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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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For altered posts, choose the category "Updated"

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

Category: spicy

Winter 1950 issue

Winter 1950

willing to bet the cover art is by Rudolph Belarski – an all-time classic

Posted on May 6, 2024April 23, 2024Categories crime fiction, finest kind, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulp, spicyTags arthur leo zagat, dame, femme fatale, finest kind, kelley roos, mystery book magazine, woman with a gun, wyatt blassingameLeave a comment on Winter 1950 issue

November 1934 issue ~ cover art by H.J. Ward

November 1934

cover art by H.J. Ward

better image than previously posted

[cover updated 11/19/25]

Posted on May 5, 2024November 19, 2025Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulp, spicy, updatedTags bathtub, h.j. ward, robert leslie bellem, spicy detective storiesLeave a comment on November 1934 issue ~ cover art by H.J. Ward

January 1935 issue ~ cover art by H.L. Parkhurst

January 1935

cover art by H.L. Parkhurst

better image than previously posted

[cover updated 4/28/26]

Posted on May 5, 2024April 28, 2026Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulp, spicy, updatedTags h.l. parkhurst, lingerie, mirror, robert leslie bellem, spicy detective storiesLeave a comment on January 1935 issue ~ cover art by H.L. Parkhurst

December 1942 issue ~ cover art by Allen Anderson

December 1942

final issue before being re-titled Speed Mystery

cover art by Allen Anderson

better image than previously posted

Posted on May 3, 2024April 24, 2024Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulp, spicy, weird fictionTags allen anderson, e. hoffmann price, hooded, spicy mystery magazine, stockingsLeave a comment on December 1942 issue ~ cover art by Allen Anderson

cover art by Ron Lesser

Deadly Dames #3, unpublished painting
Oil on masonite, 24 x 17 in.
Signed lower right

Posted on May 1, 2024April 24, 2024Categories Hardboiled, original art, pulp, spicyTags femme fatale, moll, oil on masonite, ron lesser, smoking, tommygunLeave a comment on cover art by Ron Lesser

June 1935 issue ~ cover art by H.J. Ward

June 1935

cover art by H.J. Ward

better image than previously posted

[cover updated 11/18/25]

Posted on April 30, 2024November 18, 2025Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulp, spicy, updatedTags dagger, earl w. scott, h.j. ward, ken cooper, spicy detective storiesLeave a comment on June 1935 issue ~ cover art by H.J. Ward

cover art by Robert Maguire

1962 Chariot paperback original

1966 Private Edition paperback original

Posted on April 29, 2024April 23, 2024Categories finest kind, paperback, pulp, spicyTags a.e. oliver, chariot paperback, finest kind, frank burnet, lurid, private edition paperback, robert maguireLeave a comment on cover art by Robert Maguire

December 1941 issue ~ cover art by Allen Anderson

December 1941

cover art by Allen Anderson

Posted on April 28, 2024June 21, 2025Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, mystery, pulp, spicyTags allen anderson, full moon, robert leslie bellem, spicy mystery magazine, swampLeave a comment on December 1941 issue ~ cover art by Allen Anderson

cover art by Howell Dodd

cover art by Howell Dodd

January 1952 issue

Posted on April 28, 2024April 23, 2024Categories Hardboiled, magazine, original art, pulp, spicy, true crimeTags best true fact detective, dame, femme fatale, howell doddLeave a comment on cover art by Howell Dodd

December 1951 issue ~ cover art by George Gross

December 1951

cover art by George Gross

better image than previously posted

Posted on April 26, 2024April 22, 2024Categories Hardboiled, magazine, pulp, spicy, true crimeTags all true fact crime cases, blackmail, femme fatale, george gross, smokingLeave a comment on December 1951 issue ~ cover art by George Gross

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