Star-Spangled Comics #25 is an issue of the series Star-Spangled Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of October, 1943.
Synopsis for Newsboy Legion: "Victuals for Victory"
The Newsboy Legion, joined by Jim Harper, have volunteered to help out at a farm during the labor shortage, as part of America's Victory Program. Through early morning until dinner time, the boys work hard, adjusting to farm life day by day quite easily. But trouble brews even in the countryside, in a small rustic cabin not too far away sit two scheming crooks, small-time robbers, who were tired of country living, wanted to see what the big city had to offer. First, though, they needed money just to get there...
The following afternoon, after another hard day of work, the boys come across the pair of hoodlums near farmer Jones' house. Scrapper notices the cone-shaped objects the men were carrying, that Big Words identifies as beehives. Suddenly, the men start banging sticks against the hives, then disappear inside the house while the bees swarm. Something rotten was going on, but the boys couldn't get close to investigate without getting stung. They also don't notice the Guardian climbing in through a rear window, wearing a net over his face to protect him from the swarm. The two hoods inside are caught with Jones' money in their hands. The Guardian "helps" them take a seat, by pushing one of the crooks over a chair, then tossing the sofa at him. Outside, unaware of the events unfolding in the house, the boys gather leaves into a pile in to start a fire. The smoke breaks up the angry swarm, but when they enter the house, they find the Guardian on his knees coughing, with no sign of the other men. Unfortunately, the smoke provided the perfect cover for the crooks to get away. Gabby is more interested in what the Guardian was doing here, taking his presence as proof that he's Jim Harper! The Guardian responds that he's not particular about where he nabs a criminal, then turns Gabby's accusation around, saying how suspicious it was that he always finds the Newsboy Legion where he's working. At least it wasn't a total loss, the men forgot all about the money when they left, meaning they might hang out in the area to try and retrieve it later. Now, the Guardian makes his own escape while the boys search the house, to return to the fields as Jim Harper.
Later in the evening, Jim takes the boys to see a movie in town, as a way to relax after a hard day's work. He pays attention to a small bank, noting it could be a tempting target for those small-time crooks. The theater is so packed that they all have to sit separately, giving him a chance to slip out. It is a picture that Jim knows pretty well, so if the boys ask him questions about it later, he's confident he could answer. He switches outfits to become the Guardian again, and runs down the street to the bank, if only to allay his suspicions. All seems normal at first glance, the bank is locked up tight, a harmless-looking hay-cart parked beside it. When he moves the cart, however, he discovered it was covering a gaping hole that had been cut into the side of the building! So it's not surprising when he finds the two hoods inside trying to steal a safe. They grab pitchforks and charge at the Guardian, who pivots and knocks them over. The police show up later to find the pair hanging by their pants on the pitchforks, ready to be shipped off to prison.
Jim makes it back to the theater just in time. The movie ends and he is ready with his alibi as soon as Scrapper asks, talking about scenes from the film they had just watched, proving he never left his seat. Soon, their farm duties come to an end, with the boys feeling pretty good about themselves for helping provide more food for the nation during wartime. Meanwhile, the two criminals do their own kind of farm work, tilling the field in prison, though not with nearly as much enthusiasm.
Appearing in Newsboy Legion: "Victuals for Victory"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Ezra (Single appearance)
- Horace Hickey (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Mr. Jones (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
Synopsis for Star-Spangled Kid: "Mr. Gadget Goes to Town"
A mysterious billionaire has bought up all the radio airtime in the city, the newspapers read, and except for a single announcement at six o'clock, there will be nothing but static the whole day. It's enough to make people curious, wondering what the lone broadcast could be about. A salesman attracts the attention of the morning streetwalkers with a pitch, demonstrating a palm-sized gadget that spits out real money, creating an easy fortune for anybody who buys one for just a nickel. Sylvester watches from across the street, his instinct telling him the money had to be counterfeit. At his side, Pat hears a shot ring out from a nearby store, so he and Syl change into their Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy outfits. A gaggle of crooks, led by the tinkering criminal, Mr. Gadget, are holding up the poor store clerk as the duo rush in. While they get a few good hits in, it's over after Gadget pulls out a device that sets off a magnesium flash. While Pat and Syl are blinded, the gang gets away with only one item; a picture of a safe door, taken at actual-size for advertising purposes. The shopkeeper tells his rescuers that the door itself was sold already, to the Gotham Jewel Collection where it protects the vault.
Private detectives have been hired to guard the vault tonight. Mr. Gadget meets them as they step off the elevator and offers to show them a trick. In a burst of flame, the vault door vanishes, leaving only a wall, as if there had never been anything there. That's because the vault was on the 11th floor, but thanks to Mr. Gadget fiddling with the elevator controls, the 'P.I.'s were tricked and actually taken to the 12th floor. The "door" that was disintegrated in flame was just the stolen picture. Now, while the detectives are confused, Gadget heads downstairs to crack open the real vault. Once he gets it open, he is again greeted by the Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy waiting inside! Mr. Gadget's first act is to use a device that entwines the duo with wire, buying him enough time to smash and grab a glass case of jewels. In his escape, he sprays a liquid from a fountain pen around the door, a compound that catches fire on contact with air, causing flames to spark and rise between him and the Kid and Stripesy. Pat comes up with a quick solution, pouring the water from a water cooler over himself and Syl, so they can safely run through the flames and continue the pursuit. The shenanigans continue outside, Gadget disperses his loot among pedestrians to create a crowd. At his partner's suggestion, Stripesy announces himself, drawing the crowd's attention towards him, all of them trying to get up close in the hope that they'll secure an autograph with one half of the famous crimefighting duo. The street is now clear enough for Sylvester to continue the chase, finally tackling Mr. Gadget as they round a corner into an alley. Unfortunately for the Star-Spangled Kid, the rest of Gadget's gang was waiting there, and they are about to gang up on the Kid when Stripesy shows up, after ditching the crowd. The patriotic pair are tied up and put in trash cans to await the garbage pickup. Gadget wanted them left alive to see him pull off his "big job", which will have something to do with the radio broadcast tonight.
Later, at the WXYZ Radio station, Mr. Gadget and his thugs prepare for the six o'clock broadcast by stuffing wax in their ears as a small sound device is pulled out of his pocket. The fated hour, over the radios around the city, a pitch noise is sent out, causing the population, including pedestrians and policemen, to pass out unconscious. The effects last for an hour, plenty of time for the gang to rob the city clean before anyone even knows what happened. It'd be the perfect crime, if only Stripesy and the Star-Spangled Kid hadn't shown up just then. Bursting through the door, unaffected by the soundwaves because of the water that seeped into their ears during Stripesy's daring plan to escape from the fire. Mr. Gadget gets a right hook from the Kid as Stripesy deals with the gang. Just one last demonstration, a new invention for when things don't go as planned, Mr. Gadget unleashes a match that produces a cloud of billowing black smoke. The criminal inventor gets away, but his plan for the big job has failed since Stripesy managed to capture his gang. The police deal with the arrests, Sylvester and Pat rush back home to the shower, covered in black ash and soot.
Appearing in Star-Spangled Kid: "Mr. Gadget Goes to Town"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
Locations:
- Gotham City
- WXYZ Radio Station
- WXYZ Radio Station
Synopsis for Penniless Palmer: "The Gold Giving Gadget"
Max Moola, an inventor who built a machine that can turn lead objects into gold. After the news broke, he received an anonymous letter threatening him if he doesn't hand over his machine, so he calls up Penniless Palmer's detective agency to ask for protection. The perpetually poor detective could hardly refuse, especially when Max offers to pay them with a five percent share out of his invention. Surely, a machine that makes gold from lead would be worth millions.
Thieves try to take the gold machine, and its inventor, too! But thanks to Pen's brain and Oxie's brawn, they tracked the gang back to their hideout, and dispatch them with a few heavy punches. As thanks for rescuing him, as well as keeping his invention out of enemy hands, Max Moola raises Pen's promised share to ten percent. Maybe now, Penniless could finally stop being the penniless detective. Max had to dash Pen and Oxie's enthusiasm with the truth. The newspapers got it all wrong... the machine doesn't convert lead into gold, that would be impossible. Rather, it simply covers lead with a gold plating.
It wasn't all bad, though, Max planned on selling it for 500 bucks, which would still give Pen and the gang fifty dollars... too bad the date written on the check only makes it valid for use three years from now.
Appearing in Penniless Palmer: "The Gold Giving Gadget"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Thieves (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Max Moola (Single appearance)
Locations:
Synopsis for Liberty Belle: "South of the Border"
Libby is continuing her good will tour in South America. In front of a crowd gathered in Mexico City, she gives an address on the importance of unity during these trying times, and that together with their northern neighbors in the United States, they will find victory in the war. After Libby is finished, she is met by the Mexican President who thanks her for boosting the morale of his people. During the trip to her next destination at the town of Sans Origine, the train passes the Sierra Madre del Tur mountain range where, according to the stewardess, the bandit leader El Burro currently resides. This becomes apparent after Libby disembarks, finding the small town full of Indian refugees who fled when the banditos took their homes. Whispers spread among the frightened people of El Burro having winged dragons in his control, though Libby dismisses such talk as just superstition. Meanwhile, in Washington D.C., Rick meets with his superior, who orders him to investigate the “winged dragons” rumors. If they turn out to be Japanese planes, it'd mean there was an enemy airfield near US borders. Rick gets his commander's permission to have Liberty Belle investigate. He took a trip to Philadelphia's Independence Hall, to ask old Tom Revere to contact the superheroine. It's not long after Tom brushes a hand gently across the Liberty Bell that the phone rings. It was Libby. Even all the way down in Mexico, Libby's pin, made from the same metal as the liberty bell, had tuned in to the signal and was vibrating. Rick believed he was speaking to Liberty Belle and told her about the suspected airport hidden in the Sierra Madre mountains. Libby agrees to check it out, then hangs up before Rick can say anything else. She hops on a horse and rides into the mountains. A hidden gunman waits in the brush atop a cliff for any snoopers who were getting too close. As Libby rides on a narrow path along the cliff, the gunman fires a shot, sending her and her steed careening over the edge!
Weeks earlier, the bandits and their leader, El Bolo, were approached by some Japanese officers bearing gifts of gold. The General, Nohara, hires El Bolo and his gang to help protect the mountain pass from intruders while the Japanese use the valley for their planes. El Bolo agrees to the job, since he bears no allegiance to Mexico after it listed him a wanted criminal. In the days that follow, the Japanese have rounded up the local Indian tribes to use as laborers. In this way, the landing field is completed in days, and the arrival of the planes start the rumor of "metal dragons" among the fearful locals. It was enough to keep any trespassers away... until now.
The banditos bullet luckily only grazed Libby's scalp. She was able to catch herself on a branch that's protruding from the cliff-face. Still undeterred in her mission, the lady of liberty hoists herself up the cliff to the path above. Moments later, she accidentally wanders straight into a camp where El Bolo and the General are making plans. General Nohara is ready to have her executed when Libby challenges him, catching El Bolo's interest. Always the sportsman, the bandito leader tells the General to accept her challenge, he'll even provide the pistols. This puts Nohara in aa difficult spot, challenged in front of the other men meant his honor was at stake if he didn't accept.
The General and Liberty Belle stand back-to-back, pistols in hand. They each take 12 steps forward. Libby fires her gun first, hitting the General's pistol out of his hand! She finishes with a running swing into his jaw, knocking him to the ground. A Japanese captain attempts to whip her, but she grasps the end and snaps it away! The Japanese General and his men scamper away, pledging to annihilate both Liberty Belle and El Bolo's gang for making him suffer such humiliation. Now that they have a common enemy, Libby convinces El Bolo to join her, for a chance to redeem himself by fighting for Mexico. Her speech lights his fire, and he readies his bandits for battle.
The Japanese forces soon advance on their position, and while El Bolo and his banditos have the high ground they are still outnumbered. El Bolo gets shot by a machine gunner on the opposite cliff. He survives but is too wounded to keep fighting. Meanwhile, the General's men are regrouping down on the airfield, prepping for an airstrike. Libby grabs a lasso and ropes a jutting rock formation under the machine gunner. By staying in his blind spot, she's able to climb close enough to whip the artillery off the edge and send him into dreamland. Next, after she pulls herself up, the lady of liberty starts to push a large boulder over the cliff. After struggling for a minute, she succeeds in causing an avalanche which covers the airfield, grounding the planes indefinitely.
Later that day, the authorities at Sans Origine get a shock when Liberty Belle rides up with a host of Japanese soldiers and banditos in her custody. The wounded El Bolo allows himself to be arrested, while Libby excuses herself to make a quick phone call... The Mexican President agrees to offer El Bolo a military commission rather than jail time. The next day sees Libby Lawrence back at her good will duties making a speech to the crowd. Beside her, the newly reformed El Bolo wearing a military uniform, happy for a chance to serve his country again. When the formalities are over, Libby runs into Rick, who had flown out here to help. Unfortunately for him, it seemed Liberty Belle had come and gone, so Libby offers to entertain him in her place.
Appearing in Liberty Belle: "South of the Border"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- El Bolo (Single appearance)
- General Goto Nohara (Single appearance)
- Captain Tagahaka (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
Locations:
- Mexico
- Mexico City
- Sans Origine
- Washington, D.C.
- Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia
- Independence Hall
- Philadelphia
Items:
Synopsis for Robotman: "The Radium Rogues"
Inside Central Hospital, four men dressed in lab equipment enter the pharmaceutical storage room. The doctors inside are brutally attacked and knocked unconscious. The four men aren't scientists, but thieves, led by "Grabber", who orders his boys to start grabbing the items on their lists. Something in one of the downed scientists' fists catches his eye, and he pries it away. It's a vial labeled "Radium", which he recognizes as a valuable substance worth more than anything on his list. Down the hall, coincidentally, Robotman is being given a tour by Doctor Lear. They find the crooks in the supply room, with bags of stolen chemical products in hand! Grabber smashes two chemical vials on the ground, causing green smoke to cover the room, making a perfect smoke screen! But the photoelectric eyes of Robotman pierce through the smoke, he grabs two of the thieves and holds them tight in his iron grip. Doctor Lear gets the chemical in his eyes and calls out for help, so Robotman has to let go of the crooks to give first aid.
Back at their hideout, Grabber and the gang are discussing what to do with their Radium haul when an announcement over the radio addressed to the thieves gives them pause. The announcer says the large quantity of Radium they stole is extremely dangerous, likely leading to a slow and painful death the longer they're exposed. They need to get rid of it quick! Selling the Radium is no good, it'd take too much time to find a buyer for it. Out on the city streets, Robotman searches for the crooks using a special electroscope to identify the traces of the radium trail. Unfortunately, the neon signs above the shops near Grabber's hideout disrupt the signal. Just across the street is Shaky, one of Grabber's hoodlums, casually dropping the radium on the grass next to him. A cop calls out to him, scaring Shaky enough that he punches the officer and flees. Robotman hears the commotion and meets with the policeman on the ground. Some whack dropped a match on the ground and ran off, the officer tells him. There's no sign of any matches, but the electroscope picks up the radium trail again stronger than before!
Shaky returns to the hideout, confident he got rid of the radium, until Grabber points out something is glowing at his ankle. The radium must've fallen into his pant cuff! Soon after, Robotman bursts through the door, startling the gang. Before things escalate too much, the quick-thinking Grabber cuts a wire with a knife and touches the two severed ends to Robotman's metal body. The metal hero is then strapped to the wall with chains, which he would have a harder time to break out of than rope. With the radium being left on a table nearby, Grabber and the boys leave laughing. Robotman's human brain will be feeling the effects of the Radium's close proximity soon. He has to get out of there. While the chains are made of iron, the floor was built from wood, so he smashes a hole in the floor that causes the table to topple and the radium to crash through the hole. Of course, Radium is a hot substance. A fire starts in the room. It's lucky that Robotman's metal body is immune to flames that aren't at least as hot as a blowtorch. The wall behind him collapses, freeing him from the chains. All he has to do now is put out the fire by patting it down with his hands, then try and find those crooks once more. For the second part, he has come up with a plan.
Grabber's gang reach their second safehouse. For the rest of the day, the paranoid Shaky sits in front of the radio, listening for any police reports. That's how the gang all hear the special announcement; the radium stolen from the hospital is urgently needed for an operation to save a man's life. Whoever delivers it would receive a $25,000 reward plus immunity. They left the radium back at the other hideout, so it'd be a cinch to go get it, since Robotman was probably dead by now. However, when they get there, not only is Robotman still alive and well, but the police are also there waiting for them. Arrests are made, the fake broadcast has fooled the clever criminal Grabber, and the Radium is returned to the hospital.
Appearing in Robotman: "The Radium Rogues"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- Grabber (Single appearance)
- his men ("Shaky" named) (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Doctor Lear (Single appearance)
Locations:
- New York City
- Central Hospital
Items:
- Radium
Notes
- This issue also contains a 4-page humor strip, "Hap Hazy Hypnotist" by Jack Farr.
See Also
