Well, this sure is a misnomer. As this comic book repeatedly informs us, there is no thing as a perfect crime. Any kid in the early 50s who was looking for a blueprint for a criminal career would be very disappointed.
"All stories in THE PERFECT CRIME are based on fact -- but in consideration of innocent persons involved, the names of all characters used in this magazine are fictitious for obvious reasons. Any similarity to names of people living or dead is entirely coincidental."
Get that? These are FACT. Sorta like fake news stories on the internet are fact. Just another way to tell kiddos that there no such thing as a perfect crime, so you'd better stay on the straight and narrow.
To further emphasize this, there are banners running across the top of the pages in this issue:
THE NET OF JUSTICE TRAPS ALL WHO TRY TO VIOLATE THE LAW
THE SADDEST MEN IN THE WORLD ARE THOSE BEHIND PRISON BARS
A CRIMINAL'S FIRST MISTAKE IS ALWAYS HIS LAST ONE!
THERE IS NO PERFECT CRIME!
FEAR IS IN ALL CRIMINAL MINDS
POLICE PROVE NIGHT AND DAY CRIMINALS ARE ALWAYS WRONG
COWARDS LIVE A LIFE OF CRIME
THERE IS NO PERFECT CRIME!
GUNMEN EXCHANGE NAME FOR NUMBER
THE HARDENED CRIMINAL MELTS UNDER THE FIRE OF POLICE GUNS!
THERE IS NO PERFECT CRIME!
STOP CRIME AND SAVE LIVES!
THERE IS NO PERFECT CRIME!
CRIME IS A LONELY LIFE...
THERE IS NO PERFECT CRIME!
It may just be me, but I think there's a message there.
The cover illo, btw, has no relation to the stories here.
Anyway, what about the stories?
We begin with "When Killers Return," featuring Steve Duncan. ("Official Record Perfect Crime No. 10836; Completed March 11, 1952 by Fate!") Someone's willing to kill to gain access to a cabin owned by Steve's Friend.
Next up: "The Most Impossible Heist" ("Official Record Perfect Crime No. 10280; Completed September 28, 1951 in Prison" -- no exclamation point here for some reason) A gang steals an armored car (with a machine gun turret!) carrying over a million dollars but neglect to count on the police and the treacherous nature of one of their own gang.
Then there's "Old Pals...and Murder" ("Official Record Perfect Crime No. 10905; Completed April 3, 1952 by Death!") Two newly-released cons force an old acquaintance to allow them access to rob an estate. They are undone by dogs, but not before murder most vile.
That's followed by "Death at Lover's Leap" (Official Record Perfect Crime No. 10935; Completed April 10, 1952 by Fate!") We all know the bad guys should look before they leap.
Finally, there's "The Meter Thieves" ("Official Record Perfect Crime No. 10877; Completed March 25, 1952 in Prison!") Robbing parking meters can be a deadly business.
There's many other goodies in this issue in the advertisements, from Arthur Godfrey's biography to live baby turtles that can be sent to your house. Most interesting is the back cover advertisement for the "New Figure Mold French Waist" -- a "3-in-1" (no explanation of what three in what one) girdle.
The ad features what might actually be a photo of a nude woman's torso. Her somewhat distorted arm is covering a full view of her right breast. Her head is hand-drawn in a vary that gives her a very disturbing giraffe neck. She's wearing a hand-drawn girdle (no panties!) with straps to hold up her hose. A chilling effect, but for just $2.48 I might send for one.
Enjoy.
http://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=66688
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