Mickey Spillane, the macho mystery writer who wowed millions of readers with the shoot-'em-up sex and violence of gumshoe Mike Hammer, is dead at 88. After starting out in comic books, Spillane wrote his first Hammer novel, "I, the Jury," in 1946. (One wonders if the Hammer name was homage to Sam Spade.) Twelve more novels followed, with sales topping 100 million. Notable titles included "The Killing Man," "The Girl Hunters" and "One Lonely Night." Many Hammer books were made into movies, including the classic film noir "Kiss Me, Deadly" (reviewed below) and "The Girl Hunters," in which Spillane himself starred. Hammer also made it into two TV series (the first with Daren McGavin - '56-'59; the second with Stacy Keach - '84-'87 and '97-'98 ) and several made-for-TV movies (Keach). Mainstream critics discounted Spillane, but he was an icon in the mystery world, receiving lifetime achievement awards from the Mystery Writers of America and the Private Eye Writers of America.
MICKEY SPILLANE (1918 - 2006)
Spillane is dead. Long live Hammer.
Mickey Spillane, the macho mystery writer who wowed millions of readers with the shoot-'em-up sex and violence of gumshoe Mike Hammer, is dead at 88. After starting out in comic books, Spillane wrote his first Hammer novel, "I, the Jury," in 1946. (One wonders if the Hammer name was homage to Sam Spade.) Twelve more novels followed, with sales topping 100 million. Notable titles included "The Killing Man," "The Girl Hunters" and "One Lonely Night." Many Hammer books were made into movies, including the classic film noir "Kiss Me, Deadly" (reviewed below) and "The Girl Hunters," in which Spillane himself starred. Hammer also made it into two TV series (the first with Daren McGavin - '56-'59; the second with Stacy Keach - '84-'87 and '97-'98 ) and several made-for-TV movies (Keach). Mainstream critics discounted Spillane, but he was an icon in the mystery world, receiving lifetime achievement awards from the Mystery Writers of America and the Private Eye Writers of America.
