MURDER, MORPHINE AND ME

We'll linger a little while longer on the narrow line between crime and horror with one of the most notorious pre-Code comic stories ever printed.

"Murder, Morphine and Me", written (probably) and drawn by L.B. Cole appeared in TRUE CRIME COMICS Vol. 1 No. 2, published by the obscure Magazine Village Inc. and it seems to be the only comic title they published. I'm wondering if it's possible it was produced by Cole and then dropped when he went elsewhere to work.

The cover date of May 1947 has come into question and was later determined to be actually published on March 3rd in 1948, making the true cover date May 1948.

What distinguishes this story is its overt brutality, violence and drug theme, hitting all the right buttons for Dr. Fredric Wertham to call it out in "Seduction of the Innocent". It is also infamous for its frightening "injury to the eye" panel which he included in the book. While multiple injury to eye panels appeared during this era, this one has been most often used as a prime example.

Now, let's read Mary Kennedy's confession . . .