Ah, pulp fiction! A phenomenon born in the turbulent early 20th century, when the hum of industry met the restless spirit of imagination. These humble volumes, printed on coarse, wood-pulp paper, were nothing short of a revolution—a carnival of tales that roared into the hearts of the masses. Within their yellowed pages emerged worlds uncharted, heroes untamed. The Shadow, mysterious and shrouded; Conan, a barbarian fated to stride across the gilded kingdoms of fantasy; and the bronze marvel, Doc Savage, a beacon of intellect and brawn. These characters became legends, titans etched into the firmament of pop culture. Pulp magazines did not merely entertain; they shaped the very DNA of modern storytelling—comics, cinema, television. Their serialized sagas built suspense like an orchestral crescendo, their impact echoing like the footsteps of giants through time. Even now, in our age of screens and spectacle, the spirit of pulp persists, fueling our hunger for adventure, mystery, and the eternal clash between darkness and light.


 


This Day In Pulp:


Magazine Debuts


    

  1. The Argosy (October 1896): The first pulp magazine, initially a children's weekly, became an all-fiction adult magazine.
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  2. The Popular Magazine (1903): Known for featuring cover art by N.C. Wyeth.
    3. 

  3. All-Story Magazine (1905): Published notable stories including the debut of Tarzan.
    4. 

  4. Blue Book (1905): Known for a wide range of short fiction.
    5. 

  5. Adventure (1910): Became a major publisher of adventure stories.
    6. 

  6. Black Mask (1920): Famous for hardboiled detective stories, featuring authors like Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler.
    7. 

  7. Weird Tales (1923): Known for horror and fantasy, publishing H.P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard.
    8. 

  8. Amazing Stories (1926): The first magazine devoted to science fiction.
    9. 

  9. Astounding Stories (January 1930): A significant science fiction magazine, later known as Analog.
    10. 



Well-Known Pulp Characters


    

  1. Flash Gordon: First appeared in King Comics #7 in January 1934. Known for his science fiction adventures on the planet Mongo.
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  2. The Shadow: Debuted in The Shadow Magazine "The Living Shadow" in April 1931. A mysterious vigilante fighting crime.
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  3. Conan the Barbarian: First appeared in Weird Tales "The Phoenix On The Sword" in December 1932. A legendary warrior in the Hyborian Age.
    4. 

  4. Doc Savage: Debuted in Doc Savage Magazine #1 in March 1933. An adventurer and scientist known as the "Man of Bronze."
    5. 

  5. Zorro: First appeared in All-Story Weekly "The Curse Of Capistrano" in August 1919. A swashbuckling hero with a signature "Z" mark.
    6. 

  6. Buck Rogers: Debuted in January 1929. A science fiction hero who awakens in the 25th century.
    7. 

  7. John Carter: First appeared in A Princess Of Mars in February 1912. A soldier turned adventurer on Mars.
    8. 

  8. The Phantom: Debuted in February 1936. Known as the "Ghost Who Walks," a masked crime-fighter.
    9. 

  9. Solomon Kane: First appeared in Weird Tales "Red Shadows" in August 1928. A Puritan adventurer battling evil.
    10. 



Lesser-Known Pulp Characters


    

  1. Fascinax: An obscure French pulp hero from the 1920s, known for his mystical adventures.
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  2. Rocambole: Transitioned from a thief to a proto-superhero.
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  3. Judex: A precursor to heroes like The Shadow, prowling Paris streets against crime around 1914.
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  4. Nyctalope: A hero with the ability to see in the dark and an artificial heart.
    5. 

  5. Sar Dubnotal: A French pulp hero, possibly the first paranormal investigator/mystical-based superhero.
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  6. Harry Dickson: Known as the "American Sherlock Holmes," popular in Belgium and France.
    7. 





Important Birthdays


    

  1. 

    H.P. Lovecraft
    

      

    • Born: August 20, 1890
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    • Died: March 15, 1937
      
Lovecraft is renowned for his creation of the Cthulhu Mythos, a universe filled with cosmic horror and ancient deities. His work has profoundly influenced the horror genre, blending science fiction with the supernatural.
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    2. 

  2. 

    Robert E. Howard
    

      

    • Born: January 22, 1906
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    • Died: June 11, 1936
      
Howard is best known for creating Conan the Barbarian, a character that defined the sword and sorcery genre. His vivid storytelling and dynamic characters have left a lasting legacy in fantasy literature.
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    3. 

  3. 

    Dashiell Hammett
    

      

    • Born: May 27, 1894
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    • Died: January 10, 1961
      
Hammett brought a gritty realism to detective fiction with works like "The Maltese Falcon" and "The Thin Man." His hard-boiled style set the standard for crime noir and influenced countless writers and filmmakers.
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    4. 

  4. 

    Raymond Chandler
    

      

    • Born: July 23, 1888
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    • Died: March 26, 1959
      
Chandler's creation of the private detective Philip Marlowe introduced a new level of sophistication and depth to crime fiction. His lyrical prose and complex plots have made him a cornerstone of the noir genre.
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    5. 

  5. 

    Edgar Rice Burroughs
    

      

    • Born: September 1, 1875
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    • Died: March 19, 1950
      
Burroughs is celebrated for his adventurous tales of Tarzan and John Carter of Mars. His imaginative worlds and heroic characters have captivated readers and inspired numerous adaptations in various media.
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    6. 

  6. 

    Lester Dent
    

      

    • Born: October 12, 1904
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    • Died: March 11, 1959
      
Dent is the mastermind behind Doc Savage, a character who epitomizes the pulp hero archetype. His fast-paced, action-packed stories have influenced the superhero genre and adventure fiction.
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    7. 

  7. 

    Clark Ashton Smith
    

      

    • Born: January 13, 1893
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    • Died: August 14, 1961
      
Smith's work is known for its rich, poetic language and dark fantasy themes. His contributions to the Cthulhu Mythos and his own unique worlds have made him a key figure in weird fiction.
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    8. 

  8. 

    Walter B. Gibson
    

      

    • Born: September 12, 1897
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    • Died: December 6, 1985
      
Gibson created The Shadow, a mysterious vigilante who became a cultural icon. His stories combined elements of mystery, adventure, and the supernatural, paving the way for future superhero narratives.
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    9. 





Ladies and gentlemen, we are the Worlds of Pulp™ TTRPG, and we are the torchbearers of a bygone era, a world brimming with boundless imagination and the raw, untamed spirit of storytelling. The golden age of pulp fiction was no mere entertainment—it was an engine of dreams, birthing heroes, villains, and worlds that defined the foundations of modern pop culture. To us, this knowledge is sacred; it’s a doorway to a legacy of adventure, grit, and wonder that shaped the way we tell stories even now. And why should it matter to you? Because when you sit at the table, roll the dice, and step into the infinite realms of Worlds of Pulp™, you’re not just playing a game—you’re stepping into the shoes of epic adventurers, unlocking a vibrant history, and joining a tradition of bold creativity that has inspired generations. Together, we do more than play; we relight the fires of imagination that the pulp titans set ablaze. Shall we begin?