Roy Thomas Presents Planet Comics #1

(September 2012)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 1)

illustration / 2 pages (report information)

Pencils

Leo Morey

Inks

Leo Morey

Colors

?

Indexer Notes

On inside front cover, carried over to first interior page.

Blown up illustration of the second panel, page 3 by Leo Morey from the Flint Baker story in Planet Comics #1.

[Copyright Page] (Table of Contents: 2)

credits, title page / 1 page (report information)

Letters

typeset

Indexer Notes

Special thanks given to Roy Thomas and J. David Spurlock.
Listed as printed in China.
Slipcase ISBN is listed as 978-1-84863-462-6.

Roy Thomas Presents Planet Comics (Table of Contents: 3)

credits, title page / 1 page (report information)

Letters

?; typeset

In 1939 The New York World's Fair (Table of Contents: 4)

illustration / 1 page (report information)

Pencils

Nembhard N. Culin

Inks

Nembhard N. Culin

Colors

Nembhard N. Culin

Letters

Nembhard N. Culin

Reprints

• from a poster print (Nembhard N. Culin, 1939 series)

Indexer Notes

Reproduces a 1939 New York World's Fair poster print created by Nembhard N. Culin.

Foreword by Carmine Infantino (Table of Contents: 5)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 1 page (report information)

Script

Carmine Infantino

Pencils

various (see notes)

Inks

various (see notes)

Colors

various (see notes)

Letters

Carmine Infantino (his signature); typeset

Synopsis

Foreword by Carmine Infantino, recalling his time as a kid reading Planet Comics and how it influenced him years later.

Indexer Notes

Includes small cover reproductions of Flash Gordon Strange Adventure Magazine (CJH Publications, 1936 series) #December 1936, Amazing Stories (Experimenter Publishing Company, 1928 series) #August 1928 (Buck Rogers), Four Color (Dell, 1942 series) # 52 (Little Orphan Annie), Large Feature Comics (Dell, 1939 series) #1 (Dick Tracy), and Single Series (United Features, 1938 series) # 20 (Tarzan).

[Planet Comics 1 - 4] (Table of Contents: 6)

cover reprint (on interior page) / 1 page (report information)

Pencils

Lou Fine; Will Eisner; Charles Sultan (see notes)

Inks

Lou Fine; Will Eisner; Charles Sultan (see notes)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

science fiction

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #1 (January 1940), #2 (February 1940), #3 (March 1940), #4 (April 1940)

Indexer Notes

Cover reprints of the first four issues of Planet Comics.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 7)

table of contents / 1 page (report information)

Letters

typeset

Indexer Notes

Contents page listings.

Planet Comics January 1940 - Issue #1 (Table of Contents: 8)

credits, title page / 1 page (report information)

Pencils

Alex Blum

Inks

Alex Blum

Letters

typeset

Indexer Notes

Breakdown of the story credits for each story from the first issue. Credits originally from the Grand Comics Database and is credited as such.

Background image is from page 5 of the Captain Nelson Cole of the Solar Force in the issue.

Planet Comics Jan. (Table of Contents: 9)

Flint Baker / cover reprint (on interior page) / 1 page (report information)

Pencils

Lou Fine

Inks

Lou Fine

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Flint Baker

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #1 (January 1940)

Indexer Notes

Lou Fine cover pencil and ink credits confirmed by one-time owner of the original art, Roger Hill, and confirmed to him by a conversation he had with Will Eisner (5 January 2010).

Read About This Amazing Free Offer (Table of Contents: 10) (Expand) /

advertisement / 1 page (report information)

The One-Eyed Monster Men from Mars (Table of Contents: 11)

The Planetary Adventures of Flint Baker / comic story / 15 pages (report information)

Script

Dick Briefer (signed)

Pencils

Dick Briefer (signed)

Inks

Dick Briefer (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Fletcher "Flint" Baker (introduction, origin); Harry Parks (freed convict, introduction); Phil Godwin (freed convict, introduction); Cliff Grant (freed convict, introduction, death); Mimi Wilson (New York Globe reporter, introduction); King of Mars [aka the Ruler of Ru] (introduction); Princess Viga (the King's daughter, introduction); Sarko (villain, introduction, death); Sarko's monster horde (villains, many die)

Synopsis

Flint has completed the rocket ship begun by his father and is ready to take off for Mars, but first has three prison convicts freed to serve as his crew. They land on Mars and find the corpse of a former explorer, who leaves a letter warning anyone finding his note to stay away from the dark side of Mars.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #1 (January 1940)

Keywords

New York Globe

Indexer Notes

Reprint lists writer as unknown.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 12)

Auro Lord of Jupiter / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Malcolm Kildale

Inks

Malcolm Kildale

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Early in the twenty-first century, a cruise ship...

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Auro [Hardwich] (introduction, origin); Tara (pet saber-tooth tiger); Professor John Hardwich (Auro's father, introduction, death); Mrs. John Hardwich (Auro's mother, introduction, death); Martha Gale (an assistant pilot, introduiction); King of Neptune (villain, introduction)

Synopsis

After a rocket ship crash that kills his parents, Auro is raised by a saber-tooth tiger. He is approached by a young woman named Martha to help save her friends who have been taken as slaves by the fiendish ruler of Neptune.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #1 (January 1940)

Keywords

Neptune

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 13)

The Red Comet / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Script

Ken Jackson (signed)

Pencils

Ken Jackson ?

Inks

Ken Jackson ?

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Hurtling through space with the speed of light...

Genre

fantasy-supernatural; science fiction

Characters

The Red Comet (introduction); un-named police captain (introduction); The Munitions King [J.G.] (villain, introduction, death); Munition King's war-profiteers (villains, introduction for all, all die)

Synopsis

While the public is amazed and elated that no crimes have been committed for two weeks, the Police feel that their jobs are less secure because of the crime busting activities of the Red Comet. His magical powers seem to draw him like a magnet to the criminal element, and he has rounded them up with amazing speed, taking each to a different uninhabited but inhabitable planet in the universe and dropping them off to fend for themselves.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #1 (January 1940)

Keywords

The Star

Indexer Notes

Script credit suggested by the Who's Who.

Reprint lists unknown for script and Ken Jackson for pencils and inks.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 14)

Captain Nelson Cole of the Solar Force / comic story / 15 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Alex Blum (signed as Alex Boon)

Inks

Alex Blum (signed as Alex Boon)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Sudden danger threatens the inhabitants of the solar...

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Captain Nelson Cole (introduction); Bud (Cole's sidekick, introduction); unnamed President of the Solar Congress; Zan (villain, dictator of Volcus, introduction); Zan's woman (villain, introduction); Zan's Army of robots (villains, introduction for all)

Synopsis

The loss of several Solar Ships forces the President of the Solar Congress to appoint Captain Cole to lead a force against the enemies from outer space. They are captured and the dictator, Zan, intends to turn them into dehumanized robots.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #1 (January 1940)

Keywords

Cosmic Ships; Dynogetic Gas; Planet Volcus

The War Lords of the Moon (Table of Contents: 15)

Spurt Hammond, Planet Flyer / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Henry Kiefer

Inks

Henry Kiefer

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Spurt Hammond (introduction); The Lunerzons (villains, women warriors, introduction for all); The Mooniacs (villains, introduction for all)

Synopsis

Spurt and his companions must fend off the attacks of the Luzerons, who occupy the polar regions of the Moon, and who are in the business of robbing interplanetary transports.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #1 (January 1940)

Keywords

Moon

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 16)

Buzz Crandall and the Space Patrol / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Script

? [as Bob Jordan (byline)]

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Crossing through space in their atom-powered ship, Buzz...

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Buzz Crandall (introduction); Dr. Curan (scientist, introduction); Nancy Curan (Dr. Curan's daughter, introduction); The Sharkmen (villains, introduction, death)

Synopsis

Buzz and his crew must face the Sharkmen, semi-intelligent living under the murky waters of Neptune, who have captured Dr. Curan and other members of his Neptune expedition.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #1 (January 1940)

Keywords

Neptune

The Man Who Stole a World! (Table of Contents: 17)

Quorak, Space Pirate / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Alvin Charles (signed as Albert Charles)

Inks

Alvin Charles (signed as Albert Charles)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Quorak (villain, Earth scientist, introduction); Lt. Gary Blake (introduction); Dean (astronomer, introduction); Joan Perry (introduction, radio operator, only appearance); unnamed World President (introduction)

Synopsis

A former Earth scientist takes up residence on a far distant planetoid, and threatens to rule the universe and destroy all traces of civilization. His first target is the Planet Pluto, which he attempts to pull from its orbit by a strange infra-red ray invention of his.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #1 (January 1940)

Keywords

India; Planet Pluto; Planetoid Spectremus; year 2000 A.D.

Indexer Notes

Reprint lists unknown for pencils and inks.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 18) (Expand) /

promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 19) (Expand) /

advertisement / 1 page (report information)

The Harvey Horrors are Here! (Table of Contents: 20) (Expand) /

promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

Planet Comics February 1940 - Issue #2 (Table of Contents: 21)

credits, title page / 1 page (report information)

Pencils

Henry Kiefer

Inks

Henry Kiefer

Letters

typeset

Indexer Notes

Breakdown of the story credits for each story from the first issue. Credits originally from the Grand Comics Database and is credited as such.

Background image is from page 4 of the Spurt Hammond, Planet Flyer story in Planet Comics #2.

[Planet Comics 2] (Table of Contents: 22)

Flint Baker / cover reprint (on interior page) / 1 page (report information)

Pencils

Will Eisner

Inks

Will Eisner

Colors

?

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Flint Baker

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #2 (February 1940)

Indexer Notes

Art credits verified by Roy Thomas.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 23) (Expand) /

advertisement / 1 page (report information)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 24)

Planet Payson / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

Herman Bolstein (credited as Morley Starr)

Pencils

George Tuska

Inks

George Tuska

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Several miles above sea level towers Prof. Sandow's observatory:

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Planet Payson (introduction); Professor Sandow (astronomer, introduction); Roland (introduction); The Hawkmen (introduction); Buzzlark (villain, introduction, death); Buzzlark's men (villains, introduction for all, many die)

Synopsis

Professor Sandow detects strange flashes among the clouds, so Payson and Roland investigate, and discover a castle on a cloud, where they discover eerie Hawkmen who seek help in eliminating a war between the clouds!

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #2 (February 1940)

Keywords

Electro Tubes; Sea Level Towers; Sting Ray Gun

Indexer Notes

Script credit suggested by the Who's Who.

Reprint volume lists script as unknown.

Cave of the Demons ["Flint Baker, Mimi, and his two aids plan..."] (Table of Contents: 25)

The Adventures on Mars of ... Flint Baker / comic story / 15 pages (report information)

Script

Herman Bolstein (credited as Stari Gayza)

Pencils

Art Peddy ?; Bob Powell ?

Inks

Art Peddy ?; Bob Powell ?

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Fletcher "Flint" Baker; Mimi Wilson; Princess Viga; unnamed Martian scientist (villain, introduction, death); the scientist's monster (villain, introduction, death)

Synopsis

Planning to return to Earth after their adventures on Mars, Flint and Mimi are approached by Princess Viga, who begs them to stay and help defend her people from a terrifying monster.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #2 (February 1940)

Indexer Notes

The story title is taken from the original cover blurb.

Script credit suggested by the Who's Who.

Reprint volume credits Bob Powell.

The Dashing, Slashing Adventure of the Great Solinoor Diamond (Table of Contents: 26)

Tiger Hart of Crossbone Castle on the Planet Saturn / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Script

Fletcher Hanks (credited as Carlson Merrick)

Pencils

Fletcher Hanks (credited as Carlson Merrick)

Inks

Fletcher Hanks (credited as Carlson Merrick)

Colors

?

Letters

Fletcher Hanks

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Tiger Hart (introduction); Zip (introduction); Queen Hilda (introduction); Turk the Terrible (villain, introduction); Talon (villain, introduction, death)

Synopsis

Tiger Hart rescues the captive Queen Hilda from the clutches of Turk the Terrible, who is holding her in exchange for the Great Solinoor diamond.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #2 (February 1940)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 27)

Spurt Hammond, Planet Flyer / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Henry Kiefer

Inks

Henry Kiefer

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

A pound of coal is insignificant, but a...

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Lieutenant Spurt Hammond; Amoura (Queen of Venus, introduction); Prince Khangiz (villain, Red Master of Mars, introduction)

Synopsis

Spurt is sent to the planet Venus in order to obtain a supply of Radia-Tronite crystal which is needed to supply power to America's generators, leading to a war between America and Mars.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #2 (February 1940)

Keywords

Mars; Radia-Tronite; Venus; year 40000

The Earth Queen's Last Refuge (Table of Contents: 28)

text story / 1.5 pages (report information)

Script

? [as Don Varick] (credited)

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Queen Lais; Commander Lothain; Ma'Gloon (villain, traitor to Earth, death); Betelgeuzians (villains)

Synopsis

The Queen and Commander land on a little known planetoid known as Cathoid after escaping from the Red Fleet of Betelgeux, whose mission is to wipe out all Earth craetures in the universe!

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #2 (February 1940)

Keywords

Brorsens Comet; Defiance III (a spaceship)

Indexer Notes

Story is continued from Planet Comics #1.

A Bike for You (Table of Contents: 29) (Expand) /

advertisement / 0.5 page (report information)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 30)

Buzz Crandall of the Space Patrol / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

? [as Bob Jordan (byline)]

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

While at the bottom of the seas that cover...

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Buzz Crandall; Dr. Coran [aka Curan] (scientist); Sandra Coran [aka Curan] (the doctor's daughter); Sinfo (villain, scientist, introduction, death); the Crab-Men (villains, introduction for all)

Synopsis

Buzz, the doctor and his daughter are attacked by mysterious Crab-Men at the bottom of the seas covering Neptune, are captured and taken to the lair of the evil Sinfo, who controls the creatures, and who intends to use his captaives as guinea pigs.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #2 (February 1940)

Keywords

Neptune

Indexer Notes

Oddity: In this story, the spelling of the doctor and his daughter's last names are alternately known as "Coran" and "Curan", and the daughter's name is now Sandra (it was Nancy in issue #1).

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 31)

Captain Nelson Cole of the Solar Force / comic story / 15 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Malcolm Kildale (pages 10-15); ? (pages 1-9)

Inks

Malcolm Kildale (pages 10-15); ? (pages 1-9)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Captain Cole, I want you to take a...

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Captain Nelson Cole [becomes "Torro" in this story only with magic clothing and whip]; Z-X (Cole's boss); Berton (member of Cole's crew); Ruler of Zog (introduction); a two-headed giant (villain, introduction, death)

Synopsis

Cole is ordered to take a large fleet to the Planet Zog to take on a giant who is extracting tribute from Zog's poor people.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #2 (February 1940)

Keywords

Dwight Field; Planet Zog; Washington D.C.

Indexer Notes

The giant's heads are of "husband and wife".

The reprint volume lists only Malcolm Kildale as sole person on pencils and inks.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 32)

Auro Lord of Jupiter / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Herman Bolstein

Pencils

R. Louis Golden (signed as R. L. Golden)

Inks

R. Louis Golden (signed as R. L. Golden)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Auro is an Earthman who came to Jupiter...

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Auro [aka Lord of Jupiter]; Ava (introduction); Agra (villain, introduction, death)

Synopsis

At one of his famed gigantic banquets, Auro is pulled aside by one of the servants, Ava, and told that he must flee before the murderer of her parents, Agra, arrives to kill him.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #2 (February 1940)

Keywords

Jupiter

Indexer Notes

Script credit suggested by the Who's Who.

HS notes that, despite the Golden credit, the art looks more like Malcolm Kildale than Golden.

The final panel blurb provides the title to next issue's story, "The Dragon God".

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 33) (Expand) /

promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 34) (Expand) /

advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Classic ACG Titles Only from PS Artbooks... (Table of Contents: 35) (Expand) /

promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

Planet Comics March 1940 - Issue #3 (Table of Contents: 36)

credits, title page / 1 page (report information)

Pencils

Bob Powell ?

Inks

? (shop)

Letters

?; typeset

Indexer Notes

Breakdown of the story credits for each story from the first issue. Credits originally from the Grand Comics Database and is credited as such.

Background image is from the first panel on the original page 12 of the The Planetary Adventures of Flint Baker story in Planet Comics #3.

The Weird Void of Outer Space (Table of Contents: 37)

cover reprint (on interior page) / 1 page (report information)

Pencils

Will Eisner

Inks

Will Eisner

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Flint Baker

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #3 (March 1940)

Calling All Manhunters! Can You Solve a Crime? (Table of Contents: 38) (Expand) /

Bull's-Eye Bannon / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 39)

The Planetary Adventures of Flint Baker on Pluto / comic story / 13 pages (report information)

Script

Herman Bolstein (credited as Starr Gayza)

Pencils

Witmer Williams ?; Bob Powell ?; Dick Briefer ?

Inks

? (shop)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Bidding goodbye to their Martian friends and Princess...

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Fletcher "Flint" Baker; Mimi Wilson; Plutonian King (villain, introduction); The Plutonians (villains, introduction for all)

Synopsis

Instead of returning to Earth, Mimi sets the controls to alter the course and they land on Pluto, out of fuel. Immediately, Flint is attacked by weird half-man, half-amphibian creatures and captured.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #3 (March 1940)

Keywords

Disintegrator Ray; Pluto

Indexer Notes

Script credit suggested by the Who's Who.

This reprint credits Powell with pencils.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 40)

Amazona the Mighty Woman / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

? [as Wilson Locke (byline)]

Pencils

Alex Blum ?; Dan Zolnerowich ?

Inks

?; ? (shop)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

In the vast cold reaches of the far...

Genre

science fiction; adventure

Characters

Amazona (introduction; origin); Blake Manners (newspaperman, explorer, introduction, only appearance); Hennigan (Blake's newspaper Editor, introduction); unnamed cab driver (introduction); gang of jewel robbers (villains, introduction for all, most die)

Synopsis

Amazonia and her people, the last survivors of a super race that perished during the period of the last ice age, and who live in the far north reaches of the Arctic, are visited by the only survivor of an expedition. Wanting to return to America, a land they know nothing about, Blake soon finds himself accompanied on the trip by Amazona, who is bored with her true home.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #3 (March 1940)

Indexer Notes

This reprint credits Blum with the pencils.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 41)

Red Comet / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Script

Ken Jackson ? (signed as Major Thorp)

Pencils

Ken Jackson ?; Alex Blum ?

Inks

?

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Red Comet, mystery explorer of the universe, cruising...

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Red Comet; Golo (villain, ruler of the giants, introduction); the Giants (villains, introduction for all, many die)

Synopsis

While crusing the universe, Red Comet gets a strange message from a ruler on Jupiter, who challenges the entire solar system to battle with his forces.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #3 (March 1940)

Keywords

Jupiter

Indexer Notes

Hames Ware suggested Don Lynch or Newt Alfred as possibilities for penciler.

Script and penciler credits from this reprint.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 42)

Spurt Hammond, Planet-Flyer / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Henry Kiefer

Inks

Henry Kiefer

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

...is passing through space within the orbit of...

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Spurt Hammond; Princess Zilla (introduction); Radgio (villain, Zilla's Prime Minister, introduction, death); Radgio's Councilmen (villains, introduction for all); Radgio's monsters (villains, introduction for all, some die)

Synopsis

While cruising near Mercury, Spurt's Astragraph picks up the images of a young girl being roughly seized by brutal captors, and heads to the planet to investigate. He saves Princess Zilla, and learns that her Prime Minister is turning people into monsters, seeking to conquer the world.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #3 (March 1940)

Keywords

Astragraph; Mercury

The Lizard-Men of Alpha Astra (Table of Contents: 43)

text story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

? [as Lin Davies] (credited)

Pencils

? (spot illustrations)

Inks

? (spot illustrations)

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Captain Dexter Ames; Doctor Phillips; Cara Phillips (the doctor's daughter); Sept Morgan (ship's Engineer); Gunner Hatch (crew member); The Lizard Men (villains, many die)

Synopsis

Ames and Phillips visit a mystery planet and come face to face with rodent-faced Lizard Men!

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #3 (March 1940)

Keywords

Columbus (a space ship); Planet Alpha Astra

Indexer Notes

Story occurs in the year 21,000 A.D.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 44)

Buzz Crandall of the Space Patrol / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Script

? [as Bob Jordan (byline)]

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Lieutenant of the Space Patrol, Buzz Crandall's life...

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Lieutenant Buzz Crandall; Sabdra Coran; Moon Bats (villains); Lunar Land Squid (villain, death)

Synopsis

Sandra and Buzz report to Post 82 on the Moon, and discover that all communication with Post 83 has been cut off, so the pair go and investigate.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #3 (March 1940)

Keywords

Autoped; Cosmic Gun; Post 82; The Moon

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 45)

Captain Nelson Cole of the Solar Force / comic story / 12.75 pages (report information)

Script

? [as Beekman Terrill (byline)]

Pencils

Leonard Frank

Inks

Leonard Frank

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Pirate ships attack defenseless space transports.

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Captain Nelson Cole; unnamed Chief of the Solar Force; Felon (villain, space pirate leader, introduction, death?); Space Pirates (villains, introduction for all, many die)

Synopsis

The Chief of the Solar Force puts Captain Cole in charge of finding the space pirates that are attacking defenseless space transports.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #3 (March 1940)

Keywords

Iconoscope

The Case of the Diamond Death: Case 1: File-A: Clue No. 4 (Table of Contents: 46)

Bull's-Eye Bannon / comic story / 0.25 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Bob Powell

Inks

Bob Powell

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

detective-mystery

Characters

Bulls-Eye Bannon; Tom Peerce (mention only, death); Bonse (villain); two unnamed criminals (villains)

Synopsis

Bannon captures the last suspect in the murder of Tom Peerce.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #3 (March 1940)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 47)

Auro Lord of Jupiter / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Herman Bolstein

Pencils

R. Louis Golden (signed as R. L. Golden)

Inks

R. Louis Golden (signed as R. L. Golden)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Auro, an Earthman, is King of Jupiter, by...

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Auro (King of Jupiter); Auro's unnamed guard; The Dragon Man (villain, introduction, death)

Synopsis

A strange character approaches Auro's throne and asks him of he intends to wipe out a dragon responsible for the deaths of many of Auro's people. Soon Auro learns that this man, called the Dragon Man, is, in fact, the dragon.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #3 (March 1940)

Keywords

Jupiter

Indexer Notes

Script credit suggested by the Who's Who.

The blurb of last issue's story indicated that the story for this issue was "The Dragon God."

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 48)

Mysteries of the Universe / comic story / 0.5 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

There is no surface on the sun, it...

Genre

non-fiction; maths & science

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #3 (March 1940)

Indexer Notes

Illustrated, two panel factual information featurette on the origin of the Earth and the fact there is no surface to the Sun.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 49) (Expand) /

advertisement / 0.5 page (report information)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 50) (Expand) /

promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 51) (Expand) /

advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Roy Thomas Presents The Heap (Table of Contents: 52) (Expand) /

The Heap / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

Planet Comics April 1940 - Issue #4 (Table of Contents: 53)

credits, title page / 1 page (report information)

Pencils

Alex Blum ?; Dan Zolnerowich ?

Inks

Dan Zolnerowich ?; ? (shop)

Letters

typeset

Indexer Notes

Breakdown of the story credits for each story from the first issue. Credits originally from the Grand Comics Database and is credited as such.

Background image is from the first panel on the original page 2 of the The Red Comet story in Planet Comics #4.

Slave Planet; Space Islands of Destruction (Table of Contents: 54)

Flint Baker / cover reprint (on interior page) / 1 page (report information)

Pencils

Charles Sultan

Inks

Charles Sultan

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Flint Baker

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #4 (April 1940)

Wanted! (Table of Contents: 55) (Expand) /

Bull's-Eye Bannon / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

Slave Planet (Table of Contents: 56)

Flint Baker / comic story / 11 pages (report information)

Script

Herman Bolstein (credited as Starr Gayza)

Pencils

Art Peddy

Inks

Art Peddy; ?

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Flint and Mimi, are returning from an adventure on a distant planet...

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Fletcher "Flint" Baker; Mimi Wilson; Parks (crew member); "The Great Eye" (villain, introduction, death?); "The Great Ear" (villain, introduction); "The Great Mouth" (villain, introduction); space monsters (villains, creatures, some die)

Synopsis

On their way back to Earth, Flint and Mimi are attacked by a space monster as they pass the planet Jupiter, and when others threaten,the crew decides to land on Jupiter. There they face a threat of The Great Eye, The Great Ear and The Great Mouth.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #4 (April 1940)

Keywords

City of Zu; Jupiter

Indexer Notes

The story title is taken from the original cover.

HS notes that the last three pages show evidence of Eisner.

Script credit suggested by the Who's Who.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 57)

Auro Lord of Jupiter / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Herman Bolstein (credited as Nick Charles)

Pencils

Bob Powell

Inks

Bob Powell

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Auro and his loyal followers save the universe...

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Auro [also as Thogra]; Jano (Prince of Saturn, introduction); Thogra (villain, Jano's uncle, a Saturnian, introduction, death)

Synopsis

The people inhabiting Auro's planet gather to watch a strange space ship hurtling from space and landing into a lake. When Auro investigates, he discovers the ship contains a young Prince of Saturn who was shot into space by his madman uncle.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #4 (April 1940)

Keywords

Saturn

Indexer Notes

Art credits suggested by the Who's Who.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 58)

The Red Comet / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Script

Ken Jackson (credited as Arthur King)

Pencils

Alex Blum ?; Dan Zolnerowich ?

Inks

Dan Zolnerowich ?; ? (shop)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

The traveler through space, whose magic prowess adds...

Genre

science fiction

Characters

The Red Comet; unnamed Earth explorers

Synopsis

While cruising in outer space, he Comet spots an Earth ship heading directly toward Vegeto: The Planet of Deadly Planets, and he decides to follow them down and save them before the planet's vegetation destroys them.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #4 (April 1940)

Keywords

Vegeto

Indexer Notes

Art credits suggested by the Who's Who.

Oddity: The Red Comet shrinks down and communicates with termites (ala Ant-Man).

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 59)

Captain Nelson Cole of the Solar Force / comic story / 13 pages (report information)

Script

? [as Beekman Terrill (byline)]

Pencils

Charles Sultan

Inks

Charles Sultan

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

A banquet celebrating the third centenary of the...

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Captain Nelson Cole; Felon (villain)

Synopsis

As Captain Cole is being recognized as guest of honor at the Third Centenary of the Solar Police Force, suddenly a death ray strikes and kills a number of dancers, then seeks him out. Cole investigates the ray and discovers that his enemy, Felon, is behind it, so Cole follows his foe to Earth, offering his services to aggressor nations.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #4 (April 1940)

Keywords

Mars; Solar Police Force

Indexer Notes

Art credits from this reprint.

Mist Men of Mercury (Table of Contents: 60)

text story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

? [as Arnot Bissel] (credited)

Pencils

Gene Fawcette ? (spot illustrations)

Inks

? (spot illustrations)

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Kirk; Hoffer (scientist); the Mist Men

Synopsis

Kirk was spinning out of control through space after escaping from a concentration camp on Earth, being placed there by a mad dictator who was going to execute him for a crime he never committed. He lands on Mercury by chance and discovers the eerie Mist Men.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #4 (April 1940)

Keywords

Black Forest; Mercury

Space Islands of Destruction (Table of Contents: 61)

Spurt Hammond, Planet Flyer / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

? [as Wm. S. Mott (byline)]

Pencils

Henry Kiefer

Inks

Henry Kiefer

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

In the offices of the American Interspace Lines...

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Spurt Hammond; Janice Dale (introduction); Mercurian pirates (villains, introduction for all)

Synopsis

Spurt is sent by his superior ot Mercury to battle the dreaded beaked men who wear detachable bat wings and have been attacking the commerce routes and taking hostages for ransom.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #4 (April 1940)

Keywords

Mercury

Indexer Notes

Story title is taken from the original cover blurb.

Story occurs in the year 25000.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 62)

Buzz Crandall of the Space Patrol / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

? [as Bob Jordan (byline)]

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Adventure at the center of the Moon.

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Lieutenant Buzz Crandall; Doctor Curan [aka Curran]; Sandra Curan (the doctor's daughter); Dr. Zynnon (villain, introduction, death)

Synopsis

Dr. Curan brings desperate news from the Earth to Lt. Crandall that the Moon is going to explode due to the build-up of hydrogen gas at its core. Unfortunately for them, one of the passengers invited along for the trip, Dr. Zynnon, has an intense hatred for mankind and seeks to destroy them.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #4 (April 1940)

Keywords

Moon

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 63)

Kenny Carr of the Martian Lancers / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Script

? [as Stan Ford (byline)]

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Kenny Carr's term of enlistment with the service has ended -- and he intends to go back to Earth...

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Captain Kenny Carr (introduction); Dwight (Carr's service buddy); unnamed Colonel; enemy soldiers (villains, half die)

Synopsis

Kenny's term of enlistment in the service has ended and he intends to return to Earth, even though the Colonel and Dwight scheme to get him to re-enlist. Unbeknownst to them, their plot turns out to be for real and Carr re-ups to help repel the invaders.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #4 (April 1940)

Keywords

Basha; Kakar

Indexer Notes

Only appearance, even though the story seems to imply that this is a continued story from somewhere, and the final blurb indicates that Carr will return in the next issue.

This reprint lists Larry Antonette as penciler.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 64)

Gale Allen of the Women's Space Battalion / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Script

? [as Fred Nelson (byline)]

Pencils

Ray Burnley ?

Inks

Ray Burnley ?

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Captain Jack North of the Universal Space Patrol...

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Gale Allen and the Women's Space Battalion (introduction for all); Captain Jack North (Universal Space Patrol member, introduction); The Plutonians (villains, introduction for all, some die)

Synopsis

Awaiting the return of a scouting party, North receives an urgent SOS from the group, stating that they were captured by pirates from Pluto. North asks the commandant for help and Gale Allen and her Women's Space Battalion arrive to help out, much to his disdain.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #4 (April 1940)

Keywords

Pluto; Saturn

Indexer Notes

On the original cover, this feature is billed as "Gale Allen of the Girls' Space Patrol."

Reprint lists "R. A. Burley" as penciler.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 65)

Space Facts / comic story / 0.75 page (report information)

Script

? [by Lunar] (signed)

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

The Ancient Egyptians believed that the Milky Way...

Genre

non-fiction; maths & science

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #4 (April 1940)

Keywords

Egyptians; Moon; Sun

Indexer Notes

Amazing space facts are presented in four separate illustrated panels.

Case 2....File-A....Clue 4 (Table of Contents: 66)

The Case of the Frightened Killer / comic story / 0.25 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Bob Powell

Inks

Bob Powell

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

detective-mystery

Characters

Bull's-Eye Bannon; Nora Earl (Dean's daughter-in-law); Clarence Dean (Earl's younger son); Miss Kane (a nurse)

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #4 (April 1940)

Indexer Notes

The 4th and final clue is provided in Case 2 and which Junior Manhunters of American are asked to solve and discover the identity of the true guilty person.

The Strongest Man in the Universe (Table of Contents: 67)

Jim Giant, the Strongest Man in the Universe / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Script

? [as Ned Small (byline)]

Pencils

Alex Blum ?

Inks

Alex Blum ?

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Jim Giant (introduction); an unnamed dictator to be (villain, introduction)

Synopsis

Giant must face fierce men from the North Pole who travel in strange land sleds that can reach speeds of 100mph and are armed with ray guns, who suddenly attack North America.

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #4 (April 1940)

Indexer Notes

Art revision from Alex Blum to ? by Craig Delich. The Who's Who indicates that Blum did not work on this feature and no extant evidence exists that proves otherwise.

Only appearance, even though the final blurb indicates that Giant will back in the next issue.

Reprint pencils and inks listed as by Alex Blum.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 68) (Expand) /

promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 69) (Expand) /

advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Planet Comics Only from PS Artbooks... (Table of Contents: 70) (Expand) /

promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

1949 - 2009 Fantasy & Science Fiction (Table of Contents: 71) (Expand) /

promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

Available Now from PS Artbooks (Table of Contents: 72) (Expand) /

The Soho Devil! / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

Only Available from PS Artbooks (Table of Contents: 73) (Expand) /

promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 74)

blank page(s) / 1 page (report information)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 75)

illustration / 2 pages (report information)

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Colors

?

Genre

science fiction

Indexer Notes

On last interior page, carried over to last inside back cover.

Blown up illustration of the second panel, page 5 from the Buzz Crandall of the Space Patrol story in Planet Comics #3.

January to April 1940, Issues 1 - 4 (Table of Contents: 76)

illustration / 1 page (report information)

Pencils

Lou Fine; Will Eisner; Charles Sultan (see notes)

Inks

Lou Fine; Will Eisner; Charles Sultan (see notes)

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

Genre

science fiction

Reprints

• from Planet Comics (Fiction House, 1940 series) #1 (January 1940), #2 (February 1940), #3 (March 1940), #4 (April 1940)

Indexer Notes

Back cover.

Barcode and cover reproductions of the first four issues of Planet Comics.