Data courtesy of the Grand Comics Database under Creative Commons license.

Issue Details

Issue #5
Published October-November 1948
Cover Price $0.10
Pages 52
Editing ?
Notes 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York; Richard Davis, President; V. C. Albus, Vice-President; ANC distribution; cover blurb says "True stories from the archives of crime"; indicia says, "Because innocent people might be involved, the names of some of the characters in this true magazine are fictitious. If the name of any living person or institution is used, it is a coincidence."; cover probably by same artist as story 1; no back cover on copy indexed

Cover Details

Genre crime
Notes 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York; Richard Davis, President; V. C. Albus, Vice-President; ANC distribution; cover blurb says "True stories from the archives of crime"; indicia says, "Because innocent people might be involved, the names of some of the characters in this true magazine are fictitious. If the name of any living person or institution is used, it is a coincidence."; cover probably by same artist as story 1; no back cover on copy indexed

1 page Sydnie Nathan advertisement "It's Easy! Earn These Premiums or Cash"

Synopsis Earn premiums by selling double-edge razor blades
Notes Inside front cover; Sydnie Nathan Industrial Trust Building, Wilmington 7, Delaware

8 page story "Dead Men Don't Drown"

Characters Johnny Talbot; Betty Kenton; Bill Manley; Paul Wayne; Inspector Dan Foster
Synopsis The night before a big yacht race, Paul Wayne was murdered. Inspector Dan Foster solved the case with evidence from a forged suicide note found on the body.
Genre crime
Pencils Schroeder [first name unknown, per Jim Vadeboncoeur and Hames Ware via Steven Rowe]
Notes Subtitled "How a Suicide Note Trapped its Author"; signed with S in a rounded square in the splash panel.

1 page advertisement "Let's Go, Pal! I'll Prove I Can Make You an "All-Around" He-Man"

Synopsis Bodybuilding ad.
Notes Jowett Institute of Physical Culture, 230 Fifth Avenue, New York

7 page story "The Mystery of the Disappearing Diamonds"

Characters Mrs. Van Upgraff; Brenda Van Upgraff [daughter]; Walter Van Upgraff [stepson]; Alice Flint [secretary]; "Pierre Ronsard" [fake artist]; Lieutenant Tim Allen
Synopsis Valuable diamonds and newly valuable gold mine stock are stolen from the safe of formerly wealthy widow, Mrs. Van Upgraff. Stepson Walter Van Upgraff is convicted of the crime, but Lieutenant Tim Allen exonerates him.
Genre crime
Pencils Al Cammarata [per Frank Motler] or Al Camy [per Jim Vadeboncoeur and Hames Ware via Steven Rowe]
Notes Second mention of mint juleps in the book; artist signed splash panel as CAMV or CAMY

3 page story "The P.I. and.. the Clocks!"

Characters Inspector H. J. Morgan; James Harvey; Charles Rogers; Valerie Kirk; John Rogers
Synopsis Postal Inspector H. J. Morgan captures clock repairman/extortionist John Rogers based on a chipped 'M' on his typewriter.
Genre crime
Pencils Graham Ingels [unsigned; per Frank Motler]

2 page text story "Short Vacation"

Characters Moxie Markle; Pop Collins
Synopsis Pop Collins accidentally captures fugitive killer Moxie Markle, who is boarding at his house.
Genre crime
Letters [typeset]

9 page Sky Sheriff story "Sky Sheriff in Trail of Terror"

Characters Tenny; Loop; Killer Madden; Breeze Lawson; Tim Timmins; Laura Timmins
Synopsis Escaped Killer Madden kidnaps Laura Timmins. Sky Sheriff Breeze finds them and captures Madden.
Genre crime
Pencils Edmond Good [signed]
Inks Edmond Good [?]
Notes Bondage

8 page story "Beauty and the Book"

Characters Inspector Moore; Mr. Perkins; Eddie Calvin; Richard Barnell; Corky Tobin; Clarence Barkley
Synopsis A rare book containing a valuable map, donated by Clarence Barkey, is stolen from the library. Inspector Moore deduces that shady businessman Eddie Calvin's secretary, Corky Tobin, is the crook.
Genre crime
Script Bud Willard [signed]
Pencils Al McWilliams [signed]
Inks Al McWilliams [?]
Notes Subtitled "How Did Murder Trap a Book Lover?"

2 page story "The Mystery of the Speaking Alibi"

Characters Veno the Ventriloquist; Zorra [his wife and assistant]; Doctor [Zorra's brother]
Synopsis Zorra dies during an emergency operation by her brother. Her husband Veno kills the doctor and tries to make it look like a suicide.
Genre crime
Pencils [unknown artist called "Puppetface" per Jim Vadeboncoeur via Steven Rowe]
Notes Very cartoonish artwork

6 page story "Jailbreak"

Characters Warden John Crane; Trimble; Grant; Selby; Mac; Pete; Tom Black [escaped prisoners]
Synopsis Six murderers escape from prison. Three are captured by an old farm couple, two spotted by police while lighting a cigarette in a trailer, one by allowing a woman to call a doctor for her sick baby.
Pencils Lawrence Dressler [per Jim Vadeboncoeur and Hames Ware via Steven Rowe]
Notes crude artwork; banal plot

1 page advertisement "Loads of Fun for Dad and Son!"

Synopsis Ad for flexible shaft tools
Notes Foredom Electric Co., 27 Park Place, New York

1 page advertisement "Men! Don't Stay Fat!"

Synopsis Ad for Protam diet plan
Notes Associated Nutrition Products, Inc., 150 Nassau Street, New York