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Crime Does Not Pay (1942-1955 Lev Gleason) comic books

  • Item #65268059
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    Crime Does Not Pay (1942-1955 Lev Gleason) 43 FR 1.0 (R)

    Restored (see item notes)

    RESTORATION. Tear seal. Lateral spine tear. 2" cumulative spine split. Staple rust with migration.

    Starts Oct 3

    Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by Robert Bernstein, Jack Alderman, Rudy Palais, Woody Hamlton, Vernon Henkel, and Charles Biro. The title that launched the crime comics genre, Crime Does Not Pay was noted for its violent pre-Code content and lurid tales of underworld life. An unhinged circus clown, spurned by a woman after making a declaration of love (in full clown regalia), then murders her (still in full clown regalia). The infamous Burke and Hare get jobs providing corpses to early medical schools, but when they run out of bodies, they start making fresh ones. Drunken med-school reject "Doc" Moran becomes the underworld's favorite physician. Also featuring a vintage PSA about recognizing honorably discharged veterans. The Bookkeeping Bandit; Case of the Love Sick Clown; Ghouls' Gold; The Folly of Johnny Bananas; The Case of the Impossible Suicide; Doctor of Evil; Whodunnit. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Item #65266488
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    Crime Does Not Pay (1942-1955 Lev Gleason) 73 FR/GD 1.5 (R)

    Restored (see item notes)

    RESTORATION: Spine split seal.

    Starts Aug 31

    Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by George Tuska, Fred Guardineer, Claude Moore, Tony DiPreta and Charles Biro. The title that launched the crime comics genre, Crime Does Not Pay was noted for its violent pre-Code content and lurid tales of underworld life. Mr. Crime narrates the tale of two-bit hood Peter Feflin, who wages war against another street gang on the rooftops of the New York tenements. Al Jennings becomes obsessed with getting the man he's convinced was responsible for sending him to prison. Mayhew and Johns, described in the story as "stir-mad, kill-mad morons," go on a spree of murder and robbery across the South. Also featuring vintage ads for "Amazing Life-Like Rubber Masks" and "Animated Lilliputiana." Two Gangs at War and Peter Feflin; Al Jennings, the Man Who Squealed on Himself!; How the Police Stopped the Murder Rampage of Dennis Mayhew and Everett Johns; This'll Kill Ya!; Our Police Hall of Fame; On The Level; Who Dunnit. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Item #64044972
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    Crime Does Not Pay (1942-1955 Lev Gleason) 117 CGC 6.0

    Only copy at the top CGC grade of 6.0.

    Paper: Cream to off white

    Slab: Significant scratch(es) front or back

    Top edge label is missing.

    Label #0010444019

    Ends Aug 31 7:46 PM CST
    Bid History 6 bids
    Current Bid $25
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    Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by Fred Guardineer and Charles Biro. The title that launched the crime comics genre, Crime Does Not Pay was noted for its violent pre-Code content and lurid tales of underworld life. The story of notorious real-life gunman Pretty Boy Floyd. Mob boss Chris Ramsdell must face the music after one of his hoods shoots a senator's daughter. A tough DA is targeted by a gangster after he convicts his brother of murder. Also featuring a vintage ad for "Lev Gleason Comics picture trading cards." Pretty Boy Floyd, "Racketeer" Reward; Test Your Judgment!; Crime News Oddities; The End of the Underworld? 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.