New Adventure Comics #16 is an issue of the series New Adventure Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of June, 1937.
Synopsis for Federal Men: "The Chinatown Smuggler"
The F.B.I. has been on the trail of illegal immigration smugglers. An agent is killed when he tries to pose as a customer, but he was carrying a camera, and manages to capture the face of the ringleader, Red Gorman.
Steve Carson goes undercover and gets a job with a rival smuggling ring, hoping to flush out Red by cutting in on his profits. It doesn't take long for Gorman to respond, as during Steve's first smuggling gig, Red rams Steve's boat. That's all the incentive needed for Steve to give the signal to the other undercover agents, who remove the tarpaulin on the boat that covers a machine-gun. Only a few shots get fired before the smugglers raise their hands in surrender. But Red has other ideas. While his crew wait to be arrested, he sets a booby trap below deck that will blow up the entire boat when a trip-wire is activated, killing his smuggling crew and the Feds. But fate steps in and causes the boat to lurch as Red is trying to escape, making him fall into the trip-wire, and blowing up the entire vessel before the Federal Men have a chance to board it.
Appearing in Federal Men: "The Chinatown Smuggler"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- Red Gorman, human trafficker (Single appearance; dies)
- his Chinese competitor
Other Characters:
- Wan Ling, Federal Man (Single appearance; dies)
Locations:
- unidentified U.S. city
- Waterfront
- Chinatown
Vehicles:
- speedboats
- trawlers
Synopsis for Dale Daring: "The Tsin Lee Incident, Part 3 (of 9)"
Dale is led by Ali to Tsin Lee's hideout, eager to rescue her father. When they reach the cave, Dale distracts the guard while Brewster and Ali knock him out.
Meanwhile, Dale's father is being tortured by General Tsin Lee, in an attempt to find out where the ammo cache is hidden. The blowtorch on the soles of his bare feet is excruciating, causing him to cry out.
After wandering through the maze of tunnels, Dale, Brewster, and Ali are apprehended by guards and taken to Tsin Lee, to have their fate decided.
Appearing in Dale Daring: "The Tsin Lee Incident, Part 3 (of 9)"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Captain Don Brewster, USMC
- Ali, his servant
- Mr. Daring
Antagonists:
- General Tsin Lee
- his many minions
Locations:
Synopsis for Detective Sergeant Carey of the Chinatown Squad: "Murder at the Thousand Bleeding Dragons, Part 3 (of 10)"
Detective Sergeant Carey and his partner Sleepy awaken in a cell, being guarded by Chinese men. The guard outside tells them that they are prisoners of Sin Fu. Sleepy asks if they can have some food, so the guard shouts an order at another in Chinese.
Carey deduces that they must be in the cellar of the house they were investigating, even though neither man saw any entrances to the downstairs... unless they were hidden. The smell of food hits Sleepy's nose like a drum, and he and Carey go up to the cell door only to discover a white woman delivering their meal! What was she doing among these sinister criminals?
Appearing in Detective Sergeant Carey of the Chinatown Squad: "Murder at the Thousand Bleeding Dragons, Part 3 (of 10)"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Sleepy
Antagonists:
- Sin Fu
- his gang of killers
Other Characters:
- White Slave Girl
Locations:
- Chinatown
- Sin Fu's lair
- Sin Fu's lair
Synopsis for Captain Quick: "Episode Fourteen (of twenty-two)"
The crew of the Bonnie Bess are excited when the approaching ship turns out to be Spanish. It is time for a battle! Realizing that their cannons are no match for the Spanish ship's guns, Captain Quick orders his crew to get the Bonnie Bess up alongside the Spaniards, and swarm aboard it. A desperate close-quarters melee spreads across the main deck, cutlass and dagger against pistol and halberd. But the Spanish captain is quite clever, and the grapples used to hold the two ships next to each other are cut. Quick's men retreat back to the Bonnie Bess, but Quick himself is unable to make it in time, and finds himself standing alone on the ship of the enemy. He is dogpiled and captured.
The Spanish captain confirms Quick's identity, and conveys him to Cartagena, to collect a substantial reward. In the port town, Captain Quick is held in the dungeon below the governor's palace. There he will stay until his execution.
Appearing in Captain Quick: "Episode Fourteen (of twenty-two)"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Bonnie Bess Crew: Smith the Mate, Pierre Dufoe, Lieutenant Grier, others
Antagonists:
- Governor of Cartagena
- Galleon Captain
- Galleon Crew
Locations:
- High Seas, 1587
- Spanish Main
- Cartagena
- Spanish Main
Vessels:
- the "Bonnie Bess", a 3-masted privateering warship
- Spanish Galleon
Synopsis for Sandor and the Lost Civilization: "Rajah Maharajah, Part 12 (of 23)"
Sandor is still trying to evade the guards when he comes into a richly furnished room. And the sounds of a key turning in a lock are heard, coming from a door at the other end. With guards still looking for him back at the door he came in from, Sandor is cornered.
Meanwhile, Benar rests at an oasis while thinking of a way to help his friend. Heading back towards the palace, a peddler pulling a camel with many baskets on its back stop near him. Benar watches from a concealed position as the peddler falls asleep. Curious, he opens one of the baskets to find it empty. It is risky, he knows, but Benar is determined to help Sandor, so he climbs into one of the empty baskets himself.
Appearing in Sandor and the Lost Civilization: "Rajah Maharajah, Part 12 (of 23)"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Benar the Fakir
Antagonists:
- Rajah Maharajah
- his many servants and spies
Locations:
- Northern India
- Lost Civilization
- Lost Civilization
Synopsis for "Monastery of the Blue God, Episode 3 (of 12)"
Stewart accuses Count von Bolander of the theft of the cylinder. After a threat of calling the authorities, the Count disdainfully hands the cylinder back to Stewart, leaving him with a parting threat.
The next day, Stewart resigns from the army in exchange for a position in foreign intelligence. He asks to be stationed in Peking, China, (which is actually near to where the jewels were discovered by Elsa's father). The intelligence chief also lets him take Sergeant Miller with him.
Later, Stewart enters his apartment to find that it has been ransacked! Elsa comes to him to warn him that Count von Bolander has been selling military secrets. He returns her cylinder to her, and informs her of his decision to deploy to Peking and find the treasured sapphires. If he succeeds, she says, she will accept his marriage proposal. But lo and behold, four days afterward, Stewart finds Elsa at the station, all packed and ready to accompany him! So the two board the train together, Sergeant Miller already awaiting them inside. He has brought a man with him, Corporal Drenoff, to assist in their intelligence gathering. What will they say when they learn of Captain Stewart's real motives for going to China?
Appearing in "Monastery of the Blue God, Episode 3 (of 12)"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Baroness Elsa Von Saxenberg
- The Chief
- Sergeant Miller
- Corporal Derinoff
Antagonists:
- Count Kraft Von Bolander
Locations:
Synopsis for Don Coyote: "Knights of the Royal Bull, Part 4 (of 4)"
Don, Hamburger, and Hash leap overboard into one of the lifeboats. Hamburger saves his friends by stopping a cannonball (and destroy it) with his bare hands. Don and Hash are impressed by his feat, and decide to give him a long leave of absence once they reach land... If they reach land.
Appearing in Don Coyote: "Knights of the Royal Bull, Part 4 (of 4)"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- slave ship crew
Locations:
Vehicles:
- slave ship
Synopsis for She: "Episode 10 (of 16)"
The priestess, She, begins to tremble with emotion at the dying Leo, who resembles her dead lover. Horace snaps her back into reality, and she gives him a vial full of liquid, that he is told to pour down Leo's throat.
Hours pass without a change in Leo's condition. But just as all hope seems lost, he stirs, and Horace and She are overjoyed that he will survive. Ustane, Leo's native wife, is called before She. Ustane is told by the great Priestess that she is forbidden to see Leo from here on. Becoming defiant, Ustane tells She that only in death will she leave his side. She furiously taps Ustane on the brow, causing three white marks to grow along her hair. Ustane, feeling pained and broken, consents to She and mournfully leaves the camp. Horace is told that if he ever mentions Ustane's manner of departure to Leo, he will be killed.
The priestess She spends the next three days at Leo's side, comforting him and nursing him until he is well enough to walk. All the times he asks her where Ustane has gone, She merely tells him not to worry.
The three companions, Leo, Horace, and Job, are led by She into a secret burial chamber where they are promised some strange entertainment. Deeper into the chamber they go, until they are standing before a large semi-circle of mummies tied to posts. Suddenly, men carrying torches cry out and light the mummies ablaze, creating a hideous sort of "stage-light" effect.
Appearing in She: "Episode 10 (of 16)"
Featured Characters:
- Horace Holly
- Leo Vincey
Supporting Characters:
- Job
- Ustane Vincey
Other Characters:
- She
- Kallikrates, ancient lover of She (Mentioned only)
- Amahagger Spearmen
Locations:
- Eastern Coastal Africa
- Dismal Swamp
- She's clifftop palace
- Caves of Kor
- Dismal Swamp
Items:
- Scarab Ring of Armenartas
Synopsis for "A Tale of Two Cities: Episode 12 (of 21)"
Appearing in "A Tale of Two Cities: Episode 12 (of 21)"
Featured Characters:
- Jarvis Lorry
Characters:
- Charles Darnay
- his escort
- town postmaster
Antagonists:
- French Citizen-Patriots
- Defarge, captain of the guard
Locations:
- Beauvais, France
- Paris, France
- Gate of Saint Antoine
- La Force Prison (destination)
Synopsis for Hardluck Harry: "Shanghai Pete, Part 8 (of 8)"
Soon to become food for the cannibals, Harry and Foo Chow are being held inside a large pot filled with water. Having no other ideas, they yell for someone to help. Back on the beach are Slugger and the skipper of the ship that Harry and Foo Chow escaped from. They are looking for signs of their escaped prisoners, when cries for help hit their ears. The two of them follow the voices until they can see Harry and Foo Chow. Slugger laughs, and suggests that they try to play a trick on them by echoing their calls, but the natives overhear and soon Harry and Foo Chow have two more companions in the same predicament.
Appearing in Hardluck Harry: "Shanghai Pete, Part 8 (of 8)"
Featured Characters:
- Hardluck Harry (Final appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Foo Chow (Final appearance)
Antagonists:
- Slugger (Final appearance)
- cannibals
Locations:
Synopsis for The Vikings: "Episode 16 (of 22)"
Trapped, after the crew of their Viking ship abandoned them, Ivar and his few remaining men opt to fight it out, one last time with the Druids. But Hasylwyn offers an alternative solution. There is a rocky temple near, that is sacred to the Druids. Only the high priests of the tribe may enter, and attack is unlikely. Ivar agrees to his plan and lets Hasylwyn lead them to the temple. The Vikings set up a defense, should the Druids decide to attack them anyway.
The Druids approach, and a battle breaks out, with both sides taking losses. It lasts until Modred, Druid high priest, asks to speak with Ivar. He tells the Viking leader that he will call off the attack and let them go free, if they would only agree to hand Sundgrid over.
Appearing in The Vikings: "Episode 16 (of 22)"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Sundgrid
Other Characters:
- Hasylwyn, former High Druid
Antagonists:
- High Druid Modred
- his Druids
Vehicles:
- Ivar's longship (missing)
Locations:
Synopsis for Steve Conrad Adventurer: "The Revenge of Devachan, Part 4 (of 11)"
With Steve grasping the unconscious Devachan, they get dragged out to sea by the ocean current. Myra ties a rope around her waist and jumps in to rescue them, but the current is too strong, and her rope snaps! Unable to make it back to the boat, Steve and Myra find a piece of driftwood, that they latch Devachan onto. They drift for days, when finally, they are cast up onto the shore of an island. Exhausted, Steve and Myra pass out in the sand. A pair of eyes watches them from the trees; it's a beautiful young woman dressed in animal skins. The woman rushes through the trees, knowing she must tell her leader, Tangi, about the strangers.
Back at the beach, Steve and Myra have finally awakened, though their enemy the Devachan still sleeps. They are just talking about food, when Steve is surprised by a great jungle cat pouncing on him. A voice commands the cat to back off, and it returns to the side of its mistress, Tangi. She warns the two drifters to remain still, or her pet Neka will tear their flesh apart. Steve and Myra have trespassed on her island, and they must be punished.
Tangi's islanders believe that Steve and Myra should be sacrificed to the vultures, while the still unconscious Devachan is to be placed in Tangi's hut. They tie Myra and Steve to some vines high in the forest canopy, leaving them for live pickings by the vultures. A monkey becomes curious at the strange sight of two humans hanging from a vine. Seeing their chance, Steve beckons the monkey over and coaxes him into undoing their bonds. Freedom! And just in time as a vulture has swooped down to get a taste. Steve fights as it lifts him into the air, and manages to get free of the bird's grip. But he is too high up and begins falling to a certain demise.
Appearing in Steve Conrad Adventurer: "The Revenge of Devachan, Part 4 (of 11)"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Myra Rutherford
Locations:
- South Pacific Ocean
- Boa Island, near Dolorosa Isle, off the coast of Chile
Vehicles:
- Judd's schooner
Antagonists:
- Devachan
- Tangi, Amazon Ruler of Boa Island
- her Amazons
Animals:
- Neka, Tangi's big cat
- wild monkey
- giant vulture
Synopsis for "Golden Dragon, Episode 11 (of 31)"
After an hour's search, Ian and the others call it a night. They decide to continue looking for Pan Chi-Lou tomorrow. Morning comes, and Ian notices the messenger getting ready to leave. When asked if he would like to leave Pan's message with Ian, the man replies that the message was already delivered. Ian finds that strange. When all are awake and fed, a complete search of the monastery is made; they now are determined to find Pan.
The hunt eventually takes the party into the statue room. Ian orders every crack to be searched and all corners be examined. There had to be some kind of secret passage in this room. But where? Ken then hears a sound beneath the floor, much like the muffled blow of a pickaxe striking rock. The rest of the crew go back to camp, to retrieve pickaxes, shovels, and crowbars, ready to finally solve this mystery. Doris stays behind with Ian, the two of them reminiscing about home. While Ian's back is turned, a pair of muscular arms envelop Doris and a hand is placed over her mouth so she can not scream. Ian turns just in time to see her being dragged away, and then something is thrust over his head, nearly stifling him. He then feels a powerful grip upon him as he himself is dragged across the floor. Attempting to fight back, Ian is struck on the head by a blunt object.
When Ian awakens, he finds himself bound on a sandy cavern floor, and Doris is being dragged off to a separate passage in the distance. Who are these men, and what were they planning to do with them?
Appearing in "Golden Dragon, Episode 11 (of 31)"
Featured Characters:
- Ken Cockerhill
- Ian Murray
- Lefty Murphy
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Torgadoff (Behind the scenes)
Other Characters:
- Ken
- Caravan people
- Doris
- Bob
- Don
- Reilly
Locations:
- China
- fortified monastery
- fortified monastery
Synopsis for "Jungle Fever, Episode 3 (of 4)"
The native refuses to tell Red or Curley about the plantation, so they let him run off. By searching the village, they eventually meet Doctor Norton, who says he's an old friend of Holloway's. He happily offers to lead them to Holloway's plantation right away, but they become distracted by an ugly sight. One of the native villagers is being flogged by a brute of a man. Norton tells them that the man is Boris Zaranoff, the natives' cruel overlord. Red is determined to save the poor villager, and steps up to Boris. Zaranoff is larger than Red, but Red has gone through training with the Marines, so he incapacitates the burly man with relative ease.
Red gains the appreciation of the villager, and Norton decide it'd be safer if he went with them. After they have left, Boris calls upon his henchman. He demands that the foreigners be killed for making a fool out of him. He sends his best gunner, Sanchez, to wait on the cliffs for the three travelers to pass by, and then gun them down.
Appearing in "Jungle Fever, Episode 3 (of 4)"
Featured Characters:
- Red Riley (See Notes).
- Curley Moran (See Notes).
Other Characters:
- Dr. Norton
- Mr. Holloway (Behind the scenes)
- Island Natives
Antagonists:
- Boris Zaranoff
- Sanchez, his sniper
Locations:
- the Tropics
- an island
- Holloway's Plantation
- Holloway's Plantation
- an island
Synopsis for Captain Jim of the Texas Rangers: "Jane and Johnny, Part 16 (of 27)"
Captain Jim and Ranger Bob find the tracks of a large bear in the forest. They leave Johnny and Jane to watch the horses while they go off to investigate. If there is a bear nearby, they'd have to make sure it wasn't going to attack them when they're off their guard. Jane sees a bear cub come out of the foliage and, too late for Johnny to restrain her, she tries to get in closer to look at it. But the bear cub scampers off, yelling in fear, and its cries attract the mama bear's attention. Jim and Bob hear her growls and carefully follow the noise, being sure to keep hidden. The mama bear spots the kids from the top of a hill and starts to charge at them. But a bullet from Bob's rifle stops it dead in its tracks.
The group continue on their way. Coming to a fork in the path, Bob notices the markings of a cattle herd heading off in one direction. It could be the remaining rustlers making their getaway. So while Jim, Jane, and Johnny wait, Bob goes off to find out where the tracks lead. Once he is alone, a riata noose swings out around his shoulders and yanks him off the horse. A trap!
Appearing in Captain Jim of the Texas Rangers: "Jane and Johnny, Part 16 (of 27)"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Ranger Bob
Antagonists:
- Rustlers: Rusty, Spike, 3rd guy
Other Characters:
- Jane
- Johnny
Animals:
- bear cub
- bear mama
Locations:
Notes
- Published by Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc.
- Chikko Chakko by Ellis Edwards is absent from this issue, but it returns next issue.
- Missing since New Adventure Comics #13, Dale Daring returns, now written and drawn by Will Ely.
- After this issue, Don Coyote drops out until New Adventure Comics #19.
- Last issue for Hardluck Harry by Bill Carney. Story breaks off in mid-cliffhanger.
- After this issue, Jungle Fever by Ed Winiarski jumps to More Fun Comics #22, for one more episode, then vanishes in mid-cliffhanger.
- Also appearing in this issue of New Adventure Comics were:
- Andy Handy by Leo O'Mealia
- Goofo the Great by Russell Cole
- Full-page ad for the Junior FEDERAL MEN Club by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster
- Just For Fun by Russell Cole
- Laughing At Life by Whitney Ellsworth
- Ol' Oz Bopp by Russell Cole
- Th' Cunnel by Whitney Ellsworth
See Also