Coming in June, we're hosting a CBCS 10th Anniversary Auction! Now accepting submissions of CBCS-graded comics for auction.

Auction in progress, bid now! Weekly Auction ends Monday May 6!

Crime Does Not Pay (1942-1955 Lev Gleason) comic books 1951-1953

  • Issue #98
    Crime Does Not Pay (1942-1955 Lev Gleason) 98
    • INCOMPLETE. Multiple pages missing, interrupts art and story. Water damage.

    Painted cover by Bob Fujitani. Stories and art by Bob Fujitani, Fred Guardineer, Claude Moore, Al McWilliams, Carl Wessler, 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. Tough private eye Chip Gardner is trapped by crooks who want his data on their gang, featuring a great painted cover by Bob Fujitani and a story possibly written by Walter Gibson, creator of The Shadow. A man faking paralysis for an insurance scam encounters the serial killer who's been stalking the city in a red devil mask. A washed-up vaudevillian female impersonator decides to use his disguise skills for crime, and meets an ironic fate. Also featuring a vintage ad for "Lev Gleason Comics picture trading cards." Chip Gardner: Setup for Murder (The Case of the Ring That Cracked Itself); Shock Treatment; Fall Guy; Double Life; On the Level; This'll Kill Ya!; Who Dunnit?: I Didn't Kill Him! 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #99
    Crime Does Not Pay (1942-1955 Lev Gleason) 99

    Painted cover by Bob Fujitani. Stories and art by Bob Fujitani, Fred Guardineer, George Tuska, Dick Rockwell, 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. Tough private eye Chip Gardner faces a shootout high up in a skyscraper construction site, featuring an action-packed painted cover by Bob Fujitani and a story possibly written by Walter Gibson, creator of The Shadow. A man plots to murder his successful twin brother, dispose of him in quicksand, and take over his life, in another off-the-wall story. A story that dares the reader to figure out who killed a gangster with the colorful name of "Dutch" Treat. Also featuring a vintage ad for the book "Learn to Rumba." Chip Gardner: The Case of the Death's Head Ruby; The Man Who Died Twice; The Case That Solved Itself; Reprieve Granted, Prisoner Is Dead; Who Dunnit?: The Green Goods Murder! 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #101
    Crime Does Not Pay (1942-1955 Lev Gleason) 101
    • Water damage.
    • 2" Spine split from bottom. Staples added (not manufacturing).

    Painted cover by Bob Fujitani. Stories and art by Bob Fujitani, Fred Guardineer, Claude Moore, Dick Rockwell, Robert Q. Sale 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. Tough private eye Chip Gardner investigates a beautiful femme fatale and stolen incriminating documents, featuring another action-packed painted cover by Bob Fujitani and a story possibly written by Walter Gibson, creator of The Shadow. Ernie and his brother Tom face an inevitable showdown after one becomes a gangster and the other a cop. Masked robbers become known as the Trenchcoat Trio, but one of them likes their new notoriety a little too much. Also featuring a vintage ad for " Lev Gleason Comics picture trading cards." Cain versus Abel; Chip Gardner: The Case of the Crooked Politician; Murder Bait; Murder Is a Stranger; How They Were Trapped!; On the Level; Who Dunnit?: Say it With Bullets! 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #102
    Crime Does Not Pay (1942-1955 Lev Gleason) 102
    • Water damage.
    • Staples added (not manufacturing).

    Painted cover by Bob Fujitani. Stories and art by Bob Fujitani, Fred Guardineer, Al McWilliams, Dick Rockwell, Claude Moore, Robert Q. Sale 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. Tough private eye Chip Gardner takes a temporary job as a prison warden and uncovers murder, featuring another action-packed painted cover by Bob Fujitani and a story possibly written by Walter Gibson, creator of The Shadow. Mr. Crime narrates the tale of Wesley, a struggling writer who helps plan a robbery but gets in too deep. A story that dares the reader to figure out who killed an eccentric millionaire who was paying off a blackmailer and a con man. Also featuring a vintage ad for "Lev Gleason Comics picture trading cards." Chip Gardner: You'll Never Live to Tell; Book of Sins; Stop Thief!; Dr. Raymond Addams, Man on the Run; How They Were Trapped!; Who Dunnit?: Appointment with Death. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #104
    Crime Does Not Pay (1942-1955 Lev Gleason) 104
    • Water damage. Cover oxidation.

    Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by Gene Colan, Fred Guardineer, Carl Wessler, Frank Bolle, Dick Rockwell, 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. A blind man is stalked by a killer, featuring early art by comics legend (and future Daredevil artist) Gene Colan. A race-car driver tries to outrun gangsters after he refuses to fix a race. A story that dares the reader to figure out who killed the salvage diver who found Blackbeard's pirate treasure. Also featuring a vintage ad for "Lev Gleason Comics picture trading cards." Dead Men Don't Double-Cross; Terror in the Dark; The Curious Case of the Curio; Murder in Greenwich Village; Who Dunnit?: Riddle of Blackbeard's Treasure. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #105
    Crime Does Not Pay (1942-1955 Lev Gleason) 105
    • Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor.

    Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by Gene Colan, Fred Guardineer, Fred Kida, Carl Wessler, 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 a blond gangster's moll who brings destruction to the bad men around her, featuring classic bad-girl art and cover. Carlton has recurring nightmares of an old house and a door that spells his doom. A country mouse visits his brother in New York and learns he's become a gangster with numerous enemies. Also featuring a vintage ad for "Lev Gleason Comics picture trading cards." The Big Cut; The Door That Spelled Doom?; Death Knell; The Careless Crook; The Gas Station Murder. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #108
    Crime Does Not Pay (1942-1955 Lev Gleason) 108
    • Water damage.

    Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by Bob Fujitani, Fred Guardineer, Al McWilliams, Dick Rockwell, 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. During Prohibition, a con man decides to use his mob to hijack a bootlegger's shipment of booze. Small-time hoods try to convince a just-released safecracker to come out of retirement for one last job. Detective Geoffrey learns that a custom clothing tag holds the clue to a book dealer's suicide. Also featuring a vintage ad for "Lev Gleason Comics picture trading cards." The Double-Cross That Boomeranged; Jim Franton, Bootlegger versus Bud Rollins, Con-Man; The Junkies; One Thrill Too Many; On the Level; The Case of the Custom-Made Clothes. 36 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

  • Issue #125
    Crime Does Not Pay (1942-1955 Lev Gleason) 125
    Auction opens May 6
    • Oxidation, 1/2" cumulative spine split.

    Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by Carl Wessler 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 Frank Nash, called "the most successful bank robber in U.S. history," until the Kansas City Massacre. A convict has a change of heart during a breakout and saves a prison guard. The Hair-Raising Career of Massacre Mad Frank Nash; The End of the Line; Strange Criminals; Crime Oddities; The Case of the X-Rayed Killer. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.