Crime Does Not Pay – Key Highlights
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Cover: Charles Biro
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Stories & Art: Rudy Palais, Dick Wood, Louis Trakis, Dick Briefer, Alan Mandel, Bob Wood, and Charles Biro
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Publisher: Lev Gleason Publications
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Genre: Golden Age Crime, Pre-Code Crime & Mystery
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Pages: 60, full color
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Original Cover Price: $0.10
🔥 Key Significance
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The title that launched the crime comics genre: Crime Does Not Pay became one of the most influential crime comic book series of the Golden Age, helping establish the popularity of crime-focused comics.
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Infamous pre-Code content: Known for its violent stories, sensational artwork, and lurid portrayals of criminals and underworld life, the series pushed the boundaries of comic book storytelling before the Comics Code era.
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Classic Mr. Crime narration: The issue features stories narrated by Mr. Crime, the series' notorious guide through the criminal underworld.
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Memorable bad-girl crime story: “Senorita of Sin” features a silver-mine heiress seeking revenge after being cheated out of her fortune.
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Notable Dick Briefer artwork: “Death Pulls the Trigger” features eerie and unsettling artwork by Dick Briefer.
📖 Story Highlights
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“The Man Who Loved Murder” – An inventor develops a silent firearm and quickly recognizes its potential for committing crimes.
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“Screaming Death” – A crime and suspense feature exploring the deadly consequences of the criminal underworld.
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“Senorita of Sin” – Carmen, a silver-mine heiress, seeks revenge with a whip and gun after the man she loves cheats her out of her fortune.
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“Conny the Convict” – A criminal adventure featuring Conny.
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“The Last Stick-Up” – Another tale of crime and criminal consequences.
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“Mad Dogs of Oklahoma” – A hard-hitting crime story.
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“Playboys of Crime” – A look into the dangerous world of criminal lifestyles.
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“Whodunnit?” – A mystery feature challenging readers to uncover the culprit.
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“Death Pulls the Trigger” – A chilling story about a madman mysteriously killing women in a small town, featuring creepy artwork by Dick Briefer.
📌 Additional Details
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60 pages, full color.
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Original cover price: $0.10.
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Published by Lev Gleason Publications.
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Includes a vintage advertisement for Victory Glasses, featuring mildly risqué illustrations of members of the U.S. armed services kissing a civilian.
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A representative example of the sensational crime storytelling that made Crime Does Not Pay a landmark Golden Age title.
