Max Plaisted

[dem bones]

From a Shudder pulp legend to a Spicy ace.

Max Plaisted(1902-1956)

Max Plaisted [is] the man whose work — for my money, anyway — defined the je ne sais quoi of the Spicy pulps better than anyone, is amply represented in these pages. Compare the illustrations for "Murder Mesa," "Fall of a Fiend," "Phantom of Fairmont," and "The Brute and the Beauty," and you'll get a good idea of the characteristics of Plaisted's work — including a clean, sharp line, big eyes, and small-mouthed, sharp-chinned women who, if you'll excuse the sexist remark, look as though they could trip you and beat you to the floor.

— John Wooley, Dirty Pictures #3, June 1991.

Biography and a different set of illo's on Pulp Artists

Robert Leslie Bellem - Death's Bright Halo: (Spicy Detective Stories, Oct. 1935)

Ken Cooper - Phantom of Fairmont: (Spicy Mystery, Nov. 1935)




Colby Quinn - Prophecy to Kill: (Spicy Mystery, July. 1937)



Robert Leslie Bellem - Murder for Metrovox: (Spicy Detective Stories, Nov. 1936)

[dem bones]

E. Hoffman Price - Naga's Kiss: (Spicy Mystery Stories, Aug. 1935).



Alan Anderson - Blood and Fire: (Spicy Adventure Stories, Sept. 1936).

Ellery Watson Calder - Cats of Cassandra: (Spicy Mystery Stories, Aug. 1935).



Ellery Watson Calder - Flow of Gold: (Spicy Adventure Stories, Aug. 1940).



Arthur Wallace - Death Vaults of Venus: (Spicy Mystery Stories, Aug. 1935).

[helrunar]

Great scans. I love the title and concept of "Cats of Cassandra."

H.

[dem bones]

" As to my future plans in this area, I intend to edit a facsimile volume devoted to BLACK MASK and a collection of the illustrations from the eye-popping "Spicy Pulps" to be entitled, not surprisingly, PASSION!"
— Peter Haining, A Passion for Pulp Fiction, Maurice Flanagan [ed.], Paperback Pulp & Comic Collector #7, Zeon, 1992.

Roger Leslie Bellem - The Moon God Takes (Spicy Mystery, Dec. 1936)





Kenneth A. Nelson - Bones of Pizarro (Spicy Adventure, May 1936)



Morgan La Fay - Her Demon Lover (Spicy Mystery, July 1936)



Jason Lyttell - Red Bamboo (Spicy Mystery, June 1935)

[andydecker]

Mar 31, 2023 15:49:42 GMT dem bones said:

" As to my future plans in this area, I intend to edit a facsimile volume devoted to BLACK MASK and a collection of the illustrations from the eye-popping "Spicy Pulps" to be entitled, not surprisingly, PASSION!"
— Peter Haining, A Passion for Pulp Fiction, Maurice Flanagan [ed.], Paperback Pulp & Comic Collector #7, Zeon, 1992.

Roger Leslie Bellem - The Moon God Takes (Spicy Mystery, Dec. 1936)

]

I have to say that Plaisted is among my favorites. His drawings are dynamic, his girls are beautiful and there is some edge in the pictures. Also is art is recognizable.

[helrunar]

Great selection. But I almost laughed out loud at the map prominently showing "Region de Perv." I hear that in my head in a canting Kenneth Williams "dulcet toned" voice informing me, "ooo ducks YOU'VE been found out, haven't ee!"

H.

[dem bones]

Mar 31, 2023 18:26:15 GMT andydecker said:

I have to say that Plaisted is among my favorites. His drawings are dynamic, his girls are beautiful and there is some edge in the pictures. Also is art is recognizable.

Plaisted seems to have been a favourite of Robert Leslie Bellem's too in that he illustrated so many of his stories (including the all time classic directly below) his line drawings are synonymous with Dan Turner, Hollywood Detective. Such a shame Peter Haining's spicy selection never saw the light of day - his art books are invariably a must. Wonder how far he got with it?

Roger Leslie Bellem - I Am a Monster (Spicy Mystery, Jan. 1937)



Roger Leslie Bellem - Remake for Death (Hollywood Detective, Nov. 1944)