National Comics #54 is an issue of the series National Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of June, 1946.
Synopsis for The Barker: "The Curse of Raz-Ma-Taz"
The carnies at Colonel Lane's circus are surprised to see a stone building being assembled in the middle of the grounds, which they learn is the tomb of the pharaoh Raz-Ma-Taz. Lane's quite pleased with his acquisition, expecting to clean up with the allure of the land of the pharaohs available right in people's hometowns. A strange bespectacled man goes in but starts making proclamations about curses and the pharaoh's revenge on the defilers of his tomb, then falls over dead when the mummy seems to come to life and shake his hand. The patrons flee in terror, and Lane's mood isn't improved any when he finds out the dead man was an agent from the Egyptian consul.
Ali Karif, who sold the tomb to Lane, shows up. Rather than being the bearer of bad news, he has a local daily saying thousands are on their way to see the tomb of Raz-Ma-Taz. However, he also demands the balance of what Lane owes for the tomb immediatetly, instead of waiting for the attraction to generate that much money. Not okay with capitalizing on publicity from a man's death, the Barker and Tiny knock Karif out and throw him over the fence. Soon after, the Barker gets a telegram that shocks him.
A mummy shows up and interrupts the main show in the bigtop, and the Barker has Tiny chase it into the tomb. When the mummy comes to Raz-Ma-Taz's sarcophagos, the mummy within stands up and knocks him out. It was the Barker in bandages in the sarcophagos, and the one who'd interrupted the show was Ali Karif in disguise. He'd stolen the tomb before selling it to Colonel Lane. He'd demanded the rest of what he was owed after the official's death because he was afraid of being caught with the goods when the death of the Egyptian agent was investigated by the police, and wanted to go into hiding with big money.
Appearing in The Barker: "The Curse of Raz-Ma-Taz"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Colonel Lane
- Lena
- Liz Flannery
- Major Midge
- Spuda the Spider-Man
- Tiny Tim
- Madame Shali, snake charmer
- Peaches, bearded lady
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Synopsis for Sally O'Neil Policewoman: "Death the Marksman"
Appearing in Sally O'Neil Policewoman: "Death the Marksman"
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Synopsis for Lassie and Laddie: "Money Trouble"
Appearing in Lassie and Laddie: "Money Trouble"
Featured Characters:
- Lassie
- Laddie
Supporting Characters:
- Roberta
- Roger
Synopsis for The Whistler: "Another Namesake Murder"
Two men have died in ways like their famous namesakes: Nathan Hale died by hanging, and Samson had his roof fall on him. Mac Shane sends Mallory Drake to investigate a man named Abraham Lincoln who claims to know the identity of the murderer, and fears for his life. Approaching Lincoln's house, Drake hears a gunshot. He puts on his mask and attacks the murderer as the man races out, but the killer stuns Whistler with a punch and disappears. Investigating Lincoln's body, Whistler finds an address book with two other queer names in it: Julius Caesar and Cleo Queen. Interviewing Caesar, Whistler learns all these people belonged to a club for people with famous namesakes, and now it seems that someone is, for some nefarious purpose, hunting them down one by one.
Right then Cleo calls Caesar, saying she's gotten a threatening note. He and Whistler head over, and find a venomous asp has already bitten and killed Miss Queen. Whistler somehow freezes it with his whistle of terror, then crushes the snake with a chair. The masked avenger fingers Caesar himself as the killer. Cornered, Caesar pulls a knife on the Whistler, but in the ensuing scuffle Julius ends up stabbing himself, falling victim to his predecessor's fate just like his victims. Before expiring, he admits he'd been killing the other club members because of a tontine between them: the last survivor would've gotten a massive insurance payout.
Appearing in The Whistler: "Another Namesake Murder"
Featured Characters:
- Whistler (Final appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Mac Shane, Editor, Daily Record (Final appearance)
Antagonists:
- Julius Caesar (Dies)
Other Characters:
- Namesakes Club
- Nathan Hale (Dies)
- Samson (Dies)
- Cleopatra Queen (Dies)
- Abraham Lincoln (Dies)
Locations:
- Daily Record offices
- 14 Elm Lane, Lincoln's house
- 88 Sutton Street, Caesar's house
- 1 Eucalyptus Terrace, Queen's house
Synopsis for Quicksilver: "The Thirteenth Floor"
Appearing in Quicksilver: "The Thirteenth Floor"
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Notes
- First issue for Tinker Tom, art by Al Stahl.
- Last issue for The Whistler, by William Woolfolk and Al McWilliams.
See Also
Links and References
