This week, Space Explorers, I’m going to introduce you to a popular pulp hero from the 1930’s—the “Moon Man.” He has been referred to as a “Robin Hood in glass.” This is a apt moniker for Frederick C. Davis’ hero as he wears a globular helmet made of one-way glass. The character appeared in 38 novelettes published in Ten Detective Aces magazine between 1933 and 1937. It’s said he was the most popular detective to come out of that magazine.
The Moon Man is the alter ego of Police Detective Sergeant Stephen Thatcher, son of the police chief, best friend of the squad’s ace detective, Gil McEwen, and fiancé of McEwen’s daughter, Sue. (Phew, just that information is enough to get my soap opera fan’s heart pounding!) Add to the roster the Moon Man’s true-hearted associate—Ned “Angel” Dargan—and his self-imposed mission, to steal but from the corrupt for the Great Depression’s needy. He never keeps a cent for himself.
This hero has a lot of dramatic conflicts built right in. His exposure will lead to heartbreak and a possible heart attack for old Chief Thatcher, Steve’s father. Anguish for Gil McEwen and Sue, who will lose the love of her life to the electric chair. Brave Ned Dargan is in the same boat as Thatcher as both share the same crimes—theft, kidnapping, and a bum murder rap.
The villains in the series are as nasty as they come, from petty thieves to psychopathic blackmailers with city-wide organizations.
Steve Thatcher is a real hero, no matter which persona. He doesn’t hesitate to save Gil McEwen’s life or reputation when it’s needed. More than once he punishes the villains before the cops can manage it. Despite occasionally tipping his hat to the Moon Man in thanks, we know that McEwen will not hesitate to send the Moon Man to death house if he catches him.
Sue McEwen doesn’t know about Steve’s secret identity, at first. But when she’s caught up in a complex blackmailing scheme, she learns the truth. She comes to understand that the reason Steve has became the thief is to assist the poor and infirmed in ways a policeman can’t. She considers this a higher calling and loves Steve all the more for of it. Sue and “Angel” Dargan are often involved in the Moon Man’s adventures and together look out for Steve/the Moon Man when he gets too nobly reckless.
There isn’t much of the original art left available to see, unfortunately. According to Steeger Books it’s difficult to get good scans of the illustrations. There should have been at least 38 drawings in the original run. After a lot of research, I have only seen fifteen of the original print illustrations. However, in that small sample I have seen work by several different uncredited artists. The artwork appears to be done in either, pen & ink, pen & ink and China Marker on coquille board/paper, and scratchboard. The latter really surprised me as I haven’t seen too many examples of scratchboard in the interior art of the detective magazines.
The character is now in the public domain, which suggests some interesting opportunities to me. Frederick Davis is a tough act to follow but I plan to try my hand at writing a Moon Man story. I’ve already started the artwork and have created four new drawings in all, pen & ink and China Marker on coquille paper. In this case, the art seems to be dictating the story and not the other way around! Putting the illustrations together, I can already see several of the scenes and major plot points. I’ll let you know as the story develops.
I highly recommend this series. You can buy it in electronic format, complete or individual stories through Steeger Books and on Amazon. Steeger also sells the entire series, as does the Battered Silicon Dispatch Box.
This is the Rocketeer signing off for today.