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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: pulp

January 1936 issue ~ cover art by Rudolph Belarski

January 1936

cover art by Rudolph Belarski

better image than previously posted

Posted on January 19, 2026January 14, 2026Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulpTags grim reaper, laurence donovan, maurice tessler, oscar schisgall, skeleton, thrilling detective magazine, trench coatLeave a comment on January 1936 issue ~ cover art by Rudolph Belarski

November 1934 issue ~ cover art by Rafael de Soto

November 1934

cover art by Rafael de Soto

better image than previously posted

Posted on January 19, 2026January 14, 2026Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulpTags arthur b. reeve, c.k.m. scanlon, frederick c. painton, grim reaper, l. ron hubbard, popular detective magazine, rafael desoto, skeleton, t.t. flynnLeave a comment on November 1934 issue ~ cover art by Rafael de Soto

cover art by Mitchell Hooks

cover art by Mitchell Hooks

Oil on board, 23 x 19 in., not signed

1988 Ballantine release, first US print

owner’s copy

Posted on January 18, 2026January 14, 2026Categories anthology, Hardboiled, original art, paperback, pulpTags australian fiction, ballantine paperback, cliff hardy, mitchell hooks, private eyeLeave a comment on cover art by Mitchell Hooks

Mum’s the Word for Murder x 2

1953 Dell reissue – cover art by Bill George

better image than previously posted

1964 Dell reissue – cover art by Robert McGinnis

better image than previously posted

Posted on January 18, 2026January 14, 2026Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, paperback, pulpTags bill george, brett halliday, dagger, dell paperback, robertt mcginnisLeave a comment on Mum’s the Word for Murder x 2

Murder is My Mistress x 2

1951 Graphic paperback original

better image than previously posted

1953 Phantom edition from Australia

Posted on January 18, 2026January 14, 2026Categories australian pulp, crime fiction, Hardboiled, paperback, pulpTags alley, graphic paperback, harry whittington, phantom paperbackLeave a comment on Murder is My Mistress x 2

Run for Your Life/Kill-Box

1946 Crown hardcover

1948 Handi-Book reissue

pseudonym of Lawrence Lariar

this is the 1954 Ace paperback reissue, retitled.

Posted on January 17, 2026January 14, 2026Categories crime fiction, digest, Hardboiled, hardcover, paperback, pulpTags ace double paperback, crown hardcover, handi-book paperback, lawrence lariar, michael starkLeave a comment on Run for Your Life/Kill-Box

1956 Dell paperback original – cover art by Victor Kalin

1956 Dell paperback original

cover art by Victor Kalin

non-series, often said to be his best novel

November 29, 2013

Posted on January 17, 2026January 14, 2026Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, paperback, pulpTags dell paperback, frank kane, victor kalinLeave a comment on 1956 Dell paperback original – cover art by Victor Kalin

January 1945 issue ~ cover art by Richard Lillis

January 1945

cover art by Richard Lillis

better image than previously posted

Posted on January 16, 2026January 14, 2026Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulpTags heist, motorcycle, private detective stories, robert a. garron, woman with a gunLeave a comment on January 1945 issue ~ cover art by Richard Lillis

November 1941 issue ~ cover art by Rafael de Soto

November 1941 issue

cover art by Rafael de Soto

better image than previously posted

Posted on January 16, 2026January 7, 2026Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, original art, pulpTags arthur leo zagat, dane gregory, day keene, detective tales magazine, rafael desoto, wyatt blassingameLeave a comment on November 1941 issue ~ cover art by Rafael de Soto

March 1945 issue

March 1945

better image than previously posted

Posted on January 16, 2026January 14, 2026Categories crime fiction, finest kind, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulpTags bloody fingerprints, bus, c. william harrison, joel townsley rogers, ken crossen, new detective magazine, ray bradburyLeave a comment on March 1945 issue

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