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Johnston McCulley

Creator Johnston McCulley (1883-1958)
Profession Writer
Total Entries 18
Articles
Johnston McCulley Omnibus: Black Star, Spider, & Thunderbolt
Johnston McCulley – Wikipedia
100 Years of “The Curse of Capistrano” – PulpFest
In the early 1800s, California was still under Spanish rule. The peaceful indigenous people were victimized by the corrupt military commanders. One man rose to stand against injustice and the abuse of power. One man stirred the hearts of Californians and gave them the spirit to resist tyranny. That man was the masked avenger known as Zorro! Zorro was introduced in Johnston McCulley’s novel, “The Curse of Capistrano,” when it was serialized in the pages of All-Story Weekly in 1919. The success of the serial’s 1920 film adaptation as The Mark of Zorro — starring Douglas Fairbanks — convinced the character’s creator to author further adventures. Over the next forty years, McCulley penned a total of five Zorro novels and nearly 60 short stories featuring the masked avenger. The stories appeared in Argosy, West, and other magazines. ~ 100 Years of “The Curse of Capistrano” – PulpFest

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Avenging Twins

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Category Avenging Twins
Includes 

The Avenging Twins were identical brothers Peter and Paul Selbon. The Twins were college graduates who toured the world, and made their fortune on the pampas of South America. During their travels, Peter became the […]
Entry Avenging Twins
Description 

The Avenging Twins were identical brothers Peter and Paul Selbon. The Twins were college graduates who toured the world, and made their fortune on the pampas of South America. During their travels, Peter became the […]
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Bat (II)

Image of Bat (II)
Category Bat (II)
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The Bat was created by “C.K.M. Scanlon,” a house pseudonym for Standard Magazines. It is not conclusively known who created and wrote the Bat stories; likely suspects include Johnston McCulley (The Avenging Twins, Black Star, […]
Entry Bat (II)
Description 

The Bat was created by “C.K.M. Scanlon,” a house pseudonym for Standard Magazines. It is not conclusively known who created and wrote the Bat stories; likely suspects include Johnston McCulley (The Avenging Twins, Black Star, […]
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Black Star

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Category Black Star
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Black Star, “The Hooded and Caped Titan of Crime” was a criminal mastermind and gang leader with a sense of honor. He does not murder people or threaten women and does not allow his men […]
Entry Black Star
Description 

Black Star, “The Hooded and Caped Titan of Crime” was a criminal mastermind and gang leader with a sense of honor. He does not murder people or threaten women and does not allow his men […]
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Crimson Clown

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Category Crimson Clown
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The Crimson Clown is Delton Prouse, a wealthy young bachelor, able veteran of The Great War, explorer, and all-around adventurer who functions as a modern Robin Hood, stealing from the unjustly rich and returning money […]
Entry Crimson Clown
Description 

The Crimson Clown is Delton Prouse, a wealthy young bachelor, able veteran of The Great War, explorer, and all-around adventurer who functions as a modern Robin Hood, stealing from the unjustly rich and returning money […]
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Demon (Street & Smith)

Image of Demon (Street & Smith)
Category Demon (Street & Smith)
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In “The Demon” by Johnston McCulley (under the pseudonym Harrington Strong), someone wearing a tight full-face mask with horns is beating up criminals to get them to go straight. A crooked alderman is killed, and […]
Entry Demon (Street & Smith)
Description 

In “The Demon” by Johnston McCulley (under the pseudonym Harrington Strong), someone wearing a tight full-face mask with horns is beating up criminals to get them to go straight. A crooked alderman is killed, and […]
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Green Ghost (Better Pub 1)

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Category Green Ghost (Better Pub 1)
Includes 

The Green Ghost, by Johnston McCulley, ran for seven stories in 1934-35 in Thrilling Detective magazine. Former cop Danny Blaney puts on a green hood and gloves to fight crooks. We learn in the first […]
Entry Green Ghost (Better Pub 1)
Description 

The Green Ghost, by Johnston McCulley, ran for seven stories in 1934-35 in Thrilling Detective magazine. Former cop Danny Blaney puts on a green hood and gloves to fight crooks. We learn in the first […]
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Madam Madcap

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Category Madam Madcap
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William Darcan, aka William Duncan, was a wealthy man who became the leader of band of thieves, simply for the thrill of committing burglaries. When members of his own gang betrayed him, trying to get […]
Entry Madam Madcap
Description 

William Darcan, aka William Duncan, was a wealthy man who became the leader of band of thieves, simply for the thrill of committing burglaries. When members of his own gang betrayed him, trying to get […]
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Man in Purple

Image of Moses Nebogipfel
Category Man in Purple
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Johnston McCulley’s “The Man in Purple” features well-off man-about-town Richard Staegel, handsome, young and athletic, who is engaged to Betty Hayler. They both want thrills before marrying and settling down, so decide to go into […]
Entry Man in Purple
Description 

Johnston McCulley’s “The Man in Purple” features well-off man-about-town Richard Staegel, handsome, young and athletic, who is engaged to Betty Hayler. They both want thrills before marrying and settling down, so decide to go into […]
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Mongoose

Image of Moses Nebogipfel
Category Mongoose
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In “The Mongoose”, by Johnston McCulley, a veangful hero goes after crooks who drove his father to his death. He’s joined by his sister, who works her way into the crooks organization, setting things up […]
Entry Mongoose
Description 

In “The Mongoose”, by Johnston McCulley, a veangful hero goes after crooks who drove his father to his death. He’s joined by his sister, who works her way into the crooks organization, setting things up […]
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Rollicking Rogue

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Category Rollicking Rogue
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In Johnston McCulley’s “The Rollicking Rogue”, after timid James Peters’ father was ruined by a group ten years prior, and both parents are now dead, he seeks revenge in a colorful and outlandish outfit. His […]
Entry Rollicking Rogue
Description 

In Johnston McCulley’s “The Rollicking Rogue”, after timid James Peters’ father was ruined by a group ten years prior, and both parents are now dead, he seeks revenge in a colorful and outlandish outfit. His […]
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Saggs

Image of Thunderbolt
Category Saggs
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Saggs is a common crook. Hungry, with an empty pocket and the rent due, he slips into a high class neighborhood and chooses the mansion of Conner Bradford to pilfer an article or two of […]
Entry Saggs
Description 

Saggs is a common crook. Hungry, with an empty pocket and the rent due, he slips into a high class neighborhood and chooses the mansion of Conner Bradford to pilfer an article or two of […]
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Scarlet Scourge

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Category Scarlet Scourge
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In Johnston McCulley’s The Scarlet Scourge, we meet a strange array of characters centered around an office building. There’s a beauty salon run by Madame Violette, and we meet some of her employees and her […]
Entry Scarlet Scourge
Description 

In Johnston McCulley’s The Scarlet Scourge, we meet a strange array of characters centered around an office building. There’s a beauty salon run by Madame Violette, and we meet some of her employees and her […]
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Spider (Street & Smith)

Image of Spider (Street & Smith)
Category Spider (Street & Smith)
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Injured and confined to a wheelchair as a young man, he used his considerable intelligence to operate an international crime ring from his office, “The Spider’s Den,” located in his mansion. The Spider generally stole […]
Entry Spider (Street & Smith)
Description 

Injured and confined to a wheelchair as a young man, he used his considerable intelligence to operate an international crime ring from his office, “The Spider’s Den,” located in his mansion. The Spider generally stole […]
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Thubway Tham

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Category Thubway Tham
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Thubway Tham is a small, short-tempered gnome of a man, a professional pickpocket with an annoying lisp. But he is no mere thief… he is the king of his chosen profession, a master “dip” who […]
Entry Thubway Tham
Description 

Thubway Tham is a small, short-tempered gnome of a man, a professional pickpocket with an annoying lisp. But he is no mere thief… he is the king of his chosen profession, a master “dip” who […]
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Thunderbolt

Image of Thunderbolt
Category Thunderbolt
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The Thunderbolt was a masked avenger who wore all black, with a smooth, tight-fitting black hood branded with a yellow lightning bolt on the forehead. After John Flatchley returned from World War I, he inherited […]
Entry Thunderbolt
Description 

The Thunderbolt was a masked avenger who wore all black, with a smooth, tight-fitting black hood branded with a yellow lightning bolt on the forehead. After John Flatchley returned from World War I, he inherited […]
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Tornado

Image of Tornado
Category Tornado
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Tornado (occasionally Toronado) is a horse ridden by the character Zorro in several films and books. Tornado is said to be intelligent and fast. His name is pronounced in the Spanish way, “tor-NAH-do” (except in […]
Entry Tornado
Description 

Tornado (occasionally Toronado) is a horse ridden by the character Zorro in several films and books. Tornado is said to be intelligent and fast. His name is pronounced in the Spanish way, “tor-NAH-do” (except in […]
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Whirlwind

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Category Whirlwind
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The Whirlwind, by Johnston McCulley, is a nameless Spanish noble who has left Spain (and his family wealth) over an argument with his father. He arrives in a small village, takes a new name, and […]
Entry Whirlwind
Description 

The Whirlwind, by Johnston McCulley, is a nameless Spanish noble who has left Spain (and his family wealth) over an argument with his father. He arrives in a small village, takes a new name, and […]
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Zorro

Image of Zorro
Category Zorro
Includes 

Zorro made his debut in “The Curse of Capistrano” in All-Story Weekly, serialized in five parts, from August 9, 1919 to September 6, 1919), by Johnston McCulley. In The Curse of Capistrano, Señor Zorro became […]
Entry Zorro
Description 

Zorro made his debut in “The Curse of Capistrano” in All-Story Weekly, serialized in five parts, from August 9, 1919 to September 6, 1919), by Johnston McCulley. In The Curse of Capistrano, Señor Zorro became […]