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Introduction On Racism Epigraphs A History of the Pulps A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Glossary and Character Taxonomy Breakdown by Country of Origin Bibliography Table of Contents The Best of the Encyclopedia
Updated 20 April 2021
A Glossary for this Site and a Taxonomy of Character Types
As you've no doubt noticed, I use some specialized terminology (some of it coined by Yr. Humble Correspondent) in this website. This was not done to confuse, but rather to help shorten the text. (Which, at longer than three quarters of a million words, needed all the shortening it could get!) While researching and writing this book/website, I rather rapidly noticed that a lot of characters were duplicates of each other in all but name, and easily fit into one archetypal category. Wise-cracking hardboiled detectives, for example, were numerous, and to be honest fairly interchangeable with each other. So I slapped the label "Bellem" on this character type, as an homage to Robert Leslie Bellem, whose Dan Turner is the paradigmatic example of the type. I found that if I did this with all the interchangeable characters, it saved me a lot of typing. Of course, doing that runs the risk of confusing the reader, which is why this page is here: so when I call someone an Afghani Fighter or speak of SCIENCE! you'll know what I mean.
That wasn't enough, of course; I wanted to include in this list every example of the character types appearing anywhere in the Encyclopedia. So I'm including here every Brain in a Jar villain and every Lost Race a protagonist encounters; they are included here in parentheses, so that, under the Brain in a Jar entry, they are listed as (for example) Olaf K. Abelsen (misc.).
Afghani Fighter. A certain kind of pulp story, always set in the North-West Frontier--the area of land between Afghanistan and what is now Pakistan--features a recurring type of protagonist, what I’m calling the Afghani Fighter. These men are always agents of British Intelligence, and wander in disguise among the locals gathering intelligence. They are always outnumbered and outgunned and have only a loyal native sidekick and possibly a handful of British and Indian troops to pit against the enemies of Great Britain. And their enemies are always powerful threats to the stability of the British Empire: Russian spies or local Napoleons allying with hostile Pashtun tribes to invade and conquer India.
Steel Callaghan, Derek Carrington, Michael Garvie, Victor Gaunt, Colin Gray, Major Hazelrigg,
Africa Hand. Great Britain’s colonies in Africa were many and varied, and each colony was ruled by a Governor, with District Commissioners ruling individual sections. Each Commissioner’s district could be thousands or even tens of thousands of square miles in area, and the Commissioner was assisted by only a handful of white officials and a few squadrons of (non-white) soldiers. These officials were expected to enforce local and Imperial laws, collect taxes, prevent international crimes (like slave-trading), and above all prevent any conflict, between local peoples or between nations. In fiction, these officials were Africa Hands: experienced veterans of Foreign Service in Africa; intimately familiar not just with flora, fauna, and native cultures of Africa; deeply patriotic; and convinced that colonialism is the best thing for the natives—that British “civilization” can and will create a kind of moral uplift on the natives. To help this uplift and the peace and success of the Empire, the Africa Hands are willing to commit a wide range of acts, whipping natives for disrespecting a white man or hanging a corrupt native king without hesitation. Africa Hands have a great deal of respect for Africans, but in the same way that a hunter respects a lion—for its ferocity and power, but not as an equal. Curiously, most Africa Hands are Britons active in the jungles of West Africa, where Great Britain had no colonies.
Geoffrey Aylett, Batouk (misc.), Trader Carson, Captain Christmas, Dynamite Drury, Iron Egan, Five Courageous Frenchmen, Crispin Gaunt, Denzil Grigson, Husky Hillier, Lobangu (Sir Richard Loseley), Bruce Logan, The Major, Nick Norton, Kenneth O'Brien, Old Ebbie (Captain Hicks), Peace Officer, Prempeh (Barry Carson),
Armchair Detective. The Armchair Detective is a man (rarely a woman) who is sufficiently brilliant that he can solve crimes from the comfort of his armchair, without doing any on-site research or depending only on an assistant to do the research for him.
Inspector Allhoff, Oliver Armiston, Disher, Dr. Duque, Joseph Leborgne, Nelson Lee, Linley, Old Man in the Corner, Don Isidro Parodi,
Bellem. The hard-boiled, cynical private detective is a pervasive pulp archetype, beginning at least with Race Williams, although the archetype’s roots lie in the English casebooks of the mid-19th century. But the wise-cracking, two-fisted, hardboiled, hard-drinking, womanizing cynical character, usually but not always a private detective--the kind of character who is as quick with a quip as with his fists--is a character type that emerged in the pulps only in the 1930s, although it became a cliché within a few years. The greatest of these characters was Dan Turner, he of “a roscoe coughed Ka-Chow.” In honor of Dan Turner's creator, the prolific pulpster Robert Leslie Bellem, I’ve dubbed this character type the Bellem.
Galahad Baxter, Steve Borden, Mr. Bowles, Homer Bull (Macandrews), Chan Buzzell
Killer Cain, Carmady, Johnny Carr, Bill Carter, Johnny Cass, Johnny Castle, Peter Chance, Dr. Chung (Mr. Bacht), Daniel Cluer, Shean Connell, Crawley Cool, Danny Coyle (Harvard Donovan), Cliff Cragin, Bill Crane, Alphabet Crisp
Ken Daly, John Dalmas, Dion Davies, Bill Disley, Johnny Dolan, Donny Donahue, Edward D'Strange, Joseph Dugan
Bacchus Hallahan, Johnny Harding, Daniel Harwin, Clay Holt, Little Jack Horner, Mark Hull, Tony Hunter
Ben Jardinn, Jarnegan, Dan Jordan, Jack Jordan
Gerry Kells, Mugs Kelly, Tony Key, George Killeen, K-67
Kip Lacey, Bob Larkin, Simon Lash, Bill Lennox
Dick Marlow, Philip Marlowe, Anthony Martin, No-Shirt McGee, Captain McGrail, Jack McGuire, Mariano Mercado, Matt Mercer, Lafayette Muldoon
Bill Peepe, Casey Peters, Miss Pinkerton, Duke Pizzatello,
Big-Headed Dwarf Genius. A classic trope of popular literature, going back at least to the Gothics if not to the Egyptian and Olmec myths, is the evil dwarf—that is, a literal dwarf, rather than some fairy tale creature—whose wicked brilliance is so overwhelming that, in a prime example of the symbolic-made-literal, his head is enormous. Before the 19th century, the dwarf used magic or a more mundane form of evil to work his ends, but beginning in the mid-19th century the dwarf began to use technology, usually advanced or even forbidden technology, as a weapon against heroic men and women. In the 20th century, the dwarf became a form of the Mad Scientist, usually the villain of a story but occasionally a protagonist in search of redemption.
Atalanta (Lemurian albinos)
Narcisse Barbidon (Martians), Reginald Blake, Professor Brandon (aliens), Ivan Brodsky, Harry Brunton (the Conquerors)
Jonas Fjeld (Ilmari Erko)
Dr. Hackensaw (future humans)
Jed (the Masters)
Konserson (children), Professor Kurganov
Brutus Lloyd, Everson Lumley (Dr. Alonzo Kelpie)
Tommy Malins (misc.), Gaston Max (Anubis), Baron Montavo (Hollow Earth representatives), Doctor Munsker
Nano 48, Jack Nelson (Ta Clo)
Nat Pinkerton (Li Lo Tsching),
Brain in a Jar. The Brain in a Jar—the living brain (usually disembodied), floating in a jar of fluid, still sentient and somehow communicating with the outside world—is a classic trope of science fiction and horror films and pulps. The version most readers are familiar with is 20th century version, but the predecessor of the Brain in a Jar can be said to have been the Cumaean Sibyl, who in Petronius’ Satyricon is a withered body, cursed with immortality but no youth, who is seen in a hanging jar.
Olaf K. Abelsen (misc.), Brain, Captain Future (Simon), Hawk Carse (misc.), Charlie Chan (misc.), Robert Darvel (Great Brain of Mars), Richard Donovan, Ethan Drew (Wise One), Harald Harst (misc.), Nez Hulan (misc.), Jed, Professor Kern (Dowell), The Man with Two Heads, Mark Nevin (Russians),
Cape-and-Épée Hero. Cap et épée, or “cape and épée,” is the traditional term in French literary criticism for novels of the Three Musketeers sort, in which the swashbuckling heroes wear capes and fight with rapiers in Europe during the 17th century.
Athos, Porthos & Aramis, Black Mask (II), Boy Musketeers, Captain Lucifer, Captain Sin Miedo, Carot, Cleve & d'Entreville, The Courier, The Dagger, Comte de Chavagnac, Estelle de Lys, M. de Mintard, Five Invincibles, Florian, Four Spaniards, Ghost Duke (I), Ghost Duke (II), Captain La Chesnaye, Messenger (II), Montbars (V), Musketeer of the Sea, Musketeers, Pardaillan,
Celebrity Pulp. Pulps or novels or texts whose protagonists are real-life, living celebrities (Charlie Chaplin, for example) portrayed as having very fictional adventures.
Cliff Aeros, Luciano Albertini, Carlo Aldini, Evno Azef
Clyde Beatty, Frank Buck, Buffalo Bill
Al Capone (I), Al Capone (II), Charlot, Jackie Coogan (I), Jackie Coogan (II)
Father Gapon, Gomecillo & Peliculez
Jack the Ripper (I), Jack the Ripper (II), Jampulinkam, Billy Jenkins, Buck Jones
Lampiao, Gypsy Rose Lee, Elmo Lincoln, Max Linder, Harold Lloyd
Nestor Makhno, Georges Manolescu, Jimmy Mattern, Ken Maynard (I), Ken Maynard (II), Patjar Merah, Mistinguett, Tom Mix (I), Tom Mix (II), Tom Mix (III), Tom Mix (IV), Tom Mix (V), Tom Mix (VI), Antonio Moreno, Jack Mylong
Lee Parry, Joe Petrosino, Edmond Pezon, Harry Piel, Eddy Polo (I), Eddy Polo (II), Eddy Polo (III), Eddy Polo (IV), I.D. Putilin,
Con Man. One of the more popular character types in the pulps, the Con Man or Swindler was usually (but not always) portrayed as having a sentimental side and as willing to help those who are being victimized, and to prey on other criminals. Those who were not were usually too incompetent to succeed at their chosen profession.
Doctor Alcazar, Astro the Seer
Otis Beagle, Beggars' Club, Paul Beggarstaff, Ostap Bender, Natasha Blackwell, Blue Sky Company, One Eye Brannigan, Jabez Bunker, Smiler Bunn, Otto Burlingame
Chucho el Roto, Amos Clackworthy, Baltimore Criddle, Danby Croker
The Dean, Doc Comanche, Dandy Dyson
Easy Street Experts, Elegant Edward, Buttons Evans
Lefty Feep, Jeremiah Finch, Colonel Humphrey Flack, Johnny Fletcher, Art Furber, Elmer Furbush
Ivy Lane ("Senator" Joe Greer), Rosalie Le Grange, Lester Leith
Isidore Mac-Aron & Anatole Fricotard, Pete Manx, Ed Migraine, Major Miles
Jeff Peters, Doc Pierce, Paul C. Pitt, Napoleon Prince,
CONQUER THE WORLD! Just like monkeys, few things embody the pulps so much as the over-the-top Mad Scientist (see below) or (usually Germanic) tyrant who delivers a speech—to a monstrous henchmen, to fanatical troops, or to a bound and helpless enemy, usually the hero of the story—in which the villain finishes with “und zen ve vill CONQUER ZE VURLD!” Sadly, most of these characters failed, few had much success at all or, to be honest, were a great deal of fun to read about, and only a handful had the spark of gleeful, joyous wickedness that sets the immortal villains apart from the ordinary bad guys. But even the dullest of these would-be world conquerers has at least one moment which will reward the reader.
Air Master, Frank Allan (misc.), Amarbal, Dusty Ayres (Fire-Eyes)
Napoleon Berg, Blue Hawk (misc.), Harry Brunton (the Conquerors)
Captain Justice (Marcus the Mysterious), Nick Carter (I) (Bolivian Amazons), Cecil of Cornwall (Abbe), Deepak Chatterjee (misc.), Connie (Lakhpor), Copperhead (Doctor Satan)
Jack Darrell (alien slugs), Professor Demonico, Don Dixon (Dr. Strunski), Doctor Death
El Fantasma (Man With No Head)
Garin, Bruce Gentry (misc.), Golden Amazon, Walter Goodwin (evil Murians), Professor Grant (Matapal)
Colin Haig (Mme. Vanderdonk), Steve Harrison (Erlik Khan)
Homura Soroku (Dr. Otone)
JimGrim (Dorje)
Kachinskiy (Stierner), Princess Kah (undersea criminals), Dr. Kitsura (the Yellow Wheel), Korak, Kosmacs (Karl Dietz), Kowa, Dr. Cornelius Kramm, Kwo Sung Tao
Bradley Lane (Marnee), Lynn Lash (misc.), The Lightning, Ferrers Locke (Kang-Pu)
Professor Magnus (Dr. Cicuta), Signor Mantini, Gaston Max (Anubis), Professor Merrivale, Miramar
Number 3, The Nyctalope (Baron Glo von Warteck)
Octopus (II), Terence X. O'Leary (Unuk)
Doctor Palfrey (misc.), Ward Platt (Ainsworth), John Prentice (misc.), Professor Pye,
Costumed Avenger. This category includes any character who wears a recognizable and consistent costume while fighting crime or evil. For the purposes of this encyclopedia, “costume” does not necessarily have to be a colorful superhero-style “pervert suit,” to use Warren Ellis’ phrase, but can be simply the same mask or the same set of similarly-colored clothing. Because of this somewhat broad criteria, there are characters included in this list, like the masked cowboy characters, who are not ordinarily thought of as being Costumed Avengers. But in a book like this it is better to be overly inclusive than not enough so.
Ace of Spades (I), Ace of Spades (II), El Alacrán, Furio Almirante, Angel (II), Armored Man, Audreses
The Bat (II), Beati Paoli, Black (III), Black Ace, Black Bandit, Black Bat (II), Black Cloak, Black Diamond, Black Eagle, Black Falcon, Black Hood, Black Jack, Black Knight (II), Black Mask (I) (antagonist), Black Mask (II), Black Mask (III), Black Moth, Black Pilgrim, Black Rider, Black Sapper, Black Whip, Blue Man, Carlos & Marcos Bon, Pelham Bond, Burmese Swordsman
El Caballero, Caballero X, Bob Calem, Capitan Antorcha, Capitan Coraje, Capitan Misterio, Captain Midnight, Captain Mors, Captain Nighthawk, Captain Storm, Cat's Eye, Charro Negro (I), Charro Negro (II), Chucho el Roto, Ciclone, Cobra (II), Red Colt, Copperhead, Corsair X, Cossack, Coyote, Crimson Clown, Crimson Mask, Cruz Diablo, Jim Curry, Cyklon Kid
Daring Damsel, Estelle de Lys, Deccan Queen, Desert Phantom, Detective Nobody, Doctor Coffin, Domino Lady
The Eagle (I), The Eagle (II), Mr. Enigma, El Espectro
El Fantasma, Flaming Avenger, Flying Justice, Miss Fury
Galator, Garibaldi, Ghost (I), Ghost Duke (II), Golden Mask, Green Ghost, Green Hornet, Green Lama, Griffon
El Halcon de Acero, Hansa, Hawk (II), El Hidalgo, Hind Kesari, Fred Hood (Carolina, the "Fury of the Manitu"), Hunterwali
Karga, King of Diamonds, William King, Kurama Tengu
Lady Luck, Laughing Mask, Leatherface (I), Leatherface (II), Leatherface (III), Lion Man (I), Lion Man (II), Lone Ranger
Magician (II), The Man in Purple, The Man in the Motor Mask, The Man in the Red Mask, The Man in the Silver Mask, Mas-Ley, The Mask, Masked Cavalier, Masked Detective, Masked Marvel, Masked Phantom, Masked Rider (I), Masked Rider (II), Masked Terror, Masked Warrior, Minnalkodi, Mister Death (I), Mr. Mystic, Mister Nobody (II), Moker, The Mongoose, Monk of Ironstone Prison, Moon Man, El Murcielago
Jack Nelson, Ninja Boy, Ninja Woman
Park Avenue Hunt Club, Patent Leather Kid, Patsy (Phantom Magician), Phantom (II), Phantom (III), Phantom Detective, Phantom Rider, Phantom Sheriff, Phantom Thief (II), Phantom X, Prince of Gamma, Luis Punales, Purple Hood, Purple Scar,
Cowboy. For the purposes of this category any character adventuring in the western half of the United States during the 19th century and the first half of the twentieth century counts as a “cowboy.” A fair number of stories in the western pulps were set in the modern (i.e., 1920s or 1930s) era, and characters in those stories are included here. The rare cowboy active outside of the United States, like Pepe Cortes, is also included.
Ace of the Triple Diamond, Bullwhip Adams, Alabam, Alkali Ike, Lefty Allen, Bar-Nothing Red Ames, Sailor Anson, Apache & Wagonwheel, Arizona Jim, Arizona Thunderbolt, Garrett Arnold, Arizona Jim, Arizona Thunderbolt, Frying Pan Austin
George Bacon, Duke Bagley, Balaam (sorta), Blackstone Bangs, Jim Bannon, Bar B Boys, Bar U Twins, Rohn Barck, Peaceful Barnes, Black Barr, Charley Barrow, Dan Barry, Tom Bartlett, Buffalo Billy Bates, Judge Bates, Roy Bean, Pike Bearfield, Brazos Bell, Billy the Kid (I), Billy the Kid (II), Black Ace, Black Bill (I), Black Bill (II), Black Horse, Blackie & Red, Killer Blake, Blondy, Bloody Hand, Blue Pete, Guncat Bodman, Calamity Boggs, Swap Bootle, Border Bandit, Border Boys, Border Eagle, Deacon Bottle, Alamo Bowie, Boy Ranchers, Belle Boyd, Jim Brade, Broncho Bill, Broncho Billy, Broncho Rider Boys, Buck & Gumbo, Duke Buckland, Buffalo Bill, Bug Eye, Jim Button Bull, Tex Bulwer, Bumblebee Bill, Andy Burnett, Tug Burton
Cactus Kid, Calamity Anne, Bob Calem, Brad Callahan, Kid Calvert, Lightnin' Calvert, Hunt Canning, Dogie Cantwell, Lucius Carey, Billy Carson, Kit Carson, Lightnin' Bill Carson, Hopalong Cassidy, Slivers Cassidy, Charro Negro (I), Charro Negro (II), Chief (sorta), Circus Cowboy, Cisco Kid, Red Clark, Tom Clark, Dake Clayhorn, Tom Clive, Tempest Cody, Badger Coe, King Collier, Cultus Collins, Comanche Kid, Henry Conroy, Corson, Pepe Cortes, David Costa, Cowboy, Lance Craig, Tuck Creighton, Gospel Cummings, Curly, Currito, Jim Curry, Blant Cutting
Dakota Dan, Deo Daley, Jimmy Dare, Christian Defever, Desert Phantom, Desperate Dan, Preacher Devlin, Dewlap & Wattles, Diamond Dick, Diamond Outfit, Dik, Doc Comanche, Dodge City Kid, Don Muerte, Dapper Donnelly, Ronicky Doone, Dreamy Dorkin, Deker Dow, Gip Drago, Tim Drake, Dick Drew, Drifting Kid, Dan Drummond, Buck Duane, Dugan (I), Durand, Dandy Dyson
Saul Epstein, Estimaco, Buttons Evans, Dug Evans
Doc Faraday, Whizz Fargo, Doug Farney, Firebrand (II), Fitz Roy, Flying U Ranch
Buzz Gainor, Galahad & Lancelot, Grizzly Gallagher, Hep Gallegher, Gallopin' Kid, Peg Leg Garfield, Dex Garrett, Hawk Gentle, Gentleman Jack, James Geraldi, Gila Jack, Freck Gilmore, Arapaho Gilroy, Henri Giraud, Grandpa, Andy Green, Hoss Greer, Cal Gregson, Simon Bolivar Grimes
Glenn Haley, Ham & Egg, Hank & Lank, Happy-Hay, Hardrock, Red Harris, Ace Hart, Hashknife Hartley, Jim Hatfield, Bill Hawks, William Hay, Jim Hazel, Howdy Hepburn, High & Short, Bob Hill, Hinges Hollister, Jack Holt (I), Fred Hood, Hooker Brothers, Horsemen, Pa Howdy, Chip Huard, Huckleberry Jack, Hungry & Rusty, Bob Hunter (II), Bull Hunter
Idaho, Injun & Whitey, Andy Irons, Sudden John Irons
Jack the Invincible, Jesse James, Pinky Jenkins, Bat Jennison, Jerkline Jo, Jim Boy, Jingling Kid, Johnny Forty-Five, Buck Jones, Bud Jones, Cal Jones, Doodlebug Jones, Potluck Jones, Salamander Jones, Tubac Jones, Vermilion Jones
Jim Kannah, Kansas Jack (I), Kansas Jack (II), Kansas Jack (III), Kansas Jack (IV), Kyack Kearney, Ken, Kid Buckaroo, Kid Gurney, Kid Montana, Kid Wolf, King Kolt, Kenton King, Madge King, Storm King, Windy Knight
Sheriff Lamont, Rowdy Lang, Joe Langley, Ney Larrigan, Mac Larry, Lassiter, Laughing Kid, Leatherface (I), Black Hawk Lee, Tonopah Lee, Lynx Lesky, Bart Leslie, Liberty Kid, Lightning Jim, The Lion, Bert Little, Long Sam Littlejohn, Lobo Gris, Lone Ranger, Colonel Longarm, Lazy Lucas
Showme Maguire, Mah-Topa, Freckles Malone, Twister Malone, Marshall, Mustang Marshall, Mournful Martin, Pinto Martin, Masked Phantom, Masked Rider (II), Shorty Masters, Maverick Jim, Mavericks, Tensleep Maxon, Ranny McArthur, Bullwhip Bill McCrackin, Shorty McKay, Buckshot McKee, Risky McKee, Buck McLeod, Lonesome McQuirk, Medico, Flapjack Meehan, Kyle Mellott, Tom Mix (I), Tom Mix (II), Tom Mix (III), Tom Mix (IV), Tom Mix (V), Tom Mix (VI), Ham Moody, Flash Moran, Tom Morgan, Tubby Morrison, Sheriff Mullett, Two-Shot Billy Murtol
Bill Navarro, Dick Navarro, Dik Navarro, Pancho Negrete, Dan Norton, Dick Norton
Oklahoma Kid, Old Bill, Old Ironhand, Old Scout, Old Strolla, Funeral O'Neill
Alamo Paige, Mike Palabras, Average Parker, Jim Pat, Pawney Bill, Bronc Peeler, Peaceful Perkins, Peter, Ma Pettengill, Phantom Rider, Phantom Sheriff, Mulehide Pike, Pistol Jim, Juan Poker, Polly of the Plains, Jode Pomroy, Pony Express, Pony George, Pony Rider Boys, John Powell,
Disabled Detective. Traditionally, in the pulps and in criticism of the pulps, the phrase “defective detective” was used to describe the disabled or maimed characters, like Seekay, whose vogue in the pulps was a brief but intense one. Being disabled (or “defective” in the insensitive, inaccurate, and offensive parlance of the time) was what set them apart from other characters. For the purposes of this encyclopedia, blind characters, like Max Carrados, are included in this category. Generally blind characters are written and treated differently than the other "disabled detectives," but in the interests of space-saving they are included here.
Inspector Allhoff, Ben Bryn, Max Carrados, Thornley Colton, Billy Dogg, Edward D'Strange, Joe Gee, Dan Holden, John Howden, Calvin Kane, Eddie Kelly, Patrick Laing, Larry Loman, Duncan Maclain, Malachi Manatee, Lin Melchan, Nat Perry,
Evil Surgeon. Although the Evil Surgeon is often a Mad Scientist, this is not always the case. The Evil Surgeon is primarily a violator of the human body, whether a crazed vivisector like Dr. Quartz or someone who merely wants to experiment on a living body, like Professor Barter.
Olaf K. Abelsen (Dr. Death), Frank Allan (Doctor Bink), Armando (misc.)
Dr. Bain (Dr. Death), Professor Barter, Dr. Bates, Black Mask (III) (misc.), Dr. Blair
Tom Cardigan (The Surgeon of the Dead), Doctor Caresco, Charro Negro (II) (misc.), Chinese Scientist, Sir Ralf Clifford (Dr. Coletti), Leon Clifton (the Mad Doctor), Paul Coriolos, Dr. Crespi, Walter Crummel (Eric Grausmann)
Pietro Darena, Doctor Phantom, Doctor X, Richard Drake, Dr. Duarte
Dr. Flax, Dr. Forti, Mr. Fox (The Evil Doctor), Frankenstein (Dr. Xavier)
Homura Soroku (misc.), Rex Huxford (Dr. Eric von Schalkenbach)
Zofia Jastrzebka (William Pinkerton), Jim-Joyce (Dr. Satanaz)
Professor Kern, Ethel King (Professor Smith), Konserson, Dr. Cornelius Kramm
Jean Lecoq (Dr. Vincent), Doctor Lerne, Joseph Londe, Arsene Lupien (misc.)
Mad Scientist (IV), Todd Marvel (Karl Kristian), Master Magician (Ching Fu), Captain McTeague (Po Sung, N'Yeng Sen), Miramar, Schuyler Montgomery, M. Mystere (misc. women)
Cyrus North (misc.), Number 13 (Chinese), The Nyctalope (Oxus)
Joe Petrosino (Professor Tom Flax), The Phoenis (Dr. Rosmer), Nat Pinkerton (misc.), Ward Platt (Ainsworth),
Femme Fatale. The femme fatale, the beautiful and deadly woman who uses her beauty and/or sexuality to increase her power, has been a constant in Western culture, although the modern version of the femme fatale began appearing only in the second half of the 19th century. In the pulp context the femme fatale is a different character than the femme fatale of films noir or mainstream mystery fiction. The pulp femme fatale is more often a protagonist than a film noir or mystery femme fatale. And the pulp femme fatale is substantively different than either of the latter two. The film noir or mystery femme fatale uses sexuality as a weapon in order to get what she wants. Sex, for the film noir or mystery femme fatale, is one tool of many in the femme fatale’s toolbox, and if sleeping with a hero, villain, or patsy is what is needed to achieve her aims, the noir/mystery femme fatale will do just that. This is not the case with the pulp femme fatale, who is far more rarely sexually active. The pulp femme fatale promises much but rarely delivers, and meanwhile uses male characters’ desire for her to manipulate them.
Adaptive Ultimate, AgentYZ7, El Alacran (misc.), Roberto Alcazar (misc.), Alraune, Antinéa, Aquilea, Ayesha
John Baxter (the Demon Woman), Red Barry (The Flame), Max Beaumont (misc.), Black Mask (III) (misc.), Black Masks (Lydia), Natasha Blackwell, Sergeant Blair (misc., Belle la Tour), Hannibal Blunt (movie star), Rolf Brand (Lady in Black), Brenty (Aracnida), Albert Brien (misc.),
Hunt Canning (misc.), Le Capitaine (misc.), Captain Stinky (misc.), Bill Carter (misc.), Deepak Chatterjee (misc.), Kayla Cherroff, Chinese Gamine, Hein Class (Rita), Leon Clifton (Devil Woman), Colette (misc.), Anton Custer (Fedora, Eros Volusia)
Kurt Danner (the She-Scorpio), Daxo (misc.), Ray de Astur (Queen of Ceres), Detective Nobody (misc.), Tania Devereaux, Bill Disley (assassins), Fidelity Dove, Nita Duboin
Frank Faber (Anja), Princess Fantoche, Desiree Forestier, French Aviator (Helene, Countess de Falso), French Commissioner (The Countess)
Gees (misc.), Genuine, Martin Gisander (Jania Faralewski)
Colin Haig (Mme. Vanderdonk), Bob Harder (misc.), John Hargreaves (Countess Olga), Helene (I), Kay Hoog (Lio-Sha), Hooker Brothers ("vampire babies"), Russell Howard (misc.)
Iluko, Iman, Indian Woman, Magda Inescu, Inez Ingle
Japanese Policeman (Night Storm Okinu), Jumelia, Junilla
King Kong VI (Zanya), Ethel King (Salome), Lord Kingsley (misc.), Sun Koh (Lady Houston), Kurama Tengu (poison women)
Edouard Lanier (Nora), George Larkin (Vampire), Jean Larocque (misc.), Terry Lee (many), Simon Legrand (Satania), Miriam Lemaire, Tom Lenoir (misc.), Lilith, Lord Lister (the Lady in Black), Quentin Locke (DeLuxe Dora), Lu Ping (Blue Rattlesnake), Arsene Lupien (the Female Demon)
Madame Sara, Dan Maitland (misc.), Master Magician (Froggie the Vampire), Milton (Queen Androimeda), Mister X (Lady Devil), Moctezuma (Queen Zaye), Maria Molambo, Monsieur V (Princess Y)
Pola Negri, Martin Numa (misc.), Number 13 (Chinese cha-cha dancers)
Larry O'Brien (Tigra), Lady Nora O'Neil, Marcus Orlando (misc.)
Maria Padilha, Pat Peterson (Margot), Mary Pickford (II), Polish Woman (I), Polish Woman (II), Victor Poten (Sonya Rokoff),
Fop. The classic detective Fop is Philo Vance, and most of the detective Fops were to a greater or lesser extent influenced by him. The vanity, the obsession with appearance, dress, and manners, the variety of affectations, the forced languor–they are all Vancean, but they arose from the pose of upper class British men of the 19th century. Of course, detective Fops aren’t really foppish, any more than Vance is. When there is danger to be confronted or a mystery to be solved, Vance et al. drop the foppish pose and become as capable as any Bellem.
Ascanio Bonichi, Benvenuto Brown, Marcus Buller, Albert Campion, Dave Clovelly, Arthur Augustus d'Arcy, Reginald de Puyster, Maxwell Fenner, Peter Graham, Maurice Hemyock, Ivy Lane, Francis Mandall-Essington, Yorke Norroy, Christopher Peale, Arthur Stukeley Pennington, Warren Powell,
Gentleman Bandit. This category is for all those historical characters who would steal anything from men but would only take a kiss from a woman, and whose sense of honor was more powerful than their greed. The archetype is Dick Turpin, who was as charming in fiction as he was reprehensible in fact.
Ace of Spades (I), Pavlos Argyros, Aimilios Athenaios
Captain Jack Bishop, Buffalo Bill (Gentleman Hank)
Luis Candelas, Caparrota, Captain Montana, Captain Moonlight, Captain Starlight, Cartouche (I), Cartouche (II), Chucho el Roto, Vaska Churkin, Diego Corrientes, Currito
Don Juan de Serrallonga, Claude Duval (I), Claude Duval (II), Claude Duval (III)
Galloping Larry, Ghost Duke (I)
Jesse James, Jampulinkam, Henryk Antoni Jezierski
Nesho Kaik, Ned Kelly, Jan Tadeusz Klimczok, Tadeusz Klimszok, Antonio Kortez, Arno Kraft, Wlodzimierz Kumrow, Aristotelis Kyriakos
Mandrin, Jose Maria (I), Jose Maria (II), Juan Masili, Masked Rider (I), Masked Terror, Si Mirah
Si Pitung, Juan Portela, Luis Punales,
Great Detective. To most fans of mysteries there is only one Great Detective: Sherlock Holmes. But the popularity of Sherlock Holmes was such that, like Arsène Lupin and the Lupin, Holmes was imitated around the world. The following is a list of characters modeled on Sherlock Holmes and other, similar characters. Holmes was the default model for the Great Detective, but the more action-oriented Sexton Blake and Nick Carter (I) gained their own set of imitations.
Ates Ahmet, Ali, American Police Commissioner, Ānantcin, Thomas Ashley, Ashton-Kirk, Harald Ask, Avni
Carfax Baines, Alan Baker, William Baluchet, Joe Bangs, Garnett Bell, Gapy Bermudez, M.A. Bertillon, Biograph Sleuths, Ove Bjelke, Carlock Bjones, Black Bird, Robert Blake, Sexton Blake, Hannibal Blunt, Hepsibah Bock, Bolava, Harriet Bolton-Wright, Padlock Bones, Emil Born, John Born, Miss Boston, Arindam Bosu, Boy Detective, Felix Boyd, Rolf Brand, Victor Brand, Leo Brandhorst, William Brandson, Derrick Brent, Dixon Brett, Stanley Brooke, Billy Brown, David Brown, Bob Bruce, William Brunning, Bil Bull, John Bull, Mack Bull (Nik-Arter), Jhon Bunns, Yu Bu-ran
Roman Calvo, Jack Carelli, Leo Carring, David Carroll, Charles Carslake, Dr. Carson, Nick Carter (I), Nick Carter (II), Pepe Carter, Dick Cartter, Cascarilla (II), Cat's Eye, Cemal, Sir Walter Chain, Dick Challenger, Chan Li Po, Cherlok Cholmes, Dr. Chung, Tony Clark, Walter Clark, Carlton Clarke, Lucien Clay, Jeff Clayton, Arson Clews, Leon Clifton, Barrington Clive, Derek Clyde, Charley Colmes, Sherlog Combes, Pat Conner, Le Droit Conners, Pat Connor, Jackie Coogan (II) (misc.), Herr Corpwieth, Gripton Court, Clipper Craig, Crewe (I), Martin Cripps, Burt Cromwell, Anton Custer
Martin Dale, Colwyn Dane, Neil Dare, Paul Daring, Doctor Riccardo de Medici, Joe Deebs, Clive Derring, Allan Dickson, Harry Dickson, Dinky Dinkerton, Wan Teroena Djaja, Doctor Satan (Ascott Keane), Jack Dollar, Dick Donald, Caleb Drage, Jonathan Drake, Detective Dreslings, Derwent Duff, Dr. Duque, Drake Durbin
Arne Falk, Jeff Fanchon, Nick Fantom, Farringdon, Fenlock Fawn, Felifax (Sir Eric Palmer), Fabian Field, Filipino Detective, Peter Flint, Thorndyke Flint, John Flood, Timelock Foames, Jack Forbes, Jack Ford, Kenyon Ford, Sherman Ford, Gordon Fox, Timm Fox, Detective Frank (I), Jack Franklin, Karl Freiburg, Royston Frere, Fuermoshi
Martin Gale, Gentleman Detective, German Detective, Gerst, Gabriel Gibbs, Geoffrey Gill, Nicholas Goade, Enny Gold, Ricardo Gomez, Harry Gould, Royston Gower, Jubal Grail, Digby Grant, Gordon Gray, Grayson Greene, Anthony Grek, Digby Gresham, Carson Grey, Colwin Grey, Knut Gribb, Hector Grinfeld
Tubby Haig, Hanshichi, Charles Harding, Kutt Hardy, John Hare, Paul Harley, Dixon Hawke, Marshal Hawke, A.B.C. Hawkes, Hawkeye (I) (Fenton Drake), Michael Hearne, Lowden Heath, Fred Hellington, Holman Herne, Taddy Hild, Richard Hildebrandt, Gray Hodges, Hok Song, Picklock Holes, Axel Holm (II), Charles Holm, Carter Holmes, Curlock Holmes, Shedlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes, Jr., Shirley Holmes, Stanley Holmes, Suburban Holmes, Zinsheimer Holmes, Shairlock Holtes, Sorolakkho Hom, Burstup Homes, Shylock Homes, Unlock Homes, Homura Soroku, Harold Hood, Inspector Hook, Russell Howard, Ivan Hron, Mervyn Hume, Sheerluck Hums, Hungarian Detective, Michael Hunt, Huo Sang, Sexton Hyde
Kartal Ihsan, Iko Terouka, Ito-Naki, Robby Ix
Jack Jackson, Lord Jackson, Sylvester Jackson, Jan, Zofia Jastrzebka, Joe Jenkins, Jim-Joyce, Padlock Jones, Sheerluck Jones, Junilla (misc.), Junsun
Maxwell Kean, Gable Keen, Jack Keen, Norton Keen, Russell Keene, Gordon Keith, Harrison Keith, Mac Kena, George Kennedy, Ketelbinkie (misc.), Surelock Keys, Ethel King, John King, Master King, Robby King, Kio-Hako, Cornelis Kleinveldt, John Kling, Kobylkin, Kogoro Akechi, Asbjorn Krag, Doctor Kubb, Kumar, Vicitra Kuta, Sefton Kyle
Sherwood Lang, Jimmie Lavender, Maxim Law, Lê Phong, Nelson Lee, Commissaire Lenormand, Gregory Lewis, Abel Link, Professor Locksley, Sherlock Lopez, Jack Lynx, John Lyon
John Mac Carty, Maciste (II), Madelyn Mack, Amos Lee Mappin, Maurice Marcel, Pietje Martens, Phinella Martin, McLane, Tiny Meldrum, Bhaskara Menon, Dr. Messina, Karl Monk, Dr. Morrison, Will Morton
Necati, Tom Nick-Tom, Nicton, Nina, Eva Nina, Branders Noble, Martin Numa
Quintus Oakes, Old Ebbie, Bertil Orn, Dr. Osmont
Billy Pagan, Harry Lytton Paine, Panopta, Jack Patterson, Ady Paulson, Joe Petrosino, Tom Pick, Pick Vick, Fred Pinkerton, Jimmy Pinkerton, Nat Pinkerton, Miss Piriston, Leon Pitaval, Thackeray Place, Vefa Polad, Polish Detective (I), Polish Detective (II), Polish Detective (III), Solar Pons, Nic Pratt, I.D. Putilin,
Gun Moll. The Gun Moll—the female shootist who acts as sidekick and occasionally lover to a fictional villain—can be traced to the historical bandits which plagued Europe in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. The bandits were almost usually male, but female members of their gangs were, while rare, not entirely unknown. As is usually the case with women in a traditionally male environment or profession, these women were forced to be tougher and more deadly than their male counterparts, purely to gain their respect. These women were duplicated in the popular fiction of various countries during these centuries, whether in ballads, broadsheets, or penny dreadfuls. More broadly, of course, these women were following in the path of previous historical women warriors, from the Amazons to Greek myth to the female armies of the Ashanti to the women samurai to the female revolutionaries of Russia and China in the 19th and 20th centuries. Nor was there a shortage of female criminals in most countries during the 1800s and 1900s whose crimes were violent and who used weapons with all the seriousness and skill of their male counterparts. The pulp writers were probably not aware of the specifics of this history, and probably would not have cared if they’d known. For them, the Gun Moll was an alluring symbolic combination of sex and violence, as perfectly a symbol of the Bad Girl for the pulps as the Femme Fatale.
Buffalo Bill (Dell Dauntless), Al Capone (I) (Eveline), Queen Sue Carlton, Velma Dare, El Fantasma (Vera), Rhoda Gray, Hawk From Hell (Mickey), Jimmie Lavender (misc.), Jack Lloyd (Sybil Craig), The Madame, Dizzy Malone, M. Mystere (misc.), Inspector Necker (misc.), Nena Sahib (Anarkalli), Officer 444 (the Vulture), Polack Annie,
Hobo. There have always been homeless wanderers, from the Romany (Gypsies) to the Vagabonds to the more modern Gentlemen of the Road. But the 1920s and especially the 1930s saw an enormous increase in the number of men and women who roamed across various countries. In the 1920s the usual population of wanderers was added to by the “new poor,” the men and women left jobless by the post-World War One recession, by the deaths of wage-earners in the 1918 flu pandemic, and by the general destruction to infrastructures and economies caused by World War One. In the 1930s, the global depression sent millions from their homes in search of work or simply a new place to farm or even to just start over. In reality, the lives of men and women who were forced to abandon their homes in search of work were harsh, desperate, and dangerous. Work was hard to come by, food almost as difficult to find and rarely nutritious or even safe, townspeople suspicious, police inimical, travel life-threatening, and a greater-than-average percentage of fellow wanderers criminal, violent, or mentally ill. Yet, curiously, the pulps seemed to find the Hobo an attractive character to portray in a heroic and adventurous light.
Bagdad, Bill & Jim, Bob & Bo, Giglamps, Highway, Honk & Horace, Jimmie Jackson, Kiki, King Charlie, Placido,
Jungle Hero. Tarzan was not the first fictional Jungle Hero. But, while there were a number of characters in fiction who were abandoned as children and grew up as feral children, usually in jungles and usually acquiring the skills of animals–Kipling’s Mowgli is foremost among this group–Tarzan was in most cases the standard on which successive iterations of the Jungle Hero was modeled.
Angel (I), Black Diamond (woman), Bomba (I), Bos'n Hal (Rip), Hein Class (N'gui), Betty Castleton, Kurt Danner (Jungle Queen), Darwa, Tabu Dick, Valerie Drew (misc.), Felifax, Dick Hatteras, Hurricane (misc.), Jan of the Jungle, Polaris Janess, Jim of the Jungle, Genius Jones, Jongor, Jubal, Jungle Girl, Ka-Zar, Ki-Gor, Kioga (I), Kioga (II), Kroom, Kulafu, Kwa of the Jungle, Joan Lawrence, Lothel, Mala, Matalaa, Morgo the Mighty, M. Mystere (Panther Woman), Nanuk, Nyoka,
Killer Vigilante. Since the 18th century Western adventure fiction has always privileged heroes who do not kill and who show mercy to their victims by allowing the legal system to punish them. The Western genre has the best formulation for the philosophy behind this: a hero fights barbarians, but sometimes a hero must use lethal force to fight barbarians–but in using lethal force, the hero becomes a barbarian. However, there have always been characters who chose murderous vengeance over socially sanctioned justice. The following is a list of these characters in the pulps. (This category does not include characters who are fighting in a war, since by definition they are soldiers or spies rather than vigilantes).
Black (III), Black Barr, Villiers Beethom-Saunders, Paul Bernard, Black Moth, Black Rider, Killer Blake, Guncat Bodman, Jim Buffalo, Ethan Burr
Jack Calhoun, Captain Mesquite, Nick Carter (I), Humphrey Challoner, Frank Clamart, Red Colt, Crimson Mask
Monsieur de Paris, Death Angel, Dormouse, Drago
Major John T. Lacy, Lady Ghost, Leatherface (I)
Marquis of Broadway, Minnalkodi, Mister Death (I), Mister Finis, Schuyler Montgomery, Frank Moran, Douser Mulligan
Octopus (II) (Skull Killer)
Park Avenue Hunt Club, Molly Pepper, Phantasma, Phantom Thief (II), Johnny Pike,
Legionnaire. Characters in this category are members of the French Foreign Legion (rarely, the Spanish Foreign Legion), and their stories are about their actions fighting various evil North African (or, more unusually, Southeast Asian) peoples. The classic example of this sort of character is Beau Geste, from P.C. Wren’s Beau Geste. Characters who are members of the Legion but whose adventures are not primarily about fighting with the Legion against the natives, such as Ethan Drew, are not included here.
John H. Barrington, Otho Belleme, Bulldog Blade, Heinz Brandt, Derek Carrington, Rex Cator, Thibault Corday, Curialo & Withers, Danish Legionnaire, Raul de Velasco (I), Dirty Dogs' Club, Dreadnought Donovan, Sinclair Noel Brodie Dysart, Norbert Falk, Beau Geste, Grellon, Mister Jenkin (misc.), Legionnaire (I), Legionnaire (II), Legionnaire (III), McSnortt, Anton Petrov,
Lost Race. The following is not a list of Lost Races, but rather of characters who encounter Lost Races or belong to them or rule them. A Lost Race can be defined as a culture or people who continue to exist, usually in geographic isolation, long after their original contemporaries have died out, so that Aztecs, Cro-Magnons, and the Lost Tribes of Israel are encountered in the present day in Lost Race fiction.
Olaf K. Abelsen (Inca), Adelita (Aztecs), Adventure Boys (Inca), Airship Boys (Aztec), El Alacran (Aztecs), Roberto Alcazar (misc.), Tom Anderson (ape-men), Antinea (Atlantis), James Armitage (Inca), Jack Armstrong (misc.), Atalanta (Mayans), Aztoc (Aztecs)
Bain Children (Chinese), Bantan (South Pacific), Barrow Brothers (Vikings), Clyde Beatty (misc.), Alejandro Bello (conquistadors), Knut Berg (misc., Egyptians), Blue Hawk (Aztecs), Hannibal Blunt (ocean floor), Brick Bradford (misc.), John Bradford (Ottawas & Mohawks), Heinz Brandt (Inca), Buffalo Bill (Aztecs, White Indians of the Yucatan, misc.),
Capitan Misterio (African), Captain Justice (Amazon jungles), Carabao Men, Nick Carter (I) (misc.), Helen Chase (blind albino Romans), Sir Ralf Clifford (Inca), Connie (Inca, Tibetans), Pete Crane (white El Doradons)
Joe Dalton (Aztecs), Diana Daw (Egyptians), Deerslayer (Aztecs), Raphael Drale (Lost Tribes of Israel), Drome (Greeks)
Eva (II) (women)
Dick Ferris (dinosaurs)
Walter Goodwin (Persians), Ronald Gowan (misc.), Nicholas Graydon (white Peruvians)
Halloran (misc.), Ralph Hausen (dinosaurs), Dixon Hawke (misc.), Captain Holton (Teeheemen), Bob Hunter (II) (Aztecs), Hurricane (Aztecs, Maya, numerous others)
Iluko (misc.), Isban Israel (white Africans)
Jack, Doc & Reggie (misc.), Jan of the Jungle (colony of Mu), Polaris Janess (Greeks), Billy Jenkins (Aztecs), Jongor (entire land of Caspak)
Ka-Zar (misc), Kennedy (white Aztecs [sic]), Lord Kingsley (Inca), John Kling (Maya), Richard Knight (misc.), Horst Kraft (white Chinese)
Nelson Lee (white Giants of El Dorado, Romans), Captain Livingstone (misc.), Luvium, Mammoths, Victor Marshall (Mah-Eng), Roderick McKay (white Amazonians), Captain Morgan (Aztec, Inca, Maya, Maori), Francis Morgan (misc.), Phil Morgan (Inca, misc.), Stanley Morton (white Africans), Motor Boys (Seminoles), Motor Rangers (Bolivians), Miss Mousqueterr (Dodekhan), Mystery Boys (II) (Inca)
New Robinson (white Polynesians), Nick (techno utopia)
Larry O'Brien (Mesopotamians), Ozar of the Aztec (Aztecs)
Bronc Peeler (Aztecs), Dick Peter (misc.), Jurgen Peters (Ophir), Harry Piel (Tibet), Nat Pinkerton (escaped slaves),
Loving Enemy. The “Loving Enemy” is the opponent of a story’s protagonist who also has romantic feelings for the protagonist, and who the protagonist is attracted to. But because the Loving Enemy is an enemy, the Loving Enemy and the protagonist cannot be together. In many (though not all) cases the pair are united in love by the end of the story, serial, or series. The quintessential Loving Enemy is Sexton Blake’s Mademoiselle Yvonne de Cartier, who would have been Blake’s wife if not for her criminal ways. (Irene Adler had respect for Sherlock Holmes, but not romantic affection).
Lord Barradine (Mary Fearn), Commandant Benoit (Erna Flieder), Sexton Blake (Mlle. Yvonne), Blue Jean Billy (Robert Wood), Anna Brandt (Jack Dering)
Kid Calvert (Sheriff Terry), Captain Midnight (Luna White, the Moon Woman), Captain Storm (Muley el-Kadel)
Daring & Co. (Max Matmaddox), Theodore Drost (Seymour Kennedy), Detective Duck (Lady Baffles), Dixon Hawke (the Black Angel)
Jack Hilton (Maruska, Queen of the Time Bandits)
IXE-13 (Taya)
Jumelia (Debendra Bijoy Mitra), Jungle Jim (Shanghai Lil)
Ambrose Lavendale (female spy), Anne & David Layton (Chamorin), Lê Phong (Henriette Mai Hu'o'ng), Nelson Lee (Mademoiselle Miton the Black Wolf), Terry Lee (La Choi San, the Dragon Lady), Lone Eagle (II) (R-47)
Magician (II) (the Tigress), Mandrake the Magician (Narda), Mr. Mystic (Elena), Debendra Bijoy Mitra (Jumelia),
Lupin. A Lupin is a man (usually) of Society, of good breeding and good manners, who enriches himself, or simply earns his daily wage, through crime, all while carrying himself in a high style and dressing in the most au courant fashion. What separates the Lupin from the ordinary master thief is the joie de vivre with which the Lupin carries himself, and the taunting relationship he maintains with police. (This is why Zenith the Albino is not a Lupin: Zenith is filled with weltschmertz, not joy). The Lupin, like the Bellem and the Great Detective, is named after the archetypal example of the character form: Maurice Leblanc’s Arsène Lupin. Arsène Lupin was not the first Lupin. One can argue that the historical gentleman bandits of the 17th century were Lupins avant la lettre, and Lupin fiction began with Grant Allen’s Colonel Clay (1896-1897). Some partisans will continue to maintain that A.J. Raffles is the quintessential gentleman thief. But Arsène Lupin is a more memorable character, as well as being better written, and ultimately it was Lupin rather than Raffles who better embodied the character type and was more influential on other characters.
Heywood Achison, John Ainsley, Alaska-Jim (Silken Jimmy), Frank Allan (J. Hopkins), Arita Ryuzo, Audax, Avni (misc.)
Band of Seven (laughing thief), Count Basil, Stephen Benedict, Luc Berville (Paul Dufresnoy), Black Cat, Black Dragon, Black Knight (I), Black Spider, Boston Betty, Boston Blackie, Felix Boyd (Karl Sleuger), Rolf Brand (misc.), Anna Brandt, Brenty, Dixon Brett (Black Eagle), Father Brown (Flambeau), Mack Bull, Baron Bunny, Yu Bu-ran, The Burglar
Cabriola, Bill Cannon, Jim Carly, Jim Carter, Cascarilla (I), Fred Caterpink, The Chameleon, Chinese Thief, Chucho el Roto, Samson Clairval, Hein Class (Leng Yok), Hamilton Cleek, Filip Collin, Charley Colmes (Knave of Spades), Cosgrove (Morgan), Crochard,
Daring & Co. (Max Matmaddox), Dark Lantern, Carter de Raven, Juan Del Duero, Lucien Delorme (misc.), Lloyd Demarest, Jack Desly, Daniel Desmond, Count Bindo di Ferraris, Riley Dillon, Dion, Bill Disley (Mr. Black), Doctor Niebla, John Doe (I), Guy Dorian, Dormouse, Valerie Drew (Marcelle Dauphine), Detective Duck (Lady Baffles), Baronet Duncan, Henri Dupie
Female Thief, Lindley Fenshaw (Ferris), Jack Forbes (Robinet), Colonel Forsythe, Mr. Fox, Will Fox, Harry Franklin, Jack Franklin (Jim Hundling), Fresquinho
Gagaklodra, Galaor, Gauner, Father Gomar, Gray Seal, Knut Gribb (Thomas Ryer), Griffard, Gu-Gu
Dr. Hanson, John Harrison, Ben Hassett, Hawker, Hermine, Raffles Holmes, Huo Sang (Lu Ping)
Yves Jarry, Jim-Joyce (Sir Fantasm), Jeremiah Jones, Marc Jordan (Comte de Cazales)
Kadri, King of Knaves, Ethel King (Stanford), William King, Lord Kingsley, John Kling
Robert Lacelles, Sophie Lang, Arsen Lapin, Tilki Leman, Lord Lister, Arsin Loupin, Lu Bin, Lu Ping, Arsene Lupien, Arsene Lupin
Alonzo MacTavish, Dan Maitland (Dan Anisty), Malabar, The Man in Purple, The Man with the Half-Mask, Georges Manolescu, Maud, Lady Mechante, Gerald Meldrick, Dirk Memling, Miss Robin Hood, Mister Nobody (II), Modern Thief, Moker, Inspector Morgan (I) (Gentleman Coggins), Phil Morgan (misc.), Antonio Mussolino, Jack Mylong (misc.)
Fred Parker (Monocle John), Bill Patmore, The Penman, Prince Petroff, Phantom of the Skyscrapers, Phantom Thief (I), Phantom Thief (II), Harry Piel (misc.), Fred Pinkerton (Gostin), Nat Pinkerton (misc.), George Edgar Pipe, Si Pitung, Max Pogge, Nic Pratt (Johnny Four Toes), Ramon Pujol,
Mad Scientist. This category includes both the malicious and cruel and those who are merely insane and given to joyfully shouNic Prattting “And they called me mad in school–MAD, I TELL YOU!”
Olaf K. Abelsen (Dr. Death), AC-12 (misc.), Adelita (misc.), Bernard Adrian, El Alacran (misc.), Frank Allan (misc.), Jimmie Allen (Prof. Partenon Proteus), Alraune (Dr. Ten Brinken), Apaches (III) (misc.), Claire Archer, Audaz (misc.), Avenger (II) (misc.)
Alan Baker (misc.), Bakterev, Professor Bandov, Professor Barter, The Bat (I), John Baxter (misc.), Jaime Bazan (misc.), Viola Beech (Franz Borg), Beiker (Dr. Burton), Knut Berg (Dr. Pang, Si Kahn), Big Chief Wahoo (Doctor Weerd), Biogeno (trio), Black Mask (III) (misc.), Dr. Blair, Blue Hawk (misc.), Boireau (misc.), Carlos & Marcos Bon (misc.), Boroff, Bos'n Hal (Doctor Cortex), Brick Bradford (misc.), Brain (Dr. Jaeger), James Brewster, Albert Brien (misc.)
Cameron, Captain Justice (Garth Leopold, misc.), Dr. Caresco, Paul Carruthers, Cesar (misc.), Charlie Chan (misc.), Chandu (misc., Roxor), Charro Negro (II) (misc.), Deepak Chatterjee (misc.), Chinese Mad Scientist, Chinese Scientist, Richard Ciruguel, Cutty Clay (misc.), Sir Ralf Clifford (Chinese), Bill Cnox (Devil Professors), Colette (misc.), Copperhead (Doctor Satan), Paul Coriolos, Daniel Craig (misc.), Dr. Crespi, Walter Crummel (Eric Grausmann), Dr. Cusick
Ace Dallas (misc.), Kurt Danner (misc.), Pietro Darena, Jack Darrell (Borgmann), Darwa (Professor Silvio), Gil Dax (misc.), Jules de Grandin (misc.), Department Z (misc.), Professor Dexter, The Doctor (misc.), Doctor Death, Doctor X, John Doe (I) (Dr. Gold), Richard Donovan (Franz Mueller), Richard Drake, Ethan Drew (Wise One), Colonel Dubois (misc.), Duke (Dr. Death), Paula Dupree (Dr. Walters, misc.), Dr. Dyenis
El Fantasma (misc.), Dr. Farrington, Jorn Farrow (misc., Dr. Singh Nokita), Felifax (Sir Edmund Sexton), Female Spy (Despaix), Dr. Flax, Dr. Forti, French Mad Scientist, French Scientist, Fu Manchu (II) (misc.)
Gadski, Garth (Mme. Voss, misc.), Bruce Gentry (Dr. Benson), Ghanada (Ludvic), Gilroy (misc.), Dr. Gogol, Colin Gray (misc.), Grey Claw, Tommy Grey, G-8 (Herr Doktor Krueger, many)
Dr. Eustace Hailey (misc.), Dr. Hallin, Harald Harst (Doctor Shing Guddai), Dixon Hawke (misc.), Harry Hill (misc.), Homunculus (Edgar Rodin), Homura Soroku (Dr. Otone), Hooded Terror, Hungarian Scientist, Hurricane (misc.), Hurricane Hutch (misc.)
Invisible Speedman (Doctor X), Robby Ix (Li-tang-ho), IXE-13 (misc.)
Jan of the Jungle (Doctor Bracken), Japanese Doctor, Genius Jones (John Harvard)
Princess Kah (Frankensteinian body-constructor), Kennedy, Professor Kern, Lord Kingsley (misc.), John Kling (misc.), Konserson, Korak, Kosmacs (Karl Dietz), Asbjorn Krag (Engineer Barra), Dr. Cornelius Kramm, Anton Krechet (misc.), Doktor Kuba
Arthur Lamb, Anthony Lance (misc.), Bradley Lane (Marnee), Dr. Laurence, Paul Lavond (Marcel), Doctor Lerne, Lord Lister (misc.)
Professor MacBeard, Mad Scientist (I), Mad Scientist (II), Mad Scientist (III), Mad Scientist (IV), Professor Magnus (Dr. Cicuta), James Mallaby (misc.), The Man From Nowhere, The Man with Two Heads (Dr. Lincoln), Mandrake the Magician (Luciphor, misc.), Richard Marlowe, Todd Marvel (Karl Kristian), Masaki, Master Magician (Ching Fu), Dr. Matto, Gaston Max (misc.), Albert Mayo (misc.), Mazalier (Marquis de Saint-Imier), Dan McCormick (Dr. Rigas), Dr. Meirschultz, Professor Merrivale, Ulrich Metz, Donald Millstein (Verensky), Miraculas (Prof. Spurtzheim), Miramar, Miramar, Mister District Attorney (misc.), Burton Montrose, Tom Morgan (Zaroff), Will Morton (would-be Frankenstein), Doctor Munsker, El Murcielago (Senor Z), M. Mystere (Breeder of Women)
Lee Nace (misc.), Yves Nedellec (misc.), New Eccentric Club (misc.), Myra North (Dr. Zero), Martin Numa (misc.), The Nyctalope (Oxus)
Octopus (II), Terence X. O'Leary (Count Joseph von Krassner), Dr. Ord
Doctor Palfrey (misc.), Fred Parker (various), Doctor Patki, Harry Piel (Professor Terlan, misc.), Nat Pinkerton (Doctor Myann), Ward Platt (Ainsworth), Posi & Nega (trio), Victor Poten, Preston, Professor Pye,
Nüxia/Wüxia. A wüxia is a wandering Chinese knight errant, with nüxia being the female version. There were historical wüxia, emerging during the chaos of the Warring States period (403-221 B.C.E.), and protecting the weak and oppressed against the powerful and unjust. Wüxia appear in the historical record through the centuries and dynasties, only disappearing during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 C.E.). In Chinese fiction the nüxia and wüxia are as common, and symbolically potent, as the cowboy is in Western fiction. The nüxia/wüxia is a highly skilled warrior and martial artist. Often (though not always) their mastery of qi has allowed them to “fly over eaves and walk on walls,” hence the description of wüxia as “flying swordsmen.” Martial artists who lack these superhuman skills are not included in this category.
Bai Suying, Judge Bao (assistants), Black Cloak, Black Peony
Chang Mei (assistants)
Fang Yuqin, Fei Long, Feng, Five Nuxia, Flying Swallow, Flying Tiger, Fong Sai Yuk
Guan Xiugu, Gui Wu (I), Gui Wu (II)
He Yufeng, Hero of the Air, Hong Xiaoyuan, Huo Yuanjia
Jiangnan Swordswoman, Jigong (friends)
Lady in Red, Li Ch’ih-chün (misc.), Li Feifei, Li Mu Bai, Long Menghua (misc.), Louw Tjheng Tie, Aunt Lu
Ma Yongzhen, Magic Eye, Mistress of the Spear
Judge Peng (assistants), Pirate Queen (I),
Occult Detective. Occult detectives are those investigators, usually gentlemen amateurs rather than professionals, who specialize in cases involving the supernatural. Although the occult detective first appeared in the 19th century–the character usually described as the first major occult detective is J.S. Le Fanu’s Doctor Hesselius (1869-1872)–it was in the 20th century, and in pulp fiction, that the occult detective became a distinctive character type.
Baroda, Luna Bartendale, Ivan Brodsky
Thomas Carnacki, Lucian Carolus, Francis Chard, Rex Cole, Jr., Cranshawe, Sheila Crerar
Dr. Danton, Jeffery Darke, Jules de Grandin, Sar Dubnotal, Doctor Dyn
Karamahati, Dr. Karnac, Moris Klaw, Kram
Michael Leigh, Dr. James Livingstone
Dr. Martinus, Mascar the Mystic, John Meredith, Mesmer Milann, Minx, Mister X, Doctor Muncing
Miles Pennoyer, Psychic Detective, Hugh Docre Purcell, Judge Keith Hilary Pursuivant,
Planetary Romance Hero. A planetary romance can be defined as a romance (in the traditional sense) in which a human in the modern day travels to another planet or moon and has an adventure there, in much the same way that wanderers in more traditional folktales went into Faerie, adventured there, and returned home. (In a sense Peter Pan can be seen as a kind of Planetary Romance Hero). As used in this encyclopedia, it refers specifically to characters who go from Earth to only one planet during the story, rather than touring the solar system, which is why Mr. Absurdity is not a Planetary Romance Hero, tempting though it was to include him here. Arguably the archetypal Planetary Romance Hero is John Carter.
Frank Alison, Lester Allison, Professor Arnoux, Awlo of Ulm
Narcisse Barbidon, Bel (Tyman Currio), Bell, Bigelow, Doctor Brande
Philip Carewe, John Carter, Jason Croft
Joe Dal, Robert Darvel, Ray de Astur, Mark Dexter, Dash Dixon, Doctor Omega
Five Greeks (I), Admiral Fudge, Daniel Futrell
Fred Harding, William Haverfield, Hodomur
Karl Lindner, Professor Longhorn, Los
Martians (misc.), Milton, Mortimer and Summers, Serge Myrandhal
Jack Paladin, Professor Palmer, Professor Planetarios,
Prehistoric Adventurer. Any character whose adventures take place before recorded history. (I.e., cavemen and cavewomen).
Protagonists of Color. A half-truth that persists in popular and academic discourse about the pulps is that they were an all-white affair, with no people of color shown in them. To a limited degree this is true: certainly many pulps were deeply whitewashed. But as mentioned in my On Racism piece, there were a surprising number of POC characters in a large number of pulps--non-stereotypical POCs, the ones written to be as free of negative stereotypes as the writers could manage. In this the pulps were the superior of their more mainstream contemporaries, who usually never bothered to show POC at all, or did so in the most limited and racist of ways.
The following list--by no means exhaustive--is intended to show the range of Protagonists of Color in the pulps--by which mean all the pulp protagonists & their sidekicks (and the pulp antagonists who have their own entry in this encyclopedia) who aren't considered white by white American society's current (extremely screwed-up) standards. So peoples from the northern coast of the Mediterranean are considered "white" and peoples from the eastern and southern coasts of the Mediterranean are not, despite the historical mixing of the two.
(Unfortunately, many of the characters included in this list are racist stereotypes. That, too, was the nature of the pulps, and denying it does nobody any good).
Yayne Ababa, Abadahalla-Fan, Mr. Absurdity, Mr. Abukir, Ace of Spades (I), Adelita, Agent YZ7, Tsang Ah-bou, Air Bandit, El Alacran, Alaska Jim (Old Crow), Hassam Ali, Pawang Ali, Frank Allan (Sam), Amarbal, Amat, Mynheer Amayat, Ishmael Ameer, Aminah, Anantcin, Angel (I), Jim Anthony, Antinea, Apache & Wagonwheel (Apache), Apaches (II), Arita Ryuzo, Avenger (II) (Josh & Rosabel Newton), Ayesha, Aztoc
Miss B, Sundar Babu, Bahama Bill, Bai Suying, Byomkesh Bakshi, Judge Bao, Bara, Inspector Barkatullah, Baroda, Bimbashi Baruk, Abdulkasim Basri, Teofilo Batanes, Batouk, Johannes Baumgart, Dr. Belsidus, Yusuf ben Yakoud, Bengali Inspector, Kishkish Bey, Big Chief Wahoo, Bill (Chon), Bimal, Biogeno (Ortiz), Black Abbot, Black Bandit, Black Cat, Black Cheetah, Black Cloak, Black Dragon, Black Horse, Black Knight (I), Black Mask (I), Black Peony, Monsieur Blackshirt, Bloody Hand, Blue Blaze (Eagle-Eye), Blue Hawk (Sheba), Blue Man, Blue Pete, Bokulmoon, Bomba (II), Napoleon Bonaparte, Border Bandit (misc.), Arindam Bosu, Botak, Leo Brandhorst, Bugwine Breck, Yu Bu-ran, Buffalo Bill (Lung Hi, misc. native friends), Burmese Swordsman, Ethan Burr (Sam Ming)
Cagayous, Steel Callaghan (Khan Sahib Yusuf Latif), Ethel Calvert (Dr. Oshida), Lightnin' Calvert (misc.), Roman Calvo, Campu, Cankarlal, Capitan Misterio (Pancho), Captain Mors (misc. crewmen), Captain Storm (Muley el-Kadel), Tom Cardiff (misc. Onondaga), Dr. Caresco, John Carruthers (Krishna), Hawk Carse (Friday), Nick Carter (I) (Ten-Ichi), Pepe Carter (Coco), Cha Erlang, Chaka, Charlie Chan, Chan Li Po, Chanda-Lung, Chandu (Nadji), Mr. Chang, Chang Mei, Charlie, Charro Negro (I), Charro Negro (II), Deepak Chatterjee, Cheng-Tu, Chibisuke, Chinese Detective, Chinese Gamine, Chinese Ghosts, Chinese Mad Scientist, Chinese Pirates, Chinese Scientist, Chinese Settlement, Chinese Spies, Chinese Spy, Chinese Thief, Chinese Woman, Chinese Vampire, Chinese Vampires, Chinese Zombie, Charlie Chong, Chu-Sheng, Chucho el Roto, Chuda (his twin), Dr. Chung, Ciclon (II) (Mootar Bin), Cigale (Doctor Mystery), Cisco Kid, Terry Clane (Yat T'oy), Jeff Clayton (Pong), Clifford (Chandra Pal), Conch Island, Le Droit Conners, Corson (Nueces), Pepe Cortes, Dr. Cranfield, Cranshawe (Japanese valet), Baltimore Criddle, Fabian Crum (Aga Aslan), Walter Crummel, Cuban Man, Werumeus Cuyk
Dakota Dan (Chief Kicking Horse), Dankichi, Dr. Danton (everyone), Dare-to-Die Fighters, Daring Damsel, Robert Darvel (Hindu Prince), Darwa (Lotec), Abel Daunt (Itoya), Daxo, Deadly Peasant, Deccan Queen, Deerslayer (Eagle Eye), Detective Nobody (Keigo), Detective No. 55, Detective's Wife, Devi, Savita Devi, Diamondstone (Absalom), Lieutenant Diego, Digambara Monk, Wan Teroena Djaja, Dreamy Dorkin (Chato), Abdul Dost, Drabczyk (Cherokee Al), Dragoman, Dragour (Kotman Dass), Dr. Duarte, Nita Duboin, Derwent Duff (Chin-Chin), Dukun, Dr. Dyenis
Eagle Eyes (White Feather), Tom Eagle, Easy Street Experts (Chinese valet), Ebony, Egyptian Clerk, Eight Immortals, Dr. Gar el Hama, Elang Emas, Pieter Elberveld, Electrical Expert, Enggang Enggap, Engineer, Estimaco, Chew Evans
Professor Fabricius, Falcon (II), Jeff Fanchon, Fang Yuqin, Fascinax (Hadaly), Fei Long, Felifax, Feng, Gordon Fife (Ali), Filipino Detective, Five Nüxia,
Jinx Jenkins, Jiangnan Swordswoman, Jigong, Jim Big-Knife, Jin Yaose, Jupiter Jones (I) (Sylvester), Shagbark Jones (Black Pete), Unofficial Jones, Vermilion Jones (White Mule), Zig Jones (Bolshevik Sparks), Juan Sin Miedo, Jumelia, Jungle Jim (Kolu), Junilla, Julio Jurenito
Princess Kah, Kai Lung, Nesho Kaik, Kala Naag, Kam Fung Chi, Kamizu Kyosuke, Solomon Kane (N'Longa), Ala Kasarib, Kee-On-Ee, Keiichi & Susumu, Ken (Pago), Dick Kent (Toma), Khabir, Chin Kwang Kham, Asaf Khan, Kharduni, Khlit, Khyzil Kaya, Ki-Gor (Timbu George, N'Geeso), Kid Montana (Rubriz), Kimo, Kindaichi Kosuke, King of Diamonds, King of the Cliffs, Ken King (Koko, Danny), Socks Kinsella (Eddie), Kio-Hako, Kioga (I) (Mokuyi), Dr. Kitsura, Kituk, Moris Klaw (Isis), Loke Klingsor, The Knight, Ko Daung, Komako Koa, Kogoro Akechi, Sun Koh (Jack Holligan), Koji, Korean Boys, Kovintan, Kowa, Koyala, Horst Kraft (Mokitu), Doktor Kuba, Kulafu, Kumar, Kunlun Monks, Kurama Tengu, Kuroda Morio, Vicitra Kuta, Kwan Ah Hing, Kwo Sung Tao
Lady Cavalier, Lady Ghost, Lady in Red, Lady of the Roses, Ladyland, Narayan Lal, Lampiao, Lao Can, Leatherface (II), Lee Fu Chang, Gaff Lee, Lucio Leon, Leyak, Li Ch’ih-chün, Li Fei, Li Feifei, Li Ku Yu, Li Lung, Li Meng, Li Moh, Li Mu Bai, Li Shoon, Li-Sin, Lim Quong, Lion Man (II), Little Orphan Annie (Punjab), Lo-Peng, Lobangu, Lone Eagle (I), Lone Ranger (Tonto), Long Menghua, Arsin Loupin, Louw Tjheng Tie, Aunt Lu, Fourth Madam Lu, Lu Bin, Lu Ping, Luis
Ma Yongzhen, Mabo, Mad Scientist (IV), Jose Manuel Madero, Magic Boy, Magic Eye, Magician (I), Magician (II), Mah le Sinistre, Mah-Topa, The Major (Jim), Mala, Mandrake the Magician (Lothar), Frank Manley (Inow Sato), Mary Manners, Margaret, Pablo & Sidney (Sidney), Richard Marlowe (Nicholas), Martians (misc.), Masaki, Juan Masili, Masked Cavalier, Masked Rider (I), Masked Rider (II) (Blue Hawk), Masked Terror, Jigger Masters (Mitsui), Idon Matambayi, Sadiu Mattchu, Jan Mayen (Clive), Violet McDade (Nevada Alvarado), Captain Craig McKenzie (Simba), Mendax (II), Bhaskara Menon, Patjar Merah, Mariano Mercado, John Meredith (Yussuf Khan), Frank & Dick Merriwell (Young Joe Crowfoot), Padre Metri, Mr. Middleton (Emir Achmed Ben Daoud), Minnalkodi, Si Mirah, Mr. Mystic (Council of Seven), Mistress of the Spear, Debendra Bijoy Mitra, Moab, Moctezuma, Mohan, Maria Molambo, Momotaro (I), Momotaro (II), Dr. Morel, Dr. Ralph Morgan (misc.), Mister Moto, Motor Cycle Chums (Wing Lung), Mu-Fa, Muththaiyan
Nameless Hero, Nan, Nan Guotai, Nancy, Nanuk, Nara-Nara, Natas, Eyene Ndongo, Neera, Pancho Negrete, Nena Sahib, New Leatherstocking (Tungas), Ng' Kee He, Ninja Boy, Ninja Woman, Niu Bi Zi, Harold Noice (Keyto), Dick Norton (Wanagu), November Joe, Nyctalope (Gno Mitang)
Oceyolotl, Officer 777, Ogon Batto, Oka-Shima, Oka-Yuma, Sadipe Okukenu, Old Mandy, Pat O'Maley (Loup), Omar, Omar the Black and Omar the Red, Ooka Echizen, Terrence O'Reilly (Prince Vinnie), Osman
Pa-Phu, Quentin Pace (Henry Fuller), Maria Padilha, Padmavati, Padmini, Mike Palabras, Joe Palooka (Smoky), Park Avenue Hunt Club (Wu), The Parson, Patmacani, Patoruzu, Pawney Bill, Pedro & Lourenco, Bronc Peeler (Little Beaver), Pel Pelham (circus folk), Peluk, Judge Peng, Pete (I), Pete (II), Dick Peter, Eric Peters, Ma Pettengill (Lew Wee), Phantom (II), Phantom (III) (Jungle Patrol, Guran), Phantom Crook (Soo Hoo Duck), Phantom Thief (II), Phaster Phene, Pirate Queen (I), Si Pitung, Placido, Plum Blossom, Juan Poker, Victor Poten, Prempeh, Peter Prime (Ahnotah), Prince of Gamma, Princess Iron Fan, Prosecutor, Purple Hood, Maung Pyon Cho
Rootless Veteran. The global economy underwent a recession following World War One. Such things usually happen after wars—wartime economies shift to peace economies, returning soldiers swell the ranks of the unemployed, and so on—but the war had badly damaged the industries and infrastructure of the European countries, caused countries to borrow money to pay for the war effort (which led to inflation), wiped out a significant percentage of the labor force, caused countries to incur large war debts, and removed the Russian market entirely. The post-WW1 recession lasted until the mid-1920s in Europe.
Because of this recession, many soldiers newly returned home were unable to find work and became the “New Poor.” Beyond their poverty and inability to get a job, they also suffered from a disconnection from society and a perceived lack of purpose or place. In reality many of these joined politically activist organizations, left-wing, right-wing, pacifist, or (in the United States in the early 1930s) the Bonus Army. In fiction, these soldiers, the Rootless Veterans, became adventurers, master thieves, and vigilantes. Unlike most of the other categories in this appendix, the Rootless Veteran is usually only the starting point for the character, rather than the eventual destination. (Demobbed veterans who return to the comfortable lifestyle they had before the war, like Colonel Cloudsdale and Victor Caryll, are not included here).
Tommy & Tuppence Beresford, Brigand, Wireless Bryce, James Clarkson-Perry, Jimmie Cordie, Harry Dangerfield, John Davies, Clive Dorry, Bulldog Drummond, Gang-Smasher, Peter Kerrigan, Major John T. Lacy, Roderick McKay, Tiny Meldrum, Phantom Detective,
SCIENCE!. In pulp fiction there is science, which is usually related however tangentially to ordinary physics, chemistry, and biology, and there is SCIENCE!, which involves fantastic inventions, creations, and conceits which are entirely impossible but which would be explained by the characters involved with their creation by a hand-wave and a triumphant “I created it using SCIENCE!”
Ace Ainsworth, Wenzel Aporius, Armando (misc.), Atalanta (Professor Dodd)
Professor Barter, The Bat (I), Dr. Belsidus, Victor Blake, Boy Inventors
Captain Future, Captain Justice (Science City), Doctor Caresco, Fred Cawthorne, Chinese Mad Scientist, Clev, Doctor Conklin
Dr. de Brutel, Derrickson Dene, Professor Diel, Doctor Death, Doctor Satan
Thomas Alva Edison, Elektropolis, Ell, Tom Emerson, El Espectro (Professor Zacary)
Dr. Flax, Timm Fox (Captain Black), Dr. Fulminate
Gadget Man, Sparkington Gapp, Gentleman of the Air, Ben Gleed, Walter Goodwin (Murians), Gorm (Uraniden), Sam Graves
Hidden Hand, Homura Soroku (Dr. Otone)
Jerusalem, JimGrim (Atlantean city in the Gobi Desert), Jin Yaose (gyno-utopia)
James Kestner, John Kling (misc.), Loke Klingsor, Sun Koh
Ladyland, Bradley Lane (Marnee), Lemurian Documents, The Lightning
The Man From Nowhere, MariPepa, Mazalier, Captain Craig McKenzie, Mentorians, Miraculas, Charlie Moran (Professor Moran), Phil Morgan, El Murcielago
Nan Guotai, Number 3, The Nyctalope (Baron Glo von Warteck)
Terence X. O'Leary (captive scientists)
Padmavati, Harry Piel (Professor Terlan), Victor Poten, Professor Powerby,
Scientific Detective. A “scientific detective” is a detective who uses the most modern scientific devices–a point the stories emphasize, repeatedly and at often tedious length–to solve crimes, and whose solutions to mysteries comes as a result of his or her scientific theories and devices. The archetypal Scientific Detective is Craig Kennedy.
Thomas Ashley, Pelham Bond, Dixon Brett, Charles Dagett, Detective Duck, Dr. Feather, Charlie Fenwick, Alan Ford, Kenyon Ford, Dr. Daniel Goodrich, Panther Grayle, John Hale, Barnabas Hildreth, Doc Judson, Arnold Keene & Bernard Young, Craig Kennedy, Blackstone Kent, Bradley Lane, Lynn Lash, Professor Armand Macklin, Magnum, Dr. Jeffrey McNeill, Lee Nace, Newton, Cyrus North, Sgt. C.O. Ponder,
South Seas Adventurer. The “South Seas adventurer” is a wandering character, usually a sailor, who travels around the islands of the South Pacific and finds adventure there.
Bantan, Captain Barrett, Bellow Bill, Binnacle Jim, Typhoon Bradley, Bob Braybrooke, Coppernob Buckland, Jack Cameron, Captain Careless, Hein Class (Chinese & Americans), Cock-Eye, Corrigan, Deacon, Swede, and Jellybean, Billy Englehart, Jorn Farrow (misc.), Shark Gotch, Ted Jones, Ken King, Dick Lestrange, Ponga Jim Mayo, Gwenn McKay, Captain McTeague, Tod Moran, Red O'Neill, Barbe Pivet,
Spinster Detective. The “spinster detective” is an elderly, unmarried, female amateur detective whose crime-solving acumen is larger than the male police who fail to solve the crimes she succeeds at. The archetypal Spinster Detective is Jane Marple.
Adelaide Adams, Amanda & Lutie Beagle, Minnie Birch, Hester Gregg, Jane Marple, Daisy Jane Mott, Rachel Murdock, Matilda Perks, Miss Phipps,
Superhuman. This category is broadly defined as including any human being who has abilities which are impossible in our world, from various psychic abilities to greater-than-human physical abilities to magic powers. This category does not include individuals who rely on tools or weapons to grant them superhuman abilities. (Which is why Kimball Kinnison is not here). Casual observers of the pulps have traditionally been under the impression that a large number of pulp characters were superhuman, while certain pulp aficionados have stridently denied that any pulp characters had superpowers. As can be seen from the following list, the truth lies somewhere in the middle.
AC-12 (misc.), Dr. Payson Alden, Hassam Ali, Alraune, Amarbal, Atalanta, Avenger (II), Aztoc
Baldies, Dan Barry, Luna Bartendale, Beiker, Bel, Black Bat (II), Black Diamond, Black Mask (III) (mesmerist), Black Raven, Blue Man, Bokulmoon, Shirley Bowman, Old King Brady, Victor Brand, Mister Brent, Billy Brown, Ben Bryn
Cagliostro, Capitan Misterio, Captain Hazzard, Captain Zero, Max Carrados, Dr. Carson, Celestia (Stilleter), Chandu, Chibisuke, Chu-Sheng, Ciclon (I), Ciclone, Hamilton Cleek, Colossus, Cat Colt, Le Droit Conners, Norman Conquest, Corsair X, Sheila Crerar, Dr. Theodore Cunliffe
Hugo Danner, Daxo, Dr. de Brutel, Major Dean, Lucien Delorme, Doctor Dolittle, Dexter Drake, Drude, Sar Dubnotal, Robert Dupont, Paula Dupree, John Durston, Dr. Dyenis
Pussy Fane, El Fantasma, Fascinax, Felifax, Phil Flash, Solange Fontaine, Frankenstein
Gagaklodra, Dr. Godfrey, Golden Amazon, Golden Mask, Jubal Grail, Green Lama
Colin Haig (Mme. Vanderdonk), Hugo Hercules, Robert Herne, Harry Hill, Jack Hilton, Hodomur, Hogbens, Hiram Holliday, Kay Hoog (Lio-Sha), Horse-Sense Hank, Tom Hypnos
Phileas Immanuel, Invisible Man (I), Invisible Man (II)
Jolly Jack Johnson, Eddie Jones, Marc Jordan (Comte de Cazales), Jumelia
Kachinskiy, Ketelbinkie, Athelstan King (mahatma), Hugo Kipp, Klara, Moris Klaw, Loke Klingsor, Richard Knight, Koyala, Kram
Lady Ghost, Andrew Latter, Pippi Longstocking, Lothel, Letty Lou, Lubineski
Doctor Mabuse, Magic Boy, Magic Eye, Magician (I), Magician (II), Mala, Man with a Thousand Faces, The Man with the Molten Face, Frank Manley (Inow Sato), Mary Manners, William Manners, Diana Marburg, Dr. Martinus, Dan McCormick, Captain Craig McKenzie, Squeakie Meadows, Patjar Merah, Warren Mercer, Olga Mesmer, Mesmerist, Mexican Man, Miramar, Mr. Mystic, Mister Nothing, The Mocker, Momotaro (I), Momotaro (II), Phil Morgan, Dr. Ralph Morgan, Aarn Munro, El Murcielago, M. Mystere (WW2 veterans)
Andre Narcy (Living Men), Natas, Neera, Jack Nelson (Ta Clo), Night Wind, The Nyctalope
Ogon Batto, Omar, Scarlet O'Neil, Neils Orsen, Owl Witch
Pao Tcheou, Fred Parker (mesmerist), Doctor Patki, Patsy (Phantom Magician), Miles Pennoyer, Phantasma (murderous mesmerist), Phantom (I), Phaster Phene, Pa Pinkelman, Si Pitung, Popeye, Prince of Gamma, Princess Radost, Psychic Detective,
Tall Tale Teller. As long as men have been interested in sex, fishing, and drinking, there have been tall tale tellers, whose stories are as rich in entertainment as they are poor in truthfulness. As far as pulp fiction is concerned, the archetypal Tall Tale Teller was Karl Friedrich Hieronymous, Baron von Münchhausen (1720-1797), immortalized in Rudolf Raspe’s Baron Münchhausen's Narrative of His Marvellous Travels and Campaigns in Russia (1785) and imitated by characters in this book in various ways, including Baron Münchhausen (II).
Bobby Benson (Windy Wales), Thibault Corday, Curly, Baron de Crac, Doctor Dogbody, Lefty Feep, Ghanada, Henry Gibson, Boomer Jones, Cal Jones, Joseph Jorkens, Karmesin, Colonel Heeza Liar, Murchison Morks, Baron Munchhausen (II), Mr. Pagett,
Unlucky Inventor. A recurring character type in science fiction of the pulp era is the brilliant inventor whose creations never quite work out as planned, with wacky zaniness resulting.
Bagley, Professor Branestawm, Archibald Catfitz, Centerbe Ermete, Mr. Fosdick, Harley Gale, Sparkington Gapp, Dr. Hackensaw, Mr. Hawkins, Professor Hicks, Professor Homer Higginbottom, Henry Horn, Professor Jephtha Jonkin, Mendax (I), Jerome Mudgewood, Pat Pending, Professor Persikov, Hiram Pertwee (I),
Wanted Man. A stand-by of pulp fiction (in any medium) is the Wanted Man, the innocent man (or woman) wrongly accused who has to forever wander, one step ahead of the police.
Olaf K. Abelsen, Nick Albert, Apache & Wagonwheel (Apache)
Captain Montana, Hawk Carse (Leithgow), Comanche Kid, The Convict, Jim Curry
Dick Darrell, Terry Dennis, Dodge City Kid, John Doe (II), Bert Donaldson, Buck Duane
Firebrand (II), Flying Justice, Captain Frass, Nick Fury
Rowdy Lang, League of Avengers, Leikhveis, Long Sam Littlejohn, Arsene Lupien
Pinto Martin, Masked Rider (II), Rod Mason, Mavericks (Flint Maddox), Tensleep Maxon
What's All This, Then. The What’s All This, Then is a specific type of policeman usually seen in British detective fiction, although they are not unknown to American mysteries. The What’s All This Then is blundering, blithe, officious, not overly intelligent but cunning, cheerful, and close to (if not stepping over the line into) bullying–the type of policeman who will intrude into any situation with a loud “What’s all this, then?”
William Beef, P.C. Belbin, John Boddy, Bloodhound Brant, Inspector Byrne, Sergeant Dean, Laurence Gilmartin, Inspector Gramport, Superintendent Hannasyde, Inspector Headcorn, Cuthbert Higgins, Inspector Hornleigh, Mr. Macauley, Superintendent Mallett, P.C. McGinty, George Meatyard, Inspector M'Guire, Superintendent Minter, Inspector Mitchell, Inspector Penk,
White Peril. It is perhaps unfair to make this a separate entity, as it implies some sort of equivalency with Yellow Perils, but there is a tendency in genre pulp fiction produced by Asians (and occasionally Europeans—see Sandokan) to portray white people, either individually or as a group, as cartoonishly evil and filled with lust, spite, malice, and a desire to subjugate all the non-white races, in much the same way that the Yellow Peril stereotype portrays Asians individually and as a group. There is not the same distinct evolution in the White Peril stereotype as there is in the Yellow Peril stereotype, but it is a recurring trope. The White Peril character isn’t simply an evil white man or woman, but someone whose evil is so over-the-top, so ludicrously overdone, so full of evil plans for non-whites, that they are as ridiculous, unrealistic, and the product of bigotry as the Yellow Peril character.
Agent YZ7 (British), American Spy, John Andrews, Burkhewala, Chinese Pirates, Dankichi (Europeans), Fuhrman Chu (misc.), Fuji (misc.), Gand'oki (British), Hiroshi (US & UK), Huang Zhisheng (European countries, USA), Japanese Inventor (USA), Japanese Patriots (the entire West), Koyala (Dutch, misc.), Mabo (British), Patjar Merah (Dutch), Eyene Ndongo (colonialist whites), Ooka Echizen (misc.), Prince of Gamma (misc.),
Yellow Peril. The racist, anti-Asian stereotype of the Yellow Peril encompasses both Asians as an undifferentiated group and individual Asians (usually Chinese or Japanese but occasionally even Indian). The Yellow Peril stereotype has its roots in the anti-Spanish, anti-Catholic “Black Legend” of the 14th and 15th centuries, and in various fictional Asians in late 19th and early 20th century popular fiction. These individuals had four elements: military threat to the West, magical/sorcerous menace, revenge from wounded pride (either cultural or sexual/romantic), and crime lord living in the West. Fu Manchu (I) was the first Yellow Peril to combine all of these elements, and most (though not all) Yellow Perils following him were modeled on him more or less directly.
Abdahalla-Fan, AC-12 (misc.), Ace of Spades (II) (misc.), Agent J (Chinese), El Alacran (misc.), Alaska-Jim (Opium Kings), Roberto Alcazar (misc., Fu Manchu (I)), Hassam Ali, Frank Allan (misc.), Amarbal, Harald Ask (misc.), Awlo of Ulm (Kau), Dusty Ayres (Fire-Eyes)
Bain Children (misc.), Alan Baker (Black Dragon), Red Barry (The Flame), Rex Baxter (Lerzal), Jaime Bazan (Red Dragon), Max Beaumont (misc.), Bellow Bill (Chinese), Rex Bennett (Prince Haruchi), Knut Berg (Si Kahn), Bill (Sect of the Buddha), Bill and Samuel (Chinese), Black Abbott (Prince Wu Fang), Black Bird (misc.), Black Mask (III) (Chinese-Canadians), Black Sapper (Khansu), Rudolf Black (Chinese), Sexton Blake (Prince Wu Ling), Botak, Jack Bowden (Chinese opium den master), Old King Brady (Hi-Lo-Jak), Heinz Brandt (Chinese), Derrick Brent (misc.), Dixon Brett (Fan Chu Fang), Bronson Beta (Dominion of Asian Realists), Arthur Brooke (Chinese), Buffalo Bill (Lung Hi), Dick Bullitt (Shu Ling)
Inspector Cadman (Doctor Deo), Al Capone (I) (misc.), Captain Justice (Yong Huey), Captain Midnight (Barracuda, Ivan Shark, misc.), Captain Mors (Japanese airmen), Curtis Carr (Tibetan), Hawk Carse (Ku Sui), Dr. Carson (Tongs), Fred Cawthorne (misc.), Chanda-Lung, Chandu (misc.), Mr. Chang, Cheng-Tu, Chip (Tao Ling), Chu-Sheng, Cigale (Emperor Tsou-Hsi), Mr. Clare (Indian plane builders), Hein Class (Buddhist stranglers), John Class (misc.), Winthrop Clavering (misc.), Jack Clayton (Chinese & Japanese), Clifford (Yuki), Sir Ralf Clifford (Chinese), Crash Corrigan (Unga Khan), Stony Craig (Tania), Captain Crouch (Chinese)
Joe Dal (Li-Ping), Ace Dallas (misc.), Bartholomew Dane (misc.), Colwyn Dane (misc.), Kurt Danner (misc.), Gilbert Davison (Japanese), Dr. Nancy Dayland (Golden Scorpions), Ray de Astur (Queen of Ceres), Death Angel (Tong assassins), Michael Dene (misc.), Detective Nobody (Baron Nogi & the Yellow Dragons), Devi, Diamond Dick (misc.), Dikar (Japanese), Riley Dillon (Mr. Takashi), Dinky Dinkerton (misc.), Elaine Dodge (Wu Fang), Dick Donovan (misc.), Richard Drake (Wang Wu), Royston Drake (Wen Lun), Valerie Drew (misc.), Ace Drummond (Chinese), Ford Duane (Baron Odon), Duke (Dragons of Confucious), Dan Dunn (Wu Fang), Marcel Dunot (Mme. Eventail), Ted Dustin (P'an-Ku)
Val Easton (Carl Zaken, Chang Ch'ien)
Frank Faber (misc.), Fred Faber (Chinese pirates), Norbert Falk (Chinese), Jorn Farrow (misc., Dr. Singh Nokita, Lu Wang), Jack Fenton (Ming-Fu the Merciless), Ferry (Wu-Li), John Flood (Chinese crimelords), Flying Tramp (misc.), Four Musketeers (Yellow Dragon), Dan Fowler (misc.), Timm Fox (Sect of the Radiating Sun), French Aviator (misc.), French Commissioner (Chinese drug gang), French Pilot (Chinese warlords), Fu Manchu (I), Fu Manchu (II), Fuhrman Chu
Gales & McGill (Chinese mandarins), Claude Galloway (Chinese), Captain Gardiner (Wu), Victor Gaunt (misc.), Captain Gauthier (Orienta), Captain Goodwin (Japanese), Flash Gordon (Ming the Merciless), Mr. Greenleaf (Japanese master spy), Maud Gregaards (misc.), Griffin, G-8 (misc.)
Halloran (misc.), Francis Hardant (Natas), Bob Harder (Shih Yu, Fu Manchu (I)), Neil Hardin (misc.), Jimmy Harding (Wang-Hi), Kathlyn Hare (Umballah), Harald Harst (Doctor Shing Guddai), David Haslup (misc.), Hazard & Partridge (Koshinga), Helene (I) (Dr. Tokeramo), Harry Hill (opium den operator), Carter Holmes (Yellow Octopus), Martin Holt (misc.), Kay Hoog (Lio-Sha), Lt. Jarvis Hope (Tatsuma)
Nikolai Ignatiev (Chinese mandarin), Italian Adventurer (Mr. Wang, Gentleman of Color), Robby Ix (Li-tang-ho), IXE-13 (Taya)
JimGrim (Dorje), Joao of Portugal (Zamar the Monster), Captain Jones (misc.), Ted Jones (Coral Prince, misc.), Genezyp Kapen (Murti-Bing), Ala Kasarib, Gable Keen (misc.). Oliver Keene (Japanese), Nick Kennedy (Fang Wu), Khyzil Kaya, Ethel King (Long Ho), Frank Kingston (misc.), Cameo Kirby (Wah Foo Wah), Dr. Kitsura (the Yellow Wheel), John Kling (atomic-powered Chinese), Richard Knight (Japanese), Koji (Chang Fow), Kowa, Horst Kraft (Shanghai opium kings), Kwo Sung Tao, Lynn Lash (misc.), Nelson Lee (Foo Chow), Terry Lee (La Choi San, the Dragon Lady), Vivian LeGrand (Hoang Fi Tu), Selston Leigh (misc.), Li Ku Yu, Li Lung, Li Shoon, Li-Sin, Lim Quong, Taffy Llewellyn (Yellow Dragon), Lo-Peng, Ferrers Locke (Tang Wang, Kang-Pu, many others), Rex Lonergan (misc.), Arsene Lupien (the Monster of Chinatown)
Maciste (I) (Japanese spy), Mah le Sinistre, Tommy Malins (misc.), Mandrake the Magician (The Octopus), Capitan Maravillas (Gold Scorpion), Marduk ("the East"), Sean Marlin (Li Guer), Todd Marvel (Wang Tai), Masked Marvel (Sakima), Masked Warrior (misc.), Master Magician (Ching Fu), Joe Master (The Sphinx), Gaston Max (Mr. King), Captain McTeague (Po Sung, N'Yeng Sen), Mendax (II), Burton Meredith (Wu Fang), Miss Nobody (opium den operators), Mister Nobody (I) (Yellow Dragon), Mister X (misc.), Moker (One-Eyed Tibetan), Morel (Japanese), Phil Morgan (Ohi-Fu), Will Morton (opium lord, Japanese militarist), Miss Mousqueterr (Hindu priest), El Murcielago (ally of Senor Z), Jack Mylong (supernatural Chinese)
Natas, Jack Nelson (Ta Clo), New Buffalo Bill (Chinese), New Eccentric Club (Parisian Chinese), New Leatherstocking (opium dealers in San Francisco), Dorus Noel (Chu Chul the Cricket), Myra North (Ming Sin), Martin Numa (misc.), Number 13 (Chinese), The Nyctalope (Leonid Zattan)
Operator #5 (Moto Taronago), Oscar-Bill (Chinese), Michael O'Shea (The Painted Joss and the Sect of the Fatal Obligation)
Pao Tcheou, Fred Parker (misc.), Captain Donald Parr (Baron Huroki), Pearl (Silent Menace), Jack Pearson (misc.), Pelican (Blue Dragon), Peter the Brazen (numerous), Jurgen Peters (misc.), Phantom Detective (Li Hung), Harry Piel (misc.), Fred Pinkerton (Li Tschung), Nat Pinkerton (Chinese Karl, Li Lo Tsching), Pirate Queen (II) (Saba), Leon Pitaval (misc.), Eddy Polo (II) (misc.), Solar Pons (Fu Manchu (I), others), Victor Poten (Sonya Rokoff),
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