Auctions: comic books January 1952

Crime Does Not Pay (1942-1955 Lev Gleason) 106 CGC 6.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #0354623005

Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by Frank Frazetta, Fred Guardineer, Carl Wessler, Al McWilliams, Dick Rockwell, and Charles Biro. The title that launched the crime comics genre, Crime Does Not Pay was noted for its violent pre-Code content and lurid tales of underworld life. An investigator tries to prove that a gangster's suicide was actually murder, but a blond femme fatale is out to get him first. A lawyer goes to work for a racketeer, but when his sister gets drawn in, he realizes he's gone too far. Detective Boyd learns that a doll holds the clue to an arson and murder gang. A classic anti-drug PSA featuring early art by fantasy and comics legend Frank Frazetta. Also featuring a vintage ad for "Lev Gleason Comics picture trading cards." The Last Stand of Walther "The Profile" Taylor; We Can Stop the Enemies of Youth; Crooked Mouthpiece; The Killer Came East; The Case of the Deadly Doll; The Frame-Up That Backfired. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Pictorial Romances (1950) 11 CGC 6.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4366163016

Cover by Matt Baker. Stories and art by Matt Baker, Joe Kubert, Hy Rosen, Robert Bernstein and Dana Dutch. Beautiful covers and art by legendary good-girl artist Matt Baker elevate St. John's 1950s romance comic above the norm. Department-store clerk Margery dates three men who could help her career, but is in trouble when they find out about each other, in a cautionary tale with art by Baker. In another Baker story, Anne marries handsome farmer Ned after moving to a small town, but soon tires of the life of a farmer's wife. Janet is determined to be a star, but that leaves boyfriend Jed feeling left out, in a story featuring early art by future comics legend Joe Kubert. Cover by Baker. My Rival and Her Weakness; The Worst Mistake a Wife Can Make; I Learned by Trial and Error; Crazy for Love; Playgirl at Work. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Police Comics (1941) 111 GD/VG 3.0

.5" Spine split from bottom. Water damage.

Cover art by Reed Crandall. Diana the Homicidal Huntress starring Ken Shannon, pencils by Reed Crandall, inks by Chuck Cuidera. The Barrel-Roll Shakedown starring Inspector Denver. Murder From Moscow starring T-Man. The Wise Guys starring text story. The Matchbook of Doom. 36 pgs. $.0.10. Cover price $0.10.

Weird Tales (1923-1985 Popular Fiction) Pulp 1st Series Vol. 44 #2 VG 4.0

1.5" Cumulative spine split.

Jan 1952. Cover by Jon Arfstrom. Horror and supernatural stories by August Derleth "The Black Island", Anthony M. Rud, Robert Bloch "Lucy Comes to Stay", E. Everett Evans, Paul Suter, Harold Lawlor, E. W. Tomlinson, and David Eynon. Illustrations by Fred Humiston, Joseph Eberle, Carl Kidwell, Boris Dolgov, and Vincent Napoli. 6 3/4" x 10"; black and white; 96 newsprint pages. Cover price $0.25.