The Avenger
Encyclopedia
The Avenger is a fictional character
whose original adventures appeared between September 1939 and September 1942 in the pulp magazine
The Avenger, published by Street and Smith Publications. Five additional short stories were published in Clues Detective magazine (1942–1943), and a sixth novelette
in The Shadow magazine in 1943. Newly-written adventures were commissioned and published by Warner Brother
's Paperback Library from 1973 to 1974. The Avenger was a pulp hero who combined elements of Doc Savage
and The Shadow
though he was never as popular as either of these characters.
The authorship of the pulp series was credited by Street and Smith to Kenneth Robeson
, the same byline that appeared on the Doc Savage
stories. The "Kenneth Robeson" name was a house pseudonym used by a number of different Street & Smith
writers. Most of the original Avenger stories were written by Paul Ernst
.
(In actual fact, the original 24 stories featuring The Avenger were the work of writer Paul Ernst
, Robeson being merely a house name used by a number of authors, including Lester Dent
, the true creator of Doc Savage.)
The first issue of The Avenger was cover-dated September 1939, and featured a cover story/'lead novel' entitled "Justice Inc.". Interior art was produced by Paul Orban, well-known to pulp fans for his "similar work on Doc Savage and The Shadow." The character of The Avenger, described by pulp expert Don Hutchison
as "clearly an effort to form a hybrid of the company's more successful creations" - echoed his forebears in other ways, also. Whereas Doc Savage was known as "The Man of Bronze," The Avenger was described as "The Man of Steel." The Avenger's "marksman's eyes" echoed the "burning eyes" of The Shadow, who continued to be referred to as 'The Masked Avenger.'
, The Spider
, G-8
, The Shadow
, Operator #5
[and] The Phantom
," while still the character "can perhaps be considered the last of the great pulp heroes," while his stories ran initially in his own magazine for 24 stories, first monthly and then bi-monthly in four volumes over exactly three years, ceasing in September 1942. The character was kept alive in Clues Detective for a further five short stories, and as a single tale written as a The Shadow back-up in 1944 by Emile Tepperman.
In Don Hutchison's estimation, The Avenger was following in big footsteps, and hamstrung by appearing too late in the day. Following the "instant justice" of The Shadow, the global stage of Doc Savage and other pulp heroes, The Avenger was, by 1939, "simply an unnecessary commodity." "Second best[,] he had tried harder... but the timing was all wrong." Ultimately, Hutchison concludes simply that:
, and was the subject of new short stories in 2008 from Moonstone Books
. (See below)
in South America; leading "native armies in Java
," making "aerial maps in the Congo
," mining "amethyst
s in Australia and emerald
s in Brazil" and finding gold in Alaska and diamonds in the Transvaal
." Following the pulp archetype
of a wealthy hero, despite an internal chronology making them (and Benson in particular) "children of the Great Depression
," The Avenger's backstory gave him the funding to ultimately "support [his] crime-fighting appurtenances."
Deciding to settle down and raise a family, the first Avenger adventure ("Justice, Inc.
"), Benson's plans for a peaceful life as a "world-renowned industrial engineer" are shattered when his wife (Alicia) and young daughter (Alice) are killed during an airplane journey. The shock of this loss has a bizarre effect on Benson. His face becomes paralyzed while both his skin and his hair turn white, his facial flesh becoming malleable, like clay. His face was thereafter (for the first dozen stories) regularly described (as in "The Smiling Dogs") as:
As a result of this tragedy, Benson vows to avenge himself on the villains, and to fight for all those who have suffered at the hands of criminals.
Don Hutchison suggests that "Benson's extreme personal misfortune was probably the strongest motivation accorded any of the great pulp heroes," stemming as it did from the death of his family and his own "death in life." The stories, by veteran pulp/magazine writer Paul Ernst "were well-plotted mysteries with mild science-fictional extrapolations" albeit often appearing somewhat subdued when compared to rival publications such as The Spider and Operator #5. Benson was "the master of the last-minute escape," cool and intellectual, mentally "the equal of Doc Savage" but otherwise "an average-sized man." The plastic, malleable state of his otherwize unexpressive features allowed the character to reshape his facial features into a likeness of any person, his features remaining in sculpted form "until they were carefully put back into place." This ability, coupled with hair dyes and colored contact lenses, earned him the sobriquet "The Man of a Thousand Faces."
The thirteenth issue, "Murder On Wheels," saw the introduction of the last major recurring character, Cole Wilson. Initially an opponent of The Avenger (before joining Justice, Inc. in the same issue), Wilson trapped The Avenger in a machine which "provided a nerve shock of a different sort," turning Benson's flesh back to normal and his hair black. Although The Avenger still disguised himself after this, he could no longer mold his now normal flesh. Three stories -- "Nevlo" (#17), "House of Death" (#15) and "Death in Slow Motion" (#18) -- had been written by Ernst prior to this radical shift in character, and underwent rewrites before seeing publication. Although the original texts would place these three stories chronologically earlier than #13, the rewrites serve to fit them into the timelines as published (although some slight original traces remain under the heavy-handed later insertions). Often dismissed as a late addition to the stories, Cole Wilson was to play a greater part in the last dozen books written by Ron Goulart
.
Like Doc Savage
, Benson relies on a variety of special gadget
s to help him overcome criminals. These include knockout gas bombs, miniature
two-way radio
s, a woven, transparent bullet-proof garment and "glass pellets containing a gas... [which] instantly [spread] a black impenetrable pall like instant night," also accessible through a stud on Benson's collar.
His car rivalled those of the later James Bond
series, "being a rather dull 1935 model" capable of speeds up to 130 mph (unheard of at the time), "bullet-proofed throughout and equipped with devices and special little inventions for offence and defence," including automatic bullet-proofed windows and "miniature torpedo
es of potent knock-out gas."
The Avenger also carried a pair of weapons "strapped in slim sheaths on [his] right and left calf" - his specially streamlined and silenced .22 revolver ("Mike") and a needle-pointed throwing knife
("Ike"). Using these customized tools, Benson could shoot someone so that his bullet just touched their heads and knocked them out, or "hit a fly-speck from twenty feet."
and published in The Avenger magazine. The first thirteen stories are believed to have been published in the order in which they were written. After the considerable changes introduced in Murder on Wheels (Nov. 1940), three earlier-written stories were reworked by Street & Smith's editors to realign them to the new status quo. Since they were reworked, the stories nevertheless follow internal chronoloy as well publication order.
The first two Volumes appeared monthly (with the exception of the twelfth issue), and featured covers by H. W. Scott. Volumes III and IV were covered in artwork by "Graves Gladney, Lenosci and Leslie Ross."
Note: Numbers in parentheses denote Street & Smiths publication order.
Note: Numbers in parentheses denote Street & Smiths publication order.
to produce a further dozen titles. These fit chronologically after the six stories by Tepperman, but are numbered by Warner starting from #25.
Note: Numbers in parentheses denote Warner Paperback Librarys designation.
) have produced a number of prose and comic books based on licenced pulp, detective and other characters, beginning with The Phantom
. In 2008, a prose anthology (available in paperback and limited edition hardback) was released containing new stories featuring The Avenger, with covers by Dave Dorman
, 1970s paperback cover artist Peter Caras
, and a Limited Edition cover by Douglas Klauba. The anthology was edited by Joe Gentile
and Howard Hopkins, and featured numerous stories by authors including Gentile, Hopkins, Ron Goulart
, Will Murray, Win Scott Eckert
, Richard Dean Starr
, Tom DeFalco
, Paul Kupperberg
, Mel Odom, and others.
Continuing on from the 24 Ernst-written stories, Warner commissioned writer Ron Goulart
to write an additional 12 tales for this format, eschewing Tepperman's short-stories in favor of new book-length tales. The covers for the paperback series were initially painted by Peter Caras
and later by George Gross.
In 2009, Sanctum Productions began reprinting the original pulps in near-replica editions. Each issue reprints two stories and contains the original interior illustrations from the pulps as well as the original covers on the front and back. This is similar to their current reprint series of Doc Savage
and the Shadow. Because of the internal chronology of the stories, they will be reprinted in order.
as a part of his Wold Newton family
, and in an essay published in Myths for the Modern Age: Philip José Farmer's Wold Newton Universe (MonkeyBrain Books
, 2005), Chuck Loridans contributes an article entitled "The Daughters of Greystoke" wherein he constructs a family tree linking Nellie Gray to Tarzan
and Jane Porter
.
In 2008, Moonstone Books
produced the first The Avenger anthology, featuring stories written by a number of pulp fans and writers - including Goulart and Myths for the Modern Age editor Win Scott Eckert
.
character, beginning in the 1940s in Street & Smith's own Shadow Comics, but none (to date) have proved particularly successful.
In 1975, DC Comics
published a comic called Justice, Inc. which starred the Avenger. This was during the time they were also publishing The Shadow
. The Avenger also appeared in issues #11 of the Shadow. The first two issues were based on stories from the pulp magazine. Issues #2-4 were drawn by Jack Kirby
(as were the covers to issues #2 and #3). The comic only lasted 4 issues.
In the 1980s, when DC Comics
was again doing "The Shadow", an 'updated' version of the Avenger showed up briefly. In 1989, DC released a two-issue miniseries, in 52-page prestige format, written by Andy Helfer
and pencilled and inked by Kyle Baker
, titled Justice, Inc.. The mini-series revealed the 'truth' behind the Avenger's origin.
In November 2009 The Avenger will be shown in the series The First Wave
spun off from the Batman
/Doc Savage
Special. He has a backup series in the new Doc Savage comic, written by award-winning thriller author Jason Starr
, however, several alterations have been made to his aides and to Justice, Inc. The series ran in Doc Savage #1-9, plus starring in the First Wave Special.
From July 18, 1941 to November 3, 1942 the pulp novel Avenger was on the air in a series based on the magazine —- pretty directly based, as a number of episodes are somewhat faithful adaptations of the pulp stories.
MUSIC: (ORGAN) AVENGER HUM WITH CODE
BENSON: Enemies of Justice…This is The Avenger!
MUSIC: UP WITH THEME, THEN SEGUE TO MOOD (KEEP IN BACKGROUND)
BENSON: You who operate beyond the Law… you who seek to wreck the peace of America… BEWARE! I shall crush your power, destroy the vultures who prey upon the innocent and the unsuspecting. I…AM…THE AVENGER!
MUSIC: UP WITH THEME, THEN SEGUE TO MOOD (KEEP IN BACKGROUND)
(From The Avenger, airdate: Tuesday, September 9, 1941 9:30-10:00 pm.)
The Avenger originated from Long Island, NY-based station WHN and was broadcast over a time-span of 62 weeks. It also seems to have aired on many stations across the United States as a transcription series. The 62 weeks refer only to the period during which the program aired, not the number of shows. There were apparently a number of preemptions, due to coverage of sporting events. Most likely, the series consisted of a then standard run of 26 half-hour episodes (plus repeats). Unfortunately, despite the fact that the program was recorded for syndication, the only remaining artifacts of the show are seven scripts.
All of these are from the first nine weeks of the show, one of which is an original script entitled Tear Drop Tank. The others are The Hate Master, River of Ice, Three Gold Crowns, The Blood Ring, The Devil’s Horns, and The Avenger. All are based on the magazine novels of the same name, with the exception of The Avenger, which is based on the second adventure, The Yellow Hoard. None of the scripts mentions the production crew or cast—-in fact, the first three surviving scripts do not even list the authors.
The final four remaining scripts (judging by the airdates listed) were all written by Maurice Joachim. Maurice Joachim was an actor and radio scriptwriter, who wrote episodes of the 1940s WMCA-produced Doc Savage series. It’s quite likely he also acted on the Avenger, as he was reputed to be a highly versatile actor -– in the mid-1930s he hosted the Majestic Master of Mystery program, and played all the parts himself. Only Joachim and the organist were credited in the script, which had the announcer give the credit “with original music by Dick Ballou”.
These directions specified a Morse Code motif for the music, which was echoed in the sound effects. In the scripts earliest scripts, the "Avenger Hum" is mentioned within the episodes, as in them the impression is given that the Richard Benson has a radio unit surgically implanted inside him, and thus his entrances are heralded by a carrier wave tone. This somewhat unsettling idea is dropped at some point in the series, with the novels' compact belt radios used instead.
The surviving scripts do not include the African American characters, Josuah and Rosable Newton, or the young Cole Wilson.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
whose original adventures appeared between September 1939 and September 1942 in the pulp magazine
Pulp magazine
Pulp magazines , also collectively known as pulp fiction, refers to inexpensive fiction magazines published from 1896 through the 1950s. The typical pulp magazine was seven inches wide by ten inches high, half an inch thick, and 128 pages long...
The Avenger, published by Street and Smith Publications. Five additional short stories were published in Clues Detective magazine (1942–1943), and a sixth novelette
Novelette
A novelette is a piece of short prose fiction. The distinction between a novelette and other literary forms is usually based upon word count, with a novelette being longer than a short story, but shorter than a novella...
in The Shadow magazine in 1943. Newly-written adventures were commissioned and published by Warner Brother
Time Warner
Time Warner is one of the world's largest media companies, headquartered in the Time Warner Center in New York City. Formerly two separate companies, Warner Communications, Inc...
's Paperback Library from 1973 to 1974. The Avenger was a pulp hero who combined elements of Doc Savage
Doc Savage
Doc Savage is a fictional character originally published in American pulp magazines during the 1930s and 1940s. He was created by publisher Henry W. Ralston and editor John L...
and The Shadow
The Shadow
The Shadow is a collection of serialized dramas, originally in pulp magazines, then on 1930s radio and then in a wide variety of media, that follow the exploits of the title character, a crime-fighting vigilante in the pulps, which carried over to the airwaves as a "wealthy, young man about town"...
though he was never as popular as either of these characters.
The authorship of the pulp series was credited by Street and Smith to Kenneth Robeson
Kenneth Robeson
Kenneth Robeson was the house name used by Street and Smith Publications as the author of their popular character Doc Savage and later The Avenger. Many authors wrote under this name, though most Doc Savage stories were written by the author Lester Dent:...
, the same byline that appeared on the Doc Savage
Doc Savage
Doc Savage is a fictional character originally published in American pulp magazines during the 1930s and 1940s. He was created by publisher Henry W. Ralston and editor John L...
stories. The "Kenneth Robeson" name was a house pseudonym used by a number of different Street & Smith
Street & Smith
Street & Smith or Street & Smith Publications, Inc. was a New York City publisher specializing in inexpensive paperbacks and magazines referred to as pulp fiction and dime novels. They also published comic books and sporting yearbooks...
writers. Most of the original Avenger stories were written by Paul Ernst
Paul Ernst (Avenger writer)
Paul Frederick Ernst was an American pulp fiction writer. He is best known as the author of the original 24 "Avenger" novels, published by Street and Smith Publications under the house name Kenneth Robeson.-Biography:Paul Ernst was born between 1899 and 1902, and "[took] up fiction writing in his...
.
History
Following in the wake of a slew of cancellations (The Skipper, Bill Barnes and The Whisperer "had failed to capture the audience loyalty" of Doc Savage and The Shadow), in 1939, readers of Street & Smith's Doc Savage pulp magazine "thrilled to a special announcement" that a new periodical - The Avenger "was soon to be published," and would feature stories:- "written by none other than Kenneth RobesonKenneth RobesonKenneth Robeson was the house name used by Street and Smith Publications as the author of their popular character Doc Savage and later The Avenger. Many authors wrote under this name, though most Doc Savage stories were written by the author Lester Dent:...
, 'the familiar creator of Doc Savage.'"
(In actual fact, the original 24 stories featuring The Avenger were the work of writer Paul Ernst
Paul Ernst (Avenger writer)
Paul Frederick Ernst was an American pulp fiction writer. He is best known as the author of the original 24 "Avenger" novels, published by Street and Smith Publications under the house name Kenneth Robeson.-Biography:Paul Ernst was born between 1899 and 1902, and "[took] up fiction writing in his...
, Robeson being merely a house name used by a number of authors, including Lester Dent
Lester Dent
Lester Dent was a prolific pulp fiction author, best known as the creator and main author of the series of novels about the superhuman scientist and adventurer, Doc Savage. The 159 novels written over 16 years were credited to the house name Kenneth Robeson.-Early years:Dent was born in 1904 in...
, the true creator of Doc Savage.)
The first issue of The Avenger was cover-dated September 1939, and featured a cover story/'lead novel' entitled "Justice Inc.". Interior art was produced by Paul Orban, well-known to pulp fans for his "similar work on Doc Savage and The Shadow." The character of The Avenger, described by pulp expert Don Hutchison
Don Hutchison
Donald Hutchison is a Scottish ex-footballer who generally played in midfield but sometimes as a forward. He was a much travelled player with spells at both Liverpool and Everton as well as Sheffield United, Sunderland and West Ham United twice...
as "clearly an effort to form a hybrid of the company's more successful creations" - echoed his forebears in other ways, also. Whereas Doc Savage was known as "The Man of Bronze," The Avenger was described as "The Man of Steel." The Avenger's "marksman's eyes" echoed the "burning eyes" of The Shadow, who continued to be referred to as 'The Masked Avenger.'
Pulp demise
Describing the stories as "well-plotted" with good characterization and "an unusual amount of attention paid to detail," Hutchison notes that as a derivative character, The Avenger was destined not to be as popular as his original rivals: "Doc SavageDoc Savage
Doc Savage is a fictional character originally published in American pulp magazines during the 1930s and 1940s. He was created by publisher Henry W. Ralston and editor John L...
, The Spider
The Spider
The Spider was one of the major pulp magazine heroes of the 1930s and 1940s.- Background :The Spider was created by Harry Steeger at Popular Publications in 1933 as competition to Street and Smith Publications' vigilante hero, The Shadow...
, G-8
G-8 (character)
G-8 was a heroic aviator and spy during World War I in pulp fiction. He starred in his own title G-8 and His Battle Aces, published by Popular Publications. All stories were written by Robert J. Hogan, under his own name. The title lasted 110 issues, from October 1933 to June 1944...
, The Shadow
The Shadow
The Shadow is a collection of serialized dramas, originally in pulp magazines, then on 1930s radio and then in a wide variety of media, that follow the exploits of the title character, a crime-fighting vigilante in the pulps, which carried over to the airwaves as a "wealthy, young man about town"...
, Operator #5
Operator No. 5
Operator #5 was a pulp hero that appeared in his own ten cent pulp magazine. It was soon renamed Secret Service Operator #5 and was published by Popular Publications between 1934 and 1939.-Characters:...
[and] The Phantom
The Phantom Detective
The Phantom Detective was the second pulp hero character published, after The Shadow. The first issue was released in February of 1933, a month before Doc Savage, which was released in March of 1933. The title continued to be released until 1953, with a total 170 issues...
," while still the character "can perhaps be considered the last of the great pulp heroes," while his stories ran initially in his own magazine for 24 stories, first monthly and then bi-monthly in four volumes over exactly three years, ceasing in September 1942. The character was kept alive in Clues Detective for a further five short stories, and as a single tale written as a The Shadow back-up in 1944 by Emile Tepperman.
In Don Hutchison's estimation, The Avenger was following in big footsteps, and hamstrung by appearing too late in the day. Following the "instant justice" of The Shadow, the global stage of Doc Savage and other pulp heroes, The Avenger was, by 1939, "simply an unnecessary commodity." "Second best[,] he had tried harder... but the timing was all wrong." Ultimately, Hutchison concludes simply that:
Revivals
Nevertheless, the character was revived in the 1970s by Warner Paperback Library, given a brief lease of life by DC ComicsDC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
, and was the subject of new short stories in 2008 from Moonstone Books
Moonstone Books
Moonstone Books is an American comic book, graphic novel, and prose fiction publisher based in Chicago focused on pulp fiction comic books and prose anthologies as well as horror and western tales....
. (See below)
Origins
The Avenger's real name is Richard Henry Benson, a globe-trotting adventurer who "had made his millions by professional adventuring," discovering rubberRubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
in South America; leading "native armies in Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
," making "aerial maps in the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
," mining "amethyst
Amethyst
Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz often used in jewelry. The name comes from the Ancient Greek ἀ a- and μέθυστος methustos , a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness; the ancient Greeks and Romans wore amethyst and made drinking vessels of it in the belief...
s in Australia and emerald
Emerald
Emerald is a variety of the mineral beryl colored green by trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium. Beryl has a hardness of 7.5–8 on the 10 point Mohs scale of mineral hardness...
s in Brazil" and finding gold in Alaska and diamonds in the Transvaal
Transvaal Province
Transvaal Province was a province of the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1961, and of its successor, the Republic of South Africa, from 1961 until the end of apartheid in 1994 when a new constitution subdivided it.-History:...
." Following the pulp archetype
Archetype
An archetype is a universally understood symbol or term or pattern of behavior, a prototype upon which others are copied, patterned, or emulated...
of a wealthy hero, despite an internal chronology making them (and Benson in particular) "children of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
," The Avenger's backstory gave him the funding to ultimately "support [his] crime-fighting appurtenances."
Deciding to settle down and raise a family, the first Avenger adventure ("Justice, Inc.
Justice, Inc.
"Justice, Inc." is the first pulp magazine story to feature The Avenger. Written by Paul Ernst, it was published in the September 1, 1939 issue of "The Avenger” magazine.-Publishing history:...
"), Benson's plans for a peaceful life as a "world-renowned industrial engineer" are shattered when his wife (Alicia) and young daughter (Alice) are killed during an airplane journey. The shock of this loss has a bizarre effect on Benson. His face becomes paralyzed while both his skin and his hair turn white, his facial flesh becoming malleable, like clay. His face was thereafter (for the first dozen stories) regularly described (as in "The Smiling Dogs") as:
As a result of this tragedy, Benson vows to avenge himself on the villains, and to fight for all those who have suffered at the hands of criminals.
Don Hutchison suggests that "Benson's extreme personal misfortune was probably the strongest motivation accorded any of the great pulp heroes," stemming as it did from the death of his family and his own "death in life." The stories, by veteran pulp/magazine writer Paul Ernst "were well-plotted mysteries with mild science-fictional extrapolations" albeit often appearing somewhat subdued when compared to rival publications such as The Spider and Operator #5. Benson was "the master of the last-minute escape," cool and intellectual, mentally "the equal of Doc Savage" but otherwise "an average-sized man." The plastic, malleable state of his otherwize unexpressive features allowed the character to reshape his facial features into a likeness of any person, his features remaining in sculpted form "until they were carefully put back into place." This ability, coupled with hair dyes and colored contact lenses, earned him the sobriquet "The Man of a Thousand Faces."
A new face
After twelve issues, Ernst was directed editorially to eliminate Benson's facial affliction in the hopes that this would bolster the dwindling audience for the magazine. Thus the second "distinct era" of The Avenger began with the first issue of the now-bi-monthly third Volume, just over a year after the magazines debut.The thirteenth issue, "Murder On Wheels," saw the introduction of the last major recurring character, Cole Wilson. Initially an opponent of The Avenger (before joining Justice, Inc. in the same issue), Wilson trapped The Avenger in a machine which "provided a nerve shock of a different sort," turning Benson's flesh back to normal and his hair black. Although The Avenger still disguised himself after this, he could no longer mold his now normal flesh. Three stories -- "Nevlo" (#17), "House of Death" (#15) and "Death in Slow Motion" (#18) -- had been written by Ernst prior to this radical shift in character, and underwent rewrites before seeing publication. Although the original texts would place these three stories chronologically earlier than #13, the rewrites serve to fit them into the timelines as published (although some slight original traces remain under the heavy-handed later insertions). Often dismissed as a late addition to the stories, Cole Wilson was to play a greater part in the last dozen books written by Ron Goulart
Ron Goulart
Ron Goulart is an American popular culture historian and mystery, fantasy and science fiction author.The prolific Goulart wrote many novelizations and other routine work under various pseudonyms: Kenneth Robeson , Con Steffanson , Chad Calhoun, R.T...
.
Gadgets
The Avenger far preferred trapping criminals into "destroy[ing] themselves in traps of their own devising" than killing them himself, allowing writer Ernst to create considerably elaborate plots.Like Doc Savage
Doc Savage
Doc Savage is a fictional character originally published in American pulp magazines during the 1930s and 1940s. He was created by publisher Henry W. Ralston and editor John L...
, Benson relies on a variety of special gadget
Gadget
A gadget is a small technological object that has a particular function, but is often thought of as a novelty. Gadgets are invariably considered to be more unusually or cleverly designed than normal technological objects at the time of their invention...
s to help him overcome criminals. These include knockout gas bombs, miniature
Miniaturization
Miniaturization is the creation of ever-smaller scales for mechanical, optical, and electronic products and devices...
two-way radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
s, a woven, transparent bullet-proof garment and "glass pellets containing a gas... [which] instantly [spread] a black impenetrable pall like instant night," also accessible through a stud on Benson's collar.
His car rivalled those of the later James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
series, "being a rather dull 1935 model" capable of speeds up to 130 mph (unheard of at the time), "bullet-proofed throughout and equipped with devices and special little inventions for offence and defence," including automatic bullet-proofed windows and "miniature torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
es of potent knock-out gas."
The Avenger also carried a pair of weapons "strapped in slim sheaths on [his] right and left calf" - his specially streamlined and silenced .22 revolver ("Mike") and a needle-pointed throwing knife
Throwing knife
Throwing knives are knives that are specially designed and weighted so that they can be thrown effectively. They are a distinct category from ordinary knives....
("Ike"). Using these customized tools, Benson could shoot someone so that his bullet just touched their heads and knocked them out, or "hit a fly-speck from twenty feet."
Assistants
Like Doc Savage before him, Benson rarely underwent his adventures alone, gathering a number of assistants to help him. His small band, known as "Justice Inc." was made up of people who had all been "irreparably damaged by crime," and who have specialized skills:- Fergus "Mac" MacMurdie ("Justice Inc.") is a stereotypically dour Scotsman who is also a gifted pharmacist and chemist. His family was killed by racketeers, leaving Mac embittered, vengeful and "indifferent to the threat of... death."
- Algernon Heathcote "Smitty" Smith ("Justice Inc.") is a gigantic man (6' 9") of incredible strength. Smitty looks slow and stupid but he is actually a genius with electronics. He was framed - and spent a year in jail - for a crime he did not commit, and initially attacked Benson believing The Avenger was out to arrest him.
- Nellie Gray ("The Yellow Hoard"), "the Emma PeelEmma PeelEmma Peel was a fictional spy played by Diana Rigg in the British 1960s adventure television series The Avengers. She was born Emma Knight, the daughter of an industrialist, Sir John Knight.-Casting:...
of her day" is a beautiful, delicate-looking young woman who is actually an expert at jujutsuJujutsuJujutsu , also known as jujitsu, ju-jitsu, or Japanese jiu-jitsu, is a Japanese martial art and a method of close combat for defeating an armed and armored opponent in which one uses no weapon, or only a short weapon....
and other martial artsMartial artsMartial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
. Her archaeologist father was killed by criminals for the buried AztecAztecThe Aztec people were certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who dominated large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, a period referred to as the late post-classic period in Mesoamerican chronology.Aztec is the...
gold he had found. After his murder was solved by Benson's Justice Inc., the treasure "became the equivalent of Doc Savage's hoard of inexhaustible Mayan gold." - Josh and Rosabel Newton ("The Sky Walker") are an African AmericanAfrican AmericanAfrican Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
couple whose employers were killed by criminals. They often go undercover as domestic servants, making use of the stereotypes of the time to hide their investigative abilities, in "an ironic comment on the image... in the films and fiction of the day." Both are graduates of the Tuskegee Institute (now University), and the couple have children later in the series. (The Avenger series is notable its presentation of minorities, and while many of the pulp magazines of the time are well known for racist stereotypeStereotypeA stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
s, but Josh and Rosabel are always presented as brave, intelligent people of good character.) - Cole Wilson joins the group near the middle of the series. He is much less distinctive than Benson's other assistants and has a light hearted manner that contrasts the Avenger's serious tone, described as having "a streak of Robin HoodRobin HoodRobin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
in him."
The Avenger (1939-1942)
Novels written by Paul ErnstPaul Ernst (Avenger writer)
Paul Frederick Ernst was an American pulp fiction writer. He is best known as the author of the original 24 "Avenger" novels, published by Street and Smith Publications under the house name Kenneth Robeson.-Biography:Paul Ernst was born between 1899 and 1902, and "[took] up fiction writing in his...
and published in The Avenger magazine. The first thirteen stories are believed to have been published in the order in which they were written. After the considerable changes introduced in Murder on Wheels (Nov. 1940), three earlier-written stories were reworked by Street & Smith's editors to realign them to the new status quo. Since they were reworked, the stories nevertheless follow internal chronoloy as well publication order.
The first two Volumes appeared monthly (with the exception of the twelfth issue), and featured covers by H. W. Scott. Volumes III and IV were covered in artwork by "Graves Gladney, Lenosci and Leslie Ross."
- Volume I
- 1. Justice, Inc.Justice, Inc."Justice, Inc." is the first pulp magazine story to feature The Avenger. Written by Paul Ernst, it was published in the September 1, 1939 issue of "The Avenger” magazine.-Publishing history:...
, published September 1, 1939 - 2. The Yellow HoardThe Yellow Hoard"The Yellow Hoard" is the 2nd pulp magazine story to feature The Avenger. Written by Paul Ernst, it was published in the October 1, 1939 issue of "The Avenger” magazine.-Publishing history:...
, published October 1, 1939 - 3. The Sky WalkerThe Sky Walker"The Sky Walker" is the 3rd pulp magazine story to feature The Avenger. Written by Paul Ernst, it was published in the November 1, 1939 issue of "The Avenger” magazine.-Publishing history:...
, published November 1, 1939 - 4. The Devil's Horns, published December 1, 1939
- 5. The Frosted DeathThe Frosted Death"The Frosted Death" is the 5th pulp magazine story to feature The Avenger. Written by Paul Ernst, it was published in the January 1, 1940 issue of "The Avenger" magazine.-Publishing history:...
, published January 1, 1940 - 6. The Blood RingThe Blood Ring"The Blood Ring" is the 7th pulp magazine story to feature The Avenger. Written by Paul Ernst, it was published in the March 1, 1940 issue of The Avenger magazine. This novel was re-published under its original title by Paperback Library on November 1, 1972.-Summary:Egyptian artifacts intended...
, published February 1, 1940
- 1. Justice, Inc.
- Volume II
- 7. Stockholders in DeathStockholders in Death"Stockholders in Death" is the 8th pulp magazine story to feature The Avenger. Written by Paul Ernst, it was published in the April 1, 1940 issue of “The Avenger” magazine...
, published March 1, 1940 - 8. The Glass Mountain, published April 1, 1940
- 9. Tuned for MurderTuned for Murder"Tuned for Murder" is the 9th pulp magazine story to feature The Avenger. Written by Paul Ernst, it was published in the May 1, 1940 issue of "The Avenger” magazine.-Publishing history:...
, published May 1, 1940 - 10. The Smiling DogsThe Smiling Dogs"The Smiling Dogs" is the 10th pulp magazine story to feature The Avenger. Written by Paul Ernst, it was published in the June 1, 1940 issue of The Avenger magazine.-Publishing history:...
, published June 1, 1940 - 11. River of IceRiver of Ice"The River of Ice" is the 11th pulp magazine story to feature The Avenger. Written by Paul Ernst, it was published in the July 1, 1940 issue of "The Avenger” magazine.-Publishing history:...
, published July 1, 1940 - 12. The Flame BreathersThe Flame Breathers"The Flame Breathers" is the 12th pulp magazine story to feature The Avenger. Written by Paul Ernst, it was published in the September 1, 1940 issue of "The Avenger” magazine...
, published September 1, 1940
- 7. Stockholders in Death
- Volume III
- 13. Murder on WheelsMurder on Wheels"Murder on Wheels" is the 13th pulp magazine story to feature The Avenger. Written by Paul Ernst, it was published in the November 1, 1940 issue of "The Avenger” magazine.-Publishing history:...
, published November 1, 1940 - 14. Three Gold Crowns, published January 1, 1941
- 15. House of Death, published March 1, 1941
- 16. The Hate Master, published May 15, 1941
- 17. Nevlo, published July 1, 1941
- 18. Death in Slow Motion, published September 1, 1941
- 13. Murder on Wheels
- Volume IV
- 19. Pictures of Death, published November 1, 1941
- 20. The Green Killer, published January 1, 1942
- 21. The Happy Killers, published March 1, 1942
- 22. The Black Death, published May 1, 1942
- 23. The Wilder Curse, published July 1, 1942
- 24. Midnight Murder, published September 1, 1942
Clues Detective (1942-1943)
Short stories written by Emile C. Tepperman and published in Clues Detective magazine. Internal dates and references lead most experts to adjust the numbering on Tepperman's short stories, hence the non-sequential numbering.Note: Numbers in parentheses denote Street & Smiths publication order.
-
- 25. Death to the Avenger, published September 1, 1942
- 30. (26) A Coffin for the Avenger, published November 1, 1942
- 26. (27) Vengeance on the Avenger, published January 1, 1943
- 29. (28) Calling Justice, Inc.!, published March 1, 1943
- 27. (29) Cargo of Doom, published May 1, 1943
The Shadow (1944)
Short story written by Emile C. Tepperman and published in The Shadow magazine, 1944.Note: Numbers in parentheses denote Street & Smiths publication order.
-
- 28. (30) To Find a Dead Man, published August 1, 1944
Warner Paperback Library (1972-1975)
In 1972, Warner Paperback Library reprinted most of the Avenger novels in a series of paperback editions, all credited to Kenneth Robeson. After reprinting the 24 original novels (by Ernst), Warner ignored the short stories of Tepperman, and instead commissioned Ron GoulartRon Goulart
Ron Goulart is an American popular culture historian and mystery, fantasy and science fiction author.The prolific Goulart wrote many novelizations and other routine work under various pseudonyms: Kenneth Robeson , Con Steffanson , Chad Calhoun, R.T...
to produce a further dozen titles. These fit chronologically after the six stories by Tepperman, but are numbered by Warner starting from #25.
Note: Numbers in parentheses denote Warner Paperback Librarys designation.
-
- 31. (25) The Man from Atlantis, published June 1, 1974
- 32. (26) Red Moon, published July 1, 1974
- 33. (27) The Purple Zombie, published August 1, 1974
- 34. (28) Dr. Time, published September 1, 1974
- 35. (29) The Nightwitch Devil, published October 1, 1974
- 36. (30) Black Chariots, published November 1, 1974
- 37. (31) The Cartoon Crimes, published December 1, 1974
- 38. (32) The Death Machine, published January 1, 1975
- 39. (33) The Blood Countess, published February 1, 1975
- 40. (34) The Glass Man, published March 1, 1975
- 41. (35) The Iron Skull, published April 1, 1975
- 42. (36) Demon Island, published May 1, 1975
Moonstone Books (2008 - )
Beginning in the early 2000s, Moonstone Books (under editor/publisher Joe GentileJoe Gentile
Joe Gentile is an American author, editor and the founder of Moonstone Books, a Chicago publishing house. He is also known as a comic book writer and author.-Personal life:Gentile was born in Chicago Heights, Illinois...
) have produced a number of prose and comic books based on licenced pulp, detective and other characters, beginning with The Phantom
The Phantom
The Phantom is an American adventure comic strip created by Lee Falk, also creator of Mandrake the Magician. A popular feature adapted into many media, including television, film and video games, it stars a costumed crimefighter operating from the fictional African country Bengalla.The Phantom is...
. In 2008, a prose anthology (available in paperback and limited edition hardback) was released containing new stories featuring The Avenger, with covers by Dave Dorman
Dave Dorman
Dave Dorman is a science fiction, horror and fantasy illustrator.-Background:Dorman's parents are Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Jack N. Dorman and Phyllis Dorman. Both parents are deceased. Dorman is married to award-winning TV/video producer, writer and publicist Denise Dorman of WriteBrain Media...
, 1970s paperback cover artist Peter Caras
Peter Caras
Peter Caras is an illustrator. He studied at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and the Art Students League of New York and was instructed by Frank Reilley, James Bama and Norman Rockwell. He is the creator of over 1,700 book and magazine covers.-References:*...
, and a Limited Edition cover by Douglas Klauba. The anthology was edited by Joe Gentile
Joe Gentile
Joe Gentile is an American author, editor and the founder of Moonstone Books, a Chicago publishing house. He is also known as a comic book writer and author.-Personal life:Gentile was born in Chicago Heights, Illinois...
and Howard Hopkins, and featured numerous stories by authors including Gentile, Hopkins, Ron Goulart
Ron Goulart
Ron Goulart is an American popular culture historian and mystery, fantasy and science fiction author.The prolific Goulart wrote many novelizations and other routine work under various pseudonyms: Kenneth Robeson , Con Steffanson , Chad Calhoun, R.T...
, Will Murray, Win Scott Eckert
Win Scott Eckert
Win Scott Eckert is an author and editor, best known for his work on the literary-crossover Wold Newton Universe, created by author Philip José Farmer, but much expanded-upon subsequently by Eckert and others. He holds a B.A...
, Richard Dean Starr
Richard Dean Starr
*Richard Starr redirects here, not to be confused with Richard StarkeyRichard Dean Starr is an American entrepreneur, editor, and author of fiction and graphic novels whose work has featured characters including Hellboy, Zorro, The Phantom, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, The Avenger, The Green...
, Tom DeFalco
Tom DeFalco
Tom DeFalco is an American comics writer and editor, well known for his association with Marvel Comics and in particular for his work with Spider-Man.-Career:...
, Paul Kupperberg
Paul Kupperberg
Paul Kupperberg is a former editor for DC Comics, and a prolific writer of comic books and newspaper strips.-Biography:Kupperberg entered the comics field from comics fandom, as had his brother, writer/artist Alan Kupperberg...
, Mel Odom, and others.
-
- nn. The Avenger Chronicles, published October 2008
Reprints
Following the original 24 novel-length stories by Paul Ernst, and the half-dozen continuations by Emile C. Tepperman (all under the "Kenneth Robeson" pseudonym) in the 1940s, thirty years later, Warner Paperback Library reprinted the first twenty-four stories in a paperback format similar to Bantam Books' successful Doc Savage library.Continuing on from the 24 Ernst-written stories, Warner commissioned writer Ron Goulart
Ron Goulart
Ron Goulart is an American popular culture historian and mystery, fantasy and science fiction author.The prolific Goulart wrote many novelizations and other routine work under various pseudonyms: Kenneth Robeson , Con Steffanson , Chad Calhoun, R.T...
to write an additional 12 tales for this format, eschewing Tepperman's short-stories in favor of new book-length tales. The covers for the paperback series were initially painted by Peter Caras
Peter Caras
Peter Caras is an illustrator. He studied at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and the Art Students League of New York and was instructed by Frank Reilley, James Bama and Norman Rockwell. He is the creator of over 1,700 book and magazine covers.-References:*...
and later by George Gross.
In 2009, Sanctum Productions began reprinting the original pulps in near-replica editions. Each issue reprints two stories and contains the original interior illustrations from the pulps as well as the original covers on the front and back. This is similar to their current reprint series of Doc Savage
Doc Savage
Doc Savage is a fictional character originally published in American pulp magazines during the 1930s and 1940s. He was created by publisher Henry W. Ralston and editor John L...
and the Shadow. Because of the internal chronology of the stories, they will be reprinted in order.
Continations, extrapolations
The Avenger is mentioned by author Philip José FarmerPhilip José Farmer
Philip José Farmer was an American author, principally known for his award-winning science fiction and fantasy novels and short stories....
as a part of his Wold Newton family
Wold Newton family
The Wold Newton family is a literary concept derived from a form of crossover fiction developed by the science fiction writer Philip José Farmer...
, and in an essay published in Myths for the Modern Age: Philip José Farmer's Wold Newton Universe (MonkeyBrain Books
MonkeyBrain Books
MonkeyBrain Books is an independent American publishing house based in Austin, Texas, specialising in books comprising both new content and reprinting online, international or out-of-print content, which show "an academic interest," but which "reach a popular audience as well."-A brief history of...
, 2005), Chuck Loridans contributes an article entitled "The Daughters of Greystoke" wherein he constructs a family tree linking Nellie Gray to Tarzan
Tarzan
Tarzan is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungles by the Mangani "great apes"; he later experiences civilization only to largely reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer...
and Jane Porter
Jane Porter
Jane Porter was a Scottish historical novelist and dramatist.-Life and work:Jane Porter was an avid reader. Said to rise at four in the morning in order to read and write, she read the whole of Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene while still a child...
.
In 2008, Moonstone Books
Moonstone Books
Moonstone Books is an American comic book, graphic novel, and prose fiction publisher based in Chicago focused on pulp fiction comic books and prose anthologies as well as horror and western tales....
produced the first The Avenger anthology, featuring stories written by a number of pulp fans and writers - including Goulart and Myths for the Modern Age editor Win Scott Eckert
Win Scott Eckert
Win Scott Eckert is an author and editor, best known for his work on the literary-crossover Wold Newton Universe, created by author Philip José Farmer, but much expanded-upon subsequently by Eckert and others. He holds a B.A...
.
Comics
There have also been a couple of attempts to revive the Avenger as a comic bookComic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
character, beginning in the 1940s in Street & Smith's own Shadow Comics, but none (to date) have proved particularly successful.
In 1975, DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
published a comic called Justice, Inc. which starred the Avenger. This was during the time they were also publishing The Shadow
The Shadow
The Shadow is a collection of serialized dramas, originally in pulp magazines, then on 1930s radio and then in a wide variety of media, that follow the exploits of the title character, a crime-fighting vigilante in the pulps, which carried over to the airwaves as a "wealthy, young man about town"...
. The Avenger also appeared in issues #11 of the Shadow. The first two issues were based on stories from the pulp magazine. Issues #2-4 were drawn by Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
(as were the covers to issues #2 and #3). The comic only lasted 4 issues.
In the 1980s, when DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
was again doing "The Shadow", an 'updated' version of the Avenger showed up briefly. In 1989, DC released a two-issue miniseries, in 52-page prestige format, written by Andy Helfer
Andy Helfer
Andrew Helfer , usually credited as Andy Helfer, is an award-winning comic book creator best known for his work as an editor and writer at DC Comics, where he founded the Paradox Press imprint.-Biography:...
and pencilled and inked by Kyle Baker
Kyle Baker
Kyle John Baker is an American cartoonist, comic book writer-artist, and animator known for his graphic novels and for a 2000s revival of the series Plastic Man....
, titled Justice, Inc.. The mini-series revealed the 'truth' behind the Avenger's origin.
In November 2009 The Avenger will be shown in the series The First Wave
First Wave (comics)
First Wave is a 2010 six-issue comic book limited series written by Brian Azzarello drawn by Rags Morales and published by DC Comics.It is also the name of a separate DC Comics fictional universe, crossing pulp fiction characters over with versions of established DC heroes.-Publication history:The...
spun off from the Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
/Doc Savage
Doc Savage
Doc Savage is a fictional character originally published in American pulp magazines during the 1930s and 1940s. He was created by publisher Henry W. Ralston and editor John L...
Special. He has a backup series in the new Doc Savage comic, written by award-winning thriller author Jason Starr
Jason Starr
Jason Starr is an American author and screenplay writer from New York City. Starr has written numerous crime fiction novels and thrillers....
, however, several alterations have been made to his aides and to Justice, Inc. The series ran in Doc Savage #1-9, plus starring in the First Wave Special.
Radio
Similarly short-lived was "an Avenger radio serial carried by Station WHN in New York City and syndicated in other parts of the country."From July 18, 1941 to November 3, 1942 the pulp novel Avenger was on the air in a series based on the magazine —- pretty directly based, as a number of episodes are somewhat faithful adaptations of the pulp stories.
MUSIC: (ORGAN) AVENGER HUM WITH CODE
BENSON: Enemies of Justice…This is The Avenger!
MUSIC: UP WITH THEME, THEN SEGUE TO MOOD (KEEP IN BACKGROUND)
BENSON: You who operate beyond the Law… you who seek to wreck the peace of America… BEWARE! I shall crush your power, destroy the vultures who prey upon the innocent and the unsuspecting. I…AM…THE AVENGER!
MUSIC: UP WITH THEME, THEN SEGUE TO MOOD (KEEP IN BACKGROUND)
(From The Avenger, airdate: Tuesday, September 9, 1941 9:30-10:00 pm.)
The Avenger originated from Long Island, NY-based station WHN and was broadcast over a time-span of 62 weeks. It also seems to have aired on many stations across the United States as a transcription series. The 62 weeks refer only to the period during which the program aired, not the number of shows. There were apparently a number of preemptions, due to coverage of sporting events. Most likely, the series consisted of a then standard run of 26 half-hour episodes (plus repeats). Unfortunately, despite the fact that the program was recorded for syndication, the only remaining artifacts of the show are seven scripts.
All of these are from the first nine weeks of the show, one of which is an original script entitled Tear Drop Tank. The others are The Hate Master, River of Ice, Three Gold Crowns, The Blood Ring, The Devil’s Horns, and The Avenger. All are based on the magazine novels of the same name, with the exception of The Avenger, which is based on the second adventure, The Yellow Hoard. None of the scripts mentions the production crew or cast—-in fact, the first three surviving scripts do not even list the authors.
The final four remaining scripts (judging by the airdates listed) were all written by Maurice Joachim. Maurice Joachim was an actor and radio scriptwriter, who wrote episodes of the 1940s WMCA-produced Doc Savage series. It’s quite likely he also acted on the Avenger, as he was reputed to be a highly versatile actor -– in the mid-1930s he hosted the Majestic Master of Mystery program, and played all the parts himself. Only Joachim and the organist were credited in the script, which had the announcer give the credit “with original music by Dick Ballou”.
These directions specified a Morse Code motif for the music, which was echoed in the sound effects. In the scripts earliest scripts, the "Avenger Hum" is mentioned within the episodes, as in them the impression is given that the Richard Benson has a radio unit surgically implanted inside him, and thus his entrances are heralded by a carrier wave tone. This somewhat unsettling idea is dropped at some point in the series, with the novels' compact belt radios used instead.
The surviving scripts do not include the African American characters, Josuah and Rosable Newton, or the young Cole Wilson.