Goal

This Site is for essays on The New Pulp Heroes. It’s about time we catalog new characters appearing in books and anthologies. Since I do not have time to read everything being published, I will offer space here for legitimate creators of new pulp characters to send me their data, and I will post their essays. It is not my place to say what is, or what is not a new pulp hero, and the only changes I will make to essays will be editing and format. If you wish, include a jpeg of a book cover or b&w illustration if you have permission from the artist. By sending me your essays, you are giving me permission to promote and showcase this data. Essays should be up to 500 words, and include information on MC and back up characters, creator, title of books, and where the stories can be found. A paperback edition is now available for $12.00, plus $3.99 postage (US). The book will only be sold through us: Tom Johnson, 204 W. Custer St., Seymour, TX 76380. Send questions or data to fadingshadows40@gmail.com

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

The Whispering Skull


The Whispering Skull

Creator: Steve Mitchell
Characters
William Clayton McCord
Brother Richolf (Monk)
Brother Martin (Monk)

            William Clayton McCord was a Universalist minister. When he joined the Army in WWI, he became an Army Chaplain, but after seeing so much death and horror, he never returned to his church after 1918. While hiking in the Austrian mountains, he tripped and fell, twisting his ankle badly. When he awakened, he was in a monastery tended by two monks.
            Discussing his faith with Brother Richolf , the monk takes him to a hidden room where a table sat with three objects: At first glance he saw a skull, then the monk brought the candle closer to the table. It was a mask, shaped like a skull, fashioned from beaten gold, with tiny red gems – rubies – studded in each tooth of the skeletal grin.
            The next object was an irregular-shaped green stone, about the size of a child’s hand, resting on a cloth of white Semite.  Emerald fire appeared to leap and dance within the stone.
            The third object was the Sword of Paracelsus, a gleaming rapier with an elaborately fashioned hilt.
            McCord’s hands reach for the skull, and the monk suggests that he try it on.
            Returning to the US, McCord brings the skull with him. It had chosen him as much as he, it. Not a vigilante, he stops crime not with weapons, but with the whispering skull that has become his mask.
            I am only aware of one story featuring this character, though there could be others.
“The Least of His Subjects” DOUBLE DANGER TALES #29

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