Volume Two Written Jason Butkowski and S.E. Dogaru, and illustrated by Rich Woodall and Duane Spurlock. Cover illustration by Rich Woodall with design by Anthony Schiavino.




Volume Two Written by Ron Fortier, and illustrated by Dave Flora. Cover illustration by Dave Flora with design by Anthony Schiavino.






Volume One Written by Jason Butkowski, and illustrated by Jared Araujo and Rob Davis. Cover illustration by Douglas Klauba with design by Anthony Schiavino.




EPISODES FROM THE ZERO HOUR! brings you the best in modern day pulp fiction! We offer beautifully-illustrated tales, designed with a tip of the fedora to the golden age publications while still maintaining our modern-era edge. Our publications have featured some of the best and brightest creators in today's pulp resurgence scene, including Jason Butkowski, Anthony Schiavino, S.E. Dogaru, Ron Fortier, Rob Davis, Douglas Klauba, and Jared Araujo.

Our all-original tales run the gamut from hard-boiled noir to swashbuckling high adventure, from steampunk fantasy to fantastic realism. Our characters include Tough Guy For Hire, Tommy "KNUCKLES" McNichols; battling priest Father Michael Ryan; the denizens of Federal City; Jack Delaney...Resurrection Man; Rex Rockwell, the Weird Game Hunter and his team of cryptid explorers; Mac Samson, globe-trotting adventurer; The Scarlet Swordsman and his various incarnations throughout the centuries; and many, many more.

For up the minute news on our latest projects, including illustrations, design, discussion, and special previews, please check into our Yahoo group at the link below. Also below are links to purchase our print publications and swag. Questions, comments, reviews, and inquires about working with us can be directed toward our contact e-mail address: mail(at) episodesfromthezerohour.com.

• Visit our website at episodesfromthezerohour.com

• Visit our YAHOO! GROUP for discussion on all things pulp along with sneak previews and much more!

• Buy our SWAG!

• Buy our PUBLICATIONS!

• Visit our community blog at THE PULP FACTORY!





“Man, I love these ‘KNUCKLES’ McNichols stories! Jason Butkowski has created a true down and out original pulp character that is easy to cotton to. The stories bounce between down and out dirty street life, ala classic Noir, to humorous anecdotes that resonate with true street savvy. This is an amazing collection and if you really like pulp, you are going to love ‘KNUCKLES’. All I can say, Butkowski, is more, please. Lots more!”
—RON FORTIER Author of THE HOUNDS OF HELL, and CAPTAIN HAZZARD-PYTHON MEN OF THE LOST CITY

“‘KNUCKLES’ will dazzle you with some humorous fancy footwork; put you on the canvas with a one-two combo of characters that are tough as nails but as human as you or me; and just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, deliver a couple delicious sucker punches. ‘KNUCKLES’ is a knockout!” —SEAN ELLIS, Author of MAGIC MIRROR

“In a town where life slips you a mickey and opportunity is best found at the end of a gun, Tommy ‘KNUCKLES’ McNichols delivers a sense of gritty, two-fisted common sense to the mean streets of Federal City. This is PULP NOIR at its BEST! Butkowski has created a world to rival Miller’s Sin City and a character that would be right at home downing a fifth of Jack with Spillane.” —WAYNE SKIVER Author of THE PROF. STONE ADVENTURES

“Finally! Pulp the way Pulp is supposed to be!” —STEVE NILES Writer and Creator of 30 DAYS OF NIGHT

“‘KNUCKLES’ McNichols, the hero of this quartet of hardboiled fare, is as captivating a character to come out of the genre in a long time. This off-beat, memorable muscle for hire is down on his luck, up on life and ready to mix it up with any and all challengers. The stories, as well, are different than the norm though they keep that traditional flavor any hardboiled fans know so well. So if you're a fan of hardboiled fiction, this one's for you. Don't miss it. Or Butkowski will sick KNUCKLES on you. Then, brother, you'll be in a world of hurt. ” —ANDREW SALMON, Author of THE FORTY CLUB, and THE DARK LAND


“Fortier brings the post-war era back to life with exuberance and two-fisted pulp style.” —CHARLES ARDAI, Founder of HARD CASE CRIME

“Once again, Ron Fortier has constructed a rich and compelling world, and he's done it with such ease that he drives all of us other writers to jealously! With A Father Michael Ryan Story, he has created a lead character that borders on the truly heroic, yet is down-to-earth and conflicted, by putting a man of the cloth onto the path of the warrior. I anxiously await the next thrilling chapter!” —BRIAN MEREDITH, Creator of MODERN PULP, and STEVE LAWLIS

“‘A man of peace with a warrior’s heart. I knew he was going to give me grief when he got out of the Marines. Looks like I was right.’ This line, taken from Ron Fortier's A Father Michael Ryan Story sums up the character far better than any one blurb could. Father Michael Ryan walks a fine line. He is a contradiction, a man of God and a skilled warrior all rolled into one. The right nudge could easily force Father Michael on one side of that fine line or the other; man of peace or man of war. And in Federal City there is always someone willing to give a little nudge.” —BOBBY NASH, Writer of EVIL WAYS, LANCE STAR : SKY RANGER, and DOMINO LADY


“Anthony Schiavino and company have managed to transcend their limited resources to craft a compelling little slice of noir. Fun dialog, moody atmosphere, the perfect music, and a willingness to let scenes breathe contribute to the film’s effectiveness. I want to see more.” —ROBERT TINNELL Co-Author of THE BLACK FOREST, and TERRY SHARP