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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.

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

October 1929

cover art by R.C. Wardell

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

Posted on February 11, 2024December 27, 2023Categories crime fiction, gangster, magazine, mystery, pulpTags chinatown, dame, moll, r.c. wardell, stockings, tom roan, tong war, underworld magazine, woman with a gunLeave a comment on October 1929 issue ~ cover art by R.C. Wardell

December 1941 issue ~ cover art by H.J. Ward

December 1941

cover art by H.J. Ward

better image than previously posted

Posted on February 10, 2024December 28, 2023Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulpTags h.j. ward, jim anthony, john grange, super-detective magazineLeave a comment on December 1941 issue ~ cover art by H.J. Ward

October 1947 issue ~ cover art by Allen Anderson

October 1947

cover art by Allen Anderson

the only issue published

Posted on February 10, 2024December 9, 2023Categories magazine, pulpTags all baseball stories magazine, allen anderson, baseball fiction, roe richmondLeave a comment on October 1947 issue ~ cover art by Allen Anderson

cover art by Harry Barton

Mambo to Murder, paperback cover, 1955
oil on board, 23.75 x 17 in. (sight)
Not signed

Posted on February 10, 2024December 30, 2023Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, original art, paperback, pulpTags ace double paperback, dale clark, dame, femme fatale, harry barton, oil on board, original artLeave a comment on cover art by Harry Barton

October 1953 issue ~ cover art by Mel Phillips

oil on canvas, 16″x20″

Posted on February 10, 2024December 31, 2023Categories Hardboiled, magazine, original art, pulp, true crimeTags master detective magazine, mel phillips, original artLeave a comment on October 1953 issue ~ cover art by Mel Phillips

September 1940 issue ~ cover art by Rafael DeSoto

September 1940

cover art by Rafael DeSoto

Posted on February 9, 2024December 28, 2023Categories Hardboiled, horror fiction, magazine, pulp, weird fictionTags art fiction, dagger, rafael desoto, ralston shields, raymond whetstone, terror tales magazine, tux, wayne rogersLeave a comment on September 1940 issue ~ cover art by Rafael DeSoto

June 1935 issue

June 1935

[updated 4/20/24]

Posted on February 9, 2024April 20, 2024Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulpTags c.k.m. scanlon, lupton a. wilkinson, mirror, phantom detective magazine, red hood, robert wallaceLeave a comment on June 1935 issue

April 1936 issue ~ cover art by William F. Soare

April 1936

cover art by William F. Soare

Posted on February 9, 2024December 29, 2023Categories crime fiction, government agent, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulpTags brant house, frederick c. davis, secret agent x detective mysteriesLeave a comment on April 1936 issue ~ cover art by William F. Soare

cover art by Robert Abbett

gouache on board, 21 x 14 in.

1961 Avon paperback original, 1st print

later edition of unknown date

Posted on February 9, 2024December 29, 2023Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, original art, paperback, pulpTags avon paperback, ed lacy, gouache on board, robert abbettLeave a comment on cover art by Robert Abbett

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

January 1938

cover art by H.J. Ward

better image than previously posted

[cover updated 11/20/25]

Posted on February 8, 2024November 20, 2025Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulp, spicy, updatedTags bound, fiend, h.j. ward, hanged, justin case, lingerie, pulp art, spicy mystery stories, torture, whipLeave a comment on January 1938 issue ~ cover art by H.J. Ward

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