Crime and Punishment #28

Charles Biro's cover for this July 1950 issue crackles with tension as Detective John Shea — badge and revolver in hand — reveals his true identity to two caught-off-guard criminals amid what appears to be a cramped industrial setting, the whole scene punctuated by some wonderfully snappy dialogue bubbles. At 52 full pages for just a dime, Crime and Punishment #28 promises three stories including "The Empty Apartment," "How I Stopped a Taxi War," and the reader-participation mystery "Who Dunnit?: Can You Solve the Case of the Inquisitive Photographer." Lev Gleason's true-crime anthology was delivering serious entertainment value in 1950, and this issue looks like a fine example of why the series kept readers coming back.