Young Allies Comics #17
Phantom of Amajo Suki
For their assistance in the war effort, the Young Allies are invited to a Pacific island recently secured by Allied forces. When Jeff learns that they are near the island of Amajo Suki he is interested in visiting the island because he had recently read a book that said that Amajo Suki was home to a race of Japanese that have white skin. (Yeah you read that right, this story plays off the racist notion that Japanese people have “yellow” skin. Buckle in this is one of the most jaw droppingly awful Young Allies stories that it makes Whitewash Jones seem tolerant by comparison.)
Going to shore to look for a boat, they happen upon some Japanese soldiers that are planning to retake the island. The Young Allies try to rush these invaders and are joined by what they think are American troops when suddenly these soldiers start attacking them instead of the Japanese. The Japanese then flee on a boat to Amajo Suki. Recovering from the attack, the Young Allies realize that the “Americans” that helped the Japanese escape were actually residents of Amajo Suki who have disguised themselves as American soldiers. They then decide to go to the island to stop the Japanese before they can use their spies to infiltrate military ranks.
Meanwhile, at a castle on the island, Captain Hoissu gloats over his plans to have the Amajo Suki infiltrate the Americans. He then shoots the man who tipped him off to this in order to keep this a secret. When the Young Allies arrive at the castle, they split up to search. While Bucky, Knuckles and Tubby are fighting the Japanese soldiers, Toro, Whitewash and Jeff happen upon a library. There, Jeff finds a book about the Amajo Suki and decides to stay behind to read it for clues about the people while Whitewash and Toro go help the others. Although Toro begins tipping the battle in the Young Allies favor, Captain Hoissu blows out Toro’s flame with compressed air and traps him in an airtight cylinder and ties up the others. He then leaves with the Amajo Suki to carry out his plan.
With the air in his prison running out, Toro takes a gamble and uses his flame to burn himself free and saves the others. Jeff has finished reading the book by this point and tells them that he knows how to tell the Amajo Suki apart from normal Americans. They then fight their way back to the American occupied island where they are greeted by what appears to be American soldiers. However, Jeff easily tells that they are Amajo Suki and knocks them out. He explains that, due to a hereditary trait, all Amajo Suki have the same distinct birthmark on their chin. They then manage to find Captain Hoissu and the rest of his men unloading explosives to use to sabotage the American base. Toro quickly uses his flames to detonate the explosives killing Hoissu and his men. With the immediate threat over, the Young Allies take their intel to the commanding officer who will use it to root out any of the Amajo Suki who may have already infiltrated their ranks.
Recurring Characters
Young Allies (Bucky, Toro, Knuckles O’Toole, Jeff Vandergill, Tubby Tinkle, Whitewash Jones), Imperial Japan
Battalion of Death
Bored in class, Tommy Tyme begins daydreaming about fishing and is caught by his teacher. She then asks him which nations were involved in fending off a German invasion prior to World War I. Tommy is stumped so the teacher orders him to read about the Seven Years War and tell the class about it the next day. At the library, Tommy is inundated with books that he has to read on the subject. Finding the task too daunting, he decides to use his Clock of the Ages to travel back in time to the year 1760 to see the final battle for himself.
In the middle of the battle between Russian and Prussian soldiers, Tommy Tyme comes to the aid of a man whose horse is shot. This turns out to be the legendary Russian soldier Soltykov. Helping Soltykov get to safety, Tommy soon learns that his armies are uniting with armies from France, Sweden, and Austria to attack Germany from all points of the compass allowing the Russians to invade Berlin. Tommy joins the Russian war party and is witnesses as Soltkov and his men succeed. Having learned what he needed to know, Tommy Tyme returns to his own era where he is able to tell the class all about the Seven Years War the next day.
Recurring Characters
Tommy Tyme
Massacre of the Mannikins
The Young Allies has decided to take Whitewash Jones to the store so they can buy him a brand new suit. Despite his protests, Whitewash is forced inside and is assured it won’t take long since the store will be closing soon. While Jones is trying on different outfits he becomes frightened when one of the mannequins on displays sneezes. Thinking the store is haunted, Whitewash tells his friends about what he saw but none of them believe him. When Jones still won’t let it go, Bucky decides to prove it by poking one of the mannequins with a knife. When the dummy doesn’t finch, he goes back to the others and — surprisingly — tells them that the mannequins are alive and that they should hideout until the store closes to see what’s going on.
Sure enough, the “mannequins” are actually crooks in disguise who hide in plain sight in order to rob stores after they have closed for the evening. When the make their move, the Young Allies come out of hiding and go after the thieves. Eventually, the Young Allies chase the crooks into the sporting goods department where they are wrapped up in a tennis net. With the battle over, Whitewash Jones notices that his only suit is now in tatters and wonders what he is going to do now. In response, the Young Allies force Whitewash to walk home wearing a barrel around his body. (Seriously? What fucking assholes.)
Recurring Characters
Young Allies (Bucky, Toro, Knuckles O’Toole, Jeff Vandergill, Tubby Tinkle, Whitewash Jones)
