When it was reported there were no traces of explosive, I knew there must be a broadcast of power acting on the target itself ... some ray which changes ordinary elements into explosives. I worked fast to discover a neutralizer for myself and my men! 
Modern Comics #75 is an issue of the series Modern Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of July, 1948.
Synopsis for Blackhawk: "The Blast Bandits"
A jaded high-society gossip columnist develops an electronic ray that converts water into hydrogen and oxygen, explosively, and uses it to rob some banks in the seaside resort of Colomba. Bank guards get killed in the process; no conventional explosive residue is found at the crime scenes; authorities are baffled, the Blackhawks are called in. Blackhawk deduces that the "explosives" are the bank guards themselves, figures out how the effect is caused, and with Chop Chop's help, he whips up an antidote for the explosive-creating ray, drinks it, has his team drink it, and continues the investigation. It tastes terrrible. The investigation itself has been virtually taken over by the villain, Reynard, and is all an elaborate ruse to mislead the authorities. Blackhawk has figured this out early on, and plays along with Reynard until he makes his big play, to rob the Colomba treasury. A truckload of thugs fight it out with the Blackhawks and lose, and Reynard uses his device on himself, destroying the device in the explosion.
Appearing in Blackhawk: "The Blast Bandits"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- Reynard (Dies)
- The Blast Bandits
Other Characters
- Prefect of Police
- Colomba Police (some die)
Locations:
- Europe
- Colomba
- Banking District
- Foreign Quarter
- Colomba
- Blackhawk Island (Mentioned only)
Items:
- Reynard's electronic ray that converts water into hydrogen and oxygen
Vehicles:
- Blackhawk Grumman XF5F Skyrockets
Synopsis for Dogtag: "Dogtag's Body Shop"
Appearing in Dogtag: "Dogtag's Body Shop"
Featured Characters:
Synopsis for Torchy: "The Webb's Store Gig"
Appearing in Torchy: "The Webb's Store Gig"
Featured Characters:
Synopsis for Will Bragg: "Killing Hamlet"
Appearing in Will Bragg: "Killing Hamlet"
Featured Characters:
- Will Bragg
Synopsis for Ezra: "Pasta Fazoo"
Appearing in Ezra: "Pasta Fazoo"
Featured Characters:
- Ezra Jones
Synopsis for Choo Choo: "Lure of the Wilderness"
Appearing in Choo Choo: "Lure of the Wilderness"
Featured Characters:
- Choo Choo LaMoe
Supporting Characters:
- Cherry Lane
Notes
- Colomba, like Cornigo, Glittar, and a few other nation/cities in the Quality Universe, seems to be loosely based on Monaco.
- Also appearing in this issue of Modern Comics was:
- Poodle McDoodle
- Blackhawk: "Satan's Brood" (text story)
- According to this story, Stanislaus "hailed from some unknown Balkan country".
See Also