The Pulp Art of Carl Pfeufer


Born in Mexico in 1910 but raised in New York City, the artist Carl Pfeufer studied at the Cooper Union Art School when he was 16 and later continued his studies at the National Academy of Design, Grand Central School of Art, and the Art Students League of New York.  He was also an apprentice and student to the impressionist painter, William Starkweather.  Up until his death in 1980, Pfeufer was a popular and much-in demand illustrator.  Though he spent most of his career in the comic book industry, Pfeufer also did his share of pulp work.  Here’s a small sampling of his pulp work, ranging from the late 50s to the early 60s.

The Thrilling Covers of Thrilling Detective


Artist Unknown

Featuring stories of detectives, murder, femme fatales, and tough guys, Thrilling Detective thrilled readers during the pulp era of the 30s, 40s, and 50s.  Today, the magazine remains highly sought after by collectors.  Every cover promised sex or violence or both.  Below are just a few of the thrilling covers of Thrilling Detective!

by George Rozen

by George Rozen

by Milton Luros

by Norman Saunders

by Rafael DeSoto

by Rafael DeSoto

by Rafael DeSoto

by Rafael DeSoto

by Rudolph Belarski

by Rudolph Belarski

by Rudolph Belarski

by Rudolph Belarski

by Rudolph Belarski

by Sam Cherry

by Sam Cherry

The Pulp Art of Jack Rickard


by Jack Rickard

A graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology, Jack Rickard was most famous for his work in the advertising industry and his later work for MAD Magazine.  However, in between working on ads and working for MAD, Rickard also did the covers for several pulp magazines and paperback publishers.  Below is a small sampling of Jack Rickard’s pulp artwork.  I particularly like his cover for The Pagans.

High Times Of The Pulp Era


Artist Unknown

Drug abuse is not a new problem in the United States.  The pulp era wrestled with the problem too, with many publications and novels telling the story of young women and young me who fell afoul the pushers and were enticed into a life of sin.

Here’s just a sampling of the high times of the Pulp Era:

by Bill Edwards

by Bill Fleming

by Gerald Gregg

by Howell Dodd

by Rafael DeSoto

by Raymond Johnson

Unknown Artist

by Victor Seach

by Warren King

Artist Unknown