Amazing Man Comics #5

(September 1939)

It's Hard to Beat (Table of Contents: 1) (Expand) /

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

[Origin of Amazing-Man] (Table of Contents: 2)

The Amazing-Man / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

Bill Everett (credited as w.b.everett)

Pencils

Bill Everett (credited as w.b.everett)

Inks

Bill Everett (credited as w.b.everett)

Colors

?

Letters

Bill Everett

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Aman, known to his enemies by many aliases. the most terrifying of which is "The Green Mist"...

Genre

superhero

Characters

Amazing-Man [John Aman] (introduction, origin); The Council of Seven [The Great Question (villain); Nika (scientist); Lady Zina (a knife thrower); four unnamed others] (introduction for all); unnamed cowhand; Mr. Uhlin [as Mr. Crater] (villain, railroad company President, death)

Synopsis

After being raised for 25 years by the Council of Seven in Tibet, Aman is tested and sent out into the world. Of the council members, Nika exhorts him to do good and gifts him with invisibility, while the Great Question plots to bend Aman to his will. In America, Aman learns of a series of train wrecks and confronts the man behind the disasters.

Reprints

• in L'âge merveilleux des Comics (J.F.C. Editions, 2012 series) #5
• in Hurrah ! et les grandes explorations réunies (Editions Mondiales, 1940 series) #1 (4 décembre 1940)
which is reprinted
• in L'histoire des super-héros (Neofelis, 2016 series) (avril 2016)
• in Continuum (JMF, 2007 series) #3 (No Date [circa décembre 2007]) [excerpt]
• in The Bill Everett Archives (Fantagraphics, 2011 series) #1 - Amazing Mysteries (December 2011)

Keywords

Green Mist; psychic automatic writing; sleep-ray; Tibet

Indexer Notes

According to a letter written by Grace Everett (Bill Everett's mother) she did most of the research in creating Aman the Amazing-Man.

The character influenced the creation of Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt in Thunderbolt (Charlton, 1966 Series) #1 as well a Iron Fist in Marvel Premiere (Marvel, 1972 series) #15. Once he was in public domain he was used in The Protectors (Malibu, 1992 series) #1 (with other Centaur characters ), in Immortal Iron Fist (Marvel, 2007 series) #12 and in Project Superpowers (Dynamite Entertainment, 2008 series) #0. One of many aliases that the Amazing Man is known to have to his enemies is "The Green Mist".

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 3)

The Cat Man / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Tarpé Mills (signed)

Inks

Tarpé Mills (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

In the sumptuous office of Steve Harringan...

Genre

detective-mystery

Characters

Cat Man [Barton Stone] (introduction); Steve Harrigan (dies); Roger Watson Hammond (dies); Lionel Black (dies)

Synopsis

Barton Stone finishes his 20-year jail sentence and seeks revenge on his former partners who let his wife die in poverty while he took the rap for all of their crimes. A year later, each partner is visited by a strange old lady with a cat who scratches them.

Keywords

crossdressing

River Subs (Table of Contents: 4)

Jack Rhodes / comic story / 3 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Larry Riley (signed as Riley)

Inks

Larry Riley (signed as Riley)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

The custom-jumpers receive their cargo out side the 12 mile limit

Genre

adventure

Characters

Jack Rhodes (introduction, only appearance?); Peterson

Synopsis

Rhodes is sent to investigate suspicious submarine sightings.

Indexer Notes

Previously a note here linked Jack Rhodes with Minimidget, but there is no evidence of any such link in this issue- Minimidget also debuts in a later story. All other references easily found on the internet mention this link only to dismiss it. Some mention that Minimidget may be called Jack Rhodes later in his run, but a spot check of several issues of this series and Stars and Stripes Comics reveal no such name.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 5)

The Iron Skull / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

Carl Burgos (signed)

Pencils

Carl Burgos (signed)

Inks

Carl Burgos (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

But Terry, I tell you I need another $10,000

Genre

superhero

Characters

The Iron Skull (introduction); Terry Terrin; Guy McMann; Judy; Blackie Norton (dies); Mayor Haskins; Ryan

Synopsis

The Iron Skull thwarts a scientist's plans to use robots to carry out crime, and mechanized spiders to terrorize the town and extort cash from the local government.

Keywords

Carson City; mech spiders; robots; Sign of the Skull

Indexer Notes

No origin or explanation is given for the Iron Skull in this story. He is mentioned as having "steel fists" but it is not stated that he is a robot or android, despite the presence of robots elsewhere in the story.

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

Stranger Than Fiction / comic story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Walter Galli (signed)

Pencils

Walter Galli (signed)

Inks

Walter Galli (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

Walter Galli ?

Editing

? (syndicated)

First Line of Dialogue or Text

It has been estimated that more than one-third...

Genre

non-fiction

Indexer Notes

Syndication credits: "Copyright Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Distributed by Watkins Syndicate, Inc."

The Tragic Note (Table of Contents: 7)

Aman the Amazing-Man / text story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Matty Point (house name)

Pencils

Frank Thomas (3 spot illustrations)

Inks

Frank Thomas (3 spot illustrations)

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

"Aman", the beautiful creature asked the Amazing Man...

Genre

superhero

Characters

Amazing-Man [John Aman]

Synopsis

In order to explain why he refuses to perform a certain piece of music, Aman tells of his musical testing during his time in Tibet.

Keywords

Cantata Unica; Star Valley

The Congo War Drum (Part 1) (Table of Contents: 8)

comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gustavson

Pencils

Paul Gustavson

Inks

Paul Gustavson

Colors

?

Letters

Paul Gustavson

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Thundering beats of the giant war drum...

Genre

jungle

Characters

"Sandy" Thorne; Labu (Thorne's servant); The Kilanga

Synopsis

"Sandy" Thorne of the Congo patrol and his servant Labu go in search of the source of the Congo war drums, knowing they mean trouble.

Reprints

• in Collection Fantôme (Editions Mondiales, 1945 series) #[168] (3e trimestre 1946)

Keywords

Congo; headhunters

Indexer Notes

Credit is given in type (not lettering) under the splash panel.

Jerry Bails' Who's Who shows that Gustavson generally did not write the stories he illustrated for Centaur proper, although he did often write for the predecessor issues published by Chesler. However, Terry Gustafson, son of Paul Gustavson, verified that his father, Paul Gustavson, wrote, drew and lettered this story.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 9)

Minimidget / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

John Kolb (credited as John F. Kolb)

Inks

John Kolb (credited as John F. Kolb)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

So my dear brother won't let me have more money

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

Minimidget (introduction); Ritty (introduction); Barmell (villain, introduction, death); Mr. James (dies); Jim; Bob; Dale

Synopsis

The mad scientist Barmell, who had already shrunk two people so small that they can fit in his hand, seeks to use Minimidget to kill his brother in order to inherit his fortune. Thwarted by his brother's will, he sends Minimidget out again and again to kill everyone who inherited his brother's fortune in his stead.

Indexer Notes

Neither Minimidget nor Ritty has a single line during this story, which is told primarily from the point of view of Barmell. Minimidget acts only as Barmell's assassin rather than as a hero, and Ritty makes only background appearances.

Clearly inspired by the 1936 film The Devil-Doll.

The Land Beneath the Sea (Table of Contents: 10)

"Chuck" Hardy / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

Frank Thomas (signed as Franklyn Thomas)

Pencils

Frank Thomas (signed as Franklyn Thomas)

Inks

Frank Thomas (signed as Franklyn Thomas)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

The small yawl "Research" comes to anchor...

Genre

adventure; science fiction

Characters

Chuck Hardy (introduction); Jerry Peterson (Chuck's girlfriend, introduction); Professor Kingsley (introduction); Mogba

Synopsis

Divers Chuck and Jerry are swept through a crack in the sea floor to an underground land populated by strange creatures.

Keywords

Portmouth University; Research; Salamandron; Tahuata

Mystery of the Kidnapped Heir (Table of Contents: 11)

"Slim" Bradley Forest Ranger / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Dick Hayes (signed)

Inks

Dick Hayes (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Little Jackie Stillman, 10 year old son of the millionarie...

Genre

adventure

Characters

Slim Bradley (forest ranger, introduction); Buck (Slim's horse); Jackie Stillman; Danny; Dave; A.K. Stillman; Mrs. Stillman

Synopsis

Ranger Slim Bradley has to rescue a captured millionaire's son while a forest fire rages.

Keywords

Spearhead National Forest

[Origin of Mighty Man] (Table of Contents: 12)

Mighty Man / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

Martin Filchock (signed)

Pencils

Martin Filchock (signed)

Inks

Martin Filchock (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

Martin Filchock ?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Another prospector! Won't they ever give up?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Mighty Man (introduction, origin); Sunny (introduction); The Professor (introduction); Buck Long; Tex; Dash

Synopsis

Sunny brings the Professor to the giant valley he found with the Professor's map. They are pursued by bandits, but the giant man they find in the valley rescues them and agrees to come with them into the outside world.

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

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

Flash! (Table of Contents: 14) (Expand) /

Keen Detective Funnies #v2#9 / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)