Kezilla58 wrote:
Paul Ernst actually wrote the first 24 Avenger novels under the pen name of Kenneth Robeson (possibly with the help of another author named Emile Tepperman). Ron Goulart took over with book 25 "The Man from Atlantis" and ended his run with book 36 "Demon Island".

Book 27, "The Purple Zombie" was indeed one of Goulart's novels.

Kezilla

Emile Tepperman (who penned several SPIDER novels) wrote AVENGER short stories that appeared in CLUES and THE SHADOW magazines after the Paul Ernst novels had ended.
These featured a lethal, 'tough guy' version of Benson--very out of character, more like a P.I.
Smitty the few times he was mentioned,was described as looking like a Viking, rather than a big moon-faced galoot.
Lester Dent and Walter Gisbon reportedly helped Ernst out with the first novel, and editor John Nanovic had a good deal of input--even suggesting/providing plots.