The Phantom Detective runs a mad race with death in this action-packed mystery of a sinister killer’s fiendish, diabolical crimes. The Phantom Detective knows no fear, admits no failure! Boldly facing perils that would make the bravest of men quail, he dares to pursue his chosen career as Nemesis of Crime despite the bitterest, most formidable foes ever faced by man. He is the Scourge of the Underworld, dedicated to the annihilation of the lawless! His genius intellect and agile body are his two greatest weapons in fighting crime!
Ned Pines was the man behind a publishing company that went under many names during its existence. Known at different times as Better, Standard, and Thrilling Publications, it’s the company’s tenure as Thrilling that saw the birth of one of Pulp’s greatest heroes, The Phantom Detective! Taking a cue from the success of Street & Smith’s The Shadow magazine, the first such magazine to feature a hero as its title and lead feature, Pines imagined that following suit might prove lucrative for his own endeavor. Putting this intent into action, Thrilling Publications released the first issue of The Phantom Detective magazine in February 1933, just a scant thirty or so days before Street & Smith delivered another soon to be legend, Doc Savage in his own magazine. Keeping up with both his predecessor and the hero that followed him by a month, The Phantom Detective ran in his own magazine for 170 issues, just behind the other two characters’ achievements. Pines’ masked sleuth also set a record the other two did not, his magazine being published for a total of twenty years!
‘The Tick-Tack-Toe Murders’ was originally published in the March 1934 issue of The Phantom Detective Magazine and is read with pulse pounding intensity by award winning voice actor Milton Bagby.
