Spotlight: The Cleanup Man
Navigate the strange universe with Donnie, Tom, and the team in this sci-fi serial published in the Rad Mag. Their offically unnamed division doesn’t just re-plant corn fields or repair convention centers destroyed during a political rally thanks to the hot, hot lust of cupids amok. They help those who can’t ask anyone for help. They do it with other humans who didn’t quite fit in, but have a place at home base, buried in the subfloors with the The Vault, and the Reprogramming Room, and that cute little case holding all of those space bugs.
“The Cleanup Man” started out as a first chapter in an intended novel. It did not become a novel. After that unsuccessful expansion - (not entirely, some of those characters and places have been reimagined in these tales!) - the story hung out in limbo for a while. Other projects came and went, some of them even finished, until 2021 when the seasonal story-sharing zine the Rad Mag started and "The Cleanup Man" finally found its perfect, pulp-y home.
Donnie’s first case, in the Rad Mag Issue No 1 “Bizzaro”, is the same first case from the original story written in 1997. Much has grown since then, but Donnie’s first real look behind the curtain is the same. Replacing Marie Marsons after she was murdered by an assassin who was sent for her high clearance, very important scientist husband - a giant mess. “New Marie” introduces us to Donnie, his new world, and his love for snacks. We also meet Tom, Donnie’s boss and soon to be mentor. Tom has a bushy mustache and a history that makes us wonder just how long he’s been doing this.
Donnie, Tom, Jennifer, and their team - plus some freelancers and riends - appear in seventeen stories, each one crafted with fun in mind. Fun, home, and marveling at the coolness of the universe.
New Marie
Alien Pie
Pumpkin Problems
The Vault
Fling
Strawberry Fields
The Long Day
Northern Division
Breakfast Shift
Jules and The Chickens
Ms. Kane
Sting Party
Runaway Hearts
Trouble for Tony
Lab Surprise
The Cocoa at Home
Nesting
A special release ready to snuggle up with readers,Three Tales of Merriment, is a collection of the author's favorite winter tales. Weird cases, neat gadgets, and peace for all. And a few frozen bodies. Donnie’s job gets more interesting every year. It’s a sci-fi winter.
What case will The Cleanup Man wipe out next? Find out in the next issue of the Rad Mag - ISSUE 18 | FALL 26/WINTER 27 will be out later this year!
"The Cleanup Man" is written by Candi Bartlett, only available in issues of the Rad Mag and special collections at Candi Presents.
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