All-American Comics #34 is an issue of the series All-American Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of January, 1942.
Synopsis for Green Lantern: "The Building Racket"
A building collapses mysteriously, but convinced there won't be an investigation because it was unoccupied, Alan Scott becomes Green Lantern to investigate. He finds a building inspector checking out the foundations, but about to be ambushed by a pair of toughs. Green Lantern comes to his rescue, and has his suspicions confirmed by the inspector's research: the building collapsed because of inferior building materials. GL tails the thugs back to their boss, and coerces him into telling the hero who's behind the scheme by dropping him off the building: the real brains are the Livingston Construction Company, one of the biggest in town. Green Lantern gets the crook's address, then ties him up there and goes to report his findings to the mayor, who turns out to be in on the scheme and has the crook killed and pins his murder on Green Lantern. However the hero quickly clears his name by using his powers to prevent a new bridge made from inferior materials from collapsing.
Green Lantern confronts the head of Livingston and uses his ring to threaten him with being permanently paralyzed unless he spills the dirt on the shoddy construction, which he does: he used inferior materials to save money, and was bribing the mayor to keep things quiet. Meanwhile, the mayor's trying to skip town but gets into Doiby's cab and has a fist-type accident that allows them to apprehend him before he can escape justice.
Appearing in Green Lantern: "The Building Racket"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Nick Darcy
- Mayor Kastor
- Mr. Livingston
Other Characters:
- John
Locations:
- Capitol City
- Apex Broadcasting Company
- Blake Construction Co.
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Red, White, and Blue: "Terror of the Man-Made Meteors"
Appearing in Red, White, and Blue: "Terror of the Man-Made Meteors"
Featured Characters:
- Red, White, and Blue
- Red Dugan, USMC
- Whitey Smith, USA
- Blooey Blue, USN
Supporting Characters:
- Doris West, G2
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
Locations:
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Vehicles:
Synopsis for Hop Harrigan: "Twink's Secret"
Appearing in Hop Harrigan: "Twink's Secret"
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Supporting Characters:
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Other Characters:
- Professor Twink
- Dean Skwirl
Locations:
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Synopsis for Scribbly: "Hunt for the Red Tornado's Identity"
Appearing in Scribbly: "Hunt for the Red Tornado's Identity"
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Synopsis for Sargon the Sorcerer: "Sargon's Challenge"
While performing at a society function, Sargon notices Prince Stroganoff trying to surreptitiously steal the diamond necklace of wealthy Mrs. Vandervan, which he uses magic to expose as a trick in the performance. Stroganoff tries to come after Sargon to get even, who allows himself to be kidnapped. There, the wizard uses his magic to make the blade of the prince's sword droop when he proposes a duel, and makes the shoes of the prince's underling shrink when he tries to settle the score. Sargon looks around and learns something very interesting from the prince's effects.
Later, Prince Stroganoff is set to marry the Vandervan's daughter, and Sargon magically makes his way into the reception to turn the tables on Stroganoff. He magically compels Stroganoff to "behave just as you did in the old days" when about to address all the attendees, which causes him to launch into his old routine as the barker at a freak show. He gets thrown out, the wedding called off.
Appearing in Sargon the Sorcerer: "Sargon's Challenge"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Prince Stroganoff
- Ivan
Other Characters:
- Flora Styles
- Mrs. Vandervan
Locations:
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Synopsis for Atom: "The Defense Bond Manipulators"
Appearing in Atom: "The Defense Bond Manipulators"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Joe
- Mike
Other Characters:
- Pete
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Synopsis for Dr. Mid-Nite: "Dr. Kwack"
Appearing in Dr. Mid-Nite: "Dr. Kwack"
Featured Characters:
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Antagonists:
- Dr. Kwack
Other Characters:
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Notes
- Green Lantern: The Building Racket is reprinted in The Golden Age Green Lantern Archives Vol. 2.
- Also appearing in this issue of All-American Comics were:
- "All-American Stamp Page" (text article)
- "Good Books For Christmas" (text article)
- Hop Harrigan's History of Aviation: "Ruth Nichols" by Jon L. Blummer
- Jimmy Stone: "Bomb On Board! (Part 1)" (text story) by Evelyn Gaines, illustrated by Sheldon Mayer
- Mutt & Jeff (newspaper strip reprints) by Bud Fisher
Trivia
- In Green Lantern's story, the hero greets a villain named Livingston: "Mr. Livingston, I presume". It is an obvious pun with "Dr. Livingstone, I presume," the famous greeting of Henry Morton Stanley upon locating David Livingstone in Africa.
- In the Green Lantern, Atom, and Red Tornado stories, different characters say the phrase "Keep 'Em Flying." This was a slogan to encourage Americans to continue to buy war bonds and thus be able to finance USA costs during World War II.
- Hop Harrigan story: The Quimbaya (/kɪmbaɪa/) were a small, ancient indigenous group in present-day Colombia noted for their gold work characterized by technical accuracy and detailed designs.
- Irwin Hasen's art on Green Lantern is signed as "Martin Nodell."
- Al Smith signed his Mutt & Jeff strips as "Bud Fisher."
See Also
Links and References
