Author and pulp historian Will Murray has paused his activities as the new Grant Stockbridge to tackle a different pair of pulp characters. In the first “Wild Adventures” of Secret Agent X, we get Secret Agent X vs. Doctor Death from Altus Press.
Secret Agent X was Ace Magazines‘ longest-running pulp hero, who got 41 issues of his own self-titled magazine from 1934-39. He goes up against the second character to be called Doctor Death, created by Harold Ward in the character’s own short-lived, self-titled magazine from Dell Magazines in 1935.
I was surprised this volume came out from Altus Press rather than Odyssey Publications, as have most of the “Wild Adventures” books Murray has done. I did like that they used the “Secret Agent X” logo from Corinth Books rather than the more familiar logo from the pulp. And, full disclosure, I was sent a copy by the author.
I have posted on both characters before, but here is a quick rundown. Secret Agent X is an unknown (to the reader) agent who is tasked with fighting crime and foreign agents, backed by a secret group of millionaires. His only contact is the equally unknown K9. Police don’t know he is actually a government agent, and so they think he’s a vigilante. His main weapon is a gas gun, but he is also a master of disguise. He has a few people who assist him, one being reporter Betty Dale. Doctor Death is really Dr. Rance Mandarin, who has gone insane. Believing mankind is overpopulated, he makes use of bizarre occult means to reduce the number of people. In this, he is opposed by Jimmy Holm, Inspector John Ricks (here renamed Jack Ricks), and a group called the Secret Twelve, formed by the president. However, in their last encounter a year ago, it is believed he is dead and no longer a threat.
But Doctor Death is back and seems to be aiming at the Secret Twelve, using a new set of occult foes, who appear to be creatures from mythology. He first takes out a gangster with a strange bat-like owl called a strix, then the head of the Secret Service with a minotaur, and then tries to attack the president’s plane with harpies. K9 orders X to organize a new group, which he calls the Secret Circle, to help him and not use his usual assistants, telling him of three people to recruit to start with: The Moon Man, The Cobra, and The Griffon, most of whom I’ve posted on. In addition, Wade Hammond and Ravenwood get involved as well. All these characters are from Ace Magazines.
For those not familiar with these characters, Wade Hammond is a detective who dealt more with science-fictional and weird threats. He’s been reprinted by Off-Trail Publications. Ravenwood is a detective with occult powers who appeared in the back of Secret Agent X magazine. He’s been reprinted, and there have been new stories with him as well. The Moon Man is more a Robin Hood-like character who appeared in Ace’s Ten Detective Aces, going up against other crooks. He’s been reprinted and has gotten new stories as well. The Cobra was a short-lived vigilante with a snake theme, also from Ten Detective Aces, and has been reprinted. The Griffon is a long-running aviation character from Flying Aces, a Justice Department agent who fights crime in a mask. He is being reprinted, but not completely.
As the police view X and most of the others as outlaws and possibly criminals, we get two groups fighting against Doctor Death who don’t cooperate. Further, X needs to find these others and convince them to help. How will he do so? Helping out Doctor Death is the Egyptian princess Charmion, as well as the various mythological monsters he has somehow found, along with other menaces like his elementals, zombies, and the like. So will the heroes succeed? Will they be able to find his secret lair?
At the end, Doctor Death is defeated. With this menace addressed, X meets with the Secret Circle and suggests that, should they be needed, they should come together again. I don’t know when this may happen, but hopefully it will be against a worthy foe.
As to other works from Murray, we are promised a new Spider novel, as well as a collection of articles on superhero origins next. I’m not sure when. I know Murray is working on a new Tarzan novel. I have no idea about further Sherlock Holmes or Cthulhu mythos stories, though.
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