The Covers of Space Busters

Posted on June 5, 2022 by Dazzling Erin

In the far future, with Earth under constant threat from extraterrestrial invasion, it was up to Captain Crockett to fight invaders from outer space!

That was the idea behind Space Busters, a pulp comic/magazine that was briefly published in 1952. Each issue featured the adventures of Captain Crockett, along with some other sci-fi tales that were not related to the captain and some non-fiction science articles. Unfortunately, it appears that there were only two issues of Space Busters. The first issue was dated March of 1952 and the second was dated August of 1952. Readers decided not to follow the adventures of Captain Crockett, despite his hard work protecting the planet.

Today, both issues are eagerly sought by collectors, due to the fantastic covers that were done by Allen Anderson and Norman Saunders. Captain Crockett may be gone but his legacy lives on.

by Norman Saunders

by Allen Gustav Anderson

The Wild Covers of Weird Thrillers

Posted on May 24, 2022 by Dazzling Erin

Weird Thrillers was one of the many horror comics to be published in the early 50s. Though there were only five issues and the content was largely made up of true crime stories and sci-fi stories instead of straight horror, Weird Thrillers is still remembered for its awesome covers.

Here are the five covers for Weird Thrillers. The first four issues were published in 1951. The fifth and apparently final issue was published in 1952.

Artist Unknown

by Allen Gustav Anderson

by Norman Saunders

Artist Unknown

Artwork of the Day: Planet Stories (by Allen Gustav Anderson)

Posted on November 22, 2021 by Dazzling Erin

by Allen Gustav Anderson

Credit for this atmospheric cover goes to Allen Gustav Anderson. The site has featured much of Anderson’s work in the past and will undoubtedly feature even more of it in the future.

Artwork of the Day: Action Stories (by Allen Gustav Anderson)

Posted on November 3, 2021 by Dazzling Erin

by Allen Gustav Anderson

This Allen Gustav Anderson cover is from 1948. His signature can be seen in the lower right-hand corner over the illustration. Not seen is whoever was unlucky enough to be the target of her vengeance.

The Covers of Lariat

Posted on May 25, 2021 by Dazzling Erin

Running from 1925 to 1951, Lariat was one of the many western magazines of the pulp era. At the time, it published stories and novellas about the men and the women who conquered the old west. Today, issues are sought by collectors who appreciate the magazine’s tough, colorful, and often violent covers. Some of the best artists of the pulp era did covers for Lariat.

Below is just a sampling of the covers of Lariat. Where known, the artists have been credited:

*November 1943 by Allen Gustav Anderson*

*September, 1948 by Allen Gustav Anderson*

Prepare For The Future With The Covers Of Science Fiction Quarterly

Posted on December 24, 2020 by Dazzling Erin

by Edmund Emshwiller

Science Fiction Quarterly began it’s initial run in 1940 and, with the world distracted by war in the present, it ceased publication in 1943. However, once the war was over and people were once again looking to the future, Science Fiction Quarterly was revived in 1951 and ran until 1958. Over the course of its run, it published many of the current and future “big names” in science fiction. Isaac Asimon, Arthur C. Clarke, James Blish, and Donald Wolheim were among the writers whose work appeared in the pages of Science Fiction Quarterly. When Science Fiction Quarterly ceased publication in 1958, it was the last of the science fiction pulp magazines. When there were no more issues of Science Fiction Quarterly, it was the end of the era but, considering the future success of the magazine’s writers, it would also be the beginning of a new age.

With 2020 soon coming to a close, now seems like a good time to look to the future with the covers of Science Fiction Quarterly.

by A. Leslie Ross

by Alex Schomburg

by Allen Gustav Anderson

by Edmund Emshwiller

by Edmund Emswhiller

by Frank Kelly Freas

by Frank R. Paul

by Jack Binder

by Leo Morey

by Milton Luros

Artwork of the Day: Planet Stories (by Allen Gustav Anderson)

Posted on December 21, 2020 by Dazzling Erin

by Allen Gustav Anderson

Artwork of the Day: Nightmare (by Allen Gustav Anderson)

Posted on October 28, 2020 by Dazzling Erin

by Allen Gustav Anderson

The Controversial Covers of Spicy Mystery Stories

Posted on October 7, 2020 by Dazzling Erin

by Delos Palmer

Spicy Mystery Stories was published from 1934 to 1943 and was one of the many “Spicy” magazines of the pulp era. The Spicy line featured the same stories as the other pulps, just with a lot more sex and violence. It was a popular magazine but it was also so controversial with the moral guardians of the era that it was eventually forced to tone things down and change its name to Speed Mystery.

Below are some of the controversial covers of Spicy Mystery Stories! As always, the artist has been credited when known: