Data courtesy of the Grand Comics Database under Creative Commons license.

Issue Details

Issue #1
Published Winter 1942-43
Cover Price 0.15 USD
Pages 96
Editing M. C. Gaines (managing editor); Sheldon Mayer (story editor)
Notes All story synopses by Craig Delich (Dec. 2005), and revised 8-30-09.

Cover Details

Characters Flash; Green Lantern; Wonder Woman; Wildcat; Scribbly; Ghost Patrol; Red, White & Blue
Genre superhero
Pencils Frank Harry
Inks Frank Harry
Notes Wrap-around cover.
Reprinted In Comic Cavalcade Archives (DC, 2005 series) #1

13 page Wonder Woman story "Mystery of the House of the Seven Gables"

Characters Wonder Woman [Diana Prince]; Steve Trevor; Etta Candy; Tommy Royden; Mr. Kipp (villain); the Nazis (villains)
Synopsis Diana and Steve head out by car to the New England coast at General Darnell's request to keep an eye out for spies and saboteurs. The disappearance of a young boy named Tommy then leads Diana to try and locate him, and she discovers a group of 5th Columnists who are connected to the Nazis that are to come ashore as invaders. Wonder Woman, aided by Steve and Etta Candy, put a stop to the invasion and rescue the boy.
Genre superhero
Script William Moulton Marston [signed as Charles Moulton]
Pencils Harry G. Peter [signed as H. G. Peter]
Inks Harry G. Peter [signed as H. G. Peter]
Reprinted In Comic Cavalcade Archives (DC, 2005 series) #1

8 page Red, White and Blue story "The Smell That Spelled J-A-I-L"

Characters Red Dugan; Blooey Blue; Whitey Smith; Doris West; Professor Leaman; "Truck" Bieler (villain); Rusty (villain)
Synopsis The death of a street cleaner in a fire, and the discovery of gas tanks within the building in which he died, leads Red and Doris to investigate, and they soon are able to tie in the theft of G-2 documents with this incident.
Genre adventure
Script Jerry Siegel
Pencils William Smith
Inks William Smith
Notes Writer credit by Craig Delich, updated 3/24/06, and verified by Craig Delich. The story was edited from its original format in All Star Comics #2 to reflect changing editorial policies to remove all direct or indirect references to swearing, provoctive clothing, and a dead body per Kevin Wilkens (March 24, 2006).
Reprinted From All-Star Comics (DC, 1940 series) #2 [titled in the GCD as [Invisible Ink Gas], modified, see note]; in Comic Cavalcade Archives (DC, 2005 series) #1 [as modified here]

1 page Flying Colors filler

Characters Columbus
Synopsis Fact page on Columbus, which provides info plus illustrates the flag of old Spain and the personal colors of Columbus.
Genre fact
Script John M. Jenks (signed)
Pencils John M. Jenks (signed)
Inks John M. Jenks (signed)
Notes Sequence added by Craig Delich (Dec. 2005).
Reprinted In Comic Cavalcade Archives (DC, 2005 series) #1

8 page The Ghost Patrol story "Hitler Is a Bum!"

Characters Pedro, Fred and Slim (as the Ghost Patrol); Adolf Hitler (villain); the Nazis (villains)
Synopsis While in Germany, the members of the Ghost Patrol fight to save the "freedom of the press" in that nation by challenging the Führer himself!
Genre war
Script Ted Udall (signed)
Pencils Frank Harry
Inks Frank Harry
Reprinted In Comic Cavalcade Archives (DC, 2005 series) #1

2 page Hop Harrigan text story "Japanese Beetle Trouble"

Characters Hop Harrigan; Tank Tinker
Synopsis Hop and Tank are flying along near the Himalayan Mountains when a Japanese fighter suddenly zooms out after them...then mysteriously disappears. Landing, Hop discovers all the mountains in that area are made of rock salt, and that the lake at the bottom of those mountains was so full of salt that its water could support the weight of the Japanese plane that came after them! So they don parachutes and descend to the lake itself, and walk ashore where they discover a hidden, secret Japanese aircraft hanger!
Genre aviation
Letters typeset
Reprinted In Comic Cavalcade Archives (DC, 2005 series) #1

1 page Fat and Slat [as Fuller Phun and Archibald Clubb] filler

Characters Fat; Slat
Synopsis Comprised of three, two panel gags.
Genre humor
Script Ed Wheelan (signed)
Pencils Ed Wheelan (signed)
Inks Ed Wheelan (signed)
Letters Ed Wheelan
Notes Sequence added by Craig Delich (Dec. 2005).
Reprinted In Comic Cavalcade Archives (DC, 2005 series) #1

6 page Minute Movies story "Fingers of Fate"

Characters Kalua (Hazel Dearie); Commander Nosabi (Ralph McSneer); Lt. Charles Dangerfield (Dick Dare); Sgt. Tim McGruff (Fuller Phun); Gen. John March (Andrew Handy)
Synopsis Lt. Dangerfield has arrived back at base in Australia after being rescued from a tiny South Sea isle, where he met Kalua, now his fiancee. He brought back with him a captured Japanese cruiser commander, whom he turned over to Sgt. McGruff while the Lieutenant told his story to the General. It seems Dangerfield's plane was caught in a hurricane-force gale that forced him to bail out over the isle, where he was rescued by Kalua. After recovering, he noticed a portable radio on top of a totem Kalua was worshipping, turned it on and saw that immediately the natives thought he was some sort of god and put him on a throne as their leader. Later, as Dangerfield tended to his signal fire, he noticed a raft approaching and on it was the Japanese cruiser commander, whom he took into custody. Soon he was rescued and now he asks permission to marry the girl....and the General agrees, offering to be his best man.
Genre adventure; humor
Script Ed Wheelan (signed)
Pencils Ed Wheelan (signed)
Inks Ed Wheelan (signed)
Letters Ed Wheelan
Reprinted In Comic Cavalcade Archives (DC, 2005 series) #1

1 page Wheelan Phoni-Tone News filler "Personality Day"

Characters Mme. Rosa Rotunda; John W. Chillblain; Hazel Dearie; Loo Igloo
Synopsis Interesting stories of fabricated "personalities" of the day.
Genre humor
Script Ed Wheelan (signed)
Pencils Ed Wheelan (signed)
Inks Ed Wheelan (signed)
Letters Ed Wheelan
Notes Sequence added by Craig Delich (Dec. 2005).
Reprinted In Comic Cavalcade Archives (DC, 2005 series) #1

8 page Black Pirate story "The Scourge of the Seas"

Characters Black Pirate (Jon Valor); Justin Valor (his son); Queen Bess
Synopsis The Black Pirate and Son are walking along the beach when an English ship, unable to come ashore, fires a cannonball message to them, stating that the good Queen Bess needs their help immediately. Before they can see the Queen, they are told of a huge sea monster that has been causing havoc, so the duo agree to seek out the beast and destroy it.
Genre period
Script Ted Udall
Pencils Sheldon Moldoff (signed as Shelly)
Inks Sheldon Moldoff (signed as Shelly])
Reprinted In Comic Cavalcade Archives (DC, 2005 series) #1

13 page Green Lantern story "The Adventure of Luckless Lenore"

Characters Green Lantern [Alan Scott]; Doiby Dickles; Irene Miller; Lenore Lowell; Doon [Uncle Dinwiddie](villain)
Synopsis Doiby is asked by a young lady for three autographs of his, which she will use to obtain one autograph of the Green Lantern. Investigating, the Emerald Crusader discovers that this woman's life is in real danger, and has been ever since she was born.....from her own Uncle!
Genre superhero
Script Bill Finger
Pencils Lou Ferstadt
Inks Lou Ferstadt
Notes Alan Scott works for Apex Studios in this issue. Green Lantern recites an unusual oath, used in this story only: "Let all power and triumph be mine, in whatever right I do". Revised writer credit by Craig Delich (Dec. 2005). Credit previously given to Ted Udall? Doiby appears in a Green Lantern costume in the splash only.
Reprinted In Comic Cavalcade Archives (DC, 2005 series) #1

10 page Wildcat story "Crime Takes the Count"

Characters Wildcat [Ted Grant]; Stretch Skinner; Joan Fortune [Ted Grant's girlfriend]; Tiger Taffer; Possum Pate
Synopsis Stretch succeeds in getting Ted Grant a match with Tiger Taffer, but is puzzled by the fact that Tiger's manager, Possum Pate, is betting a wad on Grant not being able to lick his fighter that night! And when Grant is kidnapped to prevent his appearance at the fight, Wildcat steps in the solve the dilemma.
Genre superhero
Script Bill Finger
Pencils Irwin Hasen
Inks Irwin Hasen
Reprinted In Comic Cavalcade Archives (DC, 2005 series) #1

1 page text story "Fate and a Mule!"

Characters Tom Marlow; Joe Talbot; Jeff Minstro (villain)
Synopsis Tom Marlow, a blacksmith in Gallway, had a brother-in-law, Joe Talbot, who believed that a fellow named Jeff Minstro had shot Tom's father, the town Sheriff, in the back during a riot, killing him. However, Joe was worried that Jeff would get off because seven of the jury members were his [Jeff's] kinfolk! And free he did go. Tom knew that Jeff was guilty, but figured that fate [or the law of averages] would catch up with this guilty man. And it did!
Genre adventure
Script Jay Marr (signed)
Letters typeset
Notes Sequence added by Craig Delich (Dec. 2005). The last half of page two featured an ad for Picture Stories From the Bible, Old Testament Edition, #3.
Reprinted In Comic Cavalcade Archives (DC, 2005 series) #1

4 page Scribbly story "Scribbly"

Characters Scribbly; Daphne; Sylvester
Synopsis Scribbly has just returned home after some time away, and decides to go and see his love interest, Daphne. He gets her candy and flowers, but then sees her with Sylvester, who is decked out in his military uniform. Dejected, Scribbly is asked to attend a party by some friends of his....a party where he could meet girls, so he decides to go. Low and behold, Daphne is there with Sylvester, who is the center of attention with all the girls, Scribbly gets mad and decides to have it out with Sylvester. All he gets is a black eye! But his friends decide to set a trap for Sylvester and provide Scribbly with some tomatoes to throw at Sylvester at just the right time.....and throw them he does, and then scatters for parts unknown.
Genre humor
Script Sheldon Mayer (signed)
Pencils Sheldon Mayer (signed)
Inks Sheldon Mayer (signed)
Letters Sheldon Mayer
Notes Looks like a reprint.
Reprinted In Comic Cavalcade Archives (DC, 2005 series) #1

13 page The Flash story "Crime's Birthday Party"

Characters The Flash [Jay Garrick]; Joan Williams; District Attorney Morgan; Horseface (villain); Bats (villain)
Synopsis Local gangster Horseface tells his muggs that he plans to celebrate the D.A.'s birthday by turning himself in to the District Attorney. In the days that follows, more "birthday" presents are delivered to the Police, baffling everyone. But the D.A. and Jay Garrick are suspicious, so Jay changes to the Flash when he sees first hand some of those presents present some major headaches to the Police. We discover that Horseface has done all of this to keep the Police off guard while his thugs clean out the town while the Police are off on wild goose chases. But the Flash finally figures out what Horseface is up to and surprises him on his last job before he splits town. Horseface is captured and jailed....on his birthday, of all days.
Genre superhero
Script Gardner F. Fox
Pencils Lou Ferstadt (signed as E. E. Hibbard]
Inks Lou Ferstadt [signed as E. E. Hibbard]
Notes Art credit by Craig Delich, updated 8/04.
Reprinted in Comic Cavalcade Archives (DC, 2005 series) #1