• Rhea Tagashi: studied ninjitsu with Wallace and fell in love with him, following him to America
• Jeff Archer: Brett's American student of ninjitsu
The clan fought pimps, muggers, child abusers and mobsters. The initial series ended with the ninja clan fighting an out-of-control gang of vigilantes known as the Revenge House based out of the Cannon Crossing Gun Club. The psychological effects of that battle and Brett's war on crime were played out in the Year of the Ninja Master series. In War of the Ninja Master, Brett discovered that the Japanese ninja clan who trained him was in fact exploiting him and he went to war against them.
Behind the Scenes
Wade Barker is the pseudonym for Ric Meyers. Meyers has also ghosted for Dirty Harry and the Destroyer. Under his own name, he has written Jackie Chan comics and several nonfiction works on martial arts films.
The Books
All books were published by Warner Books:
1. Vengeance Is His, 187 pages, 1981
2. Mountain of Fear, 158 pages, 1981
3. Borderland of Fear, 175 pages, 1982
4. Million-Dollar Massacre, 173 pages, 1982
5. Black Magician, 159 pages, 1982
6. Death's Door, 174 pages, 1982
7. Skin Swindle, 173 pages, 1983
8. Only the Good Die, 174 pages, 1983
Year of the Ninja Master
1. Dragon Rising (Spring), 280 pages, 1985
2. Lions Fire (Summer), 276 pages, 1985
3. Serpent's Eye (Autumn), 243 pages, 1985
4. Phoenix Sword (Winter), 246 pages, 1986
War of the Ninja Master
1. Kohga Ritual, 276 pages, 1988
2. Shimbo Discipline, 279 pages, 1988
3. Himitsu Attack, 215 pages, 1988
4. Zakka Slaughter, 246 pages, 1988
Orion (Sebastian Cord)
Three books by Aaron Allston, Warren Spector, and David Cook
In the beginning, there was the Web. Web was a vast conspiracy, so big that every time the authorities stumbled on one of their divisions it was thought that a whole new group was discovered. The Web is known by many different names which are sadly never revealed in this series but it is tempting to suggest that many different criminal organizations seen in other series might be divisions of the Web.
Conventional law enforcement agencies could be effective against the various arms of the Web within their own jurisdictions but given the global nature of the Web syndicate, there was little they could do to bring down this conspiracy. What was needed was an organization similar in scope to the Web, equally unfettered by the rules and boundaries of society. Ironically, the source of this organization was Web itself. In the wake of their criminal operations, a number of victims decided to fight back against the Web. These victims found each other and began to start pooling resources and information. The Orion Foundation was born.
The top team of the Orion Foundation is the M-Squad, a three-person, highly mobile team consisting of:
• Sebastian Cord: code-named Mercury; team leader who came to the attention of Web when he won at blackjack against a Web operative. The money wasn't the operative's to gamble and he tried to kill Cord. Cord was rescued by Orion operatives and decided to join.
• Gilda Ginsel: code-named the Mechanic; this blonde German bombshell is a mechanical genius and a lethal shot.
• Rodrigo the Great: code-named the Magician; a stage magician, Rodrigo is a part-time operative of Orion and uses his stagecraft to distract his adversaries.
• Scott Beattie: the Runner; joins the team when he is framed by the Web for one of their assassinations which formed the basis for their first adventure.
Being mobile, the team is able to track and fight the Web around the world, including missions such as assisting Web defectors who are kidnapped by UFO.
Behind the Scenes
The series was developed by TSR as scenario for their TOP SECRET role playing game and was published in their Double Agent format as a double novel, initially paired with Flint Dille and David Marconi's Agent 13 pulp series, then with the Agents of Fortune series. Aaron Allston is also the author of the Doc Savage-inspired fantasy series Doc Sidhe.
The Books
All books were published by TSR Books:
1. Web of Danger, 210 pages, 1988 (Aaron Allston)
2. The Hollow Earth Affair, 314 pages, 1988 (Warren Spector)
3. Glitch, 318 pages, 1988 (David Cook)
The Comic
In 1990, TSR Comics published a four-issue mini-series, 13 Assassin, which featured the modern-day adventures of their Agent 13 novel series, set in the 1930s. The exploits of Orion formed the basis of the backup feature, The Final Weapon. This story follows Roger Mason and his disillusionment with the Orion Foundation and the discovery of Web double agents in Orion. Issue 3 provides character information and statistics for Mason and his ally Twyla Nash. The Final Weapon was written by Scott Haring with art by Frank Springer and Brian Garvey.
Overload
Twelve books by Bob Ham
Mark Lee and Carl Browne are ex-Delta Force anti-terrorist commandos who, after retiring, formed the Leeco Trucking Company. These highly trained warriors wanted a simple life in their retirement but found that the trucking business was nearly as dangerous and deadly as their time in Delta Force. With old enemies seeking revenge, Lee and Browne find that they cannot lay down their guns when they are attacked by Middle Eastern terrorists. But their new life also exposes them to new threats, such as attempted Mafia takeovers, drug cartels seeking to use their trucks to ferry drugs and motorcycle gangs attacking the Leeco Trucking Company.
The pair operates as disciplined soldiers facing these threats, understanding that force is not always the answer but when necessary they do not hold back, relying on their training to protect both themselves and their employees. This is in direct contrast to their enemies, such as the biker Wraith. Wraith is also a veteran but he uses his skills to lead his biker gang to inflict punishment and pain on the 99 percent of society he hates. We see this especially with the biker known as Shark who bites hunks of flesh off his live victims and spits the chunks back in their faces.
Behind the Scenes
Bob Ham's only credit is for the Overload series. The 2002 audio book of Christopher Newman' Knock-Off is credited to Bob Ham, suggesting that Ham may be the pseudonym of Newman. Christopher Newman is the author of the Lt. Joe Dante mystery series.
The Books
All books were published by Bantam Books:
1. Personal War, 159 pages, 1989
2. Wrath, 180 pages, 1989
3. Highway Warriors, 179 pages, 1989
4. Tennessee Terror, 260 pages, 1989
5. Atlanta Burn, 165 pages, 1989
6. Nebraska Nightmare, 168 pages, 1990
7. Rolling Vengeance, 1990
8. Ozark Payback, 193 pages, 1990
9. Huntsville Horror, 216 pages, 1991
10. Michigan Madness, 197 pages, 1991
11. Alabama Bloodbath, 196 pages, 1991
12. Vegas Gamble, 168 pages, 1991
The Peacemaker (Barrington Hewes-Bradford)
Four books by Adam Hamilton
The Peacemaker Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to world peace and bringing justice to the world. It has a staff of troubleshooters ready to go into action at a moment's notice and an intelligence collection service that put many official intelligence agencies to shame. The Peacemaker Foundation was founded by Barrington Hewes-Bradford. Hewes-Bradford is one of the richest men in the world, chairman of the board for HB Enterprises, HB Shipping, Zeus Airlines and Interco Oil. Not only is Hewes-Bradford incredible wealthy, he is in great physical condition and has a love of adventure and a sense of fair play. It was the latter two qualities that lead him to form the Peacemaker Foundation and to serve as the foundations top troubleshooter.
Hewes-Bradford travels to the world's trouble spots, seeking to nip problems in the bud bef
ore they can escalate into wars. The Peacemaker hunts down international crime figures such as Zaharan, who kills his enemies with impunity, carving a Z to taunt his pursuers, and terrorists from the nation Kuska who have come into possession of a deadly nerve agent and threaten to release it into a major city unless a number of their fellow terrorists are set free. The Peacemaker followed this with preventing the politically unstable island nation of Tattago from invasion by neighboring islands and preventing a coup d'etat against the newly crowned King Buri of Balabac by discovering the people behind the sabotage of relief effort organized by the young king.
Behind the Scenes
Adam Hamilton is the pen name of Marilyn Ruth Henderson and Arthur Moore. Henderson was research chemist, but a back injury left her unable to stand for a lengthy periods and she began writing. Henderson is a keen traveler and uses her trips as research for her books. Henderson is one of the few female writers in the field and wrote Assignment Intercept for the Killmaster series under the name Nick Carter. Henderson also wrote a number of young adult books published by Scholastic as M. R. Henderson.
The Books
All books were published by Berkley:
1. Zaharan Pursuit, 190 pages, 1974
2. Yashar Pursuit, 192 pages, 1974
3. Xander Pursuit, 1974
4. Wyss Pursuit, 1975
The Penetrator (Mark Hardin)
Fifty-three books by Lionel Derrick
Mark Hardin is Welsh-Cheyenne born 20 Aug 1945. At age four his parents and three siblings were killed in a car crash. During college, Hardin worked as an insurance investigator, where he was beaten severely after discovering a large-scale insurance fraud. After finishing college, Hardin enlisted in Army and went to Vietnam and spent three years (two tours) in Vietnam. After joining Army Intelligence, he tracked down a ring of black market profiteers who were selling Army supplies. After busting this ring, Hardin was bashed so severely he was sent back to the States and discharged.
After this latest beating Hardin contacts his football coach who puts him in touch with Professor Haskins, who, as it turns out, has been looking for someone like Hardin. It seems Haskins, a former professor of geology has built a hideaway called the Stronghold and, along with his Cheyenne friend, David Red Eagle, helps Mark come back to health. Red Eagle trains Hardin in the Cheyenne ways, including Sho-tu-ca. Sho-tu-ca is a Cheyenne mental discipline that allows Mark to draw on extra strength and stamina and block pain.
Mark became romantically involved with the professor's niece, Donna Morgan, and they decide to find out more about Mark's parentage. This investigation brings them to the attention of the Mafia, who kill Donna. Haskins, Hardin and Red Eagle then vow to fight crime. Hardin fights the Mafia, terrorists and other criminals, including a vampire who believes he is the descendant of Count Dracula. Hardin leaves a calling card of a flint arrowhead. Hardin also uses a series of pseudonyms such as John Savage and Mack Colan. Hardin changes hairstyles and facial hair through the series so the police don't capture him. Hardin does have a love interest and occasional assistant, Joanna Tambler, who is a Justice Department agent working at a front agency, Diogenes Investigations. Hardin is aided unofficially by Dan Griggs of the Justice department, who is Joanna's supervisor and head of the Penetrator Task Force, which is to capture the Penetrator.
Behind the Scenes
This series was conceived by Pinnacle Books, who gave the name the Penetrator and Mark Hardin to writers Mark Kelly Roberts and Chet Cunningham. Together, the two writers created all of the other details about the series, including the description of the hero as well as his allies. The pair shared the writing duties and the pen name of Lionel Derrick.
All of the odd-numbered books were written by Mark Kelly Roberts. Roberts is also the author of the Liberty Corps series, and co-authored the Soldier for Hire series. All of the even-numbered were by Chet Cunningham, who lives in San Diego. Cunningham has also written numerous western novels both under his own name and pseudonyms. A veteran of the Korean War, Cunningham has written several volumes of military history. Cunningham is also the author of the Avenger and the Specialists series. Cunningham has also written several Executioner and SuperBolan (see Executioner) novels.
The Books
All books were published by Pinnacle Books:
1. The Target Is H, 156 pages, 1973
2. Blood on the Strip, 184 pages, 1973
3. Capitol Hell, 188 pages, 1974
4. Hijacking Manhattan, 179 pages, 1974
5. Mardi Gras Massacre, 178 pages, 1974
6. Tokyo Purple, 184 pages, 1974
7. Baja Banditos, 179 pages, 1974
8. Northwest Contract, 175 pages, 1975
9. Dodge City Bombers, 184 pages, 1975
10. Hellbomb Flight, 182 pages, 1975
11. Terror in Taos, 181 pages, 1975
12. Bloody Boston, 183 pages, 1976
13. Dixie Death Squad, 177 pages, 1976
14. Mankill Sport, 184 pages, 1976
15. Quebec Connection, 180 pages, 1976
16. Deepsea Shootout, 184 pages, 1976
17. Demented Empire, 176 pages, 1976
18. Countdown to Terror, 179 pages, 1977
19. Panama Power Play, 178 pages, 1977
20. Radiation Hit, 181 pages, 1977
21. Supergun Mission, 147 pages, 1977
22. High Disaster, 177 pages, 1977
23. Divine Death, 149 pages, 1977
24. Cryogenic Nightmare, 180 pages, 1978
25. Floating Death, 176 pages, 1978
26. Mexican Brown Death, 184 pages, 1978
27. Animal Game, 182 pages, 1978
28. Skyhigh Betrayers, 184 pages, 1978
29. Aryan Onslaught, 182 pages, 1979
30. Computer Kill, 184 pages, 1979
31. Oklahoma Firefight, 170 pages, 1979
32. Showbiz Wipeout, 114 pages, 1979
33. Satellite Slaughter, 174 pages, 1979
34. Death Ray Terror, 178 pages, 1979
35. Black Massacre, 182 pages, 1979
36. Deadly Silence, 176 pages, 1980
37. Candidate's Blood, 177 pages, 1980
38. Hawaiian Trackdown, 183 pages, 1980
39. Cruise into Chaos, 182 pages, 1980
40. Assassination Factor, 177 pages, 1981
41. Hell's Hostages, 181 pages, 1981
42. Inca Gold Hijack, 182 pages, 1981
43. Rampage in Rio, 195 pages, 1981
44. Deep Cover Blastoff, 186 pages, 1981
45. Quaking Terror, 200 pages, 1982
46. Terrorist Torment, 186 pages, 1982
47. Orphan Army, 196 pages, 1982
48. Jungle Blitz, 195 pages, 1982
49. Satan's Swarm, 184 pages, 1983
50. Brotherhood of Blood, 201 pages, 1983
51. Neutron Nightmare, 198 pages, 1983
52. Plundered Paradise, 196 pages, 1983
53. City of the Dead, 200 pages, 1983
Lionel Derrick is a pseudonym: the odd-numbered books were by Mark Kelly Roberts and the even-numbered by Chet Cunningham. In 1991 the first eight of Cunningham's books were reissued as double books under his own name by Leisure Books.
The Movies
There are two pornographic parodies of the Terminator movies called The Penetrator and The Penetrator 2: Grudge Day but neither has any connection to these books. However, the 1991 film The Firing Line appears to be an unauthorized movie based on the Penetrator. It stars Reb Brown (Yor and the Captain America TV movies) as an American Military advisor, Mark Hardin. Hardin helps the government forces capture Communist rebel leader Rodriguez only to discover that they have executed Rodriguez before he can be brought to trial and the same forces have raped and killed the female rebels that were also captured. When Hardin starts asking questions, he is imprisoned and tortured. Hardin is able to escape and rescues American exercise-equipment saleswoman Sandra Spencer, who is also suspected of being a spy. The pair escapes and joins the rebel forces where
Hardin quickly assumes a leadership role and leads the rebels to several victories, as he explains that this is his way of making up for the actions he caused in the past. There is no reference to Hardin being the Penetrator or to any of his friends or allies, but Reb Brown does bear a marked resemblance to the cover illustrations of the Pinnacle novels and especially those of the 1991 Leisure books reprints.
Cameos and References
In book #11 Terror in Taos, the Penetrator is asked to translate from a paperback about "a white dude and a gook snuffing people for the government" and makes reference to television and soap operas; implicitly, this is a Destroyer novel.
Phoenix Force
Fifty-one books by Gar Wilson
This was the second of Gold Eagle's spinoffs of the Executioner. Unlike Able Team, none of the characters had appeared previously in the Executioner series. While Able Team was formed to battle American terrorism, Phoenix Force was assembled to combat overseas threats and was selected by Mack Bolan while he was using the name John Phoenix, hence the name.
Initially this five man team consisted of:
• Col. Yakov "Katz" Katzenbelenbogen: a French Israeli who is the veteran of many wars and lost his right arm from the elbow down in fighting in the Middle East
• David McCarter: British former SAS officer, involved in the Iran Embassy hostage situation
Serial Vigilantes of Paperback Fiction. An Encyclopedia from Able Team to Z-Comm Page 19
