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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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Tag: skull

April 1943 Canadian issue

April 1943 Canadian issue

[updated 10/31/25]

Posted on July 31, 2024October 31, 2025Categories canadian pulp, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulp, weird fictionTags clown, coulrophobia, g.t. fleming-roberts, john h. knox, skull, thrilling mystery magazineLeave a comment on April 1943 Canadian issue

February 1933 – premiere issue

February 1933 – premiere issue

first appearance of The Phantom Menace

cover art by Bertram Glover

better image than previously posted

Posted on July 20, 2024July 3, 2024Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulpTags bertram glover, phantom detective magazine, skull, top hatLeave a comment on February 1933 – premiere issue

March 7, 1931 issue ~ cover art by John A. Coughlin

March 7, 1931

cover art by John A. Coughlin

better image than previously posted

Posted on July 20, 2024July 3, 2024Categories magazine, mystery, pulpTags clew, confederate, dagger, detective story magazine, john a. coughlin, skullLeave a comment on March 7, 1931 issue ~ cover art by John A. Coughlin

December 1935 issue ~ cover art by Delos Palmer

December 1935

cover art by Delos Palmer

[cover updated 6/1/25]

Posted on July 19, 2024June 1, 2025Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulp, updatedTags bat, carl mckinnon saunders, delos palmer, frederick c. davis, paul chadwick, pitchfork, skull, ten detective aces magazineLeave a comment on December 1935 issue ~ cover art by Delos Palmer

Spring 1934 issue ~ cover art by Clem Gretta

Spring 1934

cover art by Clem Gretta

better image than previously posted

Posted on July 18, 2024October 27, 2025Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulpTags clem gretta, ellery queen, leslie charteris, mystery novels magazine, simon templar, skull, the saintLeave a comment on Spring 1934 issue ~ cover art by Clem Gretta

October 1939 issue ~ cover art by Lawrence Toney

October 1939

cover art by Lawrence Toney

better image than previously posted

[cover updated 2/1/26]

Posted on July 18, 2024February 1, 2026Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulp, updatedTags crime busters magazine, lawrence toney, skullLeave a comment on October 1939 issue ~ cover art by Lawrence Toney

May 1938 issue ~ cover art by Norman Saunders

May 1938

cover art by Norman Saunders

better image than previously posted

[cover updated 4/21/26]

Posted on July 18, 2024April 21, 2026Categories crime fiction, finest kind, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulp, updatedTags brent north, complete detective magazine, garter, grim reaper, skull, stockings, tux, wayne rogersLeave a comment on May 1938 issue ~ cover art by Norman Saunders

August 1950 issue

August 1950

cover art attributed to Albert Drake

Posted on July 18, 2024April 29, 2025Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulpTags deep sea diver, famous detective stories, lantern, murray leinster, oscar j. friend, skeleton, skullLeave a comment on August 1950 issue

February 1934 issue ~ cover art by Norman Saunders

February 1934

cover art by Norman Saunders

better image than previously posted

Posted on July 18, 2024May 11, 2026Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulpTags all detective magazine, bound, erle stanley gardner, lester dent, norman saunders, skullLeave a comment on February 1934 issue ~ cover art by Norman Saunders

February 1935 -premier issue ~ cover art by Rafael DeSoto

February 1935 -premier issue

cover art by Rafael DeSoto

first of only three issues

better image than previously posted

Posted on July 6, 2024July 2, 2024Categories espionage fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulpTags dagger, frederick c. painton, skull, spy novels magazine, william e. barrettLeave a comment on February 1935 -premier issue ~ cover art by Rafael DeSoto

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