U. S. A. Comics [USA Comics; U.S.A. Comics] #1

(August 1941)

Big, All New Smashing Comic Book (Table of Contents: 1) (Expand) /

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

none (Table of Contents: 2)

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

Script

Joe Simon; Jack Kirby

Pencils

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

Inks

Joe Simon

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Out of the wars and strifes rampant throughout the civilized world...

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

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: 3)

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

Script

?

Pencils

Al Avison ?; Charles Nicholas ?

Inks

Charles Nicholas

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Once again the Defender and his young pal, Rusty, answer the call of justice!

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

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: 4)

Whizzer / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Al Avison (signed)

Inks

Al Gabriele (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Deep in the jungles of Africa, hidden from the eyes of men...

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 Flashback (DynaPubs Enterprises, 1973 series) #3 ([1973])
• 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)

Keywords

Africa; mongoose

Indexer Notes

Synopsis added by Craig Delich 8-18-08.

The Spirits of Freedom (Table of Contents: 5)

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

Script

Phil Sturm (signed as Sturm)

Pencils

Syd Shores (signed as Shores)

Inks

George Klein

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

As for America... my fifth columnists will destroy her from within!

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

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: 6)

text story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Arturo Cazeneuve (credited as Arthur Cazeneuve)

Pencils

Arturo Cazeneuve (credited as Arthur Cazeneuve)

Inks

Arturo Cazeneuve (credited as Arthur Cazeneuve)

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

John Hardy was dead.

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

The Tunnel That Led to Death (Table of Contents: 7)

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

Script

Basil Wolverton

Pencils

Basil Wolverton; Charles Nicholas ? (splash)

Inks

Basil Wolverton; Charles Nicholas ? (splash)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

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

Synopsis

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

Reprints

• in Flashback (DynaPubs Enterprises, 1973 series) #3 ([1973])
• 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 The Life and Comics of Basil Wolverton (Fantagraphics, 2014 series) #1 - Creeping Death from Neptune (1909-1941) (December 2014)

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.

Captain America Wants You! (Table of Contents: 8) (Expand) /

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

[The Coming of the Young Avenger] (Table of Contents: 9)

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

Script

?

Pencils

Howard Purcell (signed as Michael Robard)

Inks

Howard Purcell (signed as Michael Robard)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

In the southern-most part of New York state, far from well-traveled highways, lies a...

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

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: 10) (Expand) /

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

[The Origin of Jack Frost] (Table of Contents: 11)

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

Script

Stan Lee (signed)

Pencils

Charles Nicholas

Inks

Charles Nicholas

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Did I hear a human voice?

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

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: 12) (Expand) /

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

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

Johnson Smith & Co. Catalog / advertisement / 1 page (report information)