The Flickr Stagmagazine Image Generatr

Vintage December 1969 issue of men’s adventure magazine, Stag. This particular title alternated between being a girlie magazine and an adventure magazine. As an art student in the 1960s I was always fascinated with the cover graphics of these magazines and how the antagonists were always depicted as less than human. While these publications are widely known as Men’s Adventure Magazines, the magazine publishing industry referred to them as “Sweats”. Unfortunately in the late 1960s and early 1970s the covers became a mix of photos and illustrations, in addition to the stories turning more to the sleazy side of life. Looking back at it now, the covers were the best part of the magazine, as the pages within always failed to deliver. It’s always a thrill when it’s from Vinnie DeVille!

Vintage December 1971 issue of men’s adventure magazine, Stag. As an art student in the 1960s I was always fascinated with the cover graphics and how the antagonists were always depicted as less than human. The covers with the wild animals would also make my skin crawl. The 1970s and later covers turned to photographic imagery and the stories took on a more psychotic bent. Looking back at it now the covers were the best part of the magazine. It’s always a thrill when it’s from Vinnie DeVille!

A Friday Femme Fatale post... From STAG, March 1965. A classic "Good Girl Art" (GGA) illustration by Charles Copeland. (Scan via the Men's Adventure Magazines & Books Facebook Group.

I've co-edited two books featuring men's adventure magazine illustrations by Samson Pollen -- POLLEN'S WOMEN and POLLEN'S ACTION. I'm now working on a third. It will include a look at Sam's artwork for this wild story by the acclaimed writer Nelson Algren, first published in STAG, Feb. 1958.

“They stripped me of everything – even the chance to kill myself. My mind became numb, and there was no reality.”

Kendell Foster Crossen (July 25, 1910 – November 29, 1981) was an American pulp fiction and science fiction writer. He was the creator and writer of stories about the Green Lama (a pulp and comic book hero) and the Milo March detective and spy novels.

His pen names included Richard Foster, Bennett Barlay, Kent Richards and Clay Richards, Christopher Monig (the name of the ghost of the town of Crossen on the Oder), and M.E. Chaber (from the Hebrew word mechaber, meaning author). Some bylines use the abbreviated name Ken Crossen. He is said to have written over 400 radio and television dramas, some 300 short stories, 250 non-fiction articles and around forty-five novels.[Source: Wikipedia]

“They clicked and scuttled obscenely as they tore the broken crab apart – then they turned toward us. It was fool’s gold, and we were the fools.”

A New Year's Eve party that got a little out of hand... One of dozens of original men's #pulp adventure magazine paintings by Samson Pollen featured in the book POLLEN'S WOMEN: THE ART OF SAMSON POLLEN (amzn.to/33yfr87). Happy New Year, folks!

Mort Kunstler's cover art for STAG, May 1968 goes with a story about a true parachuting tragedy that occurred in August 1967. Sixteen sport parachutists drowned after being dropped over Lake Erie instead of land. More info here-> www.sanduskyregister.com/story/201708030031. (Scan via the Men's Adventure Magazines & Books Group-> www.facebook.com/groups/187984097012/).

From STAG, January 1959. Artwork by Al Rossi, a prolific contributor to the Magazine Management men's adventure magazines (ACTION FOR MEN, FOR MEN ONLY, MALE, MEN, STAG, etc.) The model for the sheriff in the foreground was, of course, the great male model Steve Holland (www.menspulpmags.com/search?q=%22Steve+Holland%22).

"I was going to collect plenty of Christmas loot, thanks to a ripe sucker, a tape recorder and two lush dames" ... Ah, yes, it's a heartwarming men's adventure magazine Christmas story by Jack Q. Lynn with artwork by Robert Maguire, from STAG, November 1956. Lynn wrote stories for crime mags like MANHUNT in the '50s and some sleaze paperbacks, but I know little else about him. Robert Maguire was one of the great 20th century illustration artists, best known for his paperback covers. (Featured in this excellent book -> amzn.to/2ECMwXO)

Madame Crielle is looking for some more rich lovers. Any takers? ... From STAG, Jan. 1960. Art by Mort Kunstler under his Emmett Kaye pseudonym. Scan via the Men's Adventure Magazines & Books Group (www.facebook.com/groups/187984097012/).

This is an example of the original men's adventure magazine artwork by Samson Pollen featured in our new book POLLEN'S WOMEN: THE ART OF SAMSON POLLEN (on Amazon here -> amzn.to/2H76yaK). This painting was used in STAG, September 1968.

Today, artist Artist Mort Kunstler is best known for his Civil War paintings, which sell for tens of thousands of dollars at galleries and auctions. Earlier in his career, in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, Mort did hundreds of cover paintings and interior illustrations for men's adventure magazines. Some were Civil War scenes that are as good as his later work. Recently, Mort created a Leather Bound Limited Edition of Stephen Crane's novel THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE. The painting he chose for the book's cover is one that he originally created for the cover of the men's adventure magazine STAG, October 1956. Here's a look at the STAG cover and the book cover. (Via the Men's Adventure Magazines Mags Group -> www.facebook.com/groups/187984097012/)

News about the recent discovery of the wreckage of the USS Indianapolis reminded me of the story written about that ill-fated ship by Walter Kaylin, illustrated with a cover painting by Mort Künstler. Kaylin's saga, "108-HOUR MID OCEAN ORDEAL...500 DEAD...300 STILL AFLOAT..." is included in our collection of his men's adventure magazine stories, HE-MEN, BAG MEN & NYMPHOS (on Amazon here -> amzn.to/1FRNkRB).

Amazing artwork by Bruce Minney (amzn.to/2wsBTyu) for a "Book Bonus" story by Alistair MacLean in STAG, April 1974. It's a condensed version of MacLean's novel THE WAY TO DUSTY DEATH (amzn.to/2ff5LeG). Via my Men's Pulp Adventure Magazines Group> www.facebook.com/groups/187984097012/

The latest post on my MensPulpMagscom blog delves into the "OUT OF THIS WORD" Department in STAG, November 1961. It includes mind-expanding mini-articles about: how turtles will inherit the earth if humans nuke themselves out of existence; how Ben Franklin developed an early form of execution by electrocution; how a Klondike Gold Rush miner made dentures out of bear teeth and ate the bear; how Mexican-born American soldier Jose Lopez earned the Medal of Honor during WWII; and, more. Here's a direct link to the post -> www.menspulpmags.com/2017/08/and-turtles-shall-inherit-ea...

Some men's pulp adventure magazine Mother's Day advice ... Never come between a mother bear and her cubs. (From STAG, January 1962. Artwork by Gil Cohen under his pseudonym Brian David. More about Gil on my blog here -> www.menspulpmags.com/2011/01/interview-with-artist-gil-co...