Underworld (1948 D.S. Pub.) comic books

Cover by Sheldon Moldoff. Stories and art by Walter T. Johnson, Frank Bolle and Leonard Starr. Violent pre-Code tales of crime and the law from DS Publishing. Bill Batlen may be a crook and a killer, but his younger brother Andy wants to be just like him. Eddie Bendix may look like a kid, but he's a deadly menace. Marge Morrow escapes from prison, in a story with some Chester Gould-style bad-girl art. Extra-violent cover at least gives the law the upper hand, unlike some other covers of the crime-comics era. The Mad Dog Murderers; The Baby-Face Killer; Killers Inc.; Crime Curtain; The Female Menace; Murder for Millions. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Cover by Sheldon Moldoff. Stories and art by Maurice Whitman and others. Violent pre-Code tales of crime and the law from DS Publishing. This issue was cited in the text (page 95) of the famous anti-comics classic, Seduction of the Innocent. Beautiful Connie uses her looks to trap victims, but cannot escape the law, in a story featuring an unusual image (for the time) of a female criminal "getting the chair." Ma Beamus and her children become notorious for their crime spree, in a story inspired by Ma Barker (that later caught the eye of Dr. Wertham). A maid borrows jewelry from a client, intending to give it back, but then her crooked boyfriend sees an opportunity for crime. Plus a vintage ad for a "Personal Comic Album," used to store hole-punched issues of classic comic books! ("Make Less Work for Mom!") Mother Knows Best!; The Notorious Angel Face; Case of the Crooked Clock; Envy; Blazing Guns; Crime at Midnight; The Human Gorilla. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Cover by Al McWilliams. Stories and art by Ann Brewster, "Red" Holmdale, Tom Hickey and Al McWilliams. Violent pre-Code tales of crime and the law from DS Publishing. "Ma" Wilkins finds her niche in the crime world by cornering the market on fencing stolen goods. The terrifying Belle Gunness becomes one of the first American serial killers, and not even her children are safe. The teen gang known as the Bronx Boys grows up to become a criminal force to be reckoned with, until they cross the Luciano mob, in a story by early female comics artist Ann Brewster. They Killed By Night; The Bronx Boys; Ma Wilkins, Queen of the Fences; The Widow of Death; Monk Maloney, the Terror of No Mans' Land!; Gambler's Showdown; The Accident Club. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart FR 1.0 $179.00 or Best Offer View scans Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor.

Add to cart PR 0.5 $110.00 View scan INCOMPLETE. Centerfold missing, affects art and story. Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor.

Stories and art by Graham Ingels, Ann Brewster, Louis Schroeder, Al Camy and Al McWilliams. Violent pre-Code tales of crime and the law from DS Publishing. Richard and Laurence may be thieves and holdup men, but they feel that's no reason to be rude, in a story by early female comics artist Ann Brewster. Policewoman Jean Adams goes undercover to trap con artists with a fortune-telling swindle, in an early action-girl story. Jose Luis Valera Obispo is either a Spanish lord, or the killer called Spanish John - or possibly both - in an early story by future EC legend Graham Ingels. The Murder Spree; Terror at the Waterfront!; Mystery of the Fired Shot; The Ghost Racket; Gorgeous Gal - With Gun!; The Beer Baron Murder; The Polite Burglars; Butch McGinty; Spanish John: The Caballero Killer. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Stories and art by Graham Ingels, Bob Jenney, Edmond Good, Al Camy and Al McWilliams. Violent pre-Code tales of crime and the law from DS Publishing. Insurance investigator Ed Ferguson uncovers arson in the fashion industry. Breeze Lawson, Sky Sheriff, soars into action in his light plane when a bold new gang uses helicopters to hijack cargo trucks on high mountain roads. Postal Inspector Morgan investigates when money starts disappearing from the mails, in an early story by future EC legend Graham Ingels. Too Hot to Handle; Special Delivery Death!; The P.I. and the Scented Clue; The Magician's Last Trick; Sixty Seconds Later; The Man Next Door; The Mystery of the Piercing Scream; Winged Raiders. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Stories and art by Red Holmdale, Harry Anderson, Al Camy and Al McWilliams. Violent pre-Code tales of crime and the law from DS Publishing. The Polka Dot Gang carries out the well-planned heist of an upscale Chicago nightclub, and at first the customers think it's just part of the stage act. Two brothers grow up in poverty, but one turns to crime and the other doesn't. After a publisher is murdered in a locked room, cops realize that the case resembles one of the mysteries that he published. The Polka Dot Gang; Target for Treachery; Death Court Riddle; No Greater Law; Open and Shut!; Derrick in the Panhandle; Black Market Blood; The Latch. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Stories and art by Red Holmdale, Harry Anderson, Al Camy and Al McWilliams. Violent pre-Code tales of crime and horror from DS Publishing. Scotland Yard is called in to guard a cursed gem when it goes on display in a museum. Pat's modeling career is on the rise, until she crosses paths with a masked criminal and a jewel-smuggling ring. Five American treasure-hunters meet mysterious fates after violating a tomb in India. The Fatal Idol; El Mondo: The Master; Gems of the Ocean; Fate Plays Tricks; Medium's Revenge; When Thieves Fall Out; Revenge of the Dead. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Stories and art by Louis Ravielli, Al Carreno and Bob Jenney. Violent pre-Code tales of crime and horror from DS Publishing. Two-fisted civil engineer Rigger, who has a real Indiana Jones vibe, is sent to China to see what's happened to a dam project and its supervisor. Defending his gal's honor with his fists, boxer Kid Broadway stumbles onto the break he's been looking for. A bag mix-up on a train gets salesman Frank involved with a beautiful woman, gangsters, and The Jade-Handled Knife. The Double Tenth; Longshot Clue; Kid Broadway; Letter to Oblivion; Perfect Timing; Black Pits of Doom; Who Done It?; The Jade-Handled Knife. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Cover by Art Gates. Stories and art by Jay Alexander and Bob Q. Sale. Violent pre-Code tales of crime and horror from DS Publishing. Deported ganglord Big John seeks a way to keep his rackets going from abroad, while his enemies see opportunities. A mysterious figure in a white mask tries to get ahead in the underworld through violence and arson. Joe tries to save Mary's sanity after she falls into the clutches of a phony spirit medium. Culprit Without a Country; Mystery at Monte Carlo; The White Mask; The Rube Collects Anyway; Listen, Cops - I'm Innocent!; Smuggler's Dilemma; Spook Shop. Final issue of the series. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.