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

Issue Details

Issue #8
Published Summer 1942
Cover Price 0.10 USD
Pages 68
Editing Stan Lee?
Notes Proper sequencing of all of the strips herein by Craig Delich 1-26-08.

Cover Details - "Battling the Sub-Mariner"

Characters The Human Torch; the Sub-Mariner.
Genre superhero
Pencils Alex Schomburg
Inks Alex Schomburg
Notes Proper sequencing of all of the strips herein by Craig Delich 1-26-08.
Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Human Torch (Marvel, 2005 series) #2

1 page Marvel Mystery Comics promo (ad from the publisher) "Marvel Mystery Comics Thrills"

Characters The Patriot; the Angel; The Human Torch & Toro; the Sub-Mariner; Terry Vance; Jimmy Jupiter; the Vision.
Synopsis Illustrated promo ad to remind readers that Timely Comics' Marvel Mystery Comics appears every month.
Genre superhero
Pencils Lee King (signed as Lee)
Inks Lee King (signed as Lee)
Letters typeset
Notes Found on the inside FC. Sequence and all info added by Craig Delich 1-26-08.
Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Human Torch (Marvel, 2005 series) #2

50 page Human Torch and Sub-Mariner story "Human Torch Vs. Sub-Mariner"

Characters The Human Torch [Jim Hammond]; Toro; the Sub-Mariner; V: The Python, Adolf Hitler, Hermann Goring, and Joseph Goebbels; GS: Prof. Horton.
Synopsis With the help of the Nazis, the Python breaks out of Alcatraz, but every time the Sub-Mariner and the Human Torch & Toro make a move against the villain, the super-heroes get into an egoistic fight with each other, allowing the Phython [for the moment] to conduct his reign of terror.
Genre superhero
Pencils Allen Simon; Harry Sahle
Inks Al Gabriele
Notes Story is told in 6 chapters, the last five of which carry titles: Chap. 2: "In Python's Power", Chap. 3: "The Fiery Monster", Chap. 4: "The Phyton Strikes", Chap. 5: Underground Terror", and Chap. 6: "The Amazing Awakening". Synopsis added by Craig Delich 1-26-08.
Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Human Torch (Marvel, 2005 series) #2

2 page text story "The Men Hitler Fears"

Characters Human Torch [illustrated]; Sub-Mariner [in the text only]; Professor Horton [illustrated]; V: Adolf Hitler [illustrated], and mentioned in the text only: Joseph Goebbels, Hermann Goring and Joachim von Ribbentrop.
Synopsis Adolf Hitler is lamenting the loss of another 25 of his best spies, due to the efforts of the Torch and Sub-Mariner, and wonders what can be done about them. Goring suggests that agent seize the Torch's creator, Professor Horton, and have HIM destroy the Torch. In the meantime, Goring was to engineer the escape of the Python from prison and have him attempt to deal with the superheroes.
Genre superhero; adventure
Letters typeset
Notes This illustrated text story is found between Chapters 2 and 3; synopsis added by Craig Delich 1-26-08.
Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Human Torch (Marvel, 2005 series) #2

1 page Krazy Komics advertisement

Characters Ziggy Pig; Toughy Tomcat; Posty Pelican; Snappy Turtle; Dingaling; and others.
Synopsis Illustrated advertisement for Krazy Komics, announcing to readers that the comic will now be published every month.
Genre funny animals
Pencils Lee King (signed as Lee)
Inks Lee King (signed as Lee)
Letters typeset
Notes Found between Chapters 4 and 5; sequence and all info added by Craig Delich 1-26-08.
Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Human Torch (Marvel, 2005 series) #2

1 page U.S. War Bonds and Stamps public service announcement

Characters The Minuteman
Synopsis The publishers donated this space, on behalf of the U.S. Savings Bonds and War Stamps campaign, to published a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Morgenthau, Jr., encouraging the boys and girls of America to buy at least one 10 cent Savings Stamp each week to help the war effort.
Genre fact
Pencils ? [Minute-Man figure]
Inks ? [Minute-Man figure]
Letters typeset
Notes Sequence and all info added by Craig Delich 1-26-08.
Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Human Torch (Marvel, 2005 series) #2

2 page text story "Flight Over Tokyo"

Characters Warren Gates; Major Briggs; Greg Holmes; Bill Halsey.
Synopsis Warren had been stationed in Australia for three months and had not seen any action. When the Major stepped from his office and informed the men that they were going to conduct a raid on Tokyo, he was overjoyed that at last he'd get a crack at the enemy.
Genre war
Script Mickey Spillane (signed)
Letters typeset
Notes Synopsis added by Craig Delich 1-28-08. Reprint note for Primal Spillane from Arthur Lortie, August 2008.
Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Human Torch (Marvel, 2005 series) #2; in Primal Spillane: Early Stories 1941-1942 (Gryphon Books, 2004 series)

2 page Tubby and Tack filler

Characters Tubby; Tack.
Synopsis Strip 1: Pop takes his sons to his favorite fishing hole, only to be surprised that someone else has beat them to the spot! Strip #2: Tubby and Tack decide to visit a fortune teller, but Tubby is convinced that he is a fake.
Genre humor
Script Ray Houlihan (signed)
Pencils Ray Houlihan (signed)
Inks Ray Houlihan (signed)
Letters Ray Houlihan?
Notes The strip has TWO separate one-page stories; both synopses added by Craig Delich 1-26-08.
Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Human Torch (Marvel, 2005 series) #2

1 page Casey McKann filler "Nabbing Japanese Spies"

Characters Casey McKann
Synopsis Casey is suspicious of Japanese men who work in a bakery.
Genre humor
Script [?] Cooey (signed)
Pencils [?] Cooey (signed)
Inks [?] Cooey (signed)
Letters [?] Cooey?
Notes Sequence and all info added by Craig Delich 1-26-08.
Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Human Torch (Marvel, 2005 series) #2

4 page Swoopy the Fearless filler "humor filler"

Characters Swoopy; Wendy.
Synopsis Strip 1: Needing a $100 to get their plane out of hock, Swoopy and Wendy aid a man on the street getting accosted and get the $100.....momentarily! Strip 2: Swoopy and Wendy think they spot a counterfeiter and close in, but are told by him that he's only making $3 dollar bills and that is no crime! Strip 3: Captured by the counterfeiter, our pair lose out when he is captured by a confederate. Strip 4: The two counterfeiters force Swoopy & Wendy to the airfield, where they plane is now out of hock, and force them to fly away from the Police....but an accident lands the crooks in prison and our heroes with the reward!
Genre humor
Script Art Gates (signed)
Pencils Art Gates (signed)
Inks Art Gates (signed)
Letters Art Gates?
Notes Strip consists of four separate, but interconnected one page stories; synopses added by Craig Delich 1-26-08.
Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Human Torch (Marvel, 2005 series) #2

2 page Peculiar People filler "Private Peeps at Preposterous Punks Who Prowl This Planet"

Characters Private Peeps; Elmer Eep; Freddie Flump; Adolf Hitler; Percy Pish; Sidney Sapperz; Mushmouth Myers.
Synopsis Consists of 6 humorous one-panel bits.
Genre humor
Script Basil Wolverton (signed)
Pencils Basil Wolverton (signed)
Inks Basil Wolverton (signed)
Notes Most info provided by Craig Delich 1-26-08.
Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Human Torch (Marvel, 2005 series) #2

1 page Captain America promo (ad from the publisher) "Tops in Thrills, Mystery, Action, Comedy, Patriotism"

Characters Captain America
Synopsis Promotional ad encourages readers to buy Captain America Comics every month and to join his Sentinels of Liberty.
Genre superhero
Pencils Lee King (signed)
Inks Lee King (signed)
Letters typeset
Notes Found on the inside BC. Sequence and all info added by Craig Delich 1-26-08.
Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Human Torch (Marvel, 2005 series) #2

Terry Toons Comics promo (ad from the publisher)

Characters Sarge
Synopsis Illustrated ad for Terry Toon Comics.
Genre humor
Pencils Lee King [as Lee] (signed)
Inks Lee King [as Lee] (signed)
Notes Sequence and all info added by Craig Delich 1-26-08.
Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Human Torch (Marvel, 2005 series) #2