Nancy Drew, What's That Behind You?

My mother is a huge Nancy Drew fan. When I'm out sourcing Agatha Christie books, I always check for vintage copies of the girl detective. I recently came across this gem.

Judging by the title of the book, one assumes that black blob behind Miss Drew would be a villain wearing a velvet mask. But is it? Here are another couple of possible culprits:

Suspect 1: Nancy Drew's bessie mate Bess Marvin in a berka.

Suspect 2: Ronald McDonald's sidekick with a criminal past, Grimace.

Suspect 3: Barbamama, matriarch of the Barbapapa clan.

Suspect 4: A member of the Black Block, or potentially an undercover cop masquerading as a member of the Black Block.

Suspect 5: Some dude in a terrifying inflatable gimp suit.

(No links for this one kids, this ain't that sort of blog.)

I'm sure that the actual criminal isn't nearly as interesting as any of my suggestions. Probably some mundane petty criminal, or old caretaker in disguise. Or am I thinking of Scooby Doo...

Best Cover Art EVAH!

While searching for titles at used books stores I occasionally come across something so fantastic, so cool, that I just have to buy it. What could be cooler than this I ask you. The best cover art EVAH! Don't you just love those 1960's muscle men and their barbarella babes.

There were several copies at the BMV on Yonge and Eglington in Toronto. When I was making my purchase I commented on the sheer fabulousness of the cover to the guy at the cash desk and he seemed a little put out and muttered something like, "Yeah, I guess it's a little cheesy." At first I thought he might be the (apparently quite renown) author, but according to Wikipedia Keith Laumer died in 1993. Perhaps the cashier was just a really big fan.