Appearing in "The Search For J. B."
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- NYPD
- Unnamed Police Officer
- Police Chief John C. Wilson (Unnamed)
- Ryan
- Numerous unnamed police officers
Antagonists:
- J.B.'s Racket Organization
- Cinalli (First appearance)
- J.B. (Jane Bradley) (First full appearance)
- Slim
- Numerous unnamed members
Other Characters:
- Sub-Mariner (Namor) (Mentioned)
- Nick Bradley (Mentioned)
Races and Species:
- Synthezoids
- Humans
- Rats (Mentioned)
- Dogs (Mentioned)
Locations:
- Earth-616
- Earth
- United States of America
- New York
- New York City
- Manhattan
- Krantz Metal Company (First appearance)
- Manhattan
- New York City
- New York
- United States of America
- Earth
Synopsis for "The Search For J. B."
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 water front. 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 near by 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.
Appearing in "Three-Sided War"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Empire of Atlantis (Unnamed)
- Princess Fen
- Atlantean Army
- Two unnamed guards
- Atlantean Navy
- Lt. Folma (First appearance)
- Numerous unnamed pilots
- Dorma
- Numerous unnamed doctors
Antagonists:
- Nazis
- Kriegsmarine
- Unnamed Commander
- Numerous unnamed sailors
- Kriegsmarine
- Lynne Harris
- Luther Robinson
- Royal Navy
- Carter
- Numerous unnamed sailors
Other Characters:
- Mickey (Mentioned) (Deceased)
- Davey Jones (Referenced)
Races and Species:
- Humans
- Mutant Atlantean-Human Hybrids
- Atlanteans
- Minnows (Mentioned)
- Rats (Mentioned)
- Snakes (Mentioned)
Locations:
- Earth-616
- Earth
- Southern Ocean
- Atlantis (Unnamed)
- Palace of Ice
- Atlantis (Unnamed)
- Southern Ocean
- Earth
Vehicles:
- Atlantean Aerial-Submarines
Synopsis for "Three-Sided War"
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 life boat) bursts into the room and grabs Lynne and escapes before Namor can stop him.
Appearing in "The Enchanted Marsh"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Shirley Smith (First appearance)
Antagonists:
- Antone (First appearance; dies)
- Unnamed Swamp Hag (First appearance; dies)
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth-616
- Earthspace
- Earth
- United States of America
- Piedmont (First appearance)
- United States of America
- Earth
- Heaven (Invoked)
- Earthspace
Synopsis for "The Enchanted Marsh"
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.
Appearing in "A Good Impression"
Featured Characters:
- Sam Hale (First appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Amos Liggett (First appearance; dies)
Antagonists:
- Unknown Police Department
- Two unnamed detectives
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth-616
- Earth
- United States of America
- Amos Liggett's Hardware Store
- United States of America
- Earth
Vehicles:
- Sam Hale's Taxi Cab
Synopsis for "A Good Impression"
Cab driver Sam Hale robs Liggett's Hardware store and shoots its owner dead. He thinks he's gotten away with it when later he picks up two police detectives who attempt to arrest him for the murder. He tries to get away by crashing his car. Waking up in the hospital he finds the police and a stenographer in his room demanding a confession. When he initially refuses to give one they show him a wax impression of his cab drivers badge that was made by Liggett during their scuffle before he was shot.
Appearing in "The Mystery House"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Dr. Watson
- World Inquirer (Unnamed)
Antagonists:
- Gregory (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Unnamed Butler
- Unnamed Gardener (Corpse, skeleton or other remains)
- Unnamed Businessman
- Unidentified Police Department
- Three unnamed police officers
- Unnamed Coroner
- Numerous unnamed party-goers
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth-616
- Earth
- United States of America
- Unidentified Mansion
- United States of America
- Earth
Items:
- "Ice Gun"
Synopsis for "The Mystery House"
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.
Appearing in "The Shark"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- President Franklin D. Roosevelt (First appearance)
- Professor Philo Zog
Antagonists:
- Shark (First appearance; dies)
- Shark's Deep Sea Raiders (Disbands)
- Numerous unnamed members (First appearance; dies)
Other Characters:
- United States Navy
- Unnamed Commander
- United States Congress (Mentioned)
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth-616
- Earth
- North America
- Shark's Castle
- Earth
Vehicles:
- Unidentified U.S. Destroyer
Synopsis for "The Shark"
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.
Appearing in "The Plot Against Texas"
Featured Characters:
- Masked Raider (Jim Gardley) (Impersonates Grey Gidden)
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- United States Secessionists
- Grey Gidden (First appearance)
- Snakey (First appearance)
- Three unnamed members
Other Characters:
- United States Government (Mentioned)
- United States Army
- Unnamed Captain
- Numerous unnamed soldiers
- United States Army
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth-616
- Earth
- United States of America
- Texas
- Rocky Creek Trail (First appearance)
- Bear Creek (Name only)
- Texas
- Rio Grande (Referenced)
- United States of America
- Earth
Items:
- Eternity Mask (Unnamed)
Synopsis for "The Plot Against Texas"
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.
Appearing in "Ka-Zar in America"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Zar (Lion)
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Numerous unnamed crewmembers
- Numerous unnamed New Yorkers
- NYPD
- Numerous unnamed police officers
- Ruth Wilson (First appearance) (Unnamed)
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth-616
- Earth
- Atlantic Ocean
- Africa (Mentioned)
- Belgian Congo (Mentioned)
- North America
- Earth
Synopsis for "Ka-Zar in America"
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....
Notes
Continuity Notes[]
Sub-Mariner[]
- The Holy One's real name is Emperor Thakorr, throughout publications in the 1940s and 50s, Thakorr is referred to as "The Holy One" or "The Emperor", his real name was not revealed until Sub-Mariner #1.
- All Alantean males are depicted as having fish-like characteristics: greenish skin with scales, large eyes, and catfish like barbels under the nose while females have Caucasian skin but large eyes and some slight fish like features. Atlanteans were not depicted with their trademark blue-skin and humanoid features until Fantastic Four Annual #1. Additionally, the name of their race and the fact that they had any connection to Atlantis was not revealed until that issue.
Masked Rider[]
- This is the last golden age appearance of the Masked Raider and his horse Lightning. The fate of the Masked Raider is unknown, but per Marvel Westerns Outlaw Files #1 Lightning survived for 40 years and was dubbed the "Marvel Horse" due to his ability to obey commands and communicate via Morse Code, but the horse disappeared. This book also stated that the Masked Raider sought out a replacement, but if this was successful remains to be seen.