A sorcerer in deep purple conjures spectral figures from emerald mist—ghosts with hollow eyes and grasping hands materialize before him. This cover announces "The Miracle Man of Bemares" by Howard Thurston, priced at twenty-five cents. Pulp magazines like Tales of Magic and Mystery capitalized on growing appetite for supernatural thrills and occult adventure. Through lurid cover art and serialized stories, such publications established visual and narrative conventions that would shape weird fiction and later comic books: the magician as protagonist, the visceral horror of summoned entities, the clash between human will and supernatural forces. The bold typography and stark color contrast—purple against black and green—created maximum impact on newsstand displays.
About this artifact
- Date
- December 1927
- Rights
- Public domain — free to view, share, and reuse.
- Restoration
- Digitally restored and hosted by comicbooks.com.
Part of our mission to preserve and restore the public-domain heritage of the medium.