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"Uncle Sam: "The Coming of Uncle Sam"": Some time during the "dust bowl" migrations of the mid-1930s, at the Arizona/California border, self-styled future-U.S.-dictator Andel Cobra sends his henchmen Scar and Snyle to infiltrate an "Oakie" refugee camp, to rabble-rouse the disaffected and desper

Quote1 All right – stop whimpering! Here's your hat – and don't go around dropping boulders on people. Quote2
Uncle Sam

National Comics #1 is an issue of the series National Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of July, 1940.

Synopsis for Uncle Sam: "The Coming of Uncle Sam"

Some time during the "dust bowl" migrations of the mid-1930s, at the Arizona/California border, self-styled future-U.S.-dictator Andel Cobra sends his henchmen Scar and Snyle to infiltrate an "Oakie" refugee camp, to rabble-rouse the disaffected and desperate, and recruit an antidemocracy army of "Purple Shirts" from among the former farmers. Their logo, banner, and insignia is a plus-sign inside a diamond. Elderly refugee Ezra Smith speaks out against these traitors, for which he is shot dead, in the back, by undergangster Snyle.

That day, on foot, coming from nowhere in particular, whistling Yankee Doodle, Uncle Sam shows up at the migrant camp, and hires on the newly orphaned Buddy Smith as his assistant. As they talk, henchman Snyle tips over a large boulder onto Uncle Sam; it breaks, without even creasing his hat or knocking it off. Snyle runs but Buddy tackles him, and Uncle gives him a stern talking-to, then lets him run away. Back at the migrant camp, Scar (who now has a toothbrush mustache) is receiving his marching orders; the Purple Shirts need to report to their hidden base by the next day. Snyle runs in and tells Scar about Uncle Sam; Scar has now had all he can stand of Snyle's craven sniveling, and he just guns him down. But when Unc and Buddy arrive at the migrant camp, Snyle has not yet died, and he rats out Scar and gives directions to the Purple Shirts' secret fort, with an underground hangar, located in a hollowed-out hill, in Box Valley, in or near the southern Rocky Mountains, not very far from a U.S. Army base. (It's about as far away from the unnamed Army post as a small boy can run in under one day.)

The next day at this Box Valley base, Scar arrives with his several carloads of troops, and meets Andel Cobra's OTHER colleague, Gatch Gozan, (a monocle-wearing agent for a well-known foreign power), who has promised to aid the Purple Shirts with troops, money, and a couple of pocket battleships.

Meanwhile and elsewhere, the U.S. President, (who has white hair, is pattern-bald, and can walk), is kidnapped from the presidential yacht, by foreign agents, using an autogiro and a seaplane. He is flown to Box Valley and locked in a cell.

Some time later, outside the secret fort, after sending Buddy to run for reinforcements, Uncle Sam pretends to get captured, and gets in to see Andel Cobra. He describes the situation as he sees it, and the hero's rhetoric stirs some of the recruits, inciting them to revolt against the Shirts, and there is an intramural shoot out. Then the Army arrives with howitzers, and amid the excitement, Uncle Sam finds the President's cell, wrenches the bars out of the wall, and flies through a stone wall with the president literally holding onto his coat-tails. Sam then runs back into the besieged secret fort and yanks out Andel Cobra, and hands him over to the Army.

Appearing in Uncle Sam: "The Coming of Uncle Sam"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Andel Cobra (Single appearance)
  • Scar (Single appearance)
  • Gatch Gozan (Single appearance)
  • Purple Shirts (Single appearance)
  • Snyle (Single appearance; dies)

Other Characters:

Locations:


Synopsis for Prop Powers: "Death Rides the Airways"


Appearing in Prop Powers: "Death Rides the Airways"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Mr. Crews, airline manager
  • June Dawn, airliner hostess

Antagonists:

  • unnamed floating airdrome commander (arrested)
    • his pilots & crew (most or all arrested)

Other Characters:

  • S.S. Kreesus, millionaire

Locations:

Vehicles:

  • more than four Boeing 307 Stratoliners (solid red) (disappear)
  • Prop Powers' Boeing 307 Stratoliner (solid red) (shot down, pancakes)
  • huge floating airdrome (Destroyed)
    • at least three fighter-bodied seaplanes (solid green) (two captured)
  • U.S.Navy squadron of light bombers (solid blue)

Synopsis for Sally O'Neil, Policewoman: "Sally Joins the Force"

Sally O'Neil joins the police force, following the family tradition of her father, Sgt. O'Neil, and her brothers, Pat, Mike, and Tom O'Neil. She works undercover, and an early assignment is to pick up tips on the whereabouts of Big Jim Saponi. Sally uses feminine wiles to attach herself to an underworld associate of Saponi, Smilin' Joe Dukes, who witlessly leads her to his boss. That mistake gets Dukes killed by Saponi, but Sally does some jiu-jitsu to Big Jim, and some quick-draw shooting to Jim's gang, so by the time two of her brothers can burst into the room, she is already in charge of it.

Appearing in Sally O'Neil, Policewoman: "Sally Joins the Force"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Sgt. O'Neil (Sally's father) (First appearance)
  • Mrs. O'Neil (Sally's mother) (First appearance)
  • Pat O'Neil (Sally's brother) (First appearance)
  • Mike O'Neil (Sally's brother) (First appearance)
  • Tom O'Neil (Sally's brother) (First appearance)

Antagonists:

  • Big Jim Saponi (arrested)
    • three henchmen (arrested)
    • Smilin' Joe Dukes (Dies)

Other Characters:

  • Sgt. Brent
  • Officer Butch

Locations:

Synopsis for Kid Dixon: "Dixon's First Fight"

Young Danny "Kid" Dixon worked in a blacksmith shop in Darville, in Jackson County, Kentucky. He was persuaded by B. Galsworthy "Bottle" Topps, fight manager, to become a professional boxer. They started small. His first fight was a one-punch knock-out of an "all challengers" carnival bully, whose job Dixon then took over. He barnstormed with that carnival for some weeks.

Appearing in Kid Dixon: "Dixon's First Fight"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • B. Galsworthy "Bottle" Topps, Dixon's Manager (First appearance)

Antagonists:

  • Marvo the Muscle Man
  • Jim Jones, Carnival Boxing Manager
  • Jones' two old enemies

Locations:

Synopsis for Merlin the Magician: "The Origin of Merlin"

Young, handsome, formerly-wealthy playboy Jock Kellogg inherits his uncle's estate, including the original Merlin's powerful cloak, which makes him the last Merlin. In London he almost-inadvertently saves a suicidal window-jumping woman from a fatal fall, and is amazed to realize that he has actual magical powers.

Months pass, then Merlin appears on a battlefield, and tells a dying soldier that the war is almost over, then rises into the heavens and explores the misty realm of the gods, until he finds Peace, (Herself, the goddess or spirit or personification of Peace), tied to some cannons; she can only be freed when Mars is defeated. Merlin confronts Mars, God of War, who jeers at him, and ineffectually swipes at him with a big sword, then responds to Merlin's challenge, and brings his pals Hunger and Poverty with him. Merlin punches out Poverty and out-wrestles Hunger, then grapples with Mars himself. On Earth, as Merlin's chances of victory grow, diplomats call a sudden conference at the Hague World Court. Merlin breaks Mars's big sword over his knee, then an Armistice is signed, which ends most or all of the fighting on Earth. In every city joy fills the streets.

Appearing in Merlin the Magician: "The Origin of Merlin"

Featured Characters:

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

Items:

  • Merlin's Magic Cloak

Synopsis for Wonder Boy: "The Boy from the Meteor"

Wonder Boy was rocketed to Earth from the destroyed planet Viro, and many people were killed when his flaming meteor of a spacecraft crashed with a terrific explosion in the heart of Chicago. That shooting star had also been visible in Mongolia, where an ambitious Mongolian General took it as an omen to begin warring on Europe, and assembled an army: 300,000 men and 10,000 cannons. Mobilizing hastily, Europe desperately attempted to defend Herself against this ruthless invasion.

Meanwhile in Chicago the earthling-looking alien boy, (with dark hair and a spit-curl), in his blue and red outfit, a crash-scene survivor with apparently no name, and a story nobody believes, gets put into an orphanage. Soon he hears news of the Mongolian Invasion, and swims all the way to Europe to help, across the Atlantic, North, and Baltic Seas. He quickly and successfully leads "the western army" to victory over the Mongolians. At story's end, all Europe unites in honoring Wonder Boy as the greatest hero of modern times, with the men of all nations bowing before his superior qualities.

Appearing in Wonder Boy: "The Boy from the Meteor"

Featured Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Mongolian High Priest
  • Mongolian General
    • 300,000 Mongolian soldiers (some die)

Other Characters:

  • Western Army General (wears a monocle)
    • Western Army

Locations:

Synopsis for Cyclone: "Race For a New Planet"

Professor Nebula discovers a new planet in the Solar System, and determines that it is habitable. The Grand Solar Council rules that the planet whose flier first reaches this planet shall claim it. Earth's President appoints Cyclone to make this flight on behalf of Earth. Joy Daye stows away. King Murdo of Mars intend to win the new planet, no matter what it takes, and brings his rocket fleet along. Cyclone, then Murdo, land on a refueling asteroid, where Murdo attempts to kidnap Joy; Cyclone punches Murdo and leaves with Joy. Murdo pursues, and opens fire. This offends the other contestants, who team up to drive Murdo out of the race. But Murdo's destroyers arrive, and a fierce space battle ensues. The Martian ships are driven away but they regroup to form a new ambush.

Cyclone lands first, on Planet Vito, and plants the flag of Earth. Rival planetary pilots all land and congratulate Cyclone. While they are all busy building a radio station, with which to notify the Grand Solar Council of this outcome, Murdo secretly lands on the new planet. He tries to take over the transmitter and use it to call in his fleet, but Cyclone catches him at it and punches him out. Soon a fleet of rockets sets out from Earth with pioneers for Vito. Joy and Cyclone get together.

Appearing in Cyclone: "Race For a New Planet"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Joy Daye (First appearance)

Antagonists:

  • King Murdo of Mars (First appearance)
    • his fleet
    • his troops

Other Characters:

  • Professor Nebula
  • Grand Solar Council
    • Grand Councillor

Locations:

  • Earth
    • New York City, 3000 A.D.
      • Terrestial State Building (largest on earth)
        • Professor Nebula's Observatory
      • Earth's President's Offices
  • Mars
  • Vito, (discovered, colonized)
  • Refueling Asteroid (Last Outpost of the Solar System)
  • Venus (Mentioned only)

Vehicles:

  • Cyclone's Rocket
  • Murdo's Fleet
    • Murdo's Rocket
  • Venusian Rocket
  • other planets' rockets

Synopsis for Pen Miller: "Corpse in the Bedroom"

A murderer sneaks a corpse into the bedroom of Pen Miller's apartment, where it is found by his valet, Niki. The victim had been killed with Miller's handgun which was on the scene, still smoking. Before calling the police, Miller and Niki investigate some other clues, also left at the scene, at the murdered man's apartment, where further clues are found, until they eventually ascertain that the murderer was the Attache at the Turanian Embassy, Mr. Grigor. After a short fight and a quick search down some secret passages in the Turanian Embassy, and one impromptu death-trap, they corner Grigor. Miller beats down some bodyguards and calls the cops. The cops come inside the Embassy, and in front of them, Miller tricks Grigor into confessing to Dr. Mujik's murder.

Appearing in Pen Miller: "Corpse in the Bedroom"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Niki, Asian valet (First appearance)

Antagonists:

  • Grigor (wears a monocle)
    • Embassy staff

Other Characters:

  • Dr. Mujik (Appears only as a corpse)

Animals:

  • Mujik's dog

Locations:

Items:

  • Pen Miller's smoking gun

Synopsis for Paul Bunyan: "Introducing Paul Bunyan!"

A rival timber company tries to drive Paul's new employer's company out of the region, and they set off an avalanche to do it. Paul and Babe knock down enough big trees to assemble an avalanche-proof barricade. The enemy timber boss then plans to dynamite the local dam, even though it will also flood out a nearby village. One logger chickens out, the boss slugs him, but he soon slinks away from his old job, visits Paul's new employer's company, and rats out his old boss.

The next day the rival company blows up the dam, and Paul and Babe are kept very busy holding and bracing the splintered slabs of it in place, while nearby a gunfight breaks out between the two logger companies. The bad guys lose and are driven from the field; Paul and Babe do not pursue them. The timber thief boss abandons his own company, and flees in his roadster. Paul and Babe pursue him, head him off, and block his path along a steep mountain road. The driver deliberately rams into Bunyan, but his car bounces harmlessly off the giant's chest, takes a bad bounce, and falls off the side of the mountain road.

Paul's company next will move on to a new timber tract, and Paul is promoted to Chief Foreman.

Appearing in Paul Bunyan: "Introducing Paul Bunyan!"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • timber thief boss (Apparent Death)
    • his logging company (some die)

Other Characters:

  • L&M Logging Company (Mentioned only)
  • North American Timber Company (hires Paul bunyan)

Locations:

  • North Woods
    • Big Horn Mountain

Synopsis for Kid Patrol: "Introducing the Kid Patrol"

In a waterfront slum area of a large U.S. city, five underprivileged youngsters gang up to assist their local beat cop in taking down a gang of dangerous robbers. Their assistance makes a big difference, and the gang is busted. After their initial success, Officer Pat's boss, the Police Chief, issues the kids their own badges, and inducts them into a new Police unit, the Kid Patrol.

Appearing in Kid Patrol: "Introducing the Kid Patrol"

Featured Characters:

  • Kid Patrol (First appearance)
    • Teddy (First appearance)
    • George Washington Abraham Lincoln "Sunshine " Jones (First appearance)
    • Porky (First appearance)
    • Spunky (First appearance)
    • Suzy (First appearance)

Supporting Characters:

  • Officer Pat Malone (First appearance)

Antagonists:

  • gang of robbers

Other Characters:

  • Police Chief

Locations:

Notes

  • Merlin the Magician
  • Pen Miller lives in the same city as the Turanian Embassy, so probably it's either New York City or Washington, D.C. And he works for a big time publisher, in 1940, so that narrows it down to New York.
  • Prop Powers
    • All of the Stratoliners at this unnamed airline company are painted solid bright red. The badguy seaplanes are painted solid green. The Navy dive bombers are of course solid blue.
  • Wonder Boy had "The strength of a hundred full grown men in one little boy!"
    • Planet Viro was destroyed when a star collided with it.
    • Chicago was catastrophically damaged when Wonder Boy's ship crashed into it. Afterwards, this is never mentioned again.
    • In Quality Comics' comic books of 1940 and 1941, the Mongolians were a military threat rivaling that of Japan.
  • Also featured in this issue of National Comics were:

Trivia


See Also


Links and References

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