Gangsters, kidnappers, maniacal killers, and thugs of all stripes had their lurid stories recounted in ''Crime Does Not Pay'', a seminal '40s comic-book series. Bob Wood, its editor, brutally murdered his girlfriend, did prison time and was then murdered himself! This fascinating sidebar is described in an essay by cartoonist, historian, and co-editor Denis Kitchen. Featuring thrilling, disturbing, and brutal tales and despicable characters, ''Crime Does Not Pay'' enthralled a nation. With a claimed readership of over 5 million it was the most popular comic book of its day. The series was a favorite target of Dr. Frederic Wertham and other censors and is partially responsible for the creation of the ''Comics Code Authority'', yet it was an inspiration for Harvey Kurtzman's reality-based ''EC Comics''. See why this series was revered and reviled.