Crime Does Not Pay (1942-1955 Lev Gleason) comic books 1949

Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by George Tuska, Fred Guardineer, Claude Moore, Fred Kida 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 Hank Charters, who stays one step ahead of the cops until a missing jewelry stickpin connects him to a murder. Trapped by police on a freight car, William Howard shoots his way out, but only succeeds in becoming a fugitive cop-killer. A story that dares the reader to figure out the killer of a blackmailer who left behind plenty of suspects. Hank Charters; Booze, Guns and Zeke Toller; Science vs. the Criminal; This'll Kill Ya!; Our Police Hall of Fame; On The Level; There Is No Escape for a Cop-Killer; Who Dunnit: Who Killed Link Grantley? 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

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 Crag Denby, who wants to use his talents for crime to strong-arm his way to Hollywood stardom. A superstitious hood is undone by the "unlucky" card the four of hearts, just as he had feared. A story that dares the reader to figure out the killer of an heiress in her penthouse. Crag Denby the Movie-Struck Egomaniac; Andy Yole; Superstitious Bill Clements; This'll Kill Ya!; Our Police Hall of Fame; On The Level; Who Dunnit. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart VG- 3.5 $20.00 View scan

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.

Add to cart VG 4.0 $25.00 View scan Interior margin tears. Water spotting.

Add to cart GD/VG 3.0 $26.00

Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by George Tuska, Fred Guardineer, Claude Moore, 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 Nick Durin, who convinces his brothers that they can take over the city's rackets if they join forces. Cops use a hidden microphone to get the goods on a killer named William Gaines (the name of the rival publisher of EC Comics). A story that dares the reader to figure out who killed two eccentric brothers in their own museum. The 5 Durin Brothers; Science vs. the Criminal; Clue in a Poker Hand!; Laugh These Off; This'll Kill Ya!; Our Police Hall of Fame; On The Level; Tony Krug and Pete Tatum; Who Dunnit. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by Dan Barry, Fred Guardineer, Claude Moore, Tony DiPreta, Clyde Lamb 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 Chuck Danner, who isn't a very brave man unless he's got a gun in his hand, in a story with early art by future "Flash Gordon" artist Dan Barry. A killer tries to make a getaway aboard a train by impersonating someone else, but the telegraph trips him up. A story that dares the reader to figure out the killer of a wealthy man in his remote hunting cabin, when an ex-convict and a hobo were both seen in the area. Cover and first page feature a photo endorsement from Mary Sullivan, NYPD Women's Bureau Chief, approving of "this magazine as a good moral influence on our youth." Chuck Danner; Science vs. the Criminal; Russell Grant; Thug-Uglies; Laugh These Off; This'll Kill Ya!; Our Police Hall of Fame; On The Level; Richard Davis and John Conners; Who Dunnit: The Ogler Murder Case. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by 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 Clarence Reese, who wants to be like the famous gangsters he idolizes. Police investigate a shooting at a circus full of suspects, in a whodunit featuring the line "Who'd have believed that Waldo, the mind-reading midget, would turn out to be a blackmailer?" Killer Wilbur Stiles is undone by his well-known addiction to watching college basketball. Cover and first page feature a photo endorsement from police Captain Felix Lynch, approving of "this magazine as a good reading for red-blooded American youngsters." This endorsement was later cited (negatively) in the text of the classic anti-comics tome Seduction of the Innocent. Clarence Reese the Hero-Worshipper; Wilbur Stiles; Laff It Off; This'll Kill Ya!; On The Level; The Case of the Kidnapper's Pigeon; Who Dunnit. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

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 Mac Royce, who ran a mob of bootleggers from his grocery store. After their accomplice is killed, two young aspiring criminals are outsmarted by an elderly watchman. A small-town sheriff captures two hoodlums on the run from the big city. Cover and first page feature endorsements from police Captain Felix Lynch and Mary Sullivan, NYPD Women's Bureau Chief, approving of "this magazine as a good reading for red-blooded American youngsters." Mac Royce; Science vs. the Criminal; "Spots" Norton and the Brand Brothers; Police Detection Quiz; On The Level; Our Police Hall of Fame; Sheriff Ted Benton; Who Dunnit. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

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 Link Gage, whose attempt to take over his hometown rackets leads to a shootout on a parade float. Holdup men foolishly leave maps to their planned crimes where police can find them. A story that dares the reader to figure out who killed a concert violinist in the middle of a symphony performance. Cover and first page feature endorsements from police Captain Felix Lynch and Mary Sullivan, NYPD Women's Bureau Chief, approving of "this magazine as a good reading for red-blooded American youngsters." Also featuring a vintage ad for "Amazing Lifelike Rubber Masks." Link Gage; This'll Kill Ya; The Taxi Killers; On The Level; Our Police Hall of Fame; Al Hodges and John "Shorty" Gross; Who Dunnit. 52 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by 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 Spike Spitz, who double-crosses his partners after they help him swindle a gold mine, in a story with possible art by future "Flash Gordon" artist Dan Barry. Jack Roscar tries to use the theater as a cover for his crimes, and finds a lot of bad actors to enable him. A story that dares the reader to figure out which heir killed for an $11 million payoff - and one of the suspects is a ghost. Cover and first page feature a photo endorsement from Mary Sullivan, NYPD Women's Bureau Chief, approving of "this magazine as a good moral influence on our youth." Spike Spitz; This'll Kill Ya; Jack Roscar; On The Level; Our Police Hall of Fame; Frankie Darrell vs. Lieutenant Jim Scott; Who Dunnit. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart VG+ 4.5 $41.50 View scans

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 illegal arms trafficker Vince Grey, and his showdown with police at a coal refinery. A look at the uses of black light in crime detection and police work in the 1940s. A story that dares the reader to figure out who killed a big-game hunter on the eve of his wedding announcement. Cover and first page feature a photo endorsement from Mary Sullivan, NYPD Women's Bureau Chief, approving of "this magazine as a good moral influence on our youth." Vince Grey; This'll Kill Ya; Out To Murder!; On The Level; Our Police Hall of Fame; Science vs. the Criminal; The Body in the Woods; Who Dunnit. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by George Tuska, Fred Guardineer, Claude Moore, 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 patrolman Al Drews, who goes up against Matt Cornish, The Scourge of the Fishing Fleets, and winds up clinging to a buoy for dear life. Police investigate a series of suspicious suicides and uncover a car-theft ring. The "Tear Gas Killers" try to escape the city by hijacking a boat, but a ham-radio operator manages to outsmart them. Cover and first page feature a photo endorsement from Detective Walter Clancy, approving of "this magazine as a strong moral force for youth." Deadly Matt Cornish, The Scourge of the Fishing Fleets!; On the Level; It Looked Like Suicide!; The Tear Gas Murders!; Our Police Hall of Fame; Who Dunnit? 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by Tony DiPreta, Fred Guardineer, Claude Moore, 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 Natural Gilbey, a hard-luck hobo who recruits an army of criminals, in a story with possible art by future "Flash Gordon" artist Dan Barry. Burglars discover where wealthy families keep their valuables by listening to the servants on their night off. A sheriff enlists the Feds and the Coast Guard to catch a gang of killers operating from a houseboat off the Gulf Coast. Death in the Hobo Jungle; On the Level; How They Were Trapped!; Laugh These Off; The Case of the Thursday Burglars!; Our Police Hall of Fame; This'll Kill Ya; Savage Houseboat Mob!; Who Dunnit? 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.