Mr. Monster's True Crime #2

There's a pretty well known copy of the pre-code version of True Crime Comics. Illustrated by Jack Cole, the image has a young lady with a gun ducking behind a gangster who is shot by a policeman. The hail of bullets spells out the word 'RAT' on the criminal's chest. While this issue doesn't feature that iconic art work, the story that image is based on is in this book!

Mr. Monster's True Crime #2 completes Michael T. Gilbert's tribute to Jack Cole's work on the late 1940s crime comic originally published by Magazine Village. A part of the Mr. Monster Super-Duper series of tributes to comics published before 1955 and the establishment of the comics code, this is the last issue featuring to the more grown-up crime works of the Plastic Man creator. 

Though all 3 of the stories contained in this issue claim to be based on true stories of deceit and murder, there's more sensationalism that facts behind the scenes. The opening story is the one I mentioned earlier in this review. It tells of one Bennie Dickson and how he turned to a life of crime, wooing a 17-year old girl into his sordid world of bank robbery and murder. 

We then head to the Great White North where a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is murdered by a bootlegger and in retaliation, his brethren prove that the Mounties always get their man!

Finally, readers are introduced to the man whose addled visage does grace the cover of this issue. James Kent is an escaped convict whom the publishers promised a reward of $100 for his apprehension. The story features narration that over exaggerates the criminal's paranoia at looking over his shoulder at every turn in a manner similar to what EC Comics will soon be issuing in its crime books. I understand why Gilbert used the cover image he did for this issue. I just don't understand why he didn't include the opening story in Mr. Monster's True Crime #1 since that issue used the RAT image!

If you're looking for Michael T. Gilbert's most popular character, Mr. Monster, you'll only see him on the opening page. Otherwise, this might be a Mr. Monster special, but it's really all about Jack Cole. 

Be sure not to miss the informative article by noted crime author Max Allan Collins who gives a fantastic account of Cole's limited run on the original True Crime series of which this two-part special is based on.

A lot of excitement and a must for fans of post World War II comics that are unable to afford the originals. But for me, I really wish that there was more Mr. Monster to be had!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.