Gang Busters was a highly popular radio series that ran from 1936 until 1957 that could perhaps be called the first “reality show” in that the stories were allegedly all based on real cases from the files of the FBI, local police departments and state trooper divisions.
Most remember for it’s loud opening which led to the coining of the phrase “come in like gangbusters.”
During it’s 21 years the series led to movies, a TV series, and of course, comic books.
Appearing in comics from Dell, DC and others the lack of a set star or cast but a roster of different law enforcement officers and teams let the writers and artists in the comics have a free hand with how they would handle the property, some had continuing squads and characters, others just ubiquitous “everyman" cops.
To say the least the comic book versions where not based on real cases, with DC producing some of the most fantastic stories off all.
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