Captain Future: Man of Tomorrow was a pulp magazine published from 1940 to 1944. The character was created by editors Mort Weisinger and Leo Margulies. The majority of the stories were authored by Edmond Hamilton. Popular Library published a series of paperbacks featuring Captain Future by “Brett Sterling” (aka, Edmond Hamilton). More Captain Future stories were published by Startling Stories after World War II.

“The series begins when genius scientist Roger Newton, his wife Elaine, and his fellow scientist Simon Wright leave planet Earth to do research in an secret laboratory on the Moon, and to escape the predations of Victor Corvo (originally: Victor Kaslan), a criminal politician who wished to use Newton’s inventions for his own gain. Simon’s body is old and diseased and Roger enables him to continue doing research by transplanting his healthy brain into an artificial case (originally immobile—carried around by Grag—later equipped with lifter units). Working together, the two scientists create an intelligent robot called Grag, and an android with shape-shifting abilities called Otho. One day, Corvo arrives on the Moon and murders the Newtons. The killers are in turn slain by Grag and Otho but Corvo escapes.” — Wikipedia

I bought Allen Steele’s homage to Captain Future–Avengers of the Moon— when it was first published in 2014. I finally got around to reading it. Steele went back and read all the Captain Future stories and his Captain Future novel picks up the story of Roger and Elaine’s son, Curtis Newton (soon to be Captain Future). Curtis Newton is raised by the unlikely trio of Otho, Grag, and Simon Wright. Under their tutelage, Curtis grows up to be a brilliant scientist and very athletic.

Curtis also grows up with a strong sense of responsibility and hopes to use his scientific skills to help people. With that goal in his mind, Curtis calls himself Captain Future. Simon, Otho and Grag are referred to as the Futuremen in subsequent stories. When Curtis finds out that Victor Corvo killed his parents, he seeks revenge!

Other recurring characters in the series are the old space marshal Ezra Gurney, the beautiful Planet Patrol agent Joan Randall (who provides a love interest for Curtis), and James Carthew, President of the Solar System whose office is in New York City and who calls upon Captain Future in extreme need.

If you’re in the mood for nostalgia and High Adventure, you might want to give Captain Future a try. GRADE: B+ (for both books)