USA Comics #1

(August 1941)

Big, All New Smashing Comic Book (Table of Contents)

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

Credits

Pencils:

?

Inks:

?

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Characters:

Human Torch [Jim Hammond]; Toro; Sub-Mariner [Namor]; Captain America [Steve Rogers]; Bucky Barnes; Black Marvel [Dan Lyons]; Angel [Tom Hallaway]

Synopsis:

Illustrated ad for the new All Winners Quarterly #1, spotlighting the main characters, on sale May 20th.

Reprints:

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics (Marvel, 2007 series) #1 ([March] 2007)

Indexer Notes

Found on the inside front cover; sequence and all info added by Craig Delich 8-18-08.

none (Table of Contents)

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

Credits

Script:

Joe Simon; Jack Kirby

Pencils:

Joe Simon (looming image); Al Avison ?; Al Gabriele ?

Inks:

Joe Simon

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

The Defender [Don Stevens] (introduction)

Synopsis:

Brief illustrated introduction for the Defender: as long as there is injustice, there is a need for a defender to battle it.

Reprints:

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics (Marvel, 2007 series) #1 ([March] 2007)
• in Flashback (DynaPubs Enterprises, 1973 series) #3

Indexer Notes

Pencils previously credited to Jack Kirby; Joe Simon. Revised art credits from Dr. Michael J. Vassallo, 4/4/2007. Synopsis added by Craig Delich 8-18-08.

[The Hideous Dame Kackle] (Table of Contents)

The Defender / comic story / 18 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Al Avison ?; Charles Nicholas ?

Inks:

Charles Nicholas

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

The Defender [Don Stevens]; Rusty (introduction, Defender's sidekick); Sally Kean (introduction); Dame Kackle (villain, introduction)

Synopsis:

When U.S. Marine Don Stevens investigates the death of a man who was pushed from an old schooner, it is the Defender who is called to the fore to battle the evil Dame Kackle.

Reprints:

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics (Marvel, 2007 series) #1 ([March] 2007)
• in Flashback (DynaPubs Enterprises, 1973 series) #3

Indexer Notes

Pencils previously credited to Charles Nicholas. Revised art credits from Dr. Michael J. Vassallo, 4/4/2007. Some info and synopsis added by Craig Delich 8-18-08.

[Origin of the Whizzer] (Table of Contents)

Whizzer / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Al Avison (signed)

Inks:

Al Gabriele (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

The Whizzer [Bob Frank] (introduction, origin); Dr. Emil Frank [Bob's father] (introduction, death); Granno (villain, introduction)

Synopsis:

Crook Granno "makes" Dr. Frank kill a patient he is operating on and tells the good doctor to get out of the country---or else! But Frank's son, now known as the Whizzer, sees things differently and vows revenge on the man who led Dr. Frank to die in the jungles of Africa.

Reprints:

• in Golden Age of Marvel (Marvel, 1997 series) #2 (1999)
• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics (Marvel, 2007 series) #1 ([March] 2007)
• in Flashback (DynaPubs Enterprises, 1973 series) #3

Indexer Notes

Synopsis added by Craig Delich 8-18-08.

The Spirits of Freedom (Table of Contents)

Mr. Liberty / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Phil Sturm [as Sturm] (signed)

Pencils:

Syd Shores [as Shores] (signed)

Inks:

George Klein

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Mr. Liberty [John Liberty] (introduction, origin); Herr Leader (villain, introduction); Adolf Hitler (villain, cameo); Paul Revere (as ghost); Ethan Allan (as ghost)

Synopsis:

Hitler threatens America through the use of fifth columnists to destroy America's arsenals and powerhouses. But the U.S. has an ace in the hole: Mr. Liberty!

Reprints:

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics (Marvel, 2007 series) #1 ([March] 2007)
• in Flashback (DynaPubs Enterprises, 1973 series) #3

Indexer Notes

Inks previously credited to Syd Shores. Revised art credits from Dr. Michael J. Vassallo, 4/4/2007. Synopsis added by Craig Delich 8-18-08.

The Haunted Fireplace (Table of Contents)

text story / 2 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Arthur Cazeneuve (signed)

Pencils:

Arthur Cazeneuve ?

Inks:

Arthur Cazeneuve ?

Colors:

?

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Characters:

Captain Hennigan; Gregory Stanton; Jamieson (villain)

Synopsis:

After the death of John Hardy, the "ghost" of Hardy begins appearing to Gregory Stanton, trying to convince him to turn over the lands he owned to Hardy's sons.

Reprints:

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics (Marvel, 2007 series) #1 ([March] 2007)
• in Flashback (DynaPubs Enterprises, 1973 series) #3

Indexer Notes

Text story with illustration. Art credits from Dr. Michael J. Vassallo, 4/4/2007. Characters and synopsis added by Craig Delich 8-18-08.

The Tunnel That Led To Death (Table of Contents)

Rockman, Underground Secret Agent / comic story / 9 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Basil Wolverton

Pencils:

Basil Wolverton; Charles Nicholas ? (splash)

Inks:

Basil Wolverton; Charles Nicholas ? (splash)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Rockman (introduction, origin); J. J. Gollings (introduction, death); Roffler (villain, introduction, death)

Synopsis:

Gollings, construction enginner, agrees to build a tunnel from Roffler's basement for the sum of $5000, not realizing over the top of it will be built a giant airfield, whose airplanes will be used to destroy a factory.

Reprints:

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics (Marvel, 2007 series) #1 ([March] 2007)
• in The Twelve (Marvel, 2008 series) #0 ([February] 2008)
• in Flashback (DynaPubs Enterprises, 1973 series) #3

Indexer Notes

Charles Nicholas credit for splash panel from Dr. Michael J. Vassallo, 4/4/2007; the original indexer credited the pencils to Jack Kirby and the inks to Joe Simon. Synopsis added by Craig Delich 8-18-08.

Captain America Wants You! (Table of Contents)

Captain America's Sentinels of Liberty / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

?

Inks:

?

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Captain America [Steve Rogers]; Bucky Barnes

Synopsis:

Illustrated ad, urging readers to join Cap's Sentinels of Liberty.

Reprints:

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics (Marvel, 2007 series) #1 ([March] 2007)

Indexer Notes

Sequence and all info added by Craig Delich 8-18-08.

[The Coming of the Young Avenger] (Table of Contents)

Young Avenger / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Howard Purcell [as Michael Robard] (signed)

Inks:

Howard Purcell [as Michael Robard] (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Young Avenger [Bill Bryan; Bill Bryon] (introduction); Eric von Himmel (villain, introduction)

Synopsis:

The Young Avenger faces the dire threat of Nazi agents who are successfully destroying aviation works throughout the nation.

Reprints:

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics (Marvel, 2007 series) #1 ([March] 2007)
• in Flashback (DynaPubs Enterprises, 1973 series) #3

Indexer Notes

Previous art credited to "Michael Robard" as pseudonym for Mike Roy. Revision of pseudonym "Michael Robard" to Howard Purcell by Dr. Michael J. Vassallo, 4/4/2007. Synopsis added by Craig Delich 8-18-08. The Young Avenger's last name is spelled differently each time it appears. Only golden age appearance. Next appearance in All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes (Marvel, 2011 series) #1.

They Know What They Want! (Table of Contents)

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

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

?

Inks:

?

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Characters:

Human Torch [Jim Hammond]; Toro; Sub-Mariner [Namor]; Captain America [Steve Rogers]; Thunderer [Jerry Carstairs]

Synopsis:

Illustrated ad promoting Timely Comics magazines on sale at newsstands: Marvel Comics, Captain America Comics, Sub-Mariner Quarterly, Mystic Comics, Human Torch Quarterly, Daring Comics and the Angel Quarterly.

Reprints:

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics (Marvel, 2007 series) #1 ([March] 2007)

Indexer Notes

Sequence and all info added by Craig Delich 8-18-08. The identity of the figure on the fake "Mystic" cover is unclear- he was previously identified as Marvel Boy, who never appeared in that title. He does not clearly resemble any then-current Mystic character (Henry Andrews 2008-10-10).

[The Origin of Jack Frost] (Table of Contents)

Jack Frost / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Stan Lee (signed)

Pencils:

Charles Nicholas

Inks:

Charles Nicholas

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Jack Frost (introduction); Dr. Forbes (introduction, death); Police Commissioner Brian (introduction); Hal Jenkins (introduction); Alice Forbes (introduction); Mike Zelby (villain, introduction)

Synopsis:

With his dying breathe, a man tells Jack Frost to save his daughter from a man out to steal the gold mine in Alaska that he had discovered.

Reprints:

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age U.S.A. Comics (Marvel, 2007 series) #1 ([March] 2007)
• in Flashback (DynaPubs Enterprises, 1973 series) #3

Indexer Notes

Pencils and inks credit from Michael Vassallo via Timely-Atlas-Comics Yahoo Group (6 April 2007), from his confirming review of the art with Carmine Infantino. Previous indexers had credited pencils to Carmine Infantino and inks to Frank Giacoia (based on an interview with Carmine Infantino in The Comics Journal #191. That interview was referring to the story in USA Comics #3). Some info and synopsis added by Craig Delich 8-18-08.

Wings of America (Table of Contents)

Comicscope Camera Projector / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

?

Inks:

?

Letters:

typeset

Indexer Notes

Inside back cover.

["9000 Novelties"] (Table of Contents)

Johnson Smith & Company / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

?

Inks:

?

Letters:

typeset

Indexer Notes

Back cover.