Prison Break! (1951) #2 Wally Wood cover

Prison Break! (1951) #2 Wally Wood cover

During the Golden Age of comic books, which roughly spanned from the late 1930s to the early 1950s, the medium saw a rich exploration of various genres and themes, including crime and romance. Within these genres, sub-genres emerged and are sometimes designated as Classic Covers by CGC, industry-recognized as excellent examples of its kind. These encompassed a wide range, from “Classic ‘fish in face’ covers” and “injury to eye covers” to “Lingerie covers” and “Classic Flag covers.” One of the more peculiar sub-genres that emerged was the “women in prison” theme.

In fact, for a brief period, entire comic series were dedicated to this theme:

  • Crimes by Women (Fox) ran for 15 issues from 1948 to 1951.
  • Women Outlaws (Fox) had 8 issues between 1948 and 1949.
  • Prison Break! (Avon) published 5 issues from 1951 to 1952.

I’ve featured my copy of Colossal Features Magazine #3 from September 1950, with its Wally Wood cover.

The “women in prison” theme extended beyond comics into Hollywood, where films like “Girls on Probation” (1938), “Girls in Chains” (1943), “So Young So Bad” (1950), “Women’s Prison” (1955), and “Reform School Girl” (1957) further explored (or exploited) the concept. These films and comics of the 1940s and 1950s delved into various aspects of incarceration and life behind bars, often featuring female protagonists facing dramatic and sensationalized situations. These works typically blended elements of crime, drama, romance, and, in some cases, exploitation.

"A new whirl for Bugsie" Colossal Features Magazine #3 (1950)

“A new whirl for Bugsie” Colossal Features Magazine #3 (1950)

The portrayal of women in prison in these comics was often exaggerated and sensationalized to cater to the tastes of the time. While these themes can appear strange by today’s standards, viewed within the historical context of the medium’s evolution these comics reflect societal attitudes and interests during that era. Some of which included:

  1. Sensationalism and Exploitation: Comics of the Golden Age frequently employed sensationalism and exploitation to attract readers. Stories featuring women in prison allowed for the inclusion of titillating and scandalous elements, such as scantily clad women, violence, and intrigue, which helped sell comics.
  2. Popularity of Crime Stories: Crime comics were immensely popular during the Golden Age, and prison settings naturally fit within this genre. Writers and publishers were always seeking new angles and settings to explore in their crime stories, and women’s prisons provided a unique backdrop.
  3. Social Morality and Conformity: The Golden Age was marked by strict adherence to social norms and morality, and comics often reflected these values. Stories featuring women in prison could serve as cautionary tales, warning against the consequences of deviating from societal norms.
  4. Male Readership: The primary target audience for comics during the Golden Age was young boys, and publishers believed that stories involving women in prison would appeal to this demographic’s sense of adventure and curiosity about taboo subjects.
  5. Censorship and Regulation: The comic book industry faced increasing scrutiny and regulation during the 1950s, leading to the establishment of the Comics Code Authority in 1954. This code imposed strict guidelines on comic content, including depictions of crime, violence, and sexuality. Before these regulations were in place, comics publishers often pushed boundaries to attract readers, including using women in prison themes.  Subsequently, The Comics Code Authority (CCA) restrictions on comic book content led to a decline in the more explicit and sensational elements found in earlier crime, romance, and horror comics.

 

The list of all CGC “Classic Covers” shared from CGC boards

Action Comics #36 Fred Ray 1941-May Cover
Action Comics #52 Fred Ray 1942-Sep Cover
Action Comics #63 Jack Burnley 1943-Aug Cover
Action Comics #89 Wayne Boring 10/1/01945 Cover
Action Comics #108 Jack Burnley 1947-Mar Cover
Adventure Comics #67 Jack Burnley 1941-Oct Cover
Adventure Comics #79 Jack Kirby 1942-Oct Cover
Air Ace #V2#2 Unknown 1944-Mar Cover
Air Fighters #V2 #5 Fred Kida 1943-Dec Cover
Air Fighters Comics #V1#7 Al Camy 1943-Apr Cover
Air Fighters Comics #V2#1 Fred Kida 1943-Oct Cover
All Select Comics #1 Alex Schomburg 1943-Sep Cover
All Select Comics #2 Alex Schomburg 1943-Dec Cover
All Star Comics #33 Irwin Hasen 1947-Feb Cover
All Winners #4 Al Avison 1942-Mar Cover
All Winners #8 Alex Schomburg 1943-Apr Cover
All-American Comics #21 Sheldon Moldoff 1940-Dec Cover
All-American Comics #61 Paul Reinman 1944-Aug Cover
All-American Western #113 Alex Toth 1950-Apr Cover
Amazing Mystery Funnies #v2#5 Bill Everett 1939-May Cover
Amazing-Man Comics #22 Paul Gustavson 1941-May Cover
America’s Best Comics #10 Alex Schomburg 1944-Jul Cover
America’s Best Comics #18 Alex Schomburg 1946-Jun Cover
America’s Greatest Comics #1 Mac Raboy 1941-Oct Cover
American Air Forces #2 Unknown 1944-Jun Cover
Astonishing #30 Joe Maneely 1954-Feb Cover
Atomic Comics #1 Creig Flessel 1946-Jan Cover
Baffling Mysteries #20 Jim McLaughlin 1954-Apr Cover
Batman #3 Bob Kane 1940-Oct Cover
Batman #11 Fred Ray 1942-Apr Cover
Batman #17 Jerry Robinson 1943-Apr Cover
Batman #23 MR. Sprang 1944-Apr Cover
Batman #27 Jack Burnley 1945-Feb Cover
Batman #156 Sheldon Moldoff 1963-Jun Cover
Batman #227 Neal Adams 1970-Dec Cover
Batman #251 Neal Adams 1973-Sep Cover
Betty and Me #16 Dan DeCarlo 1968-Sep Cover
Beware the Creeper #1 Steve Ditko 1968-May Cover
Big Shot Comics #24 Unknown 1942-May Cover
Black Cat Mystery #45 Howard Nostrand 1953-Aug Cover
Black Cat Mystery #50 Lee Elias 1954-May Cover
Black Rider #20 Syd Shores 1954-Jan Cover
Blue Beetle #54 Unknown 1948-Mar Cover
Blue Bolt #108 L.B. Cole 1951-Feb Cover
Blue Bolt #V1#4 Bill Everett 1954-Sep Cover
Blue Bolt #V9#5 Jack Hearne 1948-Oct Cover
Blue Ribbon #15 Sam Cooper 1941-Aug Cover
Bobby Benson’s B-Bar-B Riders #14 MR. Ayers 1952-Jun Cover
Boy Comics #10 Charles Biro 1943-Jun Cover
Boy Comics #11 Charles Biro 1943-Aug Cover
Boy Commandos #1 Jack Kirby 1942-Nov Cover
Brenda Starr #V1#14 Jack Kamen 1938-Mar Cover
Camp Comics #2 Photo 1942-Mar Cover
Captain America #110 Jim Steranko 1969-Feb Cover
Captain America #111 Jim Steranko 1969-Mar Cover
Captain America #113 Jim Steranko 1969-May Cover
Captain America Comics #2 Joe Simon 1941-Feb Cover
Captain America Comics #3 Alex Schomburg 1941-Mar Cover
Captain America Comics #7 Jack Kirby 1941-Apr Cover
Captain America Comics #13 Al Avison 1942-Feb Cover
Captain America Comics #18 Al Avison 1942-Jul Cover
Captain America Comics #27 Alex Schomburg 1943-Apr Cover
Captain America Comics #36 Syd Shores 1944-Jan Cover
Captain America Comics #46 Alex Schomburg 1945-Feb Cover
Captain America’s Weird Tales #74 Marty Nodell 1949-Jul Cover
Captain Flight Comics #5 Unknown 1944-Dec Cover
Captain Flight Comics #11 L.B. Cole 1946-Dec Cover
Captain Marvel Adventures #4 C.C. Beck 1941-Sep Cover
Captain Marvel Jr. #1 Mac Raboy 1942-Oct Cover
Captain Marvel Jr. #4 Mac Raboy 1943-Jan Cover
Captain Marvel Jr. #9 Mac Raboy 1943-Jun Cover
Captain Marvel Jr. #13 Mac Raboy 1943-Oct Cover
Captain Midnight #3 Jack Binder 1941-Nov Cover
Cat-Man Comics #20 (V2#7) Charles Quinlan Sr. 1943-Oct Cover
Cat-Man Comics #3 (V1#8) Charles Quinlan Sr. 1941-Jul Cover
Choice Comics #3 Rudy Palais 1942-Apr Cover
Cow Puncher #2 Jack Kamen 1947-Sep Cover
Creepy #15 Frank Frazetta 9167-Jun Cover
Crime Does Not Pay #24 Charles Biro 1942-Nov Cover
Crime Does Not Pay #27 Charles Biro 1943-May Cover
Crime Does Not Pay #33 Charles Biro 1944-May Cover
Crimes By Women #6 Unknown 1949-Apr Cover
Criminals On The Run #7 L.B. Cole 1949-Jun Cover
Cyclone Comics #3 Worth Carnahan 1940-Aug Cover
Dagar Desert Hawk #14 Edmond Good 1948-Feb Cover
Daredevil Comics #11 Charles Biro 1948-Jun Cover
Deadly Hands Of Kung Fu #14 Neal Adams 1975-Jul Cover
Detective Comics #8 Creig Flessel 1937-Oct Cover
Detective Comics #31 Bob Kane 1939-Sep Cover
Detective Comics #33 Bob Kane 1939-Nov Cover
Detective Comics #35 Bob Kane 1940-Jan Cover
Detective Comics #69 Jerry Robinson 1942-Nov Cover
Detective Comics #371 Carmine Infantino 1968-Jan Cover
Doc Savage Comics #2 Unknown 1940-Oct Cover
Doc Savage Comics #5 Jack Binder 1941-Aug Cover
Don Winslow of the Navy #44 Unknown 1947-Apr Cover
Dynamic Comics #8 Gus Ricca 1944-Jun Cover
Fantastic Comics #3 Lou Fine 1940-Feb Cover
Fantastic Four #25 Jack Kirby 1964-Apr Cover
Fight Comics #31 Joe Doolin 1944-Apr Cover
Fighting Yank #6 Alex Schomburg 1943-Dec Cover
Fighting Yank #21 Alex Schomburg 1947-Aug Cover
Fighting Yank #23 Alex Schomburg 1948-Jan Cover
Flash Comics #8 Sheldon Moldoff 1940-Aug Cover
Flash Comics #10 Sheldon Moldoff 1940-Oct Cover
Flash Comics #21 Sheldon Moldoff 1941-Sep Cover
Flash Comics #31 Sheldon Moldoff 1942-Jul Cover
Flash Comics #33 Sheldon Moldoff 1942-Sep Cover
Forbidden Love #1 Photo 1950-Mar Cover
Forbidden Love #2 Photo 1950-May Cover
Four Favorites #10 Jim Mooney 1943-May Cover
Foxhole #1 Jack Kirby 1954-Oct Cover
Frisky Animals #45 L.B. Cole 1951-Apr Cover
Funny Pages #35 Paul Gustavson 1940-Mar Cover
G.I. Combat #87 Russ Heath 1961-Apr Cover
Great Comics #3 Reed Crandall 1942-Jan Cover
Green Hornet Comics #20 Alex Schomburg 1944-Sep Cover
Green Lantern #1 Howard Purcell 1941-Sep Cover
Green Lantern #3 Martin Nodell 1942-Mar Cover
Green Lantern #8 Howard Purcell 1943-Jun Cover
Green Lantern #16 Paul Reinman 1945-Jun Cover
Green Lantern #29 Irwin Hasen 1947-Dec Cover
Haunt of Fear #8 Al Feldstein 1951-Jul Cover
Haunt of Fear #11 Graham Ingels 1952-Jan Cover
Haunt of Fear #12 Graham Ingels 1952-Mar Cover
Haunt of Fear #14 Graham Ingels 1952-Jul Cover
Haunt of Fear #17 Graham Ingels 1953-Jan Cover
Headline Comics #8 Unknown 1944-Apr Cover
Heart Throbs #1 Bill Ward 1949-Aug Cover
Hit Comics #5 Lou Fine 1940-Nov Cover
Hit Comics #11 Lou Fine 1941-May Cover
Holiday Comics #2 L.B. Cole 1958-Jun Cover
House of Mystery #231 Bernie Wrightson 1975-May Cover
House of Secrets #92 Bernie Wrightson 1971-Jun Cover
House of Secrets #100 Bernie Wrightson 9172-Sep Cover
Howdy Doody #6 Unknown 1951-Jan Cover
Human Torch #12 Alex Schomburg 1943-Jul Cover
Human Torch #13 Alex Schomburg 1943-Oct Cover
Human Torch #23 Alex Schomburg 1946-Jun Cover
Incredible Hulk Annual #1 Jim Steranko 1968-Oct Cover
Incredible Science Fiction #33 Wally Wood 1956-Jan Cover
Iron Man #128 Bob Layton 1979-Nov Cover
Jet Powers #2 Bob Powell 1951-Apr Cover
Jo-Jo Congo King #17 Jack Kamen 1948-Jul Cover
Jo-Jo Congo King #25 Matt Baker 1949-Mar Cover
Journey Into Mystery #89 Jack Kirby 1963-Feb Cover
Jumbo Comics #10 Lou Fine 1939-Oct Cover
Jungle Comics #5 Will Eisner 1940-May Cover
Justice Traps the Guilty #56 Marvin Stein 1953-Nov Cover
Lars of Mars #10 Allen Anderson 1951-Apr Cover
Lars of Mars #11 Allen Anderson 1951-Jul Cover
Leading Comics #13 Louis Cazeneuve 1944-Nov Cover
Liberty Comics #12 Unknown 1947-Mar Cover
Living Bible #3 L.B. Cole 1946-Apr Cover
Lone Ranger #76 Hank Hartman 1954-Oct Cover
Mad #166 Norman Mingo 1974-Apr Cover
Magic Comics #19 Joe Musial 1941-Feb Cover
Marvel Mystery Comics #5 Alex Schomburg 1940-Mar Cover
Marvel Mystery Comics #9 Alex Schomburg 1940-Jul Cover
Marvel Mystery Comics #12 Jack Kirby 1940-Oct Cover
Marvel Mystery Comics #28 Alex Schomburg 1942-Feb Cover
Marvel Mystery Comics #29 Alex Schomburg 1942-Mar Cover
Marvel Mystery Comics #37 Syd Shores 1942-Nov Cover
Marvel Mystery Comics #40 Alex Schomburg 1943-Feb Cover
Marvel Mystery Comics #44 Alex Schomburg 1943-Jun Cover
Marvel Mystery Comics #46 Alex Schomburg 1943-Aug Cover
Marvel Mystery Comics #63 Alex Schomburg 1945-Apr Cover
Marvel Super Action #12 Jim Steranko 1979-Feb Cover
Marvel Super Action #13 Jim Steranko 1979-Apr Cover
Mask Comics #1 L.B. Cole 1945-Feb Cover
Mask Comics #2 L.B. Cole 1945-Apr Cover
Master Comics #32 Mac Raboy 1942-Nov Cover
Mickey Mouse Magazine #10 Unknown 1936-Jul Cover
Mickey Mouse Magazine #V4#7 Unknown 1939-Apr Cover
Military Comics #10 Eisner 1942-Jun Cover
Mister Mystery #12 Bernard Baily 1953-Jul Cover
More Fun Comics #54 Bernard Baily 1940-Apr Cover
More Fun Comics #56 Howard Sherman 1940-Jun Cover
More Fun Comics #61 Howard Sherman 1940-Nov Cover
More Fun Comics #65 Bernard Baily 1941-Mar Cover
More Fun Comics #71 Howard Sherman 1941-Sep Cover
Murder Incorporated #4 Unknown 1948-Jul Cover
Mysterious Adventures #13 MR. Beck 1953-Apr Cover
Mystery Men Comics #3 Lou Fine 1939-Oct Cover
Mystic Comics #7 Jack Kirby 1941-Dec Cover
National Comics #7 Lou Fine 1941-Jan Cover
National Comics #21 Lou Fine 1942-Mar Cover
Nick Fury Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #5 Jim Steranko 1968-Oct Cover
Our Army at War #112 Joe Kubert 1961-Nov Cover
Peter Panda #5 Rube Grossman 1954-Apr Cover
Phantom #74 Don Newton 1977-Jan Cover
Phantom Lady #17 Matt Baker 1948-Apr Cover
Phantom Lady #23 Jack Kamen 1949-Apr Cover
Power Comics #3 L.B. Cole 1945-Aug Cover
Prize Comics #4 Unknown 1940-Jun Cover
Punch Comics #12 Gus Ricca 1945-Jan Cover
Punch Comics #19 Paul Gattuso 1946-Oct Cover
Racket Squad In Action #12 Steve Ditko 1954-Aug Cover
Rangers Comics #26 Joe Doolin 1945-Dec Cover
Red Dragon Comics #6 Unknown 1943-Mar Cover
Red Dragon Comics #7 Unknown 1943-Jul Cover
Roly Poly Comics #14 Reinman 1946-May Cover
Romantic Adventures #50 Ogden Whitney 1954-Oct Cover
Science Comics #2 Lou Fine 1940-Mar Cover
Science Comics #3 Lou Fine 1940-Apr Cover
Scoop Comics #2 Charles Sultan 1942-Jan Cover
Seven Seas Comics #4 Matt Baker 1947-Jun Cover
Shadow Comics #V2#11 Al Bare 1943-Feb Cover
Shadow Comics #V3#6 Vernon Greene 1943-Sep Cover
Shock Suspenstories #1 Al Feldstein 1952-Feb Cover
Shock Suspenstories #6 Wally Wood 1952-Dec Cover
Shock Suspenstories #7 Al Feldstein 1953-Feb Cover
Shock Suspenstories #12 Al Feldstein 1953-Dec Cover
Silver Streak Comics #6 Jack Cole 1940-Sep Cover
Slam Bang Comics #3 Gus Ricca 1940-May Cover
Slave Girl Comics #1 Howard Larsen 1949-Feb Cover
Smash Comics #38 Ruben Moreira 1942-Dec Cover
Space Adventures #12 Steve Ditko 1954-Aug Cover
Spirit #22 Will Eisner 1950-Aug Cover
Star Comics #V1#3 MR. Ryan 1937-May Cover
Startling Comics #46 Graham Ingels 1947-Jul Cover
Startling Comics #49 Alex Schomburg 1948-Jan Cover
Strange Tales #167 Jim Steranko 1968-Apr Cover
Strange Worlds #4 Wally Wood 1951-Sep Cover
Strange Worlds #5 Wally Wood 1951-Nov Cover
Sub-Mariner Comics #11 Alex Schomburg 1943-Oct Cover
Superman #14 Fred Ray 1942-Jan Cover
Superman #23 Jack Burnley 1943-Jul Cover
Superman #24 Jack Burnley 1943-Sep Cover
Superman #26 Wayne Boring 1944-Jan Cover
Superman #53 Wayne Boring 1948-Jul Cover
Superman #146 Curt Swan 1961-Jul Cover
Superman #233 Neal Adams 1971-Jan Cover
Super-Mystery Comics #4 Henry Lucey 1940-Nov Cover
Supersnipe Comics #V2#2 George Marcoux 1944-Apr Cover
Suspense Comics #3 Alex Schomburg 1944-Apr Cover
Suspense Comics #8 L.B. Cole 1945-Jun Cover
Suspense Comics #11 L.B. Cole 1946-Jun Cover
Tales of Suspense #58 Jack Kirby 1964-Oct Cover
Tales of Suspense #59 Jack Kirby 1964-Nov Cover
Tales of Suspense #80 Jack Kirby 1966-Aug Cover
Tales to Astonish #59 Jack Kirby 1964-Sep Cover
Target Comics #V1#8 Jack Warren 1940-Sep Cover
Target Comics #V2#10 Sid Greene 1941-Dec Cover
Target Comics #V4#5 Al Plastino 1943-Jul Cover
Target Comics #V9#12 L.B. Cole 1949-Feb Cover
Terrific Comics #4 Rudy Palais 1944-Jul Cover
Terrific Comics #5 Alex Schomburg 1944-Sep Cover
Terrific #14 Don Heck 1954-Dec Cover
Terrifying Tales #13 L.B. Cole 1953-Jun Cover
Thrilling Comics #7 Alex Schomburg 1940-Aug Cover
Thrilling Comics #41 Alex Schomburg 1944-Apr Cover
Thrilling Comics #52 Alex Schomburg 1945-Dec Cover
Thrilling Crime Cases #49 L.B. Cole 1952-Jul Cover
Tomb of Terror #15 Lee Elias 1954-May Cover
Top-Notch Comics #5 Edd Ashe 1940-May Cover
True Crime Comics #3 Jack Cole 1948-Jul Cover
United States Marines #2 Creig Flessel 1944-Jun Cover
USA Comics #7 Alex Schomburg 1943-Feb Cover
USA Comics #9 Al Avison 1943-Jul Cover
Vault of Horror #17 Johnny Craig 1951-Feb Cover
Weird Fantasy #15 Al Feldstein 1952-Sep Cover
Weird Mysteries #4 Bernard Baily 1953-Apr Cover
Weird Mysteries #5 Bernard Baily 1953-Jun Cover
Weird Science #12 (#1) Al Feldstein 1950-May Cover
Weird Science-Fantasy #29 Frank Frazetta 1955-May Cover
Weird Tales of the Future #7 Bernard Baily 1953-May Cover
Weird Thrillers #3 Allen Anderson 1952-Jan Cover
Werewolf By Night #15 Mike Ploog 1974-Mar Cover
Wings Comics #89 Bob Lubbers 1948-Jan Cover
Wings Comics #91 Bob Lubbers 1948-Mar Cover
Wings Comics #94 Bob Lubbers 1948-Jun Cover
Witchcraft #5 Kelly Freas 1953-Dec Cover
Witching Hour #13 Neal Adams 1971-Feb Cover
Wonder Comics #15 Alex Schomburg 1947-Dec Cover
Wonder Woman #10 Harry Peter 1944-Aug Cover
Wonder Woman #179 Mike Sekowsky 1968-Nov Cover
Wonder Woman #199 Jeff Jones 1972-Mar Cover
Wonderworld Comics #7 Lou Fine 1939-Nov Cover
Wonderworld Comics #8 Lou Fine 1939-Dec Cover
Worlds of Fear #10 Norman Saunders 1953-Jun Cover
Yellowjacket Comics #7 Ken Battlefield 1946-Jan Cover
Young Allies #4 Al Gavriele 1942-Jun Cover
Young Allies #8 Alex Schomburg 1943-Jul Cover
Zip Comics #9 Charles Biro 1940-Nov Cover
Zip Comics #15 Charles Biro 1941-Jun Cover
Zip Comics #22 Irv Novick 1942-Jan Cover
Zip Comics #32 Bob Montana 1942-Dec Cover
Zoo Funnies #2 Ellis Chambers 1945-Dec Cover