Yes, I know. I've already done a detective mag cover gallery. Well, looking back at it, I've decided I didn't do the topic justice. Perhaps I said all there is to say about the subject, but the selection of covers I provided is woefully slim. This post will, hopefully, amend that deficiency.
I would argue that, of all the possible vintage topics, detective magazines are the most derided. They were nothing more than lurid depictions of man at his worst. Unlike even the most violent horror comics, the detective mag has no avid collectors. The detective mag has no kitsch value, no nostalgic charm, no historical importance. Even vintage porn has its share of enthusiasts - no so the detective mag.
Indeed, these magazines are not only unliked and unwanted, but they also imply the poor unfortunate reader is something akin to a serial rapist (Dietz, P., Harry, B., & Hazelwood, R. (1986). Detective Magazines: Pornography for the sexual sadist? Journal of Forensic Science, 31, 197-211). I wouldn't necessarily argue with any of these assumptions; however, I can't help but be drawn to these red headed stepchildren of the vintage world. Because they are so reviled, I am all the more interested.
So, let's have a look at a heaping helping of these misogynistic magazines.... and maybe, just maybe, show a little love for a much maligned vintage artifact.
click images to enlarge
More covers coming up - loading a ton of images on your mobile devise (or whatever you're using to view this post) can sometimes take forever. So, if you want to see more, check out the next post...
