Norvell Page

Norvell W. Page is regarded as one of the leading writers in pulp fiction. He was a newspaper reporter after college, then successfully entered the world of pulp fiction, becoming a regular contributor to the legendary "Black Mask", where Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett first achieved recognition. Popular Publications lured Norvell Page to write for "Dime Mystery" magazine. Soon, Popular Publications, noting the popularity of the best-selling hero pulps "Doc Savage" and "The Shadow",...See more

Norvell W. Page is regarded as one of the leading writers in pulp fiction. He was a newspaper reporter after college, then successfully entered the world of pulp fiction, becoming a regular contributor to the legendary "Black Mask", where Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett first achieved recognition. Popular Publications lured Norvell Page to write for "Dime Mystery" magazine. Soon, Popular Publications, noting the popularity of the best-selling hero pulps "Doc Savage" and "The Shadow", launched "The Spider" magazine in 1933, with a new novel of the exploits of the masked crime fighter appearing every month, written by Norvell Page under the pseudonym of "Grant Stockbridge." The magazine was published between October 1933 and December 1943 and ran for 118 issues, ceasing only when the services of Norvell Page were needed for the war effort. During his run, the Spider starred in two Columbia Pictures action serials and his image was successfully merchandised. (Today, a Spider ring in fine condition has a $10,000 value to collectors.) And the pulp is fondly remembered by many of its readers. The late Charles M. Schulz, creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip, once wrote, "I still remember how he used to leap into a room doing a somersault while his two heavy 45's jumped into his hands. They were great stories." He added, "I could hardly stand to live from one month to another when the new Spider novel would come out." See less