Black Mask

Regarded as the spiritual home of the stable of writers whose work would be adapted into screenplays and form some of the classic 300 golden cycle of noir.

Black Mask's history is an interesting one. The publishers, obviously trying to make a few quid, used to publish soft core porn (nice link indeed) before launching what was a taudry story magainze, Black Mask. Under the direction of a new editor, Black Mask became the home of hard boiled stories where criminals on the street got their cumuppence and morality was upheld.

Editorials in Black Mask discussed such things as gun crime and police corruption (the police weren't to be trusted, hence why the lead was a Private Detective).

What is Horatio? I don't see him as a Private Detective, its too cliche. I see him as someone who gets involved in other people's business.

Anyhoo, less though more bubbling. All you need to know about Black Mask is here: http://www.blackmaskmagazine.com/history.html

The first hard boiled story was Three Gun Terry by Carrol John Daly.