Professional Comics and Organized Crime

**Ace Corona** · 03-27-2012, 10:06 AM

A long time ago I heard that the distributors of the big comic book companies were run by the mob. They controlled how the comics were shipped to the stores, this was back in the 1940's and supposedly continued into modern times. The mob charged much higher prices to deliver the comic books than a reputable distributor would've charged.

Does anyone know if this was this ever true? Is it still true?

**autowagon** · 03-27-2012, 11:10 AM

I've never heard that. I kind of doubt it because back then comic books were sold at candy stores. They were for children. The demand for comics was a few kids with nickles. I'm not saying it's impossible that that sort of thing could have happened, but it would have been some really small scale crime for "the mob"

**JPJ** · 03-27-2012, 12:17 PM

The only mob/comics industry story I'd heard of was when a couple of mob type guys were trying to push their paper company or something on Marvel at the front office and Jack Kirby ran them off with a cut off broomstick or bat or whatever. I don't know how reliable the story is. I think I read it in a Stan Lee interview or an issue of Wizard.

**weirdozhead** · 03-27-2012, 09:46 PM

I believe it was that way up until the 70s, the mob ran a lot of the newsstand distributors which is where you'd get most of your comics from back in the day.. then Marvel started doing business with Phil Seuling or whatever his name was and the rest is history

**Pepito** · 03-27-2012, 09:49 PM

yes it was the yancy street gang i believe.

**weirdozhead** · 03-27-2012, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by autowagon

I've never heard that. I kind of doubt it because back then comic books were sold at candy stores. They were for children. The demand for comics was a few kids with nickles. I'm not saying it's impossible that that sort of thing could have happened, but it would have been some really small scale crime for "the mob"

I think there was a time in maybe the 30s or 40s when comics were actually as big as they were in the 90s, selling millions of copies on some titles. I dunno if the mob was involved that far back though, I'm sure it's probable

**Smitty** · 03-28-2012, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by JPJ

The only mob/comics industry story I'd heard of was when a couple of mob type guys were trying to push their paper company or something on Marvel at the front office and Jack Kirby ran them off with a cut off broomstick or bat or whatever. I don't know how reliable the story is. I think I read it in a Stan Lee interview or an issue of Wizard.

Close. It was a towel service. Kirby had no bat, he just said leave now or deal with me. The goons, twice Kirby's size, ran and never came back. Then there was the time he was accosted by 3 strapping Aryans in full nazi regalia at the doors of Marvel. They took exception to Kirbys depiction of their beloved Fuehrer taking it on the chin from Captain America. Kirby said he was running late, let him drop off his work and he'd be right down and they could discuss it one at a time or all at once. Kirby returned in a matter of minutes, the nazis had fled.

Jack was the world's smallest teddy bear and it's biggest sweety... Unless you were a bully. Then Jack was the original Wolverine.

As to mobs in comics, I wouldn't be surprised. Back then, sell 300,000 a month and you were canceled for low sales.