The Shocking Covers of Super-Detective


by Hugh Joseph Ward

From 1940 to 1943, Super-Detective Magazine kept the world up-to-date on the adventures of Jim Anthony.  Anthony was a crime fighter, described as being “half-Irish, half-Indian, and all-American.”  Much like contemporary pulp heroes like Doc Savage, Phantom Detective, and the Shadow, Jim Anthony fought gangsters, saved damsels in distress, and even thwarted a few spies.

As you might be able to guess by looking at the covers below, the adventures of Super-Detective were, for the time, considered to be very racy.  There was a greater emphasis on both sex and violence.  As opposed to chaste and stoic heroes like Doc Savage, Jim Anthony was frequently very emotional and very flirtatious with his clients.  Still, Jim Anthony did what had to be done to fight crime and keep America safe.

Here are a few of the covers of Super-Detective!  Where known, the artist has been credited.

Artist Unknown

Artist Unknown

Artist Unknown

Artist Unknown

by Harry Lemon Parkhurst

by Hugh Joseph Ward

by Hugh Joseph Ward

by Hugh Joseph Ward

by Hugh Joseph Ward

by Robert Maguire

D-Day Images


76 years ago, the real anti-fascists stormed the beaches of Normandy and turned the tide of World War II.  Every year, we celebrate the anniversary of D-Day but hopefully we will never forget what it represents.  Over 4,000 men sacrificed their lives on that day in a battle against the greatest evil the world had ever known.  All of us today owe them  a debt a gratitude.

The pictures below were all taken on D-Day:

by Robert Capa

by Robert Capa

by Robert Capa

by Robert Capa

by Robert Capa

by Robert Capa

by Robert Capa

The Three Covers of Dream World


Dream World was a magazine that existed, briefly, in 1957.  Each issue dealt with stories of men who had “incredible powers.”  Judging from the covers of Dream World, the only possible use for any of those powers was to either get laid or get rich.  Apparently, readers in 1957 didn’t feel that they needed special psychic powers to do either of those because Dream World only lasted for three issues.  Here are the three covers of Dream World:

by Ed Valigursky

This first issue is from February of 1957 and it features a cover by Ed Valigursky.  According to the cover, it featured a story called “Ways to Get A Gal.”  Apparently, in 1957, it helped if you had x-ray vision.  Then you could spend all day staring through a brick wall and seeing what books she had sitting on her book shelf.  I’m sure that’s what the man on the cover is focusing on, right?

by John Parker

This second issue is from May of 1957.  According to the cover, this issue featured a man who could make his dreams come true and apparently, he’s been dreaming about a startlet with sharp eyebrows and bountiful cleavage.  This issue also featured something called “You Too Can Win A Harem.”  Hopefully, this was a story and not an actual contest.

by Ed Valigursky

The third and final issue came out in August of 1957 and featured a cover by Ed Valigursky.  This one featured a story about a man whose touch turned stone to flesh, which I guess is what’s happening on the cover.  It also features a story about Mr. Milford’s Magic Camera, which took naked pictures in the days before mirror selfies.

There would be no more issues of Dream World after this but a good cover, like a dream, never truly dies.