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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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Tag: top hat

May 23, 1931 issue ~ cover art by John A. Coughlin

May 23, 1931

cover art by John A. Coughlin

Posted on August 14, 2024July 3, 2024Categories magazine, mystery, pulpTags a.e. apple, blood, detective story magazine, john a. coughlin, top hat, yellow menaceLeave a comment on May 23, 1931 issue ~ cover art by John A. Coughlin

January 1949 issue

January 1949

[image upgraded 11/8/25]

Posted on August 13, 2024November 8, 2025Categories Hardboiled, magazine, pulp, true crime, updatedTags detective world magazine, monocle, showgirl, top hatLeave a comment on January 1949 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

April 11, 1936 issue ~ cover art by Lejaren Hiller

April 11, 1936

cover art by Lejaren Hiller

better image than previously posted

Posted on June 26, 2024June 15, 2024Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulpTags anthony rud, bruno hauptman, con man, detective fiction weekly, donald ross, flynn's, joseph mulvaney, lejaren hiller, lindbergh kidnapping, maxwell hawkins, ray cummings, top hat, tuxLeave a comment on April 11, 1936 issue ~ cover art by Lejaren Hiller

October 1935 issue

October 1935 – first issue when changed from weekly to monthly

better image than previously posted

Posted on May 20, 2024May 13, 2024Categories magazine, mystery, pulpTags detective story magazine, ellery queen, top hat, walter rippergerLeave a comment on October 1935 issue

February 1936 issue ~ cover art by Fred Charles Rodewald

February 1936

cover art by Fred Charles Rodewald

Posted on May 14, 2024May 13, 2024Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, maritime fiction, mystery, pulpTags barry perowne, cracksman, dagger, fred rodewald, john l. tiernan, kenneth macnichol, raffles, safe crack, thrilling detective magazine, top hatLeave a comment on February 1936 issue ~ cover art by Fred Charles Rodewald

September 1934 issue ~ cover art by Rafael DeSoto

September 1934

cover art by Rafael DeSoto

Posted on May 7, 2024May 7, 2024Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulpTags all detective magazine, noose, rafael desoto, scaffold, top hat, tux, william e. barrettLeave a comment on September 1934 issue ~ cover art by Rafael DeSoto

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

January 1937

cover art by H.J. Ward

better image than previously posted

[cover updated 11/19/25]

Posted on May 6, 2024November 19, 2025Categories crime fiction, finest kind, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulp, spicy, updatedTags dagger, finest kind, h.j. ward, justin case, showgirl, spicy detective stories, top hatLeave a comment on January 1937 issue ~ cover art by H.J. Ward

January 1941 issue

January 1947

Posted on April 15, 2024April 14, 2024Categories crime fiction, finest kind, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulpTags crack detective stories, dagger, dummy, finest kind, magician, robert c. dennis, top hat, tuxLeave a comment on January 1941 issue

August 1938 issue ~ cover art by Rafael DeSoto

August 1938

cover art by Rafael DeSoto

better image than previously posted

Posted on April 9, 2024February 24, 2024Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulpTags handcuffs, phantom detective magazine, rafael desoto, top hat, woman with a gunLeave a comment on August 1938 issue ~ cover art by Rafael DeSoto

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