Marvel Mystery Comics #56
Berlin’s Master Spy!
The Human Torch and Toro decide to investigate a series of murders after the third dancer from Tangoland has been found dead in the street. Since it is a popular spot for Navy sailors go while on shore leave the pair go disguised as seamen. While there, the Torch is chatted up by one of the female dancers and he becomes suspicious when she begins asking him about the USS Taunton and signaling a man in the back of the room after he answers her questions. The pair soon leave and when they spot the dancer leaving the clu, the Torch and Toro flame on and follow after her. They trail her to the hideout of some Nazi spies and listen in as they discuss payment for the information she has. Unfortunately, before they can act, the spies shoot the woman dead and flee the scene while the two heroes are trying to find a better spot to listen in on the deal.
They then take this information directly to J. Edgar Hoover at FBI headquarters and they set up some decoys with the Taunton to give time for the Torch and Toro to root out the spies. To help them out, the FBI Also assign a female agent to work undercover as a dancer at Tangoland as well. The spies waste no time to approach the FBI agent and offer to pay her money for any information she may have gleaned from the sailors she danced with that evening. She agrees to sell them the information for ten grand. The Nazis agree but insist that she go with them to the location of the money. As they leave, the woman drops a note for the Torch and Toro with the address of the spies hideout.
When they arrive at the hideout of Von Lukehoff, the Torch and Toro fall through a trap floor and are trapped with the FBI agent. When they attempt to flame on a large vacuum sucks away their flames. In order to get free from this trap, the Torch takes the FBI agent’s jacket and uses it to plug the vacuum allowing them to flame on and escape. The Human Torch and Toro then fly out to sea where they defend the USS Taunton which is under siege by a fleet of Nazi submarines. With reinforcements coming, the Torch radios the US Navy for help and they help take down the rest of the Nazi subs.
Recurring Characters
Human Torch, Toro, J. Edgar Hoover
Hoggo’s Great Secret
An Imperial Japanese sub carrying an operative named Hoggo spots an American P.T. Boat patrolling the Pacific. When the sub misses with a torpedo, Hoggo orders the sub to surface and he two vessels exchange fire until the Japanese manage to sink the American boat. Witnessing this firefight is the Sub-Mariner who swims closer to the scene of the battle. Although it is too late to save the PT Boat, Namor leaps onto the submarine. Unfortunately, the hero is knocked out when they swing a cannon around and strike Namor on the back of the head. Hoggo then orders his men to take Namor below deck in one of their holding cells.
When Namor wakes up, he is weakened from his time away from water and is tormented by Hoggo who withholds water from his prisoner. Hoggo taunts Namor further by revealing that he and his men have cleared a path to Australia and that Japan is planning an invasion that will help them secure the island nation overnight. Hoggo’s cockiness gets the better of him as he ventures close enough to the cell for Namor to grab him and get ahold of the water. Splashing it on himself, the Sub-Mariner restores his strength. He then quickly overpowers the crew and sinks the sub, leaving all hands on board to drown.
Namor then rushes to a nearby American fleet and warns them of the approaching Japanese vessels and heads out to face them alone. Boarding each ship, Namor fights his way down into the engine rooms to set the fuel supplies on fire turning the Japanese battleships into flaming wrecks, ending their invasion plans.
Recurring Characters:
Sub-Mariner, Imperial Japan
Terry Vance the School Boy Sleuth
While working in his lab, Terry Vance is visited by his friend Deadline Dawson, who tells Terry that he just quit his job at the newspaper. Earlier that day a saboteur had blown up a bridge. When Dawson tried to get assigned to write the story he was denied. Going anyway, Dawson left fingerprints that were found by one of his co-workers. After the FBI wasted their time checking the forensic evidence only to learn that they belong to a novice reporter, Dawson was so embarrassed he quit. Still Terry thinks there is a way they can solve this mystery and help Deadline save face.
After leaving Doctor Watson behind, the pair go to a new chemical plant where they apply for jobs. There they become aware of a foreman who wears a crude hearing aid who seems to be sleep on the job. As the pair work at the plant they notice that the man who is apparently hard of hearing seems to appear moments before an accident happens. That’s when Doctor Watson arrives, having followed Terry against his orders. The ape then starts harassing the lazy worker, discovering that his electric headphone device and discovers that it is actually a secret weapon for sabotage. Alerting Terry and Deadline of this fact, the pair reveal the saboteur. With the authorities on the way the spy tries to escape in a fuel truck. However, an arriving police officer shoots the truck causing it to explode, killing the spy inside. With this exclusive scoop, Deadline Dawson and Terry Vance take it to the paper where Dawson gets his job back.
Recurring Characters:
Terry Vance, Doctor Watson, Deadline Dawson
The Mysterious Peddler of Doom
While out driving with her uncle Jim, Madeline Joyce hears a radio bulletin about three mysterious deaths with one thing in common: The deceased all had a roses. This prompts Madeline to ask her uncle to let her out so that she can purchase some flowers.
While in a nearby flower shop, Madeline spots an elderly lady purchasing a large number of flowers. Later, Madeline spots the old lady selling the roses to people for 25 cents each, half of what she had paid for them. Watching as the old woman sells flowers to people in a bank, Madeline takes attention to the fact that old woman follows and sells a flower to a customer who withdrew a large some of money out of the bank.
Deciding that this requires further Madeline changes into Miss America and follows after the man. She watches as the man begins to swerve around the road and suddenly crashes just outside the city. Spotting a car that has been following the man, Miss America witnesses as two men get out and begin to rob the passed out driver. Miss America swoops in to stop the men and turns them over to the police.
Rushing back to the flower shop, she forces owner to explain the operation. He takes her down into the basement where there is a criminal setup where a doctor prepares a knock out drug that is placed in the flowers that are handed out by the elderly lady, who then targets wealthy individuals to be robbed.
When Miss America smashes up their operation, she reveals that the "flower woman" is really a man in disguise and knocks them out and turn them all over to the authorities.
Recurring Characters
Miss America, James Bennett
The Patriot
Mary Morgan is upset that she has been assigned to cover a tame story about a local swami named Abdul Afti. Finding this amusing, her co-worker Jeff Mace drives Mary to a seance that the swami is putting on. Mary notices that the swami is particularly focused on a elderly woman who stays even after everyone has left. Finding this suspicious, Mary tries to go back inside and is abducted in the process.
Hours later when finished his own assignment, Jeff Mace calls in and learns that Mary hasn’t returned from hers. Fearing for her safety, Jeff changes into the Patriot and goes to investigate. At the swami’s home, the Patriot is attacked by an pair of armed men but easily overpowers them. Finding Mary in a boom closet he unties her and learns that the swami has somehow enthralled the wife of a high ranking admiral.
There, the Patriot clashes with Afti, who slows up the hero with his hypnotic abilities. However, the Patriot eventually overpowers the swami and leaves him for the authorities. Before the cops arrive, the Patriot slips away and returns as Jeff Mace to make sure that Mary is safe. Not only is Mary fine, but scolds Jeff for being so slow to get to the scene that he missed all the action.
Recurring Characters
Patriot, Mary Morgan
Continuity Notes
Mary Morgan acts as though she is unaware that Jeff Mace and the Patriot are the same person. This is contrary to the events of Captain America: Patriot #1 which reveal that Mary learns Jeff’s double-identity. This contradiction is primarily because that series was published about 7 decades after this story. One could assume that Mary is feigning ignorance in order to help Jeff maintain his double identity.
The Angel
After serving his time, Slip Logan is released from prison and is picked up by his minions, intending to start up his criminal operations once more. Soon, Slip’s men are robbing shipments. Later, when Slip visits Club Pompadour his presence is noticed by the Angel who recognizes the racketeer immediately. The hero is interested in knowing what the crook is up to and pays close attention when he approaches Mister Steel, a well respected politician. Logan offers Steel a good deal on a pair of new tires for his car and convinces the politician to join him.
Finding this suspicious, the Angel changes into his costume and follows after them. At a nearby warehouse, the Angel witnesses as the crooks photograph Mr. Steel buying stolen goods. After Steel leaves, the hero leaps in and tries to stop the crooks from leaving to develop the photo of their frame job. Unfortunately for the hero, one of Slip’s men sneaks up behind him and clubs him over the head. When he wakes up, the Angel finds himself tied up. That’s when Logan gets the developed ohoto and takes it to Mister Steel in order to blackmail him
While this is happening, the Angel convinces the guard left to watch him to have a cigarette. The Angel then knocks him out and then uses the lit cigarette to burn through his bonds. Freed, the Angel rushes to Mister Steels home and ambushes Logan and his men. With the crooks rounded up and the evidence destroyed, the Angel warns Steel to be careful who he deals with in the future before departing.
Recurring Characters
Angel
