National Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of June, 1947.
Synopsis for The Barker: "Big Ed Grew"
The Lane Circus is about to move on to Firtown. Just before they leave, a lumberjack warns them not to, because a Big Ed Grew owns the whole town and doesn't like itinerant businesses in his territory. The Barker figures out he means Ed Grew doesn't want them playing the town because that would mean money leaving his his town when the circus was finished and moved on. He then beats up the lumberjack when it escalates to more direct threats, with the lumberjack announcing he'll report this slight to his brother, Ed Grew himself.
When the circus tries to set up in Firtown, Grew's family make trouble for them with local laws. Such as when the lot they booked to set up is full of tree stumps that can't be chopped up for removal because of nature protection regulations. The Barker beats them at their own game by reading up on local ordinances, and the circus's elephants pull up the stumps to make room without breaking the law. The Grew family proceed to try to make the circus look like it's trying to scam it's customers, and the troupe retaliates by setting up Ed Grew to make it seem like he was responsible for stealing all the attendees' wallets. This causes long-developing anger at the Grew family to boil over, and the crowds chase the Grews off the grounds. In the chaos, the circus decides to move on before anymore trouble can befall them.
Appearing in The Barker: "Big Ed Grew"
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Antagonists:
- Big Ed Grew
- Charlie Grew, Ed's brother
- Mike Grew, Firtown constable
- Pete Grew, city clerk
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Locations:
- Firtown
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Vehicles:
Synopsis for Sally O'Neil Policewoman: "Phantom Pirates of the Bay"
Appearing in Sally O'Neil Policewoman: "Phantom Pirates of the Bay"
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Antagonists:
- Max Vult
- Sam Shark
- Shrimp
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Synopsis for Lassie and Laddie: "Juvenile Delinquency"
Appearing in Lassie and Laddie: "Juvenile Delinquency"
Featured Characters:
- Lassie
- Laddie
Supporting Characters:
- Roberta
- Roger
Synopsis for Quicksilver: "The Disappearance of Bob Van Dorn"
Appearing in Quicksilver: "The Disappearance of Bob Van Dorn"
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Synopsis for Steve Wood: "Shake Hands with Terror"
A note comes into Steve Wood's office that sends the detective to a hovel near the water, where he finds his would-be client dead. Smiling and having been stabbed by a narrow-bladed knife. Steve happens to wander into Inspector Flanagan and tries to tell him about the murder of Mr. Yoval. Flanagan tells Steve about the murder of a wealthy architect by the same last name, but there's no way they're connected (while secretly planning to crack this case without Steve Wood hogging all the glory this time).
Dropping the case is the last thing on Steve's mind, and he heads back to his office to check the phone book for anymore Yovals. He finds a Lenore Yoval and heads over to her seaside mansion to warn her, finding the young heiress lounging at poolside, unafraid for her safety. However, she spikes Steve's cocktail and has her henchman, the smitten Milsom, prepare to get rid of the private dick the same way Milsom's already gotten rid of the other two murdered Yovals.
Steve's secretary Sally brazenly confronts the two. Since she's already overheard them, Lenore admits she's killing off other Yoval's to be the sole inheritor of her great-grandfather's fortune. Because she knows the plan, now Sally has to die too. Fortunately, Steve was only faking being knocked out and instead defeats Milsom with some Judo. At the same time, Sally uses the same fighting art to keep Lenore from stabbing him in the back. Inspector Flanagan shows up after everything's been taken care of, and Sally extorts Steve for dinner and a show after she saved his life.
Appearing in Steve Wood: "Shake Hands with Terror"
Featured Characters:
- Steve Wood, Waterfront Detective
Supporting Characters:
- Sally, secretary
- Inspector Flanagan
Antagonists:
- Lenore Yoval
- Milsom
Other Characters:
- Two Mr. Yovals (Dies)
Locations:
See Also