page_title: Crime Does Not Pay (comics)
hierarchical_section_title: Crime Does Not Pay (comics)
caption_attribution_description: English: Splash panel from Crime Does Not Pay, number 55, September 1947. Artwork by Dan Barry, featuring the demonic "Mister Crime", the title's sole continuing character. Mister Crime is generally considered the forerunner of comic book "horror hosts" such as EC's Crypt Keeper.
context_page_description: Crime Does Not Pay is the title of an American comic book series published between 1942 and 1955 by Lev Gleason Publications. Edited and chiefly written by Charles Biro, the title launched the crime comics genre and was the first "true crime" comic book series. At the height of its popularity, Crime Does Not Pay would claim a readership of six million on its covers. The series' sensationalized recountings of the deeds of gangsters such as Baby Face Nelson and Machine Gun Kelly were illustrated by artists Bob Wood, George Tuska, and others. Stories were often introduced and commented upon by "Mr. Crime", a ghoulish figure in a top hat, and the precursor of "horror hosts" such as EC Comics' Crypt Keeper. According to Gerard Jones, Crime Does Not Pay was "the first nonhumor comic to rival the superheroes in sales, the first to open the comic book market to large numbers of late adolescent and young males."
context_section_description: Crime Does Not Pay is the title of an American comic book series published between 1942 and 1955 by Lev Gleason Publications.  Edited and chiefly written by Charles Biro, the title launched the crime comics genre and was the first "true crime" comic book series.  At the height of its popularity, Crime Does Not Pay would claim a readership of six million on its covers.  The series' sensationalized recountings of the deeds of gangsters such as Baby Face Nelson and Machine Gun Kelly were illustrated by artists Bob Wood, George Tuska, and others. Stories were often introduced and commented upon by "Mr. Crime", a ghoulish figure in a top hat, and the precursor of "horror hosts" such as EC Comics' Crypt Keeper.  According to Gerard Jones, Crime Does Not Pay was "the first nonhumor comic to rival the superheroes in sales, the first to open the comic book market to large numbers of late adolescent and young males."
caption: Splash panel from Crime Does Not Pay number 55, September 1947. Artwork by Dan Barry.
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