Crime Must Pay The Penalty (1948 Ace Magazines) comic books 1938-1955

A text summary of "Frisco Mary" appears in the 1955 US Senate Interim Report "Comic Books and Juvenile Delinquency". In order of appearance: "Johnny Lanza, King of Kansas City" reprinted in Crime Must Pay The Penalty (1948) #36; "Frisco Mary" art by Warren Kremer, reprinted in Crime Must Pay The Penalty (1948) #37; "Charley Peace, Britain's Worst Criminal of the 18th Century" art by Sid Greene, reprinted in Crime Must Pay The Penalty (1948) #36; "Comicrimes: Avenging Devil!"; "Solution: The Case of 'The Avenging Devil!'"; and "Get August Doaks!" and "The Scourge of the South" reprinted in Crime Must Pay The Penalty (1948) #38. "Murder for Profit, A True Crime Story" text story reprinted in Crime Must Pay The Penalty (1948) #38. 52 pages. Full color. Cover price $0.10.

"The Rise and Fall of the Four Genna Brothers," "Charlie Birger, Ruler of the Rackets," "Thomas Dun...Fiend of a Thousand Forms!", "Comicrimes," "Henry Plummer, Virginia City Renegade," and "William Garner, The Florida Fox!" Two page text story, "Murderer's Mirth!" Astute collectors seek pre-code comics featuring transvestism, hypodermic needles, "injury to eye" panels, and other oddball story devices. In this issue, a double dose of transvestism occurs. In "Thomas Dun," Dun dresses up like a woman a couple of times to trick his intended victims. And in "William Garner, The Florida Fox," Garner dresses like a woman in an attempt to evade police. Cover price $0.10.

"The Flathead Gang," "Finger Men for Death," "Comicrimes," "John Ringo, The Scourge of the Sagebrush!", and a two page text story, April Fool's Finish." Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart GD+ 2.5 $22.50 View scan Cover detached.

"The Cleveland Vulture" (art by Sid Greene), "Showdown in Abilene," "Big Gun of the Arsenal Gang," and "Jonathan Wild, Kingpin of Crime." Two page text story, "Ransom of the Dead," by John Mason. Cover price $0.10.

"The Human Bomb," "Blades of Doom!" (art by Sy Grudko), "The Man Who Talked Too Much," "The Ghoulish Gambler" (art by Frank Giacoia), and a two page story, "The Death Signal," by Alan Ross. Astute collectors seek pre-code comics featuring transvestism, hypodermic needles, "injury to eye" panels, and other oddball story devices. This issue features transvestism in "The Human Bomb," featuring three panels in which the villain dresses like a woman to evade capture. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart GD- 1.8 $17.50 View scan Heavy water damage. Heavy residue. 1 3/4" Spine split from bottom. Pen marking.

In order of appearance: "Movie-Struck Maniac!" reprinted in Crime Must Pay The Penalty (1948) #42 and in Justice Traps The Guilty (1951) UK #34; "Trail of the Airborne Ransom"; "Sinister Heritage" art by Bill Walton; and "Rex Lewis, Escape Artist". "A Cutting Clue, A True Crime Story" text story. 36 pages. Full color. Cover price $0.10.

"Revenge of the Cop Haters," "The Genius and the Perfect Crime," "Sinister Cab Combine," and "Pledged to Homicide." Cover price $0.10.

"Boomerang Bluff," drug story in "Dealers in White Death," "One Angle Too Many," and "Styled for Disaster." Two page text story, "The Color of Murder." In the Overstreet Price Guide, the story "Dealers in White Death" is erroneously attributed to Crime Must Pay the Penalty #20. That story actually appears here in issue #12, and not in #20. Cover price $0.10.

All stories reprinted in Crime Must Pay The Penalty (1948) #43, most stories reprinted in Justice Traps The Guilty (1951) UK #33. In order of appearance: "Bad Medicine for a Killer"; "Sinister Brother-Act"; "Tunnel of Doom"; and "Frisco Floyd Said: 'I Run This Town!'". "Death on the Beam" text story. 36 pages. Full color. Cover price $0.10.

In order of appearance: "Customer for a Coffin"; "Sudden Death's Dividends"; and "The Holiday Mob" and "Reward for a Cheat" reprinted with CCA alterations in Crime Must Pay The Penalty (1948) #45. "Better Schools Make Better Communities" art by Jerry Fasano. "All Roads Blocked" text story. 36 pages. Full color. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart VG- 3.5 $30.00 View scans

All stories reprinted in Justice Traps The Guilty (1951) UK #35. In order of appearance: "The Gang of a Thousand Faces"; "Kingpin of the Hot Hot-Rods"; "Bean-Ball Boomerang"; and "Blue Blood Runs Red". "Killer's Trademark" text story. 36 pages. Full color. Cover price $0.10.

"Tiger Shark of the Fish Empire," "Knox County: Bork's Pet Peeve," "Only Suckers Take Chances," and "Headline-Hunting Hoodlum." Cover price $0.10.

All stories reprinted in Crime Must Pay The Penalty (1948) #44. In order of appearance: "New Faces for Sale!"; "Milton Vaughan: Young Man With a Chopper"; "Marked for Death"; and "Il Diavolo's Tight-Lipped Victims" art by Frank Sieminsky. "The Big Double-Cross" text story. 36 pages. Full color. Cover price $0.10.

"The Million-Dollar Beggar," "Wimpy Bremmer's Epitaph in Bullets," "Triggerman for a Blonde," and "Big-House Bait." Two page text story, "The Clue." The Overstreet Price Guide mistakenly attributes the drug story "Dealers in White Death" to this issue. That story is actually in issue #12 of this series and is not featured here. Cover price $0.10.

"Crime Gusher," "The Number King's Crimson Payoff," "300-Grand Triple Cross," and "Joe Jenkin's Golden Sepulcher." Cover price $0.10.

"The One Little Slip-Up," "Framed!", "Murder's Middleman," and "Panic in the Post Office." Two page text story, "Shoot on Sight." Cover price $0.10.

"Reservation for a Cold Slab," "Triggerman's Treatment," "Mayhem on the Pacific Limited," and "Policy for Death." Two page text story, "Grim Vengeance." Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart CGC 7.0 $240.00 View scans Paper: Off white to white Label #4393009002

Add to cart VG/FN 5.0 $135.00 View scans

"When the Showdown Came," "King on a Junk Pile," "Dirty Money," and "Boomerang Bobby-Trap." Two page text story, "Killer's Impersonation." Cover price $0.10.

"Death Flips a Wheel," "The Vanishing Bandits," "The Singing Rat," and "Terror Twins." Two page text story, "Cash and Carry." Cover price $0.10.

"Rx for Murder," "A Death Mask for Scarpa" (art by Ben Brown and Dave Gantz), "Obit for a Hood," and "Death is the Pay-Off." Two page text story, "No Honor!" Cover price $0.10.

All stories reprinted in Justice Traps The Guilty (1951) UK #37. In order of appearance: "The Case of the Bribed Athletes, An Actual Case"; "Murder's Mouthpiece, An Actual Case"; "Hideout of No Return, An Actual Case" art by Lou Cameron; and "Death Rides the Railroad Heist, An Actual Case". "A Crook's Look!" text story. 36 pages. Full color. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart VG- 3.5 $23.00 View scans

All stories reprinted in Justice Traps The Guilty (1951) UK #35. In order of appearance: "Beautiful Babe + Crime King = Murder! An Actual Case"; "The Big Shakedown, An Actual Case"; "Murder's Double Poison, Big Joe and Little Joe, An Actual Case" art by Howard Larsen; and "The Punk With the Itchy Fingers, An Actual Case". "Hot Ice!" text story. 36 pages. Full color. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart GD 2.0 $66.00 View scan Cover coming loose from staples. 2 1/2" Cumulative spine split.

Add to cart GD/VG 3.0 $118.00 View scan 1.5" Cumulative spine split. Cover coming loose at both staples. Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor.

This title has two issues numbered #33. This one, the one dated Feb. 1948, is actually issue #1. The actual #33 issue is dated July 1953. Cover price $0.10.

This issue is the actual #33 in the series, dated July 1953. Cover price $0.10.

"Signed in His Own Blood," "Double X Marks the Spot," "Flowers for a Mobster," "Death Has Two Faces." Two page text story, "Time to Kill." Cover price $0.10.

Reprints. In order of appearance: "Johnny Lazia, King of Kansas City" reprinted from Crime Must Pay The Penalty (1948) #3; "Charley Peace, Britain's Worst Criminal of the 19th Century" art by Sidney Greene, reprinted from Crime Must Pay The Penalty (1948) #3; and "Comicrimes: The Body in the Bag!" and "Henry Plummer, 'Virginia City Renegade'" reprinted from Crime Must Pay The Penalty (1948) #4. Murderer's Mirth!" text story reprinted from Crime Must Pay The Penalty (1948) #4. 36 pages. Full color. Cover price $0.10.

Reprints. A text summary of "Frisco Mary" appears in the 1955 US Senate Interim Report "Comic Books and Juvenile Delinquency". In order of appearance: "The Rise and Fall of the Four Genna Brothers" and "Charlie Birger, Ruler of the Rackets" reprinted from Crime Must Pay The Penalty (1948) #37; and "Frisco Mary" art by Warren Kremer, reprinted from Crime Must Pay The Penalty (1948) #3. "Night Encounter" text story. 36 pages. Full color. Cover price $0.10.

Reprints. "Thomas Dun..." and "William Garner..." feature criminals who disguise themselves by cross-dressing. In order of appearance: "The Scourge of the South" reprinted from Crime Must Pay The Penalty (1948) #3; "Thomas Dun...Fiend of a Thousand Forms!" reprinted from Crime Must Pay The Penalty (1948) #4; "...Get August Doaks!" reprinted from Crime Must Pay The Penalty (1948) #3; and "William Garner, 'The Florida Fox!' reprinted from Crime Must Pay The Penalty (1948) #4. "Heist by Air Express" text story. "Murder for Profit: A True Crime Story" text story reprinted from Crime Must Pay The Penalty (1948) #3. 36 pages. Full color. Cover price $0.10.

All stories reprinted in Justice Traps The Guilty (1951) UK #34. In order of appearance: "King Con" art by Lou Cameron; "Deadly to Know"; "Jed Turlow, Trigger Tyrant"; and "'Just One More Haul!'". "Green Is for Death" text story. 36 pages. Full color. Cover price $0.10.

"Brick Doran - Big Shot," "Mark of the Killer Hand," "Diploma in Crime," "Genius of the Double Cross," Two page text story, "Stone Walls Behind Him." Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart GD+ 2.5 $85.00 or Best Offer View scan Water damage. Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor.

"Trained for Terror," "One Angle Too Many," "Doom on High," and "Movie-Struck Maniac." Two page text story, "Framed for Murder." Cover price $0.10.

Reprints. All stories reprinted from Crime Must Pay The Penalty (1948) #14. Most stories reprinted in Justice Traps The Guilty (1951) UK #33. In order of appearance: "Bad Medicine for a Killer"; "Sinister Brother-Act"; "Tunnel of Doom"; and "Frisco Floyd Said: 'I Run This Town!'". "Death on the Beam" text story. 36 pages. Full color. Cover price $0.10.

Reprints. Last pre-Code issue. All stories reprinted from Crime Must Pay The Penalty (1948) #19. In order of appearance: "New Faces for Sale!"; "Milton Vaughan: Young Man With a Chopper"; "Marked for Death"; and "Il Diavolo's Tight-Lipped Victims". "The Big Double-Cross" text story. 36 pages. Full color. Cover price $0.10.

"Case of the Double Identity," "You Can't Run Far Enough," "Clue of the Brass Key," "Lady in a Jam." Two page text piece, "All Roads Blocked." Cover price $0.10.

Title is "Penalty" Cover price $0.10.