Marvel Mystery Comics #16

(February 1941)

[Pinhead and His Underworld Army] (Table of Contents: 1)

Human Torch / comic story / 15 pages (report information)

Script

Carl Burgos (signed)

Pencils

Carl Burgos (signed)

Inks

Carl Burgos (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

Howard Ferguson

Genre

superhero

Characters

The Human Torch [Jim Hammond]; Mayor Hawkins; Pinhead (villain, introduction, death); Wickedkop (villain, introduction); Mike (villain)

Universe

Marvel : mainstream

Synopsis

The mayor informs the Torch that 5th columnists under a man named Pinhead have entrenched themselves in the city. He wants the Flaming Fury to head up a new branch to deal with undesirable elements: the Suicide Squad!

Reprints

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #4 ([April] 2009)
• in Timely's Greatest: The Golden Age Human Torch by Carl Burgos Omnibus (Marvel, 2019 series) (2019)

Indexer Notes

Plot crossover w/the Sub-Mariner story; continued next issue. At the end of the story, the editors inform readers that Marvel Mystery #17 will feature a Torch-Namor team-up, as well as a color, autographed cover reproduction of the Torch on the backcover. Last note added by Craig Delich 2009-8-4.

[The Nazi Invasion Tunnel] (Table of Contents: 2)

Namor the Sub-Mariner / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

Bill Everett (signed)

Pencils

Bill Everett (signed)

Inks

Bill Everett (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

Bill Everett

Genre

superhero

Characters

The Sub-Mariner [Namor]; Luther Robinson; Lynne Harris; Herr Kopf (villain, introduction); Heinrich (villain); Wilhelm (villain); the Nazis (villains, some die)

Universe

Marvel : mainstream

Synopsis

Namor, Luther and Lynne head for the coast of France, hoping to turn the tide of the war. They discover the Nazis are building a massive tunnel underneath the ocean through which they plan to invade Britain and destroy it. They learn that the Japanese also have such a tunnel and Namor decides to call the Torch into the fray.

Reprints

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #4 ([April] 2009)
• in Timely's Greatest: The Golden Age Sub-Mariner by Bill Everett - The Pre-War Years Omnibus (Marvel, 2019 series) (2019)

Indexer Notes

Plot cross-over with Human Torch story; continued in next issue.

[Slaves of Prince Omei] (Table of Contents: 3)

Electro / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Steve Dahlman (signed)

Inks

Steve Dahlman (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

adventure; superhero

Characters

Electro; Professor Philo Zog; Casey (policeman); Clancy (policeman); Joe (fireman); Bill (workman); Prince Omei (villain, introduction, death); Bull (villain, death)

Synopsis

A vicious gang czar hypnotizes Professor Zog via a television broadcast and plans to use Electro to overcome the nation.

Reprints

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #4 ([April] 2009)

Indexer Notes

Writer revision from Steve Dahlman to ? by Craig Delich 2009-8-4. The Who's Who lists NO specific writer for this strip.

Death Trap (Table of Contents: 4)

text story / 1.67 pages (report information)

Script

Andrew McWhiney (signed)

Pencils

Harry Ramsey (signed as R. V. H.)

Inks

Harry Ramsey (signed as R. V. H.)

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

Genre

adventure

Characters

Larry; Nick; the Nazis (villains, some die)

Synopsis

Although the British government has ordered two R.A.F. pilots to ground their strange new aircraft, they disobey and use it to attack and defeat the enemy.

Reprints

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #4 ([April] 2009)

Indexer Notes

Art credits added by Craig Delich 2009-8-4.

[Statement of Ownership] (Table of Contents: 5)

statement of ownership / 0.33 page (report information)

Script

?

Letters

typeset

Reprints

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #4 ([April] 2009)

Indexer Notes

Lists Abraham Goodman as Publisher, and Martin Goodman as Editor, Managing Editor and Business Manager.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 6)

The Vision / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

Jack Kirby ?; Joe Simon ?

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Jack Kirby

Colors

?

Letters

Jack Kirby

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Barney Bailey, prominent showman, astounds his world-wide public with the most unique circus ever viewed by a moderen audience!

Genre

superhero

Characters

The Vision [Aarkus]; Barney Bailey (circus showman, death); Matt Carson (Bailey's press agent)

Universe

Marvel : mainstream

Synopsis

The Vision battles prehistoric creatures that are part of a traveling circus that have escaped, frightened by a storm.

Reprints

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #4 ([April] 2009)
• in Mystic Comics 70th Anniversary Special (Marvel, 2009 series) #1 (October 2009)
• in Timely's Greatest: The Golden Age Simon & Kirby Omnibus (Marvel, 2019 series) (2019)

Indexer Notes

Inker credit from Greg Theakston, via the GCD Error List (2008-4-5); the original indexer credited Joe Simon.

[The Rochell Murder Mystery] (Table of Contents: 7)

Terry Vance, the School Boy Sleuth / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

Ray Gill (signed)

Pencils

Bob Oksner (signed)

Inks

Bob Oksner (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

detective-mystery

Characters

Terry Vance; Dr. Watson; Deadline Dawson (cub newspaper reporter); Scoop O'Brien (newspaper reporter); Pete (deep sea diver); Fred Rochelle (death); Janice Rochell (Fred's daughter); Boss Pinelli (villain, introduction); Butch (villain); Spud (villain)

Universe

Marvel : mainstream

Synopsis

After he is overdue paying off his gambling debts, Fred Rochell is discovered dead. Terry, Deadline and company decide to track down the culprits.

Reprints

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #4 ([April] 2009)

[Karl Schwab's Lightning War] (Table of Contents: 8)

The Angel / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gustavson ?; Ray Gill ?

Pencils

Paul Gustavson (signed)

Inks

Paul Gustavson (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

Paul Gustavson

Genre

superhero

Characters

The Angel [Thomas Halloway]; Karl Schwab (villain, introduction, death); Hoffman (villain); Bromberg (villain)

Universe

Marvel : mainstream

Synopsis

The Angel battles Karl Schwab, who uses men garbed in rubber suits to invade New York City from the sewer system.

Reprints

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #4 ([April] 2009)

Indexer Notes

Gustavson credits from Terry Gustafson, son of Paul Gustavson.

[Showdown with Rajah Sarput] (Table of Contents: 9)

Ka-Zar the Great / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

Ben Thompson ?

Pencils

Ben Thompson (signed)

Inks

Ben Thompson (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

jungle

Characters

Ka-Zar the Great [David Rand]; Zar (a lion); Pindar (an eagle); Trajah (an elephant); Rajah Sarput (villain, death)

Universe

Marvel : mainstream

Synopsis

Arriving back in the Belgian Congo, Ka-Zar and Zar learn of an evil man killing the animals of the jungle, and the jungle king vows to stop him at all costs.

Reprints

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #4 ([April] 2009)