Zip Comics #1

(February 1940)

The Man of Steel (Table of Contents)

Steel Sterling / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Abner Sundell ?

Pencils:

Charles Biro

Inks:

Charles Biro

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

I & O: Steel Sterling (John Sterling); V: The Black Knight (I)

Synopsis:

John Sterling completes the chemical formula which will completely protect him from the underworld's bullets, unlike his murdered father.

Gang Buster (Table of Contents)

Scarlet Avenger / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Harry Shorten

Pencils:

Irv Novick (signed)

Inks:

Irv Novick (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

Superhero

Characters:

I & O: The Scarlet Avenger (Jim Kendall); V: Sledge Hammer (I); I: Operative No. 12, Chief Mike Brady

Synopsis:

Jim has fashioned for himself a scarlet robe, woven from steel into a super-fine, bullet-proof steel-mesh cloak. His identity is unknown.

[The Rustlers of South Valley] (Table of Contents)

Nevada Jones / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Frank Volp

Inks:

Frank Volp

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

Western

Characters:

I: Nevada Jones; Irene Cox; V: A gang of Mexican rustlers (I, most D)

Synopsis:

The Cattleman's Association has sent Nevada Jones to help Irene Cox prevent her herd being stolen by rustlers.

Indexer Notes

Art is identical to Volp's many signed and unsigned Loop Logan stories in Blue Ribbon Comics, from #4. He can be spotted by his very realistic horses in #13, bony faces with marked cheek lines and mouth inked in two short lines. Also the small lines on each side of nose or smiling cheeks. Compare as well his signed London stories in Daredevil Comics #9 and 10 (Lev Gleason) The faces are more easy to spot a few stories later, but the horses are the same.

King of the Jungle (Table of Contents)

Kalthar / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Harry Shorten

Pencils:

Lin Streeter (signed)

Inks:

Lin Streeter (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

Jungle

Characters:

I & O: Kalthar; I: Ta-Lo (a witch doctor); V: A band of Arab slavers

Synopsis:

When Kalthar swallows a magic red grain he will grow taller and become the mightiest of all creatures of the jungle, and the magic green grain will make him normal again.

The Devil's Flying Twins (Table of Contents)

War Eagles / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Ed Smalle, Jr.

Inks:

Ed Smalle, Jr.

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

War; Aviation

Characters:

I: Tim and Tom Shane (the Devil's Twins); V: Anton Schultz (I)

Synopsis:

The Shane twins are rich Americans who join the British Air Force to continue a feud with the German sportsman, Herr Schultz.

You Can't Win! (Table of Contents)

text story / 2 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Mort Meskin (signed)

Inks:

Mort Meskin (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

Crime

Characters:

William Edward Hickman (murderer)

Synopsis:

Executions are likely to be drably gruesome affairs even to the most hardened newspapermen.

[The Pirates of Ho Tsin] (Table of Contents)

Captain Valor / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Abner Sundell

Pencils:

Mort Meskin (signed)

Inks:

Mort Meskin (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

Adventure

Characters:

I: Captain Valor; Ronnie; his sister Angie; V: Gen. Ho Tsin (I)

Synopsis:

Captain Valor resigns his commission in the U.S. Marine Corps to seek adventure.

[The Eye of Oglu] (Table of Contents)

Mr. Satan / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Abner Sundell

Pencils:

Edd Ashe (signed)

Inks:

Edd Ashe (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

Superhero

Characters:

I: Mr. Satan (Dudley Bradshaw); Mary Doran; Mr. Doran; V: Count Bodana (I)

Synopsis:

A young girl's father is missing after a series of weird happenings. She suspects foul play and contacts Dudley for help.

[The Ritania-Hundaria War] (Table of Contents)

Zambini the Miracle Man / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Joe Blair

Pencils:

Ed Wexler (signed)

Inks:

Ed Wexler (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

Occult

Characters:

I: Zambini the Miracle Man; V: Mata Dari (spy); Hundarian spies (I for all); I: King of Ritania

Synopsis:

The king of Ritania begs Zambini to help him win the war against Hundania. Hundanian spies place a huge and deadly cobra, whose bite means death, in Zambini's bedroom.