Here we have Michael Stradford‘s third book on the cover artwork using Steve Holland (1925-1997) as the model: Steve Holland: Paperback Hero, which came out in 2023 from Gizmoe Press.
It follows Steve Holland: The Torn Shirt Sessions and Steve Holland: The World’s Greatest Illustration Art Model, both of which I have reviewed, and followed by Steve Holland: Cowboy, which I don’t yet have. As the title indicates, this book focuses on his modelling for various paperback covers. I’ll focus on the pulp and pulp-adjacent ones.
We get 10 chapters, most of which are by genre, like Spy, War, Adventure, Western, and Cop/Detective. As I thumbed through the chapters, I recognized many covers that I had run across in used bookstores, never realizing that many used Holland as the model.
Here’s a look at the notable chapters.
In Spy, we get several pages of Nick Carter covers that he posed for. Of course, these are the post-pulp “Killmaster” series, not the dime novel and pulp magazine version of the character. In Adventure, it seems he posed for one of the covers for the paperback Phantom novel series, based on the comic-strip character. Did he pose for other covers in the series? In the Cops, Robbers, and Dicks chapter, it appears he posed for some of the Shell Scott covers. Some folks claim a connection between that character and Doc Savage.
I was hoping the Western chapter would have covers for Nevada Jim that James Bama did, using Holland. Maybe those are in the Cowboy volume?
The Sci-Fi chapter was fun. I didn’t know so many Conan covers used him as a model. And that he posed for several Richard Blade and Gor covers. The Tough Guys chapter shows that he posed for a lot of numbered men’s adventure novel series.
The Spider chapter focuses on his work for both the Berkeley covers, as well as the later Pocket Book that turned the Spider into a blonde, turtleneck sweater wearing hero.
And the last chapter, Odds and Ends, wraps it up.
This is an excellent book and will go on my shelf with the rest. If there is only thing I still look for, its a good overview of his work on the covers for The Avenger done by Peter Caras and George Gross, as well as the Operator #5 covers at Freeway, that would also delve into who came up with the art direction on those series.
Since this came out, a Kickstarter campaign just ended for a deluxe hardcover edition of the Torn Shirt Sessions. I need to pull out my original edition and do a comparison review.
And plans are in place for a deluxe edition of The World’s Greatest Illustration Art Model, which will also include material from this volume. This will also be done as a Kickstarter campaign.
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