The Executioner book series, Pinnacle Books

Published March 8, 2026
Contributed by Andy Bartlett


Photo: Andy Bartlett. License: All Rights Reserved.

Battle Mask, 1970. Secondary text is in Trade Gothic and Gothic No. 13 or similar.










Matterhorn is used for Don Pendleton’s The Executioner series from Pinnacle Books. Shown above is the first printing of the third book, Battle Mask, published in April 1970. The shorter bar in the first letter of the tt combo and the shorter bottom bar in E are likely contextual modifications. This masthead became the standard for the series starting with the the seventh book and the series’ many reprints until sometime in the late 1970s, several of which are shown below.

From Wikipedia:

The Executioner (a.k.a. Mack Bolan) is a monthly men's action-adventure paperback book series (published from 1969–2020) following the exploits of the character Mack Bolan and his wars against organized crime and international terrorism. The series has sold more than 200 million copies since its 1969 debut installment, War Against the Mafia.

The regular series includes 464 novels (as of December 2020 when the series ended). […] The Executioner was created and initially written by American author Don Pendleton, who penned 37 of the original 38 Bolan novels (he did not write #16).




Source: careysemporium.com Carey’s Emporium (edited). License: All Rights Reserved.

War Against the Mafia, 1972 (8th printing)




Source: www.etsy.com TheDustyBook (edited). License: All Rights Reserved.

Death Squad, 1971. Text in the angled band is in Eurostile Bold Condensed and the synopsis in Helvetica Bold.




Source: www.flickr.com Bart Solenthaler. License: All Rights Reserved.

Miami Massacre, 1970. Text in the angled band is in Franklin Gothic and the synopsis in Helvetica Condensed.




Source: www.abebooks.com 32.1 Rare Books + Ephemera. License: All Rights Reserved.

Continental Contract, 1971




Source: www.abebooks.com 32.1 Rare Books + Ephemera. License: All Rights Reserved.

Assault on Soho, 1978. Matterhorn is paired with two weights of Helvetica Condensed.




Source: www.amazon.com License: All Rights Reserved.

Nightmare in New York, 1971




Source: www.abebooks.com 32.1 Rare Books + Ephemera. License: All Rights Reserved.

Chicago Wipe-Out, 1978




Source: www.abebooks.com 32.1 Rare Books + Ephemera. License: All Rights Reserved.

Vegas Vendetta, 1979. Text in the angled band is in Akzidenz-Grotesk Condensed and the synopsis in Trade Gothic Bold.




Source: www.abebooks.com 32.1 Rare Books + Ephemera. License: All Rights Reserved.

Caribbean Kill, 1972




Source: www.abebooks.com 32.1 Rare Books + Ephemera. License: All Rights Reserved.

California Hit, 1972




Source: www.abebooks.com OnTimeBooks. License: All Rights Reserved.

Boston Blitz, 1974




Source: www.abebooks.com 32.1 Rare Books + Ephemera. License: All Rights Reserved.

Washington I.O.U., 1978




Source: www.flickr.com Boy de Haas. License: All Rights Reserved.

San Diego Siege, 1972. Cover art by Gil Cohen.




Source: www.flickr.com Bart Solenthaler. License: All Rights Reserved.

Panic in Philly, 1973. Cover art by Gil Cohen.




Source: www.abebooks.com OnTimeBooks. License: All Rights Reserved.

Sicilian Slaughter by Jim Peterson, 1973



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