Underworld Crime (1952) comic books 1950-1959

Cover by Edd Ashe. Stories and art by Bernard Baily, Mike Sekowsky and Bob Correa. Classic pre-Code crime comics from Fawcett. Gangster Joey Savage admires the Nazi general Modell, and utilizes Modell's strategy and tactics in an attempt to pull off the biggest robbery in history. Tired of being called a "punk," Joey sets out to make his name, but he goes too far when he kills a beloved cop. The "Shotgun Gang" goes a spree in Florida that's no fun for anyone. The Army of Crime; The Punk; Contraband; White Birds of Death! 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Cover by Carl Pfeufer. Stories and art by Mike Becker and John C. Adler. Classic pre-Code crime comics from Fawcett. Matches Brody is the best arsonist in the business, so he doesn't see trouble coming when simple-minded brute Clarence asks to be his understudy. Brainy Nelson works out every detail of his upcoming jewelry story robbery in advance, except for one thing. Charlie's convict pals agree to help him escape prison so he can retrieve his embezzled loot from its hiding place. The Torch; Blueprint for Death; Uncle George; Jailbreak. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Stories and art by Maurice Gutwirth and Rod Reed. Classic pre-Code crime comics from Fawcett. Chemist Henry wants to see if he can commit the perfect crime using acid, in a story that calls its main character "Henry Holmes," a possible reference to the infamous serial killer. When gangsters get involved in the gambling over college sports, it's not long before the athletes themselves are targeted by the Mob. Shot by mobster Tiger Jack, gunsel Marty survives, and sets out to get revenge on Jack by assembling a gang of "kill-happy morons who'll laugh at bullets." Microscopic Murder; The Fixer; Mink Murder Case; Hijacker. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Classic pre-Code crime comics from Fawcett. Stooge Bancroft sets out to take over the underworld, making up with his fists what he lacks in brains, but no one else pummels their victims to death. The Mob tries to take over the docks, in a story strongly reminiscent of the classic film drama On the Waterfront (released two years later). Big John Markey has a great loan-shark racket going, until he pushes one hapless victim too far. Death on the Docks!; Stooge Bancroft: The Saga of an Underworld Mauler!; Secret Signal; Pound of Flesh! 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Stories and art by Doug Wildey, Maurice Gutwirth and Stephen Kirkel. Classic pre-Code crime comics from Fawcett. Bo and Frankie start up a "floating crap game" using loaded dice, but when someone finds out, the guns start blazing. A mobster sees a profit in human trafficking on the Rio Grande, in a story with art by comics legend Doug Wildey. Crimelord Monk Gorman starts a deadly racket by poaching game in the forest preserve, but pushes his luck too far when he starts a forest fire. Dead Weight; Loaded Dice; Dopey Danny Dee; River of Blood; Tightwad Tad; The Game Butchers. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Stories and art by Steve Kirkel and others. Classic pre-Code crime comics from Fawcett. Wealthy socialite and jewelry dealer Wayne is a member of high society, but no one suspects he's also a fence for illegal goods and a powerful figure in the underworld. The Harvey brothers tire of truck hijacking, and Al Harvey learned to fly solo during the war, so they begin stealing cargo planes right off the runway. When he recognizes fugitive bank robber Slats Pawling, law-abiding citizen Tom must deal with the consequences of reporting him to the police. Enough Rope; The Fence; Nervous Jervis; Pert Pamela; The Sky Pirates; Sykes the Psychiatrist; Quiz; Gangland Vengeance. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Stories and art by Bill Woolfolk and Jess Cole. Classic pre-Code crime comics from Fawcett. Police are unable to topple the masked and mysterious Black Hand gang, but lone citizen John Stephens wages a one-man campaign of vengeance to bring them down. Ace and Killer agree to take the rap for a warehouse job in exchange for a cash payoff, but a cop goes undercover in prison to see if he can get Killer to crack. Moonshiner Poison Mike has souped-up the roadster he uses to escape the Feds on winding mountain roads, to deadly effect. Cover, possibly by Edd Ashe, contains elements of bondage and the ol' injury-to-the-eye motif. Two Bullet Holes; The Man Who Broke The Black Hand; Muscle Hedd; Careless Clara; Trapped!; Surgeon Sturgess; Important Man Manners; The Saga of "Poison" Mike McCroy. Final issue of the series. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.