) kicks things off with a great Hamilton Shadow cover (and a back cover highlighting author Michael Avallon, also by Hamilton). We get several great articles. Link Hullar looks at Doc Savage in the 1960s. Robert Sampson and Nick Carr starts a column called “Pulpsters Viewpoint,” which will run occasionally and give bits of information on the pulp world. Nick Carr takes a look at Field Marshall Kremer from the Purple Invasion series within Operator #5 and also gives notes on The Spider. Will Murray looks at the only foe of the Phantom Detective that returned for a second go-around. Rex E. Ward examines The Black Bat. Robert Sampson tells us about Ranger Jack Calhoun, star of a short series in Flynn’s Detective Fiction Weekly.  (now being reprinted by Steeger Books.)

#2 (September-October 1982). This time we get a cover highlighting The Spider and Norvell Page, and a back cover on The Spider and his ring, both by Hamilton. This ties to an article on The Spider by Rex E. Ward, and another by Robert Sampson on “Sex and The Spider.” John Baker provides a look at a short-lived paperback series, The Six-Gun Samurai. And Link Hullar does the same for Michael Avallone‘s Butcher series, though on the second run that starts with #27.

#3 (December 1982) . The cover by Hamilton is on Erle Stanley Gardner‘s Lester Leith, and the back cover is on The Shadow Strikes. Ted Baglin salutes Adventure magazine, illustrated with his own artwork. Nick Carr and Tom Johnson give a two-part article on the character Agent 10 from Dusty Ayres series. Dafydd Neal Dyar gives his “More Reflections in a Flake-Gold Eye,” on Doc and Pat Savage‘s genealogy. Al Tonik checks out the long-running Jim Hatfield, who had 204 stories in the pulps, and gives a full listing of the series, including all the paperback reprints.

#4 (February 1983) . Dennis Lynds is cover featured as the fourth “Maxwell Grant” in Hamilton’s cover. The back cover is based on a J. Allen St. John‘s Tarzan cover. Will Murray provides information on Norman A. Daniels and his many pulp series. Ginger Johnson and Rex Ward give us separate articles at Captain Zero, the final pulp hero.

#5 (April 1983) . Bill Cuff, the first model for Doc Savage, is cover featured this time, and the back cover is Pat Savage, both by Hamilton. Will Murray provides a long article on Jimmy Christopher, Operator #5, that takes up most of the issue. Nick Carr, a big fan of Operator #5, gives an afterward.

#6 (June 1983) gives us a humourous cartoon cover by Ted Baglin. Confusingly says “7” on the cover.  So this is both issue 6 and 7.  Hamilton provides a piece of artwork for Link Hullar and Nick Carr’s article on The Avenger. Nick Carr provides another on The Spider’s various aliases, like Blinky McQuade. The Wizard was Street & Smith’s last new hero pulp, running six issues, and Daryl S. Herrick gives a good overview. John Dinan takes a look at love pulps. And Carl Shaner looks at obscure pulp heroes from British magazines.

#8 (August 1983). The actors of The Shadow radio show are featured on the front cover by Hamilton. Al Tonik examines who D’Arcy Lyndon Champion is, the author of the early Phantom Detective. Nick Carr has an article on The Pecos Kid. Link Hullar examines the paperback series, Nevada Jim, best known for the James Bama covers. Will Murray takes a short look at Harold Hersey‘s predicted future pulp magazines from 1936.

#9 (Oct 1983). The Phantom Detective in his top hat is our cover from Hamilton. This ties to Don Hutchison‘s article on him. “The Hot Air Club” from Dare-Devil Aces is the focus of Allan J. Isobel‘s article. Rick Lai looks at the use of The Feathered Serpent in various pulp works. Billy West, from Wild West Weekly, is the focus of Lester Belcher‘s work.

So the next set of issues changes format, and I will cover them in the next posting.

There are a lot of good articles that shouldn’t be lost to time. Someone needs to scan and make available these issues or, even better, publish collections of these works by Link Hullar, Robert Sampson, Nick Carr, and others. And I wish someone would put out some collections of just Frank Hamilton’s artwork.