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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: spicy

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

November 1936

cover art by H.J. Ward

better image than previously posted

[cover updated 11/20/25]

Posted on January 19, 2026January 14, 2026Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulp, spicy, updatedTags casket, grim reaper, h.j. ward, robert leslie bellem, scythe, spicy mystery storiesLeave a comment on November 1936 issue ~ cover art by H.J. Ward

Unknown Painter x 3

unknown artist – Howell Dodd?

November 1950 Smash Detective Crime Cases

cover art reused for March 1954 Best True Fact Detective

cover art repurposed for 1958 Beacon paperback original

Posted on January 16, 2026January 7, 2026Categories Hardboiled, magazine, original art, paperback, pulp, spicy, true crimeTags beacon paperback, best true fact detective, george kramer, lurid, sleaze, smash detective casesLeave a comment on Unknown Painter x 3

September 1936 issue ~ cover art by H.L. Parkhurst

September 1936

cover art by H.L. Parkhurst

Posted on January 15, 2026January 7, 2026Categories action fiction, adventure, maritime fiction, pulp, spicyTags garter, h.l. parkhurst, hook, sam walser, spicy-adventure stories, stockings, treasure mapLeave a comment on September 1936 issue ~ cover art by H.L. Parkhurst

May 1936 issue ~ cover art by Norman Saunders

May 1936

cover art by Norman Saunders

better image than previously posted

Posted on January 8, 2026January 5, 2026Categories crime fiction, finest kind, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulp, spicyTags anita delglyn, marie hoyt, norman saunders, saucy romantic adventures, stever fisher, woman with a gunLeave a comment on May 1936 issue ~ cover art by Norman Saunders

January 1937 issue ~ cover art by Blaine

January 1937

cover art by Blaine (Norman Saunders)

Posted on December 31, 2025October 28, 2025Categories magazine, pulp, spicyTags blaine, frank e. marks, garters, lurid, new year's, norman saunders, saucy movie tales, stockingsLeave a comment on January 1937 issue ~ cover art by Blaine

October 1952 issue

October 1952

Posted on December 27, 2025December 9, 2025Categories Hardboiled, magazine, pulp, spicy, true crimeTags dame, moll, underworld detective magazineLeave a comment on October 1952 issue

June 1949 issue ~ cover art by Fred Rodewald

June 1949

cover art by Fred Rodewald

better image than previously posted

Posted on December 27, 2025December 9, 2025Categories finest kind, Hardboiled, magazine, pulp, spicy, true crimeTags dame, femme fatale, fred rodewald, garter, line-up, police detective cases, stockingsLeave a comment on June 1949 issue ~ cover art by Fred Rodewald

December 1951 issue

December 1951

cover art by Howell Dodd?

better image than previously posted

Posted on December 26, 2025December 9, 2025Categories Hardboiled, magazine, pulp, spicy, true crimeTags dame, hooker, police detective cases, smokingLeave a comment on December 1951 issue

May 1956 issue

May 1956

December 10, 2013

Posted on December 26, 2025December 9, 2025Categories magazine, spicy, true crimeTags lingerie, pulp illustration, women in crimeLeave a comment on May 1956 issue

June 1968 Companion paperback original – cover art by Robert Bonfils

June 1968 Companion paperback original

cover art by Robert Bonfils

better image than previously posted

Posted on December 26, 2025December 9, 2025Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, paperback, pulp, spicyTags companion paperback, john dexter, lurid, robert bonfils, slezeLeave a comment on June 1968 Companion paperback original – cover art by Robert Bonfils

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