(list of available and upcoming issues below)
The gigantic word — Weltanschauungbackpfeifengesicht‽ — in conglomerated German, is a statement of philosophy. In gentle phrasing, it’s a worldview that slaps you hard…in more pulp-style lingo, The only way to look at the world is to punch it in the face. The pulp magazines of the 20th century certainly did that in their way. They were garish, lurid, and exciting. They were escape, entertainment and inspiration for everyday people, taking a sometimes gray and grueling world and blowing it wide open in countless overt (and subversive) ways.
A hundred years later, readers have seen tidal waves of explosive innovation in storytelling. Topics and approaches that the original pulps could only hint at and tease with are regularly explored with both vigor and candor in today’s world, and nothing could be more thrilling.
Doc Talos Magazine takes the concept of the Hero Pulp into that world of infinite possibility. It is specifically designed to hit hard…to offer stories and art for a mature, sophisticated audience…stories without boundaries.
An outgrowth of the Doc Talos series of books, which have boldly fused fine art and ivory tower literary skill with raw pulp energy, the magazine is a venue for mavericks and outlaws of the creative world — creators with a serious voice, that may be too dangerous for the more mainstream editors and publishers in even today’s landscape of entertainment. Rule breakers of form and content…fierce innovators of mind, body and soul.
As a character-focused New Pulp, the majority of stories and art appearing in the magazine will feature Doc Talos and the vast cast of characters from the Talos books and continuity. Much of its content will be the work of Talos co-creators R. Paul Sardanas and Iason Ragnar Bellerophon. But like the old Hero Pulps which featured a wide variety of companion tales, there are openings for other writers and artists to appear as well.
At present, submissions are being solicited by invitation only, but if you haven’t yet been invited, it may be that we simply don’t know yet that you are intrigued, and might be interested in submitting. So pitches and proposals for stories and art will be considered, and can be sent via email to taloschronicle@gmail.com.
A few tips for writers: this is a magazine for mature audiences, which means not only that graphically violent or erotic content is acceptable for publishing consideration, but more importantly, a strong context of highly intellectual, skillfully visceral, psychologically powerful situations with emotional complexity are more the magazine’s definition of “adult material”. It’s not a place to submit ideas for shallow adventure, however fun that can be. Stories which feature both central and obscure characters from the Talos universe will receive first consideration — a wholly original character or storyline of your own is not out of the question, but it would have to be a remarkably strong concept written with superlative skill…the bar here is pretty high. Prospective authors interested in a Talos-universe tale can read some fine examples of that kind of story HERE. Diversity is a strong part of the Talos ethos, and a gallery of characters ripe for potential new stories can be viewed HERE. Consultation with Talos co-creator/author R. Paul Sardanas is also available at the above email, if you wish to learn more about character and situation details in the Talos canon before formalizing your story pitch.
A few tips for artists: though the Talos characters in many ways mirror the characters of classic Doc Savage stories, this is not the place for images featuring torn shirts and jodhpurs, exaggerated widow’s peaks, or fights with dinosaurs. Those are wonderful qualities of the Doc Savage world, but think of this venue as Doc for grown-ups. For cartoon art — the tone of the magazine is primarily serious, but we also have a sense of humor; nevertheless, make it smart humor. Crude or simplistic is unlikely to fly.
In addition, DTM will be doing its part to support the creative pulp community. The Pulp Community Bookstore section offers full color ad slots, 5.5 x 6.5 in size, for free. You can promote your books, your art, your videos, your publishing company…anything from the pulp realm that you are creating and would like to get the word out about. We want to pay forward the kindness and support shown to us in a substantive way to all the creative souls in our community. You can secure your place in an issue of DTM and get more info about formatting your ad by writing to: taloschronicle@gmail.com. We’ll get back to you with details on how to make it happen.
For readers, it’s important to stress again that this is a venue for adult material, and by no means a re-creation of a well-sanitized 1930’s hero pulp. Be prepared for that moment — or many moments — of Weltanschauungbackpfeifengesicht‽ intensity.
AVAILABLE ISSUES OF DOC TALOS MAGAZINE
Issue #1 – July/Aug 2023 – front and back cover art by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – 64 pages. Printed magazine: $19.00 plus shipping – PDF download: $5.00
To inquire about or to order this issue, please send an email to: taloschronicle@gmail.com
Contents:
Introduction by R. Paul Sardanas
The Shy Man by Leslie Payton – in 1919 New York, James Talos experiences his first night of intimacy.
Midnight in the House of Endings by R. Paul Sardanas/artwork by Fugazi – in Victorian London, a misogynistic doctor finds himself at the mercy of women he has preyed upon.
Man of Tomorrow by Don Murphy/artwork by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – at the 1939 World’s Fair, James Talos encounters a very different “Maximus”.
Love-talk of the White Apes by R. Paul Sardanas/artwork by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – during a spirited bout of lovemaking between John Grersoun and Rickie Talos, she demands to hear some poetry, and he obliges — in the language of the apes.
Wolves, Part 1 by R. Paul Sardanas/artwork by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – first of a four-part serialization of the pastiche novel based on the classic pulp Brand of the Werewolf.
Rickie Talos Wolves Poster by John Gallagher
Pinups by Fugazi, Iason Ragnar Bellerophon & R. Paul Sardanas
Men Who Smile Know More – cartoons and humor
The Observation Deck – correspondence and commentary by fans, friends, and creators.
Pulp Community Bookstore – special section showcasing creations from around the pulp community.
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Issue #2 – Sept/Oct 2023 – front and back cover art by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – 80 pages. Printed magazine: $21.00 plus shipping – PDF download: $5.00
To inquire about or to order this issue, please send an email to: taloschronicle@gmail.com
Contents:
Editorial by R. Paul Sardanas
There is a Perfection by Joan Lee – In 1941 New York, James Talos, through secretive intermediaries, commissions author Anais Nin to write stories to illuminate the subtlety and mystery of feminine passion.
Interview With Damaris Emem conducted by DT Magazine – In 1968, at her villa in Italy, movie star (and secret leader of the Gnostic Archon cult) Damaris Emem talks frankly about the scandals, controversies, sensationalism — and subversive brilliance — of her life and career.
The Night Road by R. Paul Sardanas/artwork by Steff Murschetz – In 1931, Doc Talos travels to a dying town in a high pass of the Rocky Mountains. Determined to counter the Great Depression with agency and hope, he contemplates how great civilizations age and pass away.
Don’t Call Me Dagny by R. Paul Sardanas/artwork by RPS and Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – At a social event in 1957 Manhattan, Frank O’Connor, the husband of Ayn Rand, encounters Rickie Talos, who gives him her unfiltered thoughts on the philosophy of objectivism.
Peters’ Story by Atom Mudman Bezecny/artwork by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – An intimate horror story about father and daughter master criminals.
Wolves, Part 2 by R. Paul Sardanas/artwork by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – Second in a four-part serialization of the pastiche novel based on the classic pulp Brand of the Werewolf.
Pinups by John Gallagher, Steff Murschetz & R. Paul Sardanas
The Observation Deck – correspondence and commentary by fans, friends, and creators.
Pulp Community Bookstore – special section showcasing creations from around the pulp community.
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Issue #3 – Nov/Dec 2023 – front and back cover art by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – 74 pages. Printed magazine: $21.00 plus shipping – PDF download: $5.00
To inquire about or to order this issue, please send an email to: taloschronicle@gmail.com
Contents:
Editorial by R. Paul Sardanas
Ruha Talos Initium by R. Paul Sardanas with poetry by Charles Baudelaire / artwork by SeaQuester – In 1886 on a ship bound from Africa to England, James Talos Sr. and Ruha consummate their intimate union.
Ruha Talos Terminus by R. Paul Sardanas with poetry by Dante Alighieri / artwork by John Gallagher – In 1932 in his suite at the top of the Empire State Building, James Talos Sr. is murdered by nationalistic Mayans, while Ruha watches.
Mad Eyes Donovan and the Wolf in Ape’s Clothing by Brooklyn Wright / artwork by RPS and Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – On a wild rainy night in 1936, a pulp story conference with Laurence Donovan and Andy Kingman begins in a railyard and ends in a cathouse.
Halt! by Glen Held / artwork by RPS and IRB – Channeling the classic pulp tale Who Goes There?, John Renner struggles against a man turned into monster in the shadow of Doc’s Fortress of Solitude.
Madness, Part 1 by R. Paul Sardanas / artwork by RPS and IRB with archival photography and posthumous collaboration with Nicholas Roerich – H.P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness is re-imagined, as the MIT/Johns Hopkins Antarctic Expedition of 1930-’31 penetrates into a frozen wasteland of horror and death.
Wolves, Part 3 by R. Paul Sardanas / artwork by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – Third in a four-part serialization of the pastiche novel based on the classic pulp Brand of the Werewolf.
Pinups by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon, Steff Murschetz & R. Paul Sardanas
The Observation Deck – creators from this issue discuss their process and inspirations.
Pulp Community Bookstore – special section showcasing creations from around the pulp community.
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Issue #4 – Jan/Feb 2024 – front and back cover art by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – 78 pages. Printed magazine: $21.00 plus shipping – PDF download: $5.00
To inquire about or to order this issue, please send an email to: taloschronicle@gmail.com
Contents:
Editorial by R. Paul Sardanas – the William Blake connection, with painted art by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon after Blake.
A Single Ray of Light by Glen Held / artwork by RPS and IRB – In 1913, Army Private Andy Kingman encounters the notorious, brilliant inventor Nikola Tesla at his Wardenclyffe laboratory in New York, and deadly chaos ensues.
Esperanza by Grace Ximenez / artwork by RPS and IRB – A pastiche epilogue to the much-loved 1970’s Marvel Doc Savage Magazine story “The Mayan Mutations”, in which Doc and missionary Esperanza Vespa share an intimate moment in the aftermath of adventure.
Son of a Gun Maybe by Andre Vathier / artwork by RPS and IRB – In 1933, a patient at Doc Talos’ “crime college” develops an erotomaniacal fixation on one of his physicians, Dr. Michael Fenris. And did the procedure to erase his memory even work?
Madness, Part 2 by R. Paul Sardanas / artwork by RPS and IRB with archival photography and posthumous collaboration with Nicholas Roerich – The re-imagining of H.P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness continues, as the MIT/Johns Hopkins Antarctic Expedition of 1930-’31 unearths strange geologic specimens, and a dangerous decision is made to explore deeper into the unknown polar wastes.
Wolves, Conclusion by R. Paul Sardanas / artwork by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – The final segment in a four-part serialization of the pastiche novel based on the classic pulp Brand of the Werewolf.
Pinups by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon & R. Paul Sardanas
The Observation Deck – creators from this issue discuss their process and inspirations.
Pulp Community Bookstore – special section showcasing creations from around the pulp community.
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Issue #5 – Mar/Apr 2024 – front and back cover art by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – 72 pages. Printed magazine: $21.00 plus shipping – PDF download: $5.00
SPECIAL RICKIE TALOS ISSUE!
To inquire about or to order this issue, please send an email to: taloschronicle@gmail.com
Contents:
Editorial by R. Paul Sardanas – Reminiscences about Pat Savage/Rickie Talos in the comics, books and independent film.
The King and the Angel by R. Paul Sardanas and Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – In 1935, Rickie spends a night out in Harlem, in which she learns the “true story” of King Kong, and gets stoned for the first time.
They Should Be Behind Bars by Joe S. Stuart / artwork by IRB – In 1950, Rickie and Doc find some old pulps in a Manhattan bookstore, which prompts a discussion about who loved them (Rickie) and who didn’t (Doc).
The Killer by Glen Held / artwork by IRB – In 1935, Rickie hears Doc and his aides discussing a gathering of serial killers, which Rickie — to prove herself — decides to crash ahead of the boys. Before she even gets there, she runs afoul of a killer with a Zorro fetish, and must fight hard for her life.
Steely Dan III from Yokohama by R. Paul Sardanas and Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – In the not-so-distant future, Rickie is put on the trail of a rogue samurai/cult leader who has taken possession of an Archon sword with distinctly horrifying attributes.
Elegant Beast by Maxie Vega / artwork by IRB – A powerful poem that crystalizes the duality of passion and violence in the lives of Rickie and Doc.
Rickie the Pulp Goddess by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – A tour-de-force of 22 artworks depicting the fierce charisma of Rickie Talos.
The Observation Deck – creators from this issue discuss their process and inspirations.
Pulp Community Bookstore – special section showcasing creations from around the pulp community.
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Issue #6 -May/Jun 2024 – front and back cover art by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – 70 pages. Printed magazine: $21.00 plus shipping – PDF download: $5.00
To inquire about or to order this issue, please send an email to: taloschronicle@gmail.com
Contents:
Editorial by R. Paul Sardanas – Creating the appearance of Doc Talos from iconic past depictions of Doc Savage.
Tales of the Big Building: The Girl From Missouri by Glen Held / artwork by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – The touching tale of a young fan whose last wish is to meet Doc Talos.
There is Sorrow Enough by Don Murphy / artwork by RPS and IRB – In 1931, James Talos says farewell to the beloved dog he saved from death a decade before.
The Foundation of Beauty by R. Paul Sardanas / artwork by RPS and IRB – John Grersoun is railroaded by Damaris Emem (AKA Ruha) into doing a violently erotic film for her own mysterious purposes.
Tobacco and Other Consumable Ash Residue… written and illustrated by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – Examination of a bizarre book unlocks esoteric secrets.
Madness, Part 3 by R. Paul Sardanas / artwork by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – The penultimate chapter of the Talos pastiche re-imagining of H.P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness.
Smiling, to the Death by RPS / artwork by John Gallagher – Rickie Talos takes part in an Archon erotic death tournament.
The Observation Deck – creators from this issue discuss their process and inspirations.
Pulp Community Bookstore – special section showcasing creations from around the pulp community.
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Issue #7 – Fall 2024 – front and back cover art by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – 64 pages. Printed magazine: $21.00 plus shipping – PDF download: $5.00
To inquire about or to order this issue, please send an email to: taloschronicle@gmail.com
Contents:
Editorial by R. Paul Sardanas – Exploring the poetic voice of A Feast Unknown.
Italian Ices and Earth Wreckers by D. B. Brodie with visual excerpts from Doc Savage Magazine #5 – In 1976, Rickie Talos and Harry Kingman (son of the Talos pastiche of Monk Mayfair) spend a day at the beach on Coney Island and pick up the latest copy of the Marvel Doc Savage magazine to read.
Madness, Part 4 by R. Paul Sardanas / artwork by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – The concluding chapter of the Talos pastiche re-imagining of H.P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness.
I am James, I am Patricia by RPS / artwork by IRB – Poetry and art portraying how fictional characters can become passionately merged with their readers.
The Scripture of Ghost and Lion by R. Paul Sardanas / artwork by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – A powerful, sweeping blend of poetry, philosophy and Talos history spanning life and death in the Talos family from the 18th to the 19th centuries.
In Cold Blood by Richard Lawrence / artwork by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – In Truman Capote’s harrowing classic of murder and its consequences, Capote cites Doc Savage’s “Crime College”. In this tale, Capote and Doc Talos meet and discuss both the horrors and hoped-for redemptions for those who succumb to crime.
Nails, Part 1 by RPS / artwork by IRB – A major story in the Doc Talos canon begins in serialized form, as Rickie Talos is kidnapped in Africa by a false “Tarzan”, then imprisoned in the Archon Sanctuary, where she is subjected to a nightmare of indoctrination by the cult’s leader, Ruha.
The Observation Deck – creators from this issue discuss their process and inspirations.
Pulp Community Bookstore – special section showcasing creations from around the pulp community.
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Issue #8 – Winter 2024 – front and back cover art by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – 66 pages. Printed magazine: $21.00 plus shipping – PDF download: $5.00
To inquire about or to order this issue, please send an email to: taloschronicle@gmail.com
Contents:
Editorial by R. Paul Sardanas – Advocacy, Inclusiveness and Dignity in New Pulp
Midnight Coffee After the Screamin’ Jay Moondog Doc Talos Ruha Jam Howl by R. Paul Sardanas and Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – In 1967, four remarkable individuals (James Talos, Damaris Emem, “Screamin’ Jay” Hawkins and “Moondog” Hardin) gather in New York City and make music together that becomes a primal experience. Afterward they talk together in a nearby coffee shop.
Daughter of the King by Marissa Sarno / artwork by R. Paul Sardanas – In 1949, James Talos travels to Guatemala to visit Mona Chayak during a traditional festival…and asks her to marry him.
He Shakes the Earth & Waves of Death by RPS / artwork by IRB – Two short stories set in Japan just before the full outbreak of World War II explore passionate interludes for Bill Johnson and Tom White (Talos avatars of Johnny Littlejohn and Long Tom Roberts).
Nails, Part 2 by RPS / artwork by IRB – A major story in the Doc Talos canon continues in serialized form, as Rickie Talos, kidnapped in Africa by a false “Tarzan”, is imprisoned in the Archon Sanctuary, where she is subjected to a nightmare of indoctrination by the cult’s leader, Ruha.
In Destruction’s Dance by R. Paul Sardanas / artwork by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – In 1886, Radhika Jamarayan, proprietress of the Solon brothel in London — a center of opposition to the Gnostic Archon cult — experiences the last hour of her life.
Fear, Part 1 by R. Paul Sardanas / artwork by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – The serialized re-imagining of the classic Doc Savage adventure Fear Cay begins, as an anarchic gang called the Dead Sun Mob embroil Doc Talos, his aides, and Rickie Talos in a scheme which may or may not include the actual Fountain of Youth.
The Observation Deck – creators from this issue discuss their process and inspirations.
Pulp Community Bookstore – special section showcasing creations from around the pulp community.
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Issue #9 – January 2025 – front and back cover art by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – 70 pages. Printed magazine: $21.00 plus shipping – PDF download: $5.00
To inquire about or to order this issue, please send an email to: taloschronicle@gmail.com
Contents:
Editorial by R. Paul Sardanas and Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – Dossier of Gnostic code in the body of Doc Talos.
Occidendum by RPS and IRB – In Victorian London, two homicidal characters, Edward Hyde and Marion Bama, discuss their philosophies on a day that begins in a graveyard and ends in a bedroom that only one will emerge from alive.
The Apparency of an Answer by RPS and IRB – The founder and promulgator of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard, slips into a psychotic episode of intense fear that he is going to be taken down by a pulp character, or the real-life avatar of that character, Doc Talos.
Nails, Part 3 by RPS and IRB – The serialization of this major novel in the Doc Talos canon continues, as Rickie Talos, imprisoned in the African sanctuary of the Gnostic Archons in 1968, is subjected to powerful indoctrination by the Archon leader, Ruha.
Fear, Part 2 by RPS and IRB – The second episode of the Talos re-imagining of the classic Doc Savage novel Fear Cay, set in 1935. Doc, his five aides, and Rickie Talos square off against the bizarre Dead Sun Mob and the Jungle Rot Kid, who may or may not possess the secret of the Fountain of Youth.
The Observation Deck – creators from this issue discuss their process and inspirations.
Pulp Community Bookstore – special section showcasing creations from around the pulp community.
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Issue #10 – May 2025 – front and back cover art by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – 64 pages. Printed magazine: $21.00 plus shipping – PDF download: $5.00
To inquire about or to order this issue, please send an email to: taloschronicle@gmail.com
Contents:
Editorial – by R. Paul Sardanas: A look at how juxtaposing pulp and classic literature enriches both.
Music in the Unearthly Night – by RPS and IRB: On the night before the opening of the 1939 New York World’s Fair, James Talos takes his almost-but-not-quite lady love for a stroll through the wonders of the Fair.
Goddess of the Luminous Void – by RPS and IRB: In 1950’s New Haven, teacher and critic Harold Bloom is invited to a performance of Macbeth, starring the notorious (and scandalous) Damaris Emem. Their backstage conversation transforms the event into a night of revelation.
The Narrow Road to the Deep North – by Donald R. Cannon, art by RPS and IRB: After the battle of Saipan in World War II, Dr. James Talos and a blinded Japanese soldier struggle to reconcile their philosophies of peace with the horrible realities of war.
A Beast Unblown: One is One and All Alone and Ever More Shall Be It So – by RPS and IRB: Chapter One of a strange epic written in the style of William S. Burroughs introduces the mystical legacy of Jack the Ripper.
Nails, Part 4 – by RPS and IRB: Rickie Talos, her resistance faltering from an onslaught of psychological and physical indoctrination by the Archon Archdemoness Ruha, is expelled from the African sanctuary of the Gnostic cult, only to find herself trapped with a homicidal proto-human.
Fear, Part 3 – by RPS and IRB: The penultimate chapter of the Doc Talos re-imagining of the classic pulp novel Fear Cay.
The Observation Deck: Thoughts and insights from this issue’s creators.
Pulp Community Bookstore: New Pulp authors, artists and publishers share news and links to their latest projects.
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Issue #11 – Fall 2025 – front and back cover art by Iason Ragnar Bellerophon – 62 pages. Printed magazine: $21.00 plus shipping – PDF download: $5.00
To inquire about or to order this issue, please send an email to: taloschronicle@gmail.com
Special John Grersoun (the Talos pastiche of Lord Greystoke) issue!
Contents:
Editorial – by R. Paul Sardanas: A look at the similarities and differences between John Greystoke and John Grersoun.
La Land – by R. Paul Sardanas & Iason Ragnar Bellerophon: In 1962, Grersoun is sent by the Archons to remonstrate with one of their agents who has gone rogue. Her name: Marilyn Monroe.
Forest Spirits – by Atom Mudman Bezecny and IRB: In Guatemala after her aborted wedding to Doc Talos, Mona Chayak encounters a brutal, delusional revolutionary, and fights against him by Grersoun’s side.
A Beast Unblown: Two, Two, the Lilywhite Boys – by RPS and IRB: The second chapter in the bizarre tale of the Jungle Rot Kid.
Rickie and Her Mate – by RPS and IRB: On a snowy Manhattan afternoon, Grersoun’s decades-long affair with Rickie Talos comes to an end.
Nails, Part 5 – by RPS and IRB: In 1968 Africa, in the aftermath of a lethal battle with a proto-human, Rickie Talos and Grersoun have a feverish erotic encounter.
Fear, Part 4 – by RPS and IRB: The climax of the Talos re-imagining of the classic Doc Savage novel Fear Cay.
The Observation Deck: Thoughts and insights from this issue’s creators.
Pulp Community Bookstore: New Pulp authors, artists and publishers share news and links to their latest projects.
ISSUES IN PRODUCTION…
Doc Talos 