Will Murray, pulp historian and Squirrel Girl co-creator, dies at 73

Will Murray, a prolific novelist, journalist, and pulp fiction historian, died in late August 2026 at the age of 73. Murray was widely recognized as the co-creator of Marvel Comics’ Squirrel Girl and for his extensive work preserving and expanding the legacy of classic pulp characters.

A specialist in the adventure genre, Murray served as the literary agent for the estate of Lester Dent, the creator of Doc Savage. He authored more than 20 authorized Doc Savage novels, often completing works from Dent’s unused outlines. His literary contributions also extended to characters such as Tarzan, King Kong, The Spider, and Sherlock Holmes.

Murray’s career began in the 1970s through fanzine writing and scholarship. He received the Lamont Award in 1979 for his research into pulp fiction. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Massachusetts Boston with a degree in English.