BIG BRASS

More often than not, fantasy art's female form, circa the pulp era, sported these alloy accoutrements. No matter that the guys were typically adorned in the latest space gear of the time, most gals went for the retro bronze age look with a flappers flash here and there. True, not all choose the chilly metal, some costumes appear to have been fabricated of common earthly textiles while others suggested exotic alien materials.

Earle K. Bergey, king of the brass brassier, began producing cover art in the 1930's for Bedtime Tales, Gay Parisienne, and various other girlie pulp magazines. Best known to science fiction fans for his work in the 40's and 50's for Standard's Thrilling Wonder and Startling Stories, his compositions generally incorporated a scantily clad female either menaced by a futuristic horror, or simply posing in the foreground.