BLOOD N THUNDER 2025 Special Edition

This issue will be of special interest to fans of The Shadow, Doc Savage, and their respective creators. Pulp historian and novelist Will Murray tells the complete story behind “The Golden Vulture,” a Shadow novel originally written by Doc Savage scribe Lester Dent in 1932 but shelved for six years until being revised by Walter B. Gibson, chief chronicler of The Shadow’s exploits. The article is loaded with quotes from correspondence between editor and writer, much of it only recently uncovered. Dent fans will also love “Boiled Eggs,” a 1931 air-war story written by Lester but rejected by its intended market. This exciting unsold yarn, found among Dent’s papers, sees print for the first time here. Another Shadow-related treat is the publication of a 1929 novella titled “The Shadow of Wall Street,” thought by pulp historian Sam Moskowitz to have influenced the later creation of the more familiar Shadow of pulps, radio, and movies. Read it here and judge for yourself. Also in the 2025 Special Edition: Ed Hulse on famous detective-story writer Raymond Chandler and his difficulties writing the original screenplay for 1946’s film noir classic The Blue Dahlia, which earned him an Oscar nomination. Ed also contributes the issue’s longest piece: a comprehensive history of “The Bat,” the legendary master criminal who first appeared in a 1920 play subsequently adapted several times to film and TV. Most importantly, The Bat was acknowledged by Bob Kane to have influenced the creation of a certain Caped Crusader still plying his trade in movies and comics. There’s much, much more in the Blood ‘n’ Thunder 2025 Special Edition, written as always with the award-winning combination of fannish enthusiasm and rigorous scholarship that has made BnT a must-have publication for 23 years! My knowledge of Pulps and the history of these illustrated mystery and adventure tales for the masses, is meager at best. I know the most iconic characters and can name off a few of the era's better-known writers, but that's where my knowledge ends. It's mags like Blood 'n' Thunder that really provide the kind of deep-dive information that the aficionados and the pulp-curious (like me) can equally benefit from. If you're a fan, or interested in learning more about the genre, check this one out. ~Marty