You know, I don’t find this guy the least bit terrifying, despite his title. Actually, this pulp cover makes me chuckle.
Yes, he’s “masked,” but I’m not sure if it’s the awkward smile or the green sclera of his eyes that doesn’t say “terror” for me.
This cover for Nickel Detective was painted by Eric Lundgren. There’s a nice profile of him over at David Saunders‘ Pulp Artists website.
Nickel Detective is one of those curious examples of a pulp magazine publisher trying to find the right niche.
According to Bookery Fantasy’s Ultimate Guide to the Pulps, this issue is actually volume 4 number 2 of what began as the rather directly named Man Stories in October 1930. Its title changed to the more prosaic Popular Fiction Magazine in November 1931, then Nickel Detective in January 1933. By November 1933, the magazine was Strange Detective Stories. By February 1934, it ended.
Offered as a diversion from Great Pulp Art.
