Weird Tales first hit newsstands in March 1923, founded by J.C. Henneberger and published by Rural Publishing Corporation. Its early struggles with financial woes nearly ended it, but the magazine found its footing under editor Farnsworth Wright, who took the helm in 1924. Wright’s vision shaped it into a haven for the weird and wonderful, featuring tales that defied convention.
The magazine’s pages were graced by literary giants. H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos stories, including “The Call of Cthulhu,” first appeared here, cementing his legacy. Robert E. Howard introduced Conan the Barbarian, while Clark Ashton Smith added his cosmic weirdness. Other luminaries like Seabury Quinn, with his occult detective Jules de Grandin, and women writers like C.L. Moore, who penned the groundbreaking Jirel of Joiry, brought diverse voices to the fold.

Weird Tales thrived on its eclectic mix. From Lovecraft’s eldritch horrors to Howard’s sword-and-sorcery epics, it offered something for every taste. The magazine’s covers, illustrated by artists like Margaret Brundage and Curtis Charles Senf with provocative art, became as famous as the stories inside. Brundage’s depictions of damsels in distress set a visual tone that was both alluring and unsettling._{Vintage Fetish Book Covers & PulpCovers}

By the 1950s, rising costs and changing tastes led to its decline, with the original run ending in 1954. However, its spirit lived on through reprints and anthologies. The magazine was revived in 1973 by Sam Moskowitz, and again in 1988 by publishers like Terminus Publishing, keeping the weird alive into the 21st century. Today, it continues under Wildside Press, with new issues blending classic vibes with modern twists.