Human Torch

Continued from last issue....

Still hunted by the police, the Human Torch scours the city searching for clues that will help him capture the racketeer boss known only as J.B. Seeing one of his fellow officers on patrol in an asbestos suit, the Torch subdues him and forces him to give over the suit so that he can wear it as a disguise and swears him to silence. Returning to the police station, the Torch reveals himself to the commissioner and demands to know who J.B. is. The Commissioner explains that while they know that J.B. is the leader of the rackets, they don't know the criminal's true identity and say that if the Torch can capture J.B. they can clear his name and reinstate him as a police officer.

Unknown to the Torch the Commissioners dictaphone had been bugged by Cinalli, a criminal lawyer who is working for J.B. After escaping police capture, the Torch is spotted by Cinalli who attempts to rouse the police to capture him. The Torch trips Cinalli up and searches his pockets finding a coded note and the key to translate it learning that J.B.'s men intend on robbing the Krantz Metalworks on the waterfront. Before speeding off to the waterfront, the Torch informs the commissioner on the plotted crime.

There, the Torch knocks out the men responsible and spots their leader on a nearby boat. It turns out to be Jane Bradley, daughter of crooked politician Nick Bradley. The Torch chases them into the harbor where they attempt to escape by diving into the water. However a police boat arrives and arrests them. When the Torch explains to the commissioner that Jane is really J.B., the commissioner already knows, explaining to the Torch that Cinalli told them everything in interrogation. He is also proud to inform the Torch that he has been reinstated as a police officer.

Recurring Characters

Human Torch

Sub-Mariner

Continued from last issue...

After allowing Luther Robinson and Lynne Harris escape, the Sub-Mariner learns that his mother Princess Fen intended for Namor to marry Lynne. Convinced that this is her wishes, the Sub-Mariner agrees to go out and recapture her when they learn that their plane had crashed near Atlantean outpost #203. Taking some Amphibian vessels, Namor leads an army to the crash site to find it deserted. Spotting a Nazi U-Boat not far away, they realize that the humans had been rescued at sea.

Namor and his army attack the U-Boat, forcing their way inside and fighting off the Nazis until Namor nabs Lynne and leaves, telling the captain that he has no interest in their conflicts on the surface. However, when back aboard his Amphibian craft, Namor spots a British Destroyer off in the distance and decides to stay and enjoy the battle. His mood changes when the British ship fires upon him, making him order his men to sink both ships, which is done successfully. As they leave, Lynne demands to know what Namor wants from her, and the Sub-Mariner tells her -- to her horror -- that she is to be his bride. When she wonders how she will survive the cold climate, Namor tells her that she will undergo a process that will allow her to breath under water and withstand the cold water.

Back at Atlantis Lynne is left in the care of Fen and Dorma until the surgery can take place. Just as the process is finishing, Luther (having survived and was rescued by a British lifeboat) bursts into the room and grabs Lynne and escapes before Namor can stop him.

Recurring Characters

Sub-Mariner, Princess Fen, Folma, Lynn Harris, Luther Robinson, Lady Dorma, Nazis

Continuity Notes

• The Atlanteans in this story refer to their leader as the “Holy One”. They are referring to Emperor Thakorr the ruler of Atlantis. In the 40s and 50s he was only identified as the “Holy One” or the “Emperor”. He was not officially named Thakorr until until Sub-Mariner #1.

The Angel

Following Shirley Smith into an enchanted marsh, the Angel is suddenly down, falling into quicksand. He is saved, however, by a hulking creature that works for a mysterious woman who has murdered the owners of Piedmont mansion. She has demanded that Shirley sign over ownership of Piedmont over to her, or she will release a swarm of hungry vultures.

The Angel, left shackled in the room filled with the woman’s previous victims manages to break free. After beating the hulking creature he attempts to stop the woman but he is too late to stop her from unleashing the vultures. Fighting off the vultures and saving Shirley, the Angel chases the hag woman, who not wanting to be taken alive jumps into the nearby quicksand and drowns herself.

Recurring Characters

Angel

Terry Vance

When a heavy storm forces Deadline Dawson, Terry Vance and Dr. Watson to seek shelter they arrive at a mansion where they spot a prowler in back, sending him fleeing. Invited in (all except Watson who is ordered to stay outside) they learn that the mansion is owned by a wealthy business man who is hosting a party. They are told to wait in the kitchen until the storm lets up, and they are alerted by Watson when the ape found the dead body of the gardener.

The police are called in and when the coroner arrives, he determines that the man must have died of a heart attack. However, Terry had been searching for clues and points out that Gregory, the businessman's secretary was responsible for murdering the gardener. Having been found out, Gregory pulls out his specially made gun that fires bullets made of ice and attempts to shoot Terry, but Dr. Watson knocks him out with a lamp. After Gregory is apprehended, Terry reveals to everyone gathered that Gregory had rigged a microphone to his employers wall safe so that he could learn the combination and steal the valuables inside.

Recurring Characters

Terry Vance, Doctor Watson, Deadline Dawson

Electro

The Shark, a pirate that has gained a notorious reputation demands that the United States pay him a tribute in order to prevent future thefts at sea. Hard pressed to deal with the problem, the President of the United States asks Professor Zog for assistance. Zog agrees to help, and they send Electro out to sea disguised as the tribute.

When a sub full of the Shark's men come to collect the "tribute", Zog reveals Electro and attacks the sub. When it attempts to escape, Electro rides it down to the bottom of the ocean where the Shark has set up his under water base. There, none of the Shark's defenses are powerful enough to stop Electro, and the robot floods the base, drowning the Shark and his men. Afterward, the President commends Professor Zog by awarding him a medal.

Recurring Characters

Electro, Philo Zog, President Franklin Roosevelt

Masked Raider

Near the Rio Grande, the Masked Raider overhears a gangs plot to overthrow the authorities in Texas and annex the State. Learning that they have not met their master planner, Gidden, the Raider tracks down Gidden and captures him, sending him off to the nearby military camp on Lightning while he disguises himself.

The Raider, posing as Gidden, uses Giddens maps to convince the crooks of his "identity" and leads them to the Rio Grand military outpost. There, under the instructions of the Masked Raider, the military allows the gang to steal what they think is gun powder. As they ride back to base, the Raider pokes a hole in one of the barrels to leaving a trail for the soldiers to follow.

Later when the Raider is revealed as an impostor, he is tied to a barrel of the faux gun powder and it is lit to explode. However, when the military arrives, the gang realizes that he gunpowder is fake and the Raider explains that it is really fertilizer. The gang is soon rounded up and taken into custody.

Recurring Characters

Masked Raider, Lightning

Continuity Notes

• This is the last golden age appearance of the Masked Raider and his horse Lightning. The fate of Lightning can be found in Marvel Westerns Outlaw Files #1. The Masked Rider himself, per Marvel Comics #1000, passed on his mask to Matthew Masters, the Black Rider before his death.

Adventures of Ka-Zar the Great

Continued from last issue...

Ka-Zar has sneaked aboard a vessel taking Zar to America to be put in a zoo. He lets Zar know that he is aboard the ship by letting out a lion call, making the crew believe that Zar has escaped. Finding Zar's pen, Ka-Zar attacks a man tormenting his "brother" and then tells Zar that he will try and free him.

Ka-Zar begins lurking around the ship but is eventually caught by Bradley who holds him at gun point and has the jungle man shackled, believing that Ka-Zar can earn him a fortune on display. When the ship arrives in America, Ka-Zar breaks free from his bonds and also frees Zar. The two jump ship and try to swim to shore. When a boat full of Bradley's men tries to stop him, he capsizes the boat.

Swimming to shore, he fights off a police officer and flees into the city. Hearing the cries of zoo animals, Ka-Zar rushes to the zoo and tries to free the animals, however he surrenders when a police officer arrives out of fear Zar will be shot.

Hearing the radio reports about Ka-Zar being loose in the city, Ruth Wilson remembers how Ka-Zar once saved her a year ago and rushes off to his aid.

This story is continued next issue....

Recurring Characters

Ka-Zar, Zar, Ruth Wilson