The Mammoth Book of Best Crime Comics

(2008)

[blank pages] (Table of Contents: 1)

blank page(s) / 1 page (report information)

Indexer Notes

inside front cover

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 2)

text article / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Acknowledged by the Times of London as...

Genre

biography

Synopsis

Brief biographical sketch of Paul Gravett.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 3) (Expand) /

promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 4)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Letters

typeset

Synopsis

title page

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 5)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Letters

typeset

Synopsis

Title page verso

Contents (Table of Contents: 6)

credits, title page / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Letters

typeset

Synopsis

Table of contents

Acknowledgements (Table of Contents: 7)

text article / 2 pages (report information)

Script

?

Letters

typeset

Synopsis

Copyright acknowledgments for the reprints in this book.

Every Shade of Noir (Table of Contents: 8)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 4 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gravett

Letters

typeset

Synopsis

Introduction to this book.

...Or Turn Their Faces Up, Like So, Receiving Death as if it Were a Mother's Kiss (Table of Contents: 9)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gravett ?

Letters

typeset

Synopsis

Introduction to "Old Gangsters Never Die."

Old Gangsters Never Die (Table of Contents: 10)

comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

Alan Moore

Pencils

Lloyd Thatcher

Inks

Lloyd Thatcher

Letters

?

Genre

crime

Synopsis

The lyrics of song about the unpleasant deaths of gangsters, set to pictures.

Reprints

• from the foldout sleeve of the single "Old Gangsers Never Die" by the Sinister Ducks (1983).

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 11)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gravett ?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

You Don't Look Right. You Look at Me with Distorted Eyes.

Synopsis

Introduction to "The Switch."

The Switch (Table of Contents: 12)

Torpedo 1936 / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

Enrique Sánchez Abulí; David Rosenthal (translator); Carol Blazer

Pencils

Jordi Bernet (signed)

Inks

Jordi Bernet (signed)

Letters

?

Genre

crime; detective-mystery

Characters

Torpedo; Detective Mulley; Lulu; Rascal

Synopsis

Torpedo arranges the assassination of a police detective.

Reprints

• from Creepy (Toutain Editor, 1979 series) #41 (noviembre 1982)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 13)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gravett ?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

A man could make a fortune in a few days! I'll pay anything for it -- anything!

Synopsis

Introduction to "The Money-Making Machine Swindlers."

The Money-Making Machine Swindlers (Table of Contents: 14)

comic story / 14 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

?

Letters

Ben Oda ?

Genre

crime

Synopsis

Swindlers pretend to have invented a machine that makes real money.

Reprints

• from Justice Traps the Guilty (Prize, 1947 series) #v1#6 (6) (September-October 1948)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 15)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gravett ?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

It was as if the body of the person appeared on the canvas itself. And all I had to do was lay on the paint!

Synopsis

An introduction to "Blind Man's Bluff"

Blind Man's Bluff (Table of Contents: 16)

87th Precinct / comic story / 32 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Bernie Krigstein

Inks

Bernie Krigstein

Letters

?

Genre

detective-mystery

Characters

Bert Kling; Steve Corella; Roger Havilland; Meyer Meyer; Teddy Corella

Synopsis

After a series of murders are connected to paintings by the same artist, Detective Corella has his wife, who cannot speak, pose for the artist to see what she can discover.

Reprints

• from Four Color (Dell, 1942 series) #1309 - 87th Precinct (April-June 1962)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 17)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gravett ?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Since we've been after that brute, his trail leads down and down. I never knew there were so many hotels and slums full of sleeze...

Synopsis

An introduction to "The Murderer of Hung."

The Murderer of Hung (Table of Contents: 18)

comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

Dominique Grange; Mathew Screech (translation)

Pencils

Jacque Tardi

Inks

Jacque Tardi

Letters

Woodrow Phoenix

Genre

crime

Synopsis

A Viet-nam veteran and a Vietnamese girl hunt down the man who killed her family.

Reprints

• from Escape (Escape Publishing, 1983 series) #8 (1986)
which is reprinted
• from L'Écho des savanes (Editions du Fromage, 1972 series) #84bis (Juillet 1982)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 19)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gravett ?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Oh, geeze...ain't there anyone in the world ya can trust?

Synopsis

Introduction to the story, "Murder, Morphine, and Me!"

Murder, Morphine, and Me! (Table of Contents: 20)

comic story / 14 pages (report information)

Script

Jack Cole

Pencils

Jack Cole

Inks

Jack Cole

Letters

?

Genre

crime

Synopsis

A young woman is drawn into the world of drugs and violent crime.

Reprints

• from True Crime Comics (Magazine Village, 1947 series) #v1#2 (May 1947 [1948])

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 21)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gravett ?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Jee-zus... Jesus creeping Christ on a cross!

Synopsis

Introduction to the story, "Love in Vein."

Love in Vein (Table of Contents: 22)

El Borbah / comic story / 9 pages (report information)

Script

Charles Burns

Pencils

Charles Burns (signed)

Inks

Charles Burns (signed)

Letters

Charles Burns ?

Genre

crime; detective-mystery; satire-parody

Characters

El Borbah

Synopsis

An insane sperm donor hopes to create a master race.

Reprints

• from Hard-Boiled Defective Stories (Pantheon, 1988 series) (1988)

Indexer Notes

reprinted in El Borbah (Cornélius, 2008 series) #[nn]

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 23)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gravett ?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Please don't think me immodest, but Waldo was so grateful for my...ah...intellectual companionship, he left me the key to the family strong box!

Synopsis

An introduction to the story, "The Portier Fortune."

The Portier Fortune (Table of Contents: 24)

The Spirit / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

Will Eisner

Pencils

Will Eisner (layouts); Jack Spranger ?

Inks

Will Eisner

Letters

Martin deMuth

Genre

adventure; crime; superhero

Reprints

• from Spirit, The (Register and Tribune Syndicate, 1940 series) #01/12/1946

Indexer Notes

Credits from The Spirit Checklist by cat yronwode (31 December 2009).

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 25)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gravett ?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

But there was somebody I don't want to hurt! Who was it? I...I can't remember!

Synopsis

Introduction to the story, "Secret Agent X-9."

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 26)

Secret Agent X-9 / comic story / 80 pages (report information)

Script

Dashiel Hammett

Pencils

Alex Raymond (signed)

Inks

Alex Raymond (signed)

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Oh, Alfred. It's so good to be free again.

Genre

crime; detective-mystery; spy

Reprints

• from Secret Agent X-9 daily (King Features Syndicate) 1934.04.25 - 1934.09.11

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 27)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gravett ?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Look carefully at this street. Does anything catch you eye? Nothing? All looks normal?

Synopsis

An introduction to the story, "Strada."

Strada (Table of Contents: 28)

Commissario Spada / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

Gianluigo Gonano; Givanni Spanella (translator)

Pencils

Gianni De Luca

Inks

Gianni De Luca

Letters

Ben Dickson

Genre

crime

Reprints

• from Il Giornalino (Edizione San Paolo, 1979 series) #36.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 29)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gravett ?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

I'm a respectable businessman...I went into this on business terms. He can't treat me this way. I'll show him...

Synopsis

An introduction to the story, "Lily-white Joe."

Lily-White Joe (Table of Contents: 30)

comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Bernie Krigstein (signed)

Inks

Bernie Krigstein (signed)

Letters

?

Genre

crime

Characters

Joe Rivers; Marc Rinald

Synopsis

Legitimate business man Joe Rivers gets drawn into the criminal underworld, lured by easy money.

Reprints

• from Real Clue Crime Stories (Hillman, 1947 series) #v5#9 [57] (November 1950)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 31)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gravett ?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Who does she think she is, dancin' with 'im? She's like all the rest! I'll show 'em -- both of 'em

Synopsis

An introduction to the story, "The Crushed Gardenia."

The Crushed Gardenia (Table of Contents: 32)

comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Alex Toth (signed)

Inks

Alex Toth (signed)

Letters

Alex Toth

Genre

crime

Characters

Johnny Faber; Dr. Paul Crane

Synopsis

Psychiatrist Crane tells the story of young hood Johnny Faber.

Reprints

• from Who Is Next? (Pines, 1953 series) #5 (January 1953)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 33)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gravett ?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

I just killed two morons and my water broke

Synopsis

An introduction to the story, "Maternity Leave."

Maternity Leave (Table of Contents: 34)

Ms. Tree / comic story / 48 pages (report information)

Script

Max Allan Collins

Pencils

Terry Beatty

Inks

Terry Beatty

Letters

Gary Kato

Editing

Mike Gold

Genre

crime; detective-mystery

Characters

Michael Tree; Effie; Roger Freemont; Dan; Mike Tree, Jr.; Donnie Muerta; William Powers, Sr.; M.T. Powers; Melodie Tree

Synopsis

M.T. Powers, presumptive heir to William Powers, Jr.'s fortune, tries to kill Ms. Tree's unborn child, the true heir. Melodie Tree is born.

Reprints

• from Ms. Tree Quarterly (DC, 1990 series) #8 (Summer 1992) [[nn]]

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 35)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gravett ?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Sure was smart of you Dutch coming in at a place like Blackpool

Synopsis

An introduction to the story, "Roy Carson and the Old Master."

Roy Carson and the Old Master! (Table of Contents: 36)

Roy Carson / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

Colin McLoughlin

Pencils

Denis McLoughlin

Inks

Denis McLoughlin

Letters

?

Genre

crime; detective-mystery

Synopsis

Carson foils the schemes of Dutch Scully, international art thief.

Reprints

• from Adventure Annual (T. V. Boardman, 1953 series) #1 (1953)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 37)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gravett ?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

I know exactly what I'm doing! I've waited for this moment for so long! Now what good is your money going to you Walter...Now what good!

Synopsis

Introduction to the story, "Mary Spratchet."

Mary Spratchet (Table of Contents: 38)

comic story / 9 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Letters

?

Genre

crime

Characters

Mary Spratchet; Walter Spratchet; Elbert Firness

Synopsis

Mary convinces her lover to help her murder her husband.

Reprints

• from Crimes by Women (Fox, 1948 series) #5 (February 1949)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 39)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gravett ?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

So...what did you do?

Synopsis

An introduction to the story, "Talkin' with Joe."

[Talkin' with Joe] (Table of Contents: 40)

Sinner / comic story / 27 pages (report information)

Script

Carlos Sampayo; Deborah Bonner (translator)

Pencils

José Muñoz

Inks

José Muñoz

Letters

Bill Spicer

Genre

crime

Characters

Alack Sinner; Joe; Moretti; Silver; Toni Sinner

Synopsis

Sinner tells Joe the bartender the story of how Sinner quit the police force.

Reprints

• from Sinner (Fantagraphics, 1987 series) #1 (October 1987)
which is reprinted
• from ?

Indexer Notes

Title from introduction.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 41)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gravett ?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

They're right! You can't be too careful! The smallest thing might give you away!

Synopsis

An introduction to the story, "The Button."

The Button (Table of Contents: 42)

comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Bill Everett

Inks

Bill Everett

Letters

?

Genre

crime

Characters

Anton Norda

Synopsis

A stick-up man obsesses over a button lost at the scene of a murder.

Reprints

• from Crime and Punishment (Lev Gleason, 1948 series) #31 (October 1950)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 43)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gravett ?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

I've heard what these guys are like, Steve. Looking for the slightest hesitation, waiting for you to slip up. Catch you out.

Synopsis

An introduction to the story, "Rat in the House."

Rat in the House (Table of Contents: 44)

Kane / comic story / 32 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Grist

Pencils

Paul Grist

Inks

Paul Grist

Letters

Paul Grist ?

Genre

crime; detective-mystery

Characters

Kane; Felix; Lovett; Donahue; Miguel Perez; Bessiac; Mr. Meyer; Dennis Harvey; Wratz; Lenny Davis; Capt. Dexter; Oscar Darque

Synopsis

An officer-involved shooting is investigated and more is learned about the relationship between Harvey and Darque.

Reprints

• from Kane (Dancing Elephant Press, 1993 series) #6 (October 1994)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 45)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gravett ?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Sorry, Genevieve! If I am saving anybody -- it's going to be me!

Synopsis

An introduction to the "Who Dunnit?" story.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 46)

Who Dunnit? / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Fred Guardineer

Inks

Fred Guardineer

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

In the town of Lemans, France, on a February night in 1933...

Genre

detective-mystery

Characters

M. Lavelin; Armand Duroc; Claire Lavelin; Genevieve Lavelin; Commissioner Lourvoir; Christine Dupez; Marie Lavelin

Synopsis

M. Lavelin's wife and daughter are murdered and the reader is challenged to discover the murderer's identity.

Reprints

• from Crime Does Not Pay (Lev Gleason, 1942 series) #64 (June 1948)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 47)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gravett ?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

You've done enough killer, smart guy! Now take it yourself!

Synopsis

An introduction to the story, "Mike Lancer and the Syndicate of Death."

Mike Lancer and the Syndicate of Death! (Table of Contents: 48)

Mike Lancer / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Mickey Spillane

Pencils

Harry Sahle (signed)

Inks

Harry Sahle (signed)

Letters

?

Genre

crime

Synopsis

Private eye Lancer solves the murders of a group of investors in a synthetic rubber operation.

Reprints

• from Green Hornet Comics (Harvey, 1942 series) #10 (December 1942) [[nn]]

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 49)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gravett ?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

How do I let myself get feeling like this? Why...better men than you have begged me to love them.

Synopsis

An introduction to the story, "Dark City."

Dark City (Table of Contents: 50)

Mike Hammer / comic story / 32 pages (report information)

Script

Mickey Spillane

Pencils

Eddie Robbins (signed)

Inks

Eddie Robbins (signed)

Letters

?

Genre

crime; detective-mystery

Characters

Mike Hammer; Velda

Reprints

• from Mike Hammer (Phoenix Features Syndicate) Sunday pages, 1954 ?.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 51)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gravett ?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

If you know who he is, he already owns you

Synopsis

Introduction to the story, "The Court."

The Court (Table of Contents: 52)

comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

Neil Gaiman

Pencils

Warren Pleece

Inks

Warren Pleece

Letters

typeset

Reprints

• from It's Dark in London (Serpent's Tail, 1996 series) (1996)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 53)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gravett ?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

You're a pal George! Hic...real pal! Got sumpin, hic, for me, George? Whassha got for me, George? Oh parm me... You... You're Harry

Synopsis

Introduction to the story, "The Sewer."

The Sewer (Table of Contents: 54)

comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

Johnny Craig

Pencils

Johnny Craig (signed)

Inks

Johnny Craig (signed)

Letters

Jim Wroten

Synopsis

A woman and her lover murder her husband and dump his body in the sewers. Later, the lover attempts to hide from the police in the sewers and encounters the corpse.

Reprints

• from Crime SuspenStories (EC, 1950 series) #5 (June-July 1951)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 55)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gravett ?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

I wonder if she lingers, dressed and her way to the next venue, gazing up into the calm, unknowing ink-blots of their eyes

Synopsis

An introduction to the story, "I Keep Coming Back."

I Keep Coming Back (Table of Contents: 56)

comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

Alan Moore

Pencils

Oscar Zárate

Inks

Oscar Zárate

Letters

?

Genre

horror-suspense

Synopsis

The spirit of Jack the Ripper is restless.

Reprints

• from It's Dark in London (Serpent's Tail, 1996 series) (1996)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 57)

blank page(s) / 2 pages (report information)

Synopsis

two blank pages, second of which the inside back cover

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 58) (Expand) /

promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)