The Spider #11 Audiobook
Prince of the Red Looters
by Norvell W. Page writing as Grant Stockbridge
Read by Nick Santa Maria
Never before had any criminal dared give open challenge to the Spider! Never before had Richard Wentworth faced a foe who welcomed personal combat with the grim avenger whom all others feared... And while they fought — the Spider and the Fly — a new and fearless criminal army was forming; men and women were dying by the scores; and the youth of a nation was flocking to the dark banner of that gentlemanly killer whose battle cry was “Kill the Spider — and the world is ours!”
During the difficult decade encompassed by the years 1933-43, a commanding figure blazed his way through a legion of Depression-era supercriminals, Nazi spies and saboteurs. He was wealthy criminologist Richard Wentworth. He was also secretly the Spider!
Prince of the Red Looters dates from August, 1934. The Spider has only been at large for a year. But already the law and the underworld are determined to exterminate him. Caught between these two warring factions, he plays a dangerous game of upholding the law while breaking it with impunity.
At his side are Nita van Sloan, who sometimes dons the Spider's black cape and mask to become the Black Widow, Wentworth's loyal chauffeur, Ronald Jackson, and Sikh bodyguard, Ram Singh. All share in his dangerous life, and every one of them knows his fatal secret. If they are exposed, disgrace and the Death House will be their fate.
Up from the underworld emerges a new foe to take on the Master of Men. The Fly! Unlike previous opponents, the Fly issues a public call for the Spider to "Come into my parlor." Never before has an antagonist dared to challenge the Master of Men to a duel to the death. This makes the Fly the most supremely confident egotist ever to take on the Spider.
But is the Fly confident—or overconfident?
Adapted from the August 1934 story, appearing in The Spider magazine and read by acclaimed voice talent Nick Santa Maria.
Chapter 1: The Fly’s Parlor
Chapter 2: In His Own Web
Chapter 3: In the Police Trap
Chapter 4: The Fly Can Sting!
Chapter 5: The Fly’s Signature
Chapter 6: Another Shrewd Blow
Chapter 7: Mysterious Attack
Chapter 8: Sabres Ring Again
Chapter 9: The Menace Grows
Chapter 10: A Fly Can Kill
Chapter 11: The Fly’s Warning
Chapter 12: Death at the Opera
Chapter 13: Forebodings Fulfilled
Chapter 14: In the Fly’s Trap
Chapter 15: Trail of the Fly
Chapter 16: Fly-Trap!
Chapter 17: Looters’ Holiday
Chapter 18: Congress of Looters
Chapter 19: To the Death!
Nick Santa Maria was born early in life in Brooklyn, NY. His theatrical background is based in Comedy Improv. He was a long standing member of the late lamented Miami based, Mental Floss, where he served as head writer/composer. From there he began his career in commercials, voice-overs, TV, Film, and theatre. He has performed in many roles on the stage including his award winning turn as Nick in Over The River And Through The Woods, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, as Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, in The 25th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee as Mr. Panch (3-D Theatricals), Mr. Bromhead in No Sex Please, We’re British at The Norris, and as Pseudolus in, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at the Norris Theatre. Television: The Buffalo Bill Show, B.J. Stryker, and two Disney Christmas Specials. Off Broadway: Writer/Composer/Performer on Secrets Every Smart Traveler Should Know, Soundtrack on RCA Victor. Broadway: Vince Fontaine in Tommy Tune’s production of Grease. He also appeared in every domestic company of Mel Brooks’ The Producers, understudying everyone from Nathan Lane and Jason Alexander, to Tony Danza and David Hassellhoff. He was the original Genie in Disney’s Aladdin, a Musical Spectacular, soundtrack on Disney Records. Nick is a resident of Los Angeles and is currently writing a book about classic film comedians, Nick’s been a long time film historian, and has written several articles on the topic.
