Crime Does Not Pay (1942-1955 Lev Gleason) comic books 1946

Add to cart GD- 1.8 $165.00 or Best Offer View scans Centerfold detached, pieces torn from cover (but are present). Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor.

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.

Add to cart GD+ 2.5 $249.00 View scans Centerfold detached at single center staple. Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor.

Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by Robert Sale, Jack Alderman, Rudy Palais, 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 true story of the rise and fall of Prohibition gangster Legs Diamond. The terrifying Belle Gunness becomes one of the first American serial killers, and not even her children are safe, in a story featuring some truly unsettling art. A mad bomber destroys ships for the insurance money in 1870s Dresden, Germany. Also featuring several lurid text stories of the True Detective type, including one called "That's the Killer, Shrieked the Parrot." The True Story of "Legs" Diamond; Mrs. Bluebeard; The Riddle of the Bludgeoned Beauty; Murder One; That's the Killer, Shrieked the Parrot; Death in Dawson; The Devil of Dresden; Two Crimes in Three-Quarter Time; Whodunnit: Death on the Tracks. 68 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart GD+ 2.5 $120.00 View scans Centerfold detached. Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor. Other items consigned by Bud Plant

Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by Robert Sale, Jack Alderman, Rudy Palais, Edd Ashe, Dan Tay, Ann Brewster, 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 FBI plants a trap for notorious outlaw John Dillinger outside a Chicago movie theater. Arsonist Charles Bohme sets fires not for money, but because of a special kind of crazy. A story that dares the reader to figure out who poisoned a movie star on the eve of her wedding at a party full of suspects. Also featuring several lurid text stories of the True Detective type, plus a special introduction by Mr. Crime. Who'll Buy My Wares?; The Trigger Happy Cop Killer; Lesson for Today: 7 Crooks + $2,500,000 = Robbery, Murder and the Chair; The True Story of John Dillinger; This'll Kill You!; The Fire Fiend; Crime of the Friendly Enemy; The Slayer of Smithfield; Whodunnit. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart CGC 7.5 $3,000.00 View scans Paper: White Label #2026049001

Add to cart GD/VG 3.0 $569.95 or Best Offer View scans Staples added (not manufacturing) Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor. Other items consigned by humble cow

Add to cart Coverless $27.95 or Best Offer View scan INCOMPLETE. Three center wraps missing, affects art and story. First wrap detached. Lateral spine tear. Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor. Other items consigned by humble cow

Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by Robert Sale, C. L. Hartman, Rudy Palais, Edd Ashe, Bert Bushell, Davy Johnson, 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. "Two Gun" Crowley's 1931 shootout with police becomes national news and helps create the image of the Prohibition-era gangster. A crooked insurance salesman hires two killers to do away with a woman for the insurance money. A story that dares the reader to figure out who committed murder during the production of a pirate movie. Also featuring several lurid text stories of the True Detective type, plus a vintage ad for Pepsi starring Pepsi the Pepsi-Cola Cop. Cut-Rate Murder; A River, a Basket, a Stain of Red; Death Insurance; The True Story of Two-Gun Crowley; This'll Kill You!; Joe the Boss; Trio of Terror; Whodunnit. 68 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart CGC 7.0 $435.00 View scans Paper: Off white to white Label #0780988001

Add to cart CGC 8.5 $925.00 or Best Offer View scans Paper: Off white Label #0241874006 Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout.

Add to cart CGC 7.5 $549.00 or Best Offer View scans Paper: Cream to off white Label #0987690001 Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout.

Add to cart GD+ 2.5 $80.00 View scans Cover detached. Moisture damage. Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor. Other items consigned by Bud Plant

Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by Fred Guardineer, Mike Roy, Sam Burlockoff, Rudy Palais, George A. Marko, Arne Arntzen, Jack Alderman, Red Woodbury, Harley M. Griffiths 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 Schroeder gang robs and kills its way across 1920s America, led by bereted blonde Irene, featuring some classic bad-girl art by Fred Guardineer. Mr. Crime narrates the story of killers Steve and Tony, featuring a lurid image of an electric chair high atop the pile of their victims' bodies. The true story of violent criminal Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll. Also featuring a vintage ad for Pepsi starring Pepsi the Pepsi-Cola Cop, and a photo of the Lev Gleason creative staff: Bob Wood, Lev Gleason and Charles Biro. Thug's Throne; Fingers of Death; The Tri-State Terror; Mad Dog Vincent Coll; Triple Death and the Trail of Terror; The Terror Down Under; The Horrible Halzingers; Whodunnit. 68 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by Dan Barry, Fred Guardineer, George Tuska, Joe Certa, Rudy Palais, 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. Professor Blanc is actually a woman-killer known as the Plague of Paris, in an oft-reprinted story with art by Fred Guardineer. Frankie Yale helps to establish Brooklyn's protection mob, but his real contribution to history is owning the bar where young bouncer Al Capone became "Scarface." The story of the 1946 Alcatraz prison riot features early art by future "Flash Gordon" artist Dan Barry. Also featuring a vintage ad for Pepsi starring Pepsi the Pepsi-Cola Cop. The Greedy Gunman; Plague of Paris; On the Level; "Ma" Barker, Two Legged She-Rat; Butt Riley, King of the Hoodlums; Crime Quiz; Mutiny on the Rock; Whodunnit. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart CGC 7.5 $349.00 or Best Offer View scans Paper: Cream to off white Slab: Minor side edge crack Label #0746647010 Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout.

Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by Ken Fitch, Fred Guardineer, George Tuska, Dick Wood, Rudy Palais, Bert Bushell, Jack Alderman, 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. With the encouragement of Mr. Crime and the Devil himself, Denvil Dotson works his way up from petty theft to killing cops. Police suspect a swindle when a painter's highly insured studio burns down and takes his art with it. Infamous Ma Barker births a criminal gang that includes her four sons, in a different story than the previous issue's Barker bio. Also featuring a vintage ad for Pepsi starring Pepsi the Pepsi-Cola Cop, and a classic bad-girl cover by Charles Biro. Devil's Diary; Mother of Murderers; On the Level; Brother Rats; Two-Timing Trio; Crime Quiz; Gyp Artist; The Case of the Voodooed Hangars; Whodunnit: Murder in the Penthouse. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart VG 4.0 $150.00 View scans Centerfold coming loose at the staple. Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor.

Add to cart GD+ 2.5 $85.00 View scans Centerfold detached. Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor. Other items consigned by Bud Plant

Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by Dan Barry, Fred Guardineer, George Tuska, Dick Briefer, Rudy Palais, Bob Moore, Jack Alderman, Walter Johnson 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 Fleagle brothers like to rob banks together, but superstitions may turn them against each other. Bespectacled killer Danny Iamascia is even more dangerous with his glasses off - to his fellow hoods and himself, in a story with early art by future "Flash Gordon" artist Dan Barry. A masked robber terrorizes the Massachusetts town of Belmont, so citizens organize a neighborhood patrol. The Kill-Crazy Fleagle Brothers; Danny Iamascia, Dutch Schultz's Triggerman; On the Level; Arkansas Killer; The Chicken-hearted Killer; Jail Didn't Save Them; The Belmont Bandit; Whodunnit: The Invisible Killer. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart CGC 4.5 $299.00 View scans Paper: Cream to off white Slab: Other - see grading notes Scuffing to front and back of slab. Label #0107969003 Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout.

Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by Fred Guardineer, George Tuska, Lee Teaford 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. Criminal brothers Bud and Don Hoover have a lifelong feud that escalates into murder. The story of notorious real-life gunman Pretty Boy Floyd. Bloodshed results when neighborhood laundries fight back against Johnny Spanish's protection racket. The Hoover Brothers; Pretty Boy Floyd The Two-Faced Terror; Killers' Jinx; Washed in Blood; The Telltale Scar; Whodunnit. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by Fred Guardineer, George Tuska, Paul Parker 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 serial killer H.H. Holmes and his infamous "murder castle" in 1890s Chicago. Carlo Barrone never met a crime he didn't like, murdering pretty much every other character in his story except the judge who sentences him to the chair. A story that dares the reader to figure out who poisoned a baseball player in the middle of a game. Charles Barrone the Murderous Bully; The Master of Murder Castle; This'll Kill You!; Crime Quiz; Reunion in Death; The Beast of Brooklyn; Whodunnit. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart FR/GD 1.5 $90.00 View scans 3.25" Cumulative spine split. Cover detached. Centerfold and an additional wrap detached.

Very violent man shot through the head cover! Ouch!

Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by Fred Guardineer, George Tuska, Ed Moore, Dick Ericson 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. Peter tries to make his way in the Mob, but he's not quite smart enough to stay ahead of the cops. The unkillable Michael Malloy survives multiple murder attempts. A story that dares the reader to figure out the killer. Also featuring purported letters from prisoners to Crime Does Not Pay, detailing how the comic has set them straight. Crime's Dumbest Wise Guy, Peter Treadway; Her Name Was Clarence; This'll Kill You!; Crime Quiz; Mike Malloy The Man Who Wouldn't Die!; Death Thumbs a Ride; On The Level; Whodunnit. 52 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by Dan Barry, Fred Guardineer, Bob 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. The true story of mobster Louis Lepke Buchalter, the gangster who created the Murder, Inc. killer-for-hire operation during the 1930s. Gerald Chapman, known as The Gentleman Bandit, became the first Public Enemy Number One. Bootlegger Annie French raises her son Don to be a killer. Leo Lepke Buchalter; Gerald Chapman, "Cop Killer"; Crime Quiz; Money's Worth of Murder; Shoe-Box Annie; On The Level; Whodunnit. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.