The Creepy Covers of Tales of Magic and Mystery


Tales of Magic and Mystery  promised readers a look into the world of the unknown but, despite that, it had a short print run.  The first issue came out in December of 1927.  Four issues later,  the series was canceled in 1928.  The series only ran for five issues but those five issues feature five of the best and most surreal covers that I’ve ever seen.  Unfortunately, the identity of the artist responsible for these covers is not known but they certainly make an impression.

Here, to help kick off October and Through the Shattered Lens’s annual celebration of all thing horror, are the five covers of Tales of Magic and Mystery!

December 1927

January 1928

February, 1928

March 1928

April 1928

Welcome to October!


by Erin Nicole

Welcome to October on the Shattered Lens!

Here’s hoping this month finds you with joy, family, friends, fiends, ghouls, and ghosts!

Today is also the start of the Shattered Les’s annual horrorthon!  Sit back, enjoy the reviews, the art, and the music videos, and have a great month of ghoulish fun!

by Erin Nicole

The Covers of La Paree


1935, by Earle Bergey

La Paree was published from 1930 to 1938.  Each issue featured stories about living and loving in the City of Lights, Paris!  Today, it’s mostly just remembered for its covers.

Here’s a sampling of the covers of La Paree:

1930, by Worth Carnahan

1932, by Raymond Albert Burley

1933, by Earle Bergey

1934, by Earle Bergey

1935, by Earle Bergey

1936, by Earle Bergey

1936, by Peter Driben

1937, by Peter Driben

1937, by Peter Driben

1937, by Peter Driben

The Adventures of the Masked Detective


From 1940 to 1943, Rex Parker starred in his own pulp magazine!  He wore a mask and he was a detective so, of course, he was known as the Masked Detective.  On a quarterly basis, he battled criminals and spies and saved kidnapped women.  He was a popular detective but not even he could survive the World War II paper shortage.  Though his magazine was discontinued in 1943, Rex will live forever on the covers.

Here are a few of the adventures of Rex Parker.  When known, the artist has been credited.

Fall, 1940, by Jerome Rozen

Winter, 1941, artist unknown

Spring 1941, artist unknown

Summer, 1941, by Milton Luros

1941, December, Artist Unknown

Spring, 1942, artist unknown

Summer, 1942, artist unknown

Fall, 1942, by Milton Luros

Spring 1943, artist unknown

Winter 1943, artist unknown