Reefers, Redheads, and the Road to Ruin (okay, so why do they show a blonde?)

This is nice. Just plain nice. Love the coy smile.

Sympathy for the Devil

I like collecting items with the devil on them. I find him as imaginary as an unicorn or Jesus, but still, it's a fun hobby. Okay, don't get me on a technicality here. I know Jesus as a person isn't technically imaginary, but the whole zombie thing, well you know what I mean. This one has a Belarski cover, so it's also "For the Love of Rudolph Belarski."

Just because he's furry doesn't mean he won't fuck you up

Don't mess with bear dude. He will fuck you up.

Rare Juvie Hardback with Pictorial Dust Jacket

It was mostly the pulp paperback market that took on the subject of juvenile delinquency. They liked scandalous stuff. Of course, there were mainstream juvie movies too like "Blackboard Jungle" and "Rebel Without a Cause." This book's a rare example of a hardcover with pictorial dust jacket taking on the subject of juvenile delinquency.

It's always more fun to talk about "bad girls" than it is "bad boys." Our society just loves to get off on the deeds of "bad girls," and then condemn them the morning after.

For the Love of Rudolph Belarski VI

This cover painting was so awesome that later Popular Library reused it for "Death and Taxes" by David Dodge. I would have scanned it as a companion piece, but it's in one of a gigantic stack of boxes in my storage unit.

For the Love of Peter Driben II

Peter Driben painted great pin-up art for Harrison's mags. He was also a damn fine detective mag artist.

"Gay Love" Romance Pulp

That snowman needs a Valium.

For the Love of Rudolph Belarski V

I wanted to signal that I'm still alive and blogging. And this is how I feel about Republicans.

For the Love of Rudolph Belarski IV

I was really happy to read the tagline of this Belarski cover and find out that "Death wears skis." I couldn't be happier with the news! I don't play sports and growing up in cold weather, I plan to stay away from it permanently. I guess this means I'll live forever.

Crime Detective: A Friendly Reminder that "Crime Does Not Pay"

Crime Does Not Pay! But it's sure fun to read about it. Blood, guts, and misery--oh my!

Crime Detective: The Classic 'White Woman in Peril'

The US media is as exploitative as ever. I'm shocked that words like "racket" have gone out of style. It's such an over-the-top, cheesetastic word. You'd think we'd be hearing about different "rackets" all the time.

And the whole "white woman in peril thing." Sometimes I wish the media would just be honest. We know you're obsessed with missing white women, why don't you just acknowledge your little fetish, media? Can you imagine a newscaster saying, "In today's news, yet another missing white woman. Everyone knows we love a good missing white woman story. Of course, a missing woman can't just be a woman, she's gotta be attractive too (or at least a 6 out of 10) and don't forget the most important part, WHITE."

Anyway, I know all this commentary is tangential to the "Crime Detective" shown. I just think it's interesting to contrast over-the-top media of the past with our over-the-top media. I think if you're going to be over-the-top, you should take it all the way and not try to pretend you're something you're not. The headline on the front of the "Crime Detective" should be "Please no! Don't hurt this poor, attractive, white woman!"

For the Love of Rudolph Belarski III

"Crime Detective" Magazine

Another most excellent "Crime Detective."

For the Love of Rudolph Belarski II

Classic woman in peril cover by Belarski.

Crime Detective: 30's Detective Fun

I generally prefer the 40's to 50's detective magazines with covers by artists like George Gross and Howell Dodd, but "Crime Detective" is a particularly good 30's mag. Covers are brightly colored, salacious artifacts of sin, sex, and scandal. And "mad rampage of the human monster"-- how can you NOT love THAT?

For the Love of Rudolph Belarski

Just because I love Rudolph Belarski.