ZANZIBAR smashes the opium ring!

Zanzibar the Magician appeared in every issue of MYSTERY MEN COMICS (#1-31, Aug 1939-Feb 1942). He also dropped by for appearances in GREEN MASK #2 (Fall 1940), REX DEXTER OF MARS #1 (Fall 1940), BLUE BEETLE #5 (Jan/Feb 1941) and THE FLAME #5-6 (Jun-Aug 1941).

Zanzibar was a magician. Not much different from Zatara, Zambini, Yardi, Marvo, etc...

4 pages. Beginning, middle, end. How many issues do you think this story would run if it were being written today? :-P

from
MYSTERY MEN COMICS #3 (October 1939)
story by ?; art by George Tuska
from Golden Age Comics Downloads

YANK and DOODLE vs the sinister Limping Man!

Yank and Doodle appeared in PRIZE COMICS #13-68 (Aug 1941-Feb/Mar 1948).

Twins Rick and Dick Walters weren't old enough to join the Army, so they decided to become superheroes. Apparently, they also had super-strength and invulnerability when they were near each other, but that doesn't seem to play much in this story.

I'm not sure which was which. Wikipedia says Rick was Yank and Dick was Doodle. International Hero says it was the other way around. Toonopedia and Public Domain Super Heroes don't even bother.

from
PRIZE COMICS #30 (April 1943)
story by ?; art by Maurice Gutwirth
cover by either Jack Binder or Dick Briefer

X of the UNDERGROUND!

Okay, so X isn't really a super-type hero, but you try finding a golden-age hero with an "x" in their name, let alone one that starts with an "x"!

X of the Underground traipsed around MILITARY COMICS #8-13 (Mar-Nov 1942). X was a resistance fighter opposing the Axis powers in Paris during World War II.

from
MILITARY COMICS #11 (August 1942)
story by ?; art by Lee Ames
from Golden Age Comics Downloads

The WOMAN IN RED: Restless at Resthaven!

The Woman in Red made 31 appearances in THRILLING COMICS, from her first appearance in #2 (Mar 1940) through #46 (Feb 1945). She also appeared in AMERICA'S BEST COMICS #1-2 (Feb-Sept 1942). Depending on what your criteria is for being a superhero, Woman in Red was arguably the first female superhero. Fantomah beat her by a month, but was not quite of the superhero mold.

Peggy Allen was a police officer who, like many others (including Dan Garret), used a mask and costume to battle crimes in ways that were a little outside the law.

Woman in Red was succeeded in 1946 by Miss Masque as Nedor/Better/Standard's token non-powered masked heroine.

Read more about The Woman in Red at Toonopedia.

from
THRILLING COMICS #20 (September 1941)
story by Richard Hughes?; art by George Mandel







That last line just cries out for a closing laugh track!

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!

VULCAN: Oil wells that ends well!

VULCAN appeared in SUPER-MYSTERY COMICS v1 #1-v3 #2 (July 1940-July 1942) and FOUR FAVORITES #1-3 (Sept 1941-Jan 1942).

Vulcan was a descendant of the Roman god of fire, also known as Vulcan. He lived in a volcano. He had a fiery aura and could shoot flame, control flame and ... talk to and punch flame, apparently.

The writer, artist and colorist of this tale are all playing in different ball fields, and the writer does some -- just plain weird stuff...

from
SUPER-MYSTERY COMICS v2 #4 (October 1941)
story by ?; art by Maurice Gutwirth


As hard as I try, I just can't seem to find the black car...
And is it just me, or is the oil well firing flames back at the car in panel 4?


"Red glow"? I don't need "supersensitive eyes" to see that blaze!


He converses with the flames (and they apparently converse back), which indicates some sort of sentience. So isn't regulating them to lakes and outer space a kind of murder?
Although, since the flames seem to miraculously survive the vacuum of space, maybe not so much. By the way, can you say: "non sequitur"? I knew you could.


"Rather tricky work, with all this oil around..." Remember that line.


"...the fire must've been accidental." Then in the next panel "So you're the arsonists!" Was he out looking for the people who accidently set the fire?
"Look, the bullets melt!" I'm looking, but I'm not seeing.


"This door is locked, so I'll have to use my own methods...since I obviously haven't done so already!"


"Hey! Let's use fire to disable incendiary bombs!!"


Why did the plane explode again? I assume that Vulcan may have had something to do with it, but it isn't really all too clear what. And it seems to happen awfully close to the oil wells he's trying to protect!



Okay, remember when he was having trouble working with his flame around all that oil near the beginning of the story? Apparently firing up your flaming aura when shoulder-deep in oil: not so much of a problem...

U.S. JONES vs the White Killer!

U.S JONES appeared in WONDERWORLD COMICS #28-33 (Aug 1941-Jan 1942) and U.S. JONES #1-2 (Nov 1941-Jan 1942).

Jones (who appears to have never been addressed by a first name in his civilian identity) had no super powers. He just wore a patriotic costume and fought for justice. He eventually became an agent for the Secret Service.

from
WONDERWORLD COMICS #33 (January 1942)
story by Bob Farrow; art & cover by Louis Cazeneuve