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 Total: 42,991 books
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Image for Crime Comics And BooksIn 1942 Lev Gleason published issue #1 of Crime Does Not Pay. It was edited and written by Charles Biro, and Bob Wood provided the art work. This was a landmark moment as the pair had just created a whole new comic book genre. Crime Does Not Pay is considered as the first 'true crime' comic book published. There is debate about where the inspiration for this came from. One story is that Biro had the idea after meeting a career criminal in a bar. Another, that it was actually Gleason who came up with the idea. No matter where the idea for the title came from, the truth is that 'true crime' was already making its way onto radio and also film.

Sales of the title gradually rose and by the end of World War II 800,000 copies of each issue were being published. Growth filled the void left by the demise of many superhero comics and characters.

Seeing this new market, and the decline in appeal of their masked and caped characters, it was not long before other publishers launched their own titles. This fiercely competative environment saw each title attempting to out do the others, with a rapid growth in violence and gorey images.

This eventually led to a backlash from parents and moral crusaders. The publication of Dr. Fredric Wertham's Seduction of the Innocent meant that the books were taking much of the blame for the rise in juvenile delinquency. With the creation of the Comics Code Authority, the newer issues were so sanitized that most quickly folded and the heyday of True Crime Comics was over.

We have 260 titles and 5,945 issues in our 'Crime Category' for you to enjoy.

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Crime Comics And Books

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The Green Hornet Archives
Cover For The Green Hornet Archives
 
Online: 4 Books
 
Publisher:Comic Book Compilations
Description:The Green Hornet first appeared on the radio in 1936. His first appearance in comic books was December 1940, originally published by Heinit Comics it ran for six issues, when it was taken over by Harvey comics, where it ran until issue #47 (September 1949). ...
Green Hornet Comics
Cover For Green Hornet Comics
 
Online: 1 Book
 
Publishing History
Issues: 6
From: Dec 1940
To: Aug 1941
Seq: 1 - 6
Publisher:Temerson / Helnit / Continental
Description:
Green Hornet Comics (1942 series)
Cover For Green Hornet Comics (1942 series)
 
Online: 48 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 37
From: Jun 1942
To: Jan 1949
Seq: 7 - 43
Publisher:Harvey Comics
Description:Series picked up from the Temerson/Henlit/Continental series starting with issue #7
Green Hornet, Racket Buster
Cover For Green Hornet, Racket Buster
 
Online: 5 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 4
From: Mar 1949
To: Sep 1949
Seq: 44 - 47
Publisher:Harvey Comics
Description:numbering continues from the 1947 Green Hornet Series
Grey Domino
Cover For Grey Domino
 
Online: 3 Books
 
Publisher:Australian & New Zealand Comics
Description:Australian. The title started off as a landscape format in an attempt to make readers think this was a reprint of American or British newspaper strips, which were popular.
Comic Book Plus In-House Image
Guns Against Gangsters
Cover For Guns Against Gangsters
 
Online: 8 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 7
From: Sep 1948
To: Sep 1949
Seq: v1 1 - v2 1
Publisher:Novelty Press
Description:(1948 series) September-October 1948 - September-October 1949 Issues: 7 (v1#1 - v2#1) Tracking: Numbering continues in TRUE-TO-LIFE ROMANCES (Star Publications, 1949 series). Artists on this title include L. B. Cole, Will Hammel, Milt Hammer, Art Helfant, ...
The Hotspur
Cover For The Hotspur
 
Online: 335 Books
 
Publishing History
From: Sep 1933
To: Oct 1959
Publisher:British Story Papers
Description:One of the Big Five boys' story papers from D.C. Thomson. Featuring illustrated stories of adventure, sports, schooldays, crime, s.f. plus jokes. They bear no relation to the American pulps or, in fact, the British pocket libraries. They are in a class ...
Humor Publishing Co: One Shots
Cover For Humor Publishing Co: One Shots
 
Online: 1 Book
 
Publishing History
From: 1933
To: 1933
Section:One-Title Publishers
Description:
Hunted
Cover For Hunted
 
Online: 2 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 2
From: Jul 1950
To: Sep 1950
Seq: 13 - 2
Publisher:Fox Feature Syndicate
Description:
I'm a Cop
Cover For I'm a Cop
 
Online: 3 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 3
From: 1954
To: 1954
Seq: 1 - 3
Publisher:Magazine Enterprises
Description:Series also a part of the A-1 Comics (1944 series) #111 (issue #1) and #126 (issue #2)
Il Giustiziere Scarlatto
Cover For Il Giustiziere Scarlatto
 
Online: 6 Books
 
Publisher:Italian Language Books
Description:
The Illustrated Detective Magazine
Cover For The Illustrated Detective Magazine
 
Online: 1 Book
 
Publisher:Crime and Detective
Description:Published monthly by Tower Magazines Inc. Based in New York. Launched in 1929, Illustrated Detective Magazine was a smooth, bright-coloured, slick-papered publication that was sold exclusively in Woolworth's and was aimed mainly at female customers. Beginning ...
Illustrations from Spanish Pulps
Cover For Illustrations from Spanish Pulps
 
Online: 6 Books
 
Publisher:Comic Book Compilations
Description:Collections of covers and interior illustrations from Spanish pulps, c. 1930's, featuring winged villains; hooded mystery men and women; an adventuress and a superhero.
The Informer
Cover For The Informer
 
Online: 5 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 5
From: Apr 1954
To: Dec 1954
Seq: 1 - 5
Publisher:Sterling
Description:The Informer was based on a T.V. series. It ran 5 issues before changing name to After Dark.
Inside Crime
Cover For Inside Crime
 
Online: 2 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 2
From: Jul 1950
To: Sep 1950
Seq: 3 - 1
Publisher:Fox Feature Syndicate
Description:COMPLETE SERIES!
Inspecteur Durand
Cover For Inspecteur Durand
 
Online: 4 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 8
From: 1944
To: 1944
Seq: 1 - 8
Publisher:French Language Books
Description:
Inspector Dan
Cover For Inspector Dan
 
Online: 50 Books
 
Publisher:Spanish Language Books
Description:Excellent Spanish weekly with art by Eugeno Giner.
El Inspector Wade de Scotland Yard
Cover For El Inspector Wade de Scotland Yard
 
Online: 7 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 7
Seq: 1 - 7
Publisher:Spanish Language Books
Description:
Invisible Avenger
Cover For Invisible Avenger
 
Online: 4 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 5
From: May 1950
To: Apr 1952
Seq: 3 - 24
Publisher:Australian & New Zealand Comics
Description:1950-1952
Comic Book Plus In-House Image
Iron Jaw Archives
Cover For Iron Jaw Archives
 
Online: 5 Books
 
Publisher:Comic Book Compilations
Description:Iron Jaw first appeared in Boy Comics #03 (April 1942) published by Lev Gleason. He made a further 21 times appearances. An incident during WWI left a German soldier by the name of Von Schmidt horribly disfigured and doctors were forced to replace his jaw with ...
Jane Arden
Cover For Jane Arden
 
Online: 3 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 2
From: Mar 1948
To: Jun 1948
Seq: 1 - 2
Publisher:St. John
Description:
Jean Lynx le Nyctalope
Cover For Jean Lynx le Nyctalope
 
Online: 3 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 14
From: 1949
To: 1949
Seq: 1 - 14
Publisher:French Language Books
Description:French fortnightly, digest sized title.
Jet Fury
Cover For Jet Fury
 
Online: 5 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 15
From: 1950
To: 1952
Seq: 1 - 15
Publisher:Australian & New Zealand Comics
Description:Jet Fury and his mystery plane, The Comet, fights crime. Art by Larry Horak. JET STARR is by Yaroslav Horak, who, after a move to England a decade later, became best known for his work on the newspaper comic strip JAMES BOND. STARR evolved from the American ...
Jim Cartouche
Cover For Jim Cartouche
 
Online: 2 Books
 
Publisher:French Language Books
Description:France, 1953 onwards. Series 2.
Johnny Dynamite
Cover For Johnny Dynamite
 
Online: 3 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 3
From: Jun 1955
To: Oct 1955
Seq: 10 - 12
Publisher:Charlton
Description:
Juan Bravo Y Sus Chicos
Cover For Juan Bravo Y Sus Chicos
 
Online: 33 Books
 
Publishing History
From: Jan 1953
To: Apr 1954
Publisher:Spanish Language Books
Description:Spanish landscape title published by MAGA, Valencia, 1953 - April 1954. 33 issues with art by Jose Ortiz. Published fortnightly.
Judge Parker
Cover For Judge Parker
 
Online: 2 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 2
From: Feb 1956
To: May 1956
Seq: 1 - 2
Publisher:Argo Publications
Description:
Justice Traps the Guilty
Cover For Justice Traps the Guilty
 
Online: 95 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 92
From: Oct 1947
To: Apr 1958
Seq: v2 1 - v11 2
Publisher:Prize
Description:Notes: Issues #13 & 58 contain stories or illos used in Seduction of the Innocent.
Ken Shannon
Cover For Ken Shannon
 
Online: 10 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 10
From: Oct 1951
To: Apr 1953
Seq: 1 - 10
Publisher:Quality
Description:
Ken Winston
Cover For Ken Winston
 
Online: 3 Books
 
Publisher:Newspaper Comic Strips
Description:Ken Winston was a shortlived strip created by Jerry Siegel, with pencilling by Ogden Whitney (and Mike Roy). Syndicated by General Features it featured a James Bond look-a-like. running for a year or so in the mid fifties. "As most of Siegel's work ...
Kerry Drake
Cover For Kerry Drake
 
Online: 2 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 2
From: Jan 1956
To: Mar 1956
Seq: 1 - 2
Publisher:Argo Publications
Description:
Kerry Drake Detective Cases
Cover For Kerry Drake Detective Cases
 
Online: 30 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 28
From: 1948
To: 1952
Seq: 6 - 33
Publisher:Harvey Comics
Description:(1948 series) 1948 - 1952 Issues: 29 (#6-33) Tracking: Numbering continues from KERRY DRAKE, Magazine Enterprises) Artists on this title include Alfred Andriola & Bob Powell
Kerry Drake Detective Cases
Cover For Kerry Drake Detective Cases
 
Online: 4 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 5
From: Nov 1945
To: 1946
Seq: 1 - 5
Publisher:Magazine Enterprises
Description:
The Killers
Cover For The Killers
 
Online: 2 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 2
From: 1947
To: 1948
Seq: 1 - 2
Publisher:Magazine Enterprises
Description:
L'Agent IXE-13
Cover For L'Agent IXE-13
 
Online: 699 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 934
From: 1947
To: 1967
Seq: 1 - 934
Publisher:French Language Books
Description:L'Agent IXE-13, the ace of spies, is Jean Thibault. Despite battling nazis, and commies in thrilling and exciting adventures, the Canadian Bond somehow also finds time for romance. The stories were written by Pierre Saurel and illustrated by André ...
La Cagoule Rouge
Cover For La Cagoule Rouge
 
Online: 3 Books
 
Publishing History
From: 1938
Publisher:French Language Books
Description:3 parts of the series involving the fight against the fascist organisation, La Cagoule Rouge. Appeared in the series," L'Aventure en Images" 1938 and reprinted 1945. The 2nd. and 3rd. parts we have here feature the masked mystery man and woman, ...
Law Against Crime
Cover For Law Against Crime
 
Online: 1 Book
 
Publishing History
Issues: 3
From: Apr 1948
To: Aug 1948
Seq: 1 - 3
Publisher:Essankay
Description:
Lawbreakers
Cover For Lawbreakers
 
Online: 9 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 9
From: Mar 1951
To: Oct 1952
Seq: 1 - 9
Publisher:Charlton
Description:
Lawbreakers Suspense Stories
Cover For Lawbreakers Suspense Stories
 
Online: 6 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 6
From: Jan 1953
To: Nov 1953
Seq: 10 - 15
Publisher:Charlton
Description:
Comic Book Plus In-House Image
Lesley Shane
Cover For Lesley Shane
 
Online: 2 Books
 
Publisher:Newspaper Comic Strips
Description:Glamourous detective, Lesley Shane, appeared in the Daily Sketch in the 1950's. The stories were syndicated world wide and later were adapted for Super Detective Library, one of the many pocket library series that were very popular in Britain and elsewhere. CB+ ...
Lex Brand
Cover For Lex Brand
 
Online: 23 Books
 
Publisher:Dutch Language Books
Description:Lex Brand is a Private Detective from The Netherlands. The comic is an example of a Beeldverhaal, a popular format , roughly 13cm. x 10cm., which reflects the paper shortage in the low countries in the years following WW2. Creator was Ben Abas.
Little Al of the F.B.I.
Cover For Little Al of the F.B.I.
 
Online: 3 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 2
From: Nov 1950
To: May 1951
Seq: 10 - 11
Publisher:Ziff-Davis
Description:
Little Al of the Secret Service
Cover For Little Al of the Secret Service
 
Online: 3 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 2
From: Sep 1951
To: Dec 1951
Seq: 2 - 3
Publisher:Ziff-Davis
Description:
Love Mystery
Cover For Love Mystery
 
Online: 3 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 3
From: Jun 1950
To: Oct 1950
Seq: 1 - 3
Publisher:Fawcett
Description:
Magazine Village: True Crime Comics
Cover For Magazine Village: True Crime Comics
 
Online: 8 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 6
From: May 1947
To: Aug 1949
Seq: v1 2 - v2 1
Section:One-Title Publishers
Description:
March of Crime
Cover For March of Crime
 
Online: 2 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 3
From: 1948
To: 1949
Seq: 1 - 3
Publisher:Fox Feature Syndicate
Description:
Martin Kane Private Eye
Cover For Martin Kane Private Eye
 
Online: 2 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 2
From: Jun 1950
To: Aug 1950
Seq: 4 - 2
Publisher:Fox Feature Syndicate
Description:
Masterman Comic
Cover For Masterman Comic
 
Online: 3 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 12
From: 1952
To: 1953
Seq: 1 - 12
Publisher:Streamline
Description:Published by United Anglo-American Book Co. Ltd., London in 1952-1953. Listed as a 10 issue series in the guide, there is definitely a #12. However, some issues are unnumbered and as British comics can sometimes be notorious in their numbering, we can't ...
McKay de la Policía Montada
Cover For McKay de la Policía Montada
 
Online: 2 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 2
Seq: 1 - 2
Publisher:Selección Aventurera
Description:
Men Against Crime
Cover For Men Against Crime
 
Online: 6 Books
 
Publishing History
Issues: 5
From: Feb 1951
To: Oct 1951
Seq: 3 - 7
Publisher:Ace Magazines
Description:MEN AGAINST CRIME, 1951 Series. No. 3, Feb 1951 - no. 7, Oct 1951. Continues as THE HAND OF FATE (Ace) 1951 Series.
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