John Pedersen – Through the Shattered Lens

by Griffith Foxley

Almost everyone I know is scared of snakes but most of them are harmless. Our cats regularly bring us little grass snakes and drop them at our feet and then act surprised when we say, “No, kitty! Get that way from me!” If a snake is really bothering you, you can get rid of it by chopping off its head with a shovel. That was something that my mom taught me how to do when we were visiting her parents in South Texas and there actually were potentially dangerous snakes around. Or you can just wait for it to leave. Most snakes aren’t that bad. Of the 4,000 known species of snake, 83% are harmless.

The other 17% are like the ones featured in these classic pulp covers!

by Ed Valigursky

Artist Unknown

Unknown Artist

by John Pedersen

Unknown Artist

by Rudolph Belarski

by Hans Wesselowski

Artist Unknown

Be careful out there!

Snakes!

Unknown Artist

Are you scared of snakes? If so, you’re not alone. According to 2001 Gallup Poll, 56% of Americans said they were scared of snakes. By comparison, only 45% of Americans said they were scared of public speaking while 41% said heights. Only 36% said they were scared of spiders and only 7% were frightened by the prospect of going to the doctor.

There are nearly 3,000 different species of snakes in the world and only 25% of them are poisonous. Most snakes are harmless and even the poisonous ones usually won’t strike as long as they’re left alone. But people will always be scared of snakes. The sound of a hiss is enough to send most people into a panic.

Back in the pulp era, snakes used to regularly appear on the covers of magazines and paperbacks, often being held by a cultist or threatening a bound victim. When it comes to pulp art, snakes are never good news. Take a look: