Created by Pat Mussili, Joe Gill and Dick Giordano "A cool knowing man who savors danger... who will not make one concession to fear... and whose fees may be as little as a smile from a pretty girl!" -- cover blurb from Sarge Steel--Private Detective #1 At 6'1", 198 pounds, blue eyes, black hair and a … Continue reading Sarge Steel
Tag: Defective Detectives
Leonard Shelby (Memento)
Created by Jonathan Nolan Adapted for the screen by Christopher Nolan ''I can't make new memories.'' Seen Memento yet? It's a truly mind-blowing film that should get as much exposure as possible. The main character, LEONARD SHELBY, is (or at least was) a P.I. (well, actually, an insurance investigator). But I think this qualifies him … Continue reading Leonard Shelby (Memento)
Lin Melchan
Created by Warren Lucas Pseudonym of John Kobler (1910-2000) He's usually lumped in with the infamous "defective detectives" of the "weird menace" pulps of the 1930s, but private eye LIN MELCHAN's "affliction" is pretty much the opposite of that of Leon Byrne's deaf detective Dan Holden. Lin was blessed (or was it cursed?) with a … Continue reading Lin Melchan
Caleb Zelic
Created by Emma Viskic "Caleb Zelic can't hear you but he sees everything." — now that is one great tagline Brutal. That's the word that comes to mind oftenwhen trying to describe this wrenching series. Reminiscent at times of Andrew Vachhs or Paul Cleave, nothing is done by half-measures. When people are killed, they're really … Continue reading Caleb Zelic
Calvin Kane
Created by Russell Gray Pseudonym of Bruno Fischer Other pseudonyms include Harrison Storm) (1908-1992) Ladies and gentlemen, step right up and behold the infamous Crab Detective! CALVIN KANE was a pulp-era private eye from the thirties whose "severely deformed body made him look like a refugee from a side-show attraction," according to Don Hutchison, pulp historian. … Continue reading Calvin Kane
Nicholas Street
Created by Nat Schachner Pseudonyms include Otis Cameron, Chan Corbett (1895-1955) One of the very first of the pulp's so-called "defective detectives," NICHOLAS STREET suffered from amnesia, thanks to a severe blow to the head (he took his name from where he was found). When we first meet him, he's only recently sprung from the hospital, and … Continue reading Nicholas Street
Peter Quest
Created by John Kobler Pseudonyms include Warren Lucas (1910-2000) Hokey as heck, but Hey! It's the pulps! One of the infamous "defective detectives," former medical student PETER QUEST was a nearly-blind New York City private eye who suffered from glaucoma. Not the world's most well-adjusted individual, his affliction left Peter a "reckless, world-weary embittered man" … Continue reading Peter Quest
Willard P. Webb & Bruno Steele
Created by Curtiss T. Gardner (1898--) Somebody sent me this, with no explanation, but it does sound intriguing... I mean, a couple of insurance dicks, working as a team? And one of them is blind? And those names! WILLARD P. WEBB? BRUNO STEELE? Visions of some unholy, pulpy mix of Double Indemnity and Longstreet are … Continue reading Willard P. Webb & Bruno Steele
“Slot Machine” Kelly
Created by Dennis Lynds (1924-2005) Dennis Lynds' one-armed misfit New York City private peeper "SLOT MACHINE" KELLY was more than just another defective detective--he was the dry run for the author's later, far more successful one-armed misfit New York City private peeper Dan Fortune, which he wrote under his Michael Collins pseudonym. "Slot" showed up in a … Continue reading “Slot Machine” Kelly
Dan Fortune
Created by Michael Collins Pseudonym of Dennis Lynds "We are a species that preys on itself. We live on our own kind, hunt each other. That's what I wanted to tell the girl who faced me across the desk in the office part of my one-room loft, but I didn't. I told her what the … Continue reading Dan Fortune