Artist Profile: Clifford Benton (1893 — 1974)


The son of a mailman, Clifford Benton was born in Colorado but grew up in Idaho and got his education at Chicago’s Art Institute.  After serving in World War I, Benton found success as an illustrator and photographer.  Along with his work with the pulps, he spent 20 years working for the National Safety Council, illustrating pamphlets and books about how live safely in a changing era.

Here’s a small sampling of his pulp work:

The Covers of Strange Detective Mysteries


Welcome to the world of Strange Detective Mysteries!  Published from 1937 to 1943, Strange Detective Mysteries featured bizarre crime fighters (like Captain Satan) solving bizarre and often supernatural mysteries!  Below are just a few covers from Strange Detective Mysteries.  When known, the artist has been credited.

by Clifford Benton

by John Newton Howitt