Marvel Mystery Comics #15
Search for the Fire Monsters
Continued from last issue...
Culflam, a member of the Fire-Men, has appropriated a pair of Fire-Monsters to commit daring robberies that he hopes the Human Torch will be blamed for. After a successful robbery of the Cantena Bank, Culflam gets away and the authorities believe that the Torch is responsible. The Torch, working with Kalif of the Fire-Men investigates the robbery, and becomes suspicious of Culflam's involvement.
When the Torch is called in for questioning, his story about the Fire-Monsters is not believed until another robbery happens. Seeking Kalif's aid again, the Torch witnesses as Culflam kills him in cold blood. The Torch rushes after the crook but has to stop when he hears reports of one of the Flame-Monsters on a rampage. Going after the creature, the Torch manages to kill it by tossing it onto the third rail of a subway tunnel.
Catching up with Culflam and his gang, the Torch uses his flame powers to slay the next Fire-Monster. Confronting Culflam, the Torch's flame is doused with a fire retarding powder, however this is not enough to stop the Torch who easily defeats Culflam and turns him over to the authorities for his crimes.
Recurring Characters
Human Torch, Fire-Men (Kalif, Culfam)
Return to New York
Continued from last issue...
After destroying a Nazi sea base, the Sub-Mariner decides to return to the United States to search for Lynne Harris and Luther Robinson and force them to return to Atlantis with him. Disguising himself as a police officer, he tracks them down to their home in New York City. When the couple attempts to fight him off, he proves to be too strong and he beats them into submission.
Forcing them to accompany him back to Atlantis, they hitch a ride out to sea aboard a cruise ship until they are far enough away from the States for Namor to summon an Aero-Sub to collect them. Back in Atlantis, Luther is forced to undergo the same procedure as Lynne that will allow him to breath underwater. After the operation is completed, Luther and Lynne break free and attempt to flee Namor's home. The Sub-Mariner follows after them and fights Luther into submission. Accepting absolute defeat, Luther and Lynne agree to return with Namor back to his kingdom.
This story is continued next issue...
Recurring Characters
Sub-Mariner, Lady Dorma, Luther Robinson, Lynn Harris, Folma
Murder by Candle
Terry Vance accompanies his reporter friend Deadline Dawson to cover a human interest story on the state of the slums of New York. While looking around, Terry would come across the dead body of a starving writer. Learning that the last man to see the writer alive was someone who came by two days ago to give him food and candles, Terry decides to stake the place out.
That night, Terry witnesses a man breaking into the apartment and searching around. Getting ape to distract and follow the thief, Terry gets Deadline and the police and puts the man on a chase. Following the man back to the apartment, Terry gets the drop on him and disarms him of his gun. At gun point, Terry learns that the man is the writers son, who made poisonous candles to kill his father hoping to steal his story and sell it for a large sum of money. With a written confession made, Terry calls Deadline Dawson and the authorities.
Recurring Characters
Terry Vance, Doctor Watson, Deadline Dawson
The Seance of Rhamu Rondi
Harley Stone is seeking to frighten his Aunt Hannah who suffers from a weak heart and has a vast fortune. To this end, he offers to pay "master of the occult" Rhandu Rondi to help frighten the woman to death during a seance. Suspecting something fishy, Hannah's ward Linda Wayne tries to talk her out of going, but Hannah insists on going.
Later that night, Linda is visited by the Vision who tells her that he will protect Hannah from any harm. By this point, Harley has come to consider Linda an obstacle in his plans and would send thugs to eliminate her. The Vision would attempt to protect her, however he would be over powered and Linda would be captured. Following the crooks to Rondi's operation, the Vision would free Linda, and confront Rhondi distracting him until the police could arrive to arrest him, foiling his and Stone's plans.
Recurring Characters
Vision
The Brain of Professor Donaire
A series of bizarre deaths near Fiery Mountain would attract the attention of the Angel to investigate. He would be lured to a strange castle within the mountain by a hunch backed man named Karlo who would entice the Angel with answers to this strange mystery. When Karlo would attempt to bludgeon the Angel from behind, the hero would easily defeat his attacker. Searching the facility he would meet Karlo's employer: Professor Donaire.
Donaire would reveal that he had removed his own brain and kidnapped a number of strong, healthy young men, in the hopes of implanting his brain in a suitable body. Setting his slaves against the Angel, the hero would fight them and attempt to confront Donaire. Frightened, the mad scientist would toss a vial of bubbling chemicals at the hero, but the Angel would dodge it. The chemicals would cause a massive fire, and as the Angel would escape, the castle exploded killing Donaire.
Recurring Characters
Angel
The Green Terror
The mad Doctor Lorrof has attacked Titan City with his creation, a mass of green slime he has dubbed the Green Terror. Having been called to the area to help, Professor Philo Zog would send his robot Electro down into the city to try and find a way to stop the creature.
Noting that the creature seemed to be staying away from the local hospital, Zog would pilot the robot inside and learn that it had an aversion to Radium and that the hospital had a new experimental radium gun on the facility. Seeking to use the gun as a weapon against the Green Terror, Zog would find that Lorrof had beaten him to it. The weapon would have no effect on Electro and Lorrof would flee without it. Zog would then use the weapon to destroy the Green Terror.
Tracking Lorrof to his laboratory, Zog would attack the mad scientist with Electro, destroying his giant mutant grabs and preventing him from creating a new Green Terror. The insane doctor would then attempt to slay Electro with a stick of dynamite, but the resulting explosion would only succeed in destroying Lorrof's lab and claiming the mad scientists life, ending his threat once and for all.
Recurring Characters
Electro, Philo Zog
The Return to Africa
Continued from last issue..
Lost at sea, Ka-Zar and Zar are spotted and picked up by a Nazi U-Boat. The Germans on board then attempt to kill Zar but Ka-Zar gets in the way. Deciding not to shoot the lion, the captain of the ship decides to instead leave Ka-Zar and his "brother" on a life boat at sea to stare to death. As they are doing this, the U-Boat is attacked by a British destroyer and sunk. Ka-Zar and Zar are taken aboard the ship and the Captain agrees to have one of his pilots fly him back to his home in the Belgian Congo.
En route by air, Ka-Zar's plane would be attacked by Italian fighter planes, however the British pilot would be able to destroy them all without being shot down. However, turbulent weather causes the plane to crack up forcing them to abandon ship. With specially prepared parachutes for himself and Zar, Ka-Zar would manage to get them safely on the ground, finally getting them home after their adventures in America.
Recurring Characters
Ka-Zar, Zar, Nazis
