Friday, July 17, 2009

A Huge Collection of Pulp Covers!

I was glancing through Paulie Decibels links when lo and behold, I hit the motherlode of pulp fiction magazine covers at Lots Of Pulp. This blog has covers from the Golden Age of Pulp up through the 50's. We're talking every genre; action, romance, westerns, crime, science fiction, and even some subgenres that you probably weren't aware of.



"Why isn't anybody listening to me? Yes, I said that 'I wanted a bra that lifts and separates,' but that doesn't mean that I didn't want the thing to be comfortable!"



"I, Robot?"

No, I haven't read the Asimov book and I only saw about forty minutes total of the Will Smith movie, but I'll wager good money that neither version was like this. Oh, and this is really fair. It's not bad enough that robot is almost eight feet tall, has claws for hands and is bullet-proof, but he has a rabid wolf too?

17 comments:

David Cranmer said...

Terrific old covers and the rabid animal is adding insult to injury. Too funny.

Gary Dobbs/Jack Martin said...

That's a link worth bookmarking

Joe said...

The only thing standing between humanity and robot destruction is a plucky outdoorsman with a flannel shirt and a Colt Government model

Pyzahn said...

Yeah, the guys all notice the rabid animal, but no one mentioned the creepizoids mauling the damsel in distress. They must have been blinded by the cleavage.

Needless...I love these vintage covers.

Cormac Brown said...

David,

As an editor, would you seriously allow that? I hope that cover was solely to up the fear factor and the publisher seriously sign off on that in the actual story.

Gary,

Absolutely.

Bubs,

Yes, and the reason why we are all still here, is because he had on giant robot/rabid wolf-proof flannel.

Pyzahn,

I believe the reason why the gentlemen didn't mention it was because with pulp covers, creeps are a given. If you look at the covers in general, whether there are women, couples or men depicted, they are all surrounded by leering creeps and animals.

The only difference is the women tend to have less attire, though they are not entirely helpless in all of the covers. There were more than a few damsels that were sporting pistols, lasers, whips, etc...

But yes, you're right, those red hats have stepped straight out of nightmare.

Unknown said...

I have a copy of Men's Adventure. It is a huge volume of the racier covers and truly tasteless content. Some of the covers from this period really stun me at times.

JDC

SkylersDad said...

Someday when I write a novelette, my only wish is that it be called "starkly vivid".

My word ver is saten, I kid you not!

Cormac Brown said...

Johnny Dollars,

It is amazing to view some of these covers. I knew about the violence and the ridiculous stereotyopes, but I didn't know that they got that racy. I'm sure that some of those were kept behind the counter, or the seller would get an earful.

Sky Dad,

That's a great wish and as far as your word verification? Who could be behind it? Perhaps this guy?

Doc said...

Ditto Bubs, but let me suggest pump shotguns full of deer slugs.

Doc

Cormac Brown said...

Doc,

Would those penetrate steel or titanium?

Doc said...

Cormac- Yes. It might take two shots, but yes.

Doc

Paul D Brazill said...

Yep, there's some good stuff there.

Cormac Brown said...

Doc,

Cool.

Paulie Decibels,

Yes and it was found, thanks to you.

Creepy said...

Now that first one seems like my kinda comic. They didn't sell that in my 7 Eleven when I was a kid.

Cormac Brown said...

Creepy,

The pulps weren't really comics per se, they rarely had more than two or three illustrations per story. They did however, have content that would've been banned in even the most liberal states back then, everybody pretty much looked the other way.

Now, in terms of comics being racy back in the day? There were Tijuana Bibles and most of them are still too risque to be sold in most stores.

B-Sol said...

Thanks for checking out Lots of Pulp, guys! I'm glad you're enjoying it, it's a labor of love...

Cormac Brown said...

B-Sol,

Welcome and that's quite a wonderful cataloging of the Golden Age of pulp, great stuff!