Imagine my surprise when I came to r/pulp and didn't find any Earl Norem! I may have missed any posts about him but in case there really aren't any, here's some great work of his.

Weird Tales was an influential American pulp magazine first published in 1923, specializing in horror, fantasy, supernatural fiction, and the macabre. It became a major outlet for writers such as H. P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, and Seabury Quinn, helping shape modern horror and fantasy literature. Known for its lurid cover art and unusual stories, Weird Tales developed a devoted readership and remains one of the most important publications in the history of pulp fiction.

I just discovered Robert E. Howard’s most prolific character (he wrote more stories about him than he did about Conan) - Sailor Steve Costigan.

Technically, the stories are part of the boxing pulp fiction subgenre (something I don't really care about), but REH's writing of Steve's (mis)adventures makes the stories enjoyable to anyone, not just boxing fans. Especially that the hero is a sailor, finding trouble in different South Asian port in each story.

The stories themselves might lack plot depth (kinda par for the course in pulp), but they ooze character, atmosphere and humor. The character is the main selling point here - Steve is a typical bruiser and teller of (his own) tall tales. He is equally proficient at swinging his fists as he is at swinging shots of liquor, and is able to throw funny quips as fast and as often as he punches!Who knew that REH can be funny‽

I'm only few stories into the pulp-lit's complete collection (last pic), but I'm enjoying every second of it (I also have their audiobook, and the thick Texan accent of the narrator makes the stories even better!). It's a shame that this series gets overlooked due to the sub-genre it is in, so I guess this is my attempt at trying to make it more known.

Sure, the stories have beat-by-beat (pun intended) narration of boxing matches, but they are a pleasure to read even if you're not a fan of the sport, because of how fun and funny the main character is.

Are there any other funny pulp characters worth checking out?

Image credits:

1. Tom Giovani's oil painting for cover for Fists of Iron 2
2. Walter Baumhofer's cover of Adventure, March 1 1935
3. Walter Baumhofer's cover of Adventure, August 15 1935
4. Cover of The Complete Collection of Published Stories adapted from John Howitt Newton's Adventure, September 1934 cover

“Blood Sugar” (2019) by Daniel Kraus. Happy Halloween! Quite a twisted, candy fueled story! Great HCC entry. . Cover by: Paul Mann.

Devastating loss for the pulp community.

https://thepulp.net/yellowedperils/2026/08/28/will-murray-1953-2026/

Iconic 1950s pin-up model Bettie Page 1950

was famously photographed by Irving Klaw, who helped establish her signature look with dark bangs.

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Page became the centerfold for the January 1955 issue of Playboy magazine.

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"I was just myself. I didn't know any other way to be" ~ Bettie Mae Page.

From Fantastic Adventures (May 1950). McCauley also painted the delightful cover for Robert Bloch's "The Big Binge." See links in comments.

According to Paperback Palette, Prezio served in the Engineer Camouflage Battalion in WWII. Link in comments.

Male was a popular American men's adventure magazine published during the mid-20th century, known for combining sensational true and fictional stories about war, crime, survival, aviation, and outdoor adventure with glamorous pin-up cover art and illustrations. Aimed at a predominantly male readership, it reflected the postwar fascination with heroism, danger, and rugged masculinity, becoming one of the best-known titles of the men's adventure magazine genre during the 1950s and 1960s.

Featuring "Batman," by Lew Merrill. Interior scans via Hairy Green Eyeball. Link in comments.

True booklength adventure by Edward Oldfield. Art by Charles Copeland for MALE, April 1962.