Crime Patrol #10 – Key Highlights
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Publisher: EC Comics
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Publication Date: February–March 1949
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Editor: William M. Gaines
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Cover Artist: Johnny Craig
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Interior Artists: Al Feldstein, Stan Ash, and H. C. Kiefer
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Writer: Richard Kraus (credited for “The Ten O'Clock Burglars”)
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Genre: Crime
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Pages: 36
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Original Cover Price: $0.10
🔥 Key Significance
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An interesting example of EC Comics' Pre-Trend crime era, before the publisher became famous for its groundbreaking horror, science fiction, and suspense titles.
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Crime Patrol began as an adventure-oriented title before evolving into increasingly grisly crime stories and eventually transitioning into straight-up horror.
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Features artwork by Johnny Craig, Al Feldstein, Stan Ash, and H. C. Kiefer, representing EC's developing artistic identity.
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The issue contains four crime stories built around deception, murder, gambling, and criminal schemes.
📖 Story Highlights
“Dance-Hall Racket” – 11 pages
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Art: Al Feldstein
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Desperate for work, Nina becomes a dime-a-dance girl. When a regular customer named Frank falls in love with her, she must keep their relationship secret from her crooked boss, Steve.
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Originally reprinted from Modern Love #1 under the title “Dime-a-Dance Hostess!” with a different splash page and final page.
“The Ace of Spades” – 7 pages
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Art: Stan Ash
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A railroad card game leads to murder, and the train's inspector must track down a deadly card sharp named Jim Leech.
“The Ten O'Clock Burglars” – 2 pages
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Script: Richard Kraus
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A crime feature included in this issue. No further story synopsis or artwork credit was provided.
“The Horse Painter” – 9 pages
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Art: H. C. Kiefer
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Artist Henry Brand discovers a criminal opportunity by painting inferior racehorses to resemble genuine contenders, helping gangsters manipulate horse races.
📌 Additional Details
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Cover artwork: Johnny Craig provided both pencils and inks.
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All four interior stories were reprinted in Crime Patrol (Gemstone, 2000 series) #4, published in July 2000.
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The cover was also reprinted in that Gemstone issue.
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The supplied introductory description lists 32 pages, while the detailed issue information specifies 36 pages.
Collector's Note: Crime Patrol #10 captures an important transitional period in EC Comics history. Before the publisher became synonymous with horror classics, it was producing gritty crime stories like these—titles that helped establish the creative foundation for EC's legendary Pre-Code era.
