From 1933–37 pulpsmith extraordinaire Frederick C. Davis chronicled the adventures of the classic pulp hero the Moon Man in the pages of Ten Detective Aces. One of the most unique and compelling characters in the history of the genre, the Moon Man was the Robin Hood of the pulps: He stole from those who profited from the misery of the Depression to help those in need, to balance the scales of justice.
And justice was close to the Moon Man’s heart. For the Moon Man was actually police detective Stephen Thatcher—a dedicated law officer all too familiar with the cracks in the system criminals used to avoid retribution. Donning a black robe and a globe of Argus glass, Thatcher became the Moon Man, a thief who stole from criminals the law could not touch.
Now the Moon Man is hunted by his best friend and partner, reviled by his father and fiancé who all want to see the masked thief pay the ultimate price for his crimes. Stephen Thatcher must walk the razor’s edge of his double life where, every minute, the threat of exposure could shatter his fragile world.
For the first time in decades all 38 of the Moon Man’s exploits have been collected by Altus Press in a seven-volume set. And it includes an all-new introduction by Moon Man expert Andrew Salmon.
- Homicide Dividends: Detective McEwen didn’t believe the Moon Man’s warning that a murder party was to be held at the police H.Q. But when a back-shooting mob marked his own daughter for corpse number one, McEwen set a hot lead trap for the Moon Man. And the Moon Man knew he’d have to frame himself for a killing in order to save the girl he loved.
- Robe of Blood: When two scarred corpses were found after the Latham house fire, Detective Gil McEwen filled his guns with bullets marked for the Moon Man. For Gil McEwen was sure the Moon Man was a firebug hired for murder. The only way the Moon Man could prove he was innocent was by letting killers go free—and playing himself for murderer’s meat.
- The Whispering Death: The studio was mobbed for that big broadcast–for thousands in cash was to be given away. Then the weird-weaponed invaders snatched that cash, and the microphone broadcasted death. Only one man could help Lieutenant Gil McEwen spread the dragnet of death for the Whisper Killers. That help had to come from the Moon Man–And he was McEwen’s public enemy number one.
- Corpse’s Plunder: Detective Sergeant Steve Thatcher ignored his sweetheart’s warning not to don the mask of the notorious Moon Man–and closed a foolproof police trap about himself. Then Sue McEwen, torn between duty and affection, was forced to spring the jaws of that machine-gun ambuscade.
The Complete Adventures of the Moon Man, Volume 6: 1935-36 by Frederick C. Davis contains the following stories:
- “Homicide Dividends”
- “Robe of Blood”
- “The Whispering Death”
- “Corpse’s Plunder”
