Acquired Tastes XLIII:
Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 220
Power Force Series
Part 4 of 6
Today we take another look at the Power Force Series.
The Power Force Series was an imprint published by Arena Publications, who operated out of a facility at 12011 Sherman Road in North Hollywood, California, 91605. They published a total of 64 titles under this imprint between 1983 and 1986.
Arena Publications motto should have been "Everything old is new again." You'll see why in a moment.
The book covers feature either dreamy, idealized artwork or, later in the imprint's history, photos from porn magazines. The background is a solid color with a white 'sash' near the top featuring the title in all-caps and the imprint's name, also in all-caps, floating above it. The author's name appears in the body of the sash in smaller print just below the title. Now, if the artwork looks familiar that's because you have seen it all before... when we took a look at the Blueboy Library imprint. And that's not the only thing borrowed. The books themselves are reprints from other imprints. And this is not the only imprint that Arena would use to republish these titles. Some of these books have been published under as many as four imprints, using different artwork for the cover.
My hunch is that Arena bought the rights to a bunch of previously published titles from imprints (The Blueboy Library, HIS69, Stud Series, RAM-10) on the wane or going out of business. They then maximized profits by republishing the books under several different imprints. Fortunately, they are upfront about this recycling; some of the other imprint books carry a 'sash' in the lower right corner warning the buyer that this contains previously published material.
Given that, imagine the frustration of the average buyer. Most people do not want to be in a dirty bookstore. And when they are, they want to grab something and get out as soon as possible. Let's say they don't bother to read the fine print. Imagine they get home and get ready to indulge in a bit of reading, only to discover it's a book they have already read or own? Now imagine that happening more that once. After a point... who isn't going to be buying books at dirty bookstores? Did this 'republishing' play a role in the extinction of paperbacks in dirty bookstores?
Brawny Hunk
Author: Mitch Stone
Power Force Series
1984
PF-131
This was published as part of the RAM-10 Series as RAM-10-110, and then by Arena Publications, again, as GAY-124.
This is available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
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Rodeo Jocks
Author: Scott Weyburn
Power Force Series
1984
PF-132
This was published as part of the RAM-10 Series as RAM-10-111, and then by Arena Publications, again, as GAY-125.
Hard-Young & Trapped
Author: Jack Steward
Power Force Series
1984
PF-133
This was published as part of the RAM-10 Series as RAM-10-114, and then by Arena Publications, again, as GAY-126.
(I have a copy of this one that's never been read.)
Hunk Jumpers
Author: Lester Dayton
Power Force Series
1984
PF-134
This was published as part of the RAM-10 Series as RAM-10-116, and then by Arena Publications, again, as GAY-127.
This is available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
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Kelly’s Naked Danger
Author: Mitch Stone
Power Force Series
1985
PF-135
This was published as part of the RAM-10 Series as RAM-10-118.
This is available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
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The President’s Men
Author: Scott Weyburn
Power Force Series
1985
PF-136
This was published as part of the RAM-10 Series as RAM-10-119, and then by Arena Publications, again, as GAY-128.
GAY-128
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Breaking in a Chicken
Author: Brad Rowen
Power Force Series
1985
PF-137
This was published as part of the HIS69 Series as HIS69-182.
This is available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
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Cruising for Cock
Author: Stu Johnson
Power Force Series
1985
PF-138
This was published as part of the HIS69 Series as HIS69-167.
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Hunky Bike Slave
Author: Scott Weyburn
Power Force Series
1985
PF-139
This was published as part of the HIS69 Series as HIS69-179.
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All Star Hunks
Author: Mitch Stone
Power Force Series
1985
PF-140
This is available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
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And that's all for now.
Next week: ten more tantalizing titles from the Power Force Series imprint.
Until then...
Thanks for reading!
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All The Stars - Kendrick Lamar and SZA
1 comment:
Great art on these covers! _Brawny Hunk_ is my favourite
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