Crime Does Not Pay – Key Highlights
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Cover: Charles Biro
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Stories & Art: Robert Sale, C. L. Hartman, Rudy Palais, Edd Ashe, Bert Bushell, Davy Johnson, 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: 68, full color
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Original Cover Price: $0.10
🔥 Key Significance
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A landmark in the birth of crime comics: Crime Does Not Pay helped launch an entirely new genre in comic books, becoming one of the most influential crime titles of the Golden Age.
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Infamous pre-Code storytelling: Known for its violent content, sensational artwork, and gritty portrayals of criminals, the series pushed the boundaries of comic book storytelling.
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The true story of Two-Gun Crowley: Features the notorious 1931 shootout involving gangster Francis Crowley, whose confrontation with police helped establish his place in Prohibition-era crime history.
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Classic Charles Biro presentation: Biro's cover and storytelling helped define the series' distinctive approach to crime comics.
📖 Story Highlights
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“Cut-Rate Murder” – A crime story exploring the deadly consequences of a murder-for-hire scheme.
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“A River, a Basket, a Stain of Red” – A murder mystery challenging readers to determine who committed a killing during the production of a pirate movie.
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“Death Insurance” – A crooked insurance salesman hires two killers to murder a woman for the insurance payout.
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“The True Story of Two-Gun Crowley” – Recounts the infamous 1931 shootout between gangster Two-Gun Crowley and police, an event that became national news.
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“This’ll Kill You!” – Another hard-hitting crime feature.
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“Joe the Boss” – A story centered on the criminal underworld.
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“Trio of Terror” – A tale of crime and suspense.
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“Whodunnit” – A mystery story inviting readers to solve the murder.
📌 Additional Details
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68 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 several sensational true-detective-style text stories.
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Features a vintage Pepsi-Cola advertisement starring Pepsi the Pepsi-Cola Cop.
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Another strong example of the gritty, sensational storytelling that made Crime Does Not Pay a defining Golden Age crime comic.
