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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!

September 2026
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For altered posts, choose the category "Updated"

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All rights to this ongoing project are reserved by the owner.

Category: spicy

cover art by H.L. Parkhurst

Night of Action, Spicy Adventure Stories, April 1940
Oil on canvas laid on Masonite, 30 x 20 inches (76.2 x 50.8 cm)
Signed lower right

Posted on May 15, 2024April 26, 2026Categories adventure, crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, original art, pulp, spicyTags h.l. parkhurst, hugh speer, oil on canvas, original art, racist imagery, spicy-adventure stories, yellow menaceLeave a comment on cover art by H.L. Parkhurst

Oct./Nov./Dec. 1947 issue ~ cover art by George Gross

Oct./Nov./Dec. 1947

cover art by George Gross

better issue than previously posted

Posted on May 15, 2024May 13, 2024Categories Hardboiled, magazine, pulp, spicy, true crimeTags dagger, dame, femme fatale, george gross, lingerie, true crime detective casesLeave a comment on Oct./Nov./Dec. 1947 issue ~ cover art by George Gross

February 1942 issue ~ cover art by H.J. Ward

February 1942

cover art by H.J. Ward

artist’s “signature” is his initials carved into the bottom log

Posted on May 13, 2024April 24, 2024Categories action fiction, adventure, finest kind, Hardboiled, magazine, pulp, spicyTags bound, dagger, finest kind, h.j. ward, log cabin, luke terry, northwest, spicy-adventure storiesLeave a comment on February 1942 issue ~ cover art by H.J. Ward

June 1939 issue

June 1939

“This issue’s H. J. Ward cover is an altered version of his cover for the April 1938 issue.”

Posted on May 13, 2024April 26, 2026Categories action fiction, adventure, crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulp, spicy, western fictionTags h.j. ward, robert a. garron, sombrero, spicy-adventure storiesLeave a comment on June 1939 issue

May 1952 issue

May 1952

Posted on May 12, 2024April 24, 2024Categories Hardboiled, magazine, pulp, spicy, true crimeTags best true fact detective, dame, femme fatale, smokingLeave a comment on May 1952 issue

November 1937 issue ~ cover art by William F. Soare

November 1937

cover art by William F. Soare

better image than previously posted

Posted on May 9, 2024April 24, 2024Categories crime fiction, gangster, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulp, spicyTags motorcycle cop, robert leslie bellem, spicy detective stories, stockings, william f. soareLeave a comment on November 1937 issue ~ cover art by William F. Soare

June 1937 issue ~ cover art by H.J. Ward

June 1937 – premiere issue

cover art by H.J. Ward

[images updated 5/3/25]

Posted on May 8, 2024June 8, 2026Categories crime fiction, finest kind, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulp, spicy, updatedTags fiend, garter, h.j. ward, hatchet, hollywood fiction, private detective stories, robert leslie bellem, stockingsLeave a comment on June 1937 issue ~ cover art by H.J. Ward

November 1955 issue

November 1955

Posted on May 6, 2024April 23, 2024Categories Hardboiled, magazine, pulp, spicyTags dame, official police cases, smokingLeave a comment on November 1955 issue

October 1938 issue

October 1938

Posted on May 6, 2024April 23, 2024Categories Hardboiled, magazine, pulp, spicy, true crimeTags dame, femme fatale, showgirl, true magazine, woman with a gunLeave a comment on October 1938 issue

February 1942 issue ~ cover art by H.J. Ward

February 1942

cover art by H.J. Ward

better image than previously posted

Posted on May 6, 2024April 23, 2024Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulp, spicyTags bound, robert leslie bellem, sadist, spicy detective magazine, whipLeave a comment on February 1942 issue ~ cover art by H.J. Ward

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