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SMB Noir

For the Fans of Hardboiled, Pulp & Gumshoe Art

Back in 2013, our tumblr site was started and ran until 2018, when they decided it was too "adult" - too lurid, supposedly. We followed the exodus to newtumbl and four years of dedication vanished in June of 2023. That work was not only new posts but upgrades of hundreds of old tumblr posts as well. So far, there has been no way to rescue those posts, so this will be the third version of this project. And, I'll warn you in advance, I may slip in covers that are not crime or mystery but just because I like the artwork. Enjoy!

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Category: magazine

May 1938 issue ~ cover art by H. J. Ward  

May 1938

cover art by H. J. Ward  

better image than previously posted

Posted on December 29, 2023December 17, 2023Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, horror fiction, magazine, mystery, pulp, spicyTags corpse, h.j. ward, lew merrill, pulp art, spicy mystery magazine, voodooLeave a comment on May 1938 issue ~ cover art by H. J. Ward  

April 1947 issue

Format ImagePosted on December 29, 2023December 24, 2023Categories Hardboiled, magazine, true crimeTags uncensored detective, woman with a gunLeave a comment on April 1947 issue

December 1949 issue

December 1949

Posted on December 28, 2023December 17, 2023Categories magazine, true crimeTags dame, femme fatale, human detective magazine, poison, pulp art, true crimeLeave a comment on December 1949 issue

August-September 1939 issue

August-September 1939

included Cornell Woolrich’s “Vampire’s Honeymoon”

Posted on December 28, 2023December 17, 2023Categories Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulp, weird fictionTags coffin, cornell woolrich, femme fatale, frances bragg middleton, horror stories magazine, mindret lord, ray cummings, skeleton, vampire, whipLeave a comment on August-September 1939 issue

October 1959 issue

Format ImagePosted on December 28, 2023December 23, 2023Categories Hardboiled, magazine, true crimeTags femme fatale, official detective stories, pulp illustration, woman with a gunLeave a comment on October 1959 issue

June 1936 issue ~ cover art by H.J. Ward

June 1936

cover art by H.J. Ward

[cover updated 11/18/25]

Posted on December 28, 2023November 18, 2025Categories action fiction, adventure, finest kind, Hardboiled, magazine, pulp, spicy, updatedTags dagger, dame, desert fiction, femme fatale, finest kind, foreign legion, h.j. ward, justin case, lew merrill, spicy-adventure stories, tentLeave a comment on June 1936 issue ~ cover art by H.J. Ward

August 1929 issue ~ cover art by R.C. Wardell

August 1929

cover art by R.C. Wardell

better image than previously posted

Hersey swastika: “The Symbol of Good Reading – A Hersey Magazine”

Posted on December 28, 2023December 27, 2023Categories crime fiction, gangster, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulpTags dame, femme fatale, r.c. wardell, rackateer, underworld magazineLeave a comment on August 1929 issue ~ cover art by R.C. Wardell

February-March 1937 issue ~ cover art by Malvin Singer

February-March 1937

cover art by Malvin Singer

better image than previously posted

[image updated 4/21/24]

Posted on December 27, 2023April 21, 2024Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulp, weird fictionTags ace-high detective, laboratory, malvin singer, melvin a. conant, monster, william e. barrettLeave a comment on February-March 1937 issue ~ cover art by Malvin Singer

April 1951 issue

April 1951

[post updated 4/26/25]

Posted on December 27, 2023April 26, 2025Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulp, updatedTags cornell woolrich, detective tales magazine, flashlight, harry whittington, hugh b. cave, john d. macdonaldLeave a comment on April 1951 issue

June 1934 issue ~ cover art by Fred Madan

June 1934

cover art by Fred Madan

Posted on December 27, 2023December 11, 2023Categories crime fiction, finest kind, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulpTags all detective magazine, erle stanley gardner, fred madan, j. allan dunnLeave a comment on June 1934 issue ~ cover art by Fred Madan

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