Marvel Mystery Comics #5

(March 1940)

[The Orton Medical Mission] (Table of Contents)

The Human Torch / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Carl Burgos (signed)

Pencils:

Carl Burgos (signed)

Inks:

Carl Burgos (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

Carl Burgos ?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

The Human Torch [Jim Hammond]; Johnson; Tom; Blake (villain introduction, death); Hank (villain, introduction, death)

Synopsis:

A medical emergency and crisis in the city of Orton during a blizzard forces the Torch to make a trip to that town with a plane full of medical supplies. Unfortunately, the plane crash lands and the supplies stolen by a couple of escaped convicts.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #2 (2006)

Indexer Notes

Torch finally in red uniform. Letterer credit added by Craig Delich 2008-11-8.

[Adventure of the Overturned Cars] (Table of Contents)

The Angel / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Ray Gill ?

Pencils:

Paul Gustavson

Inks:

Paul Gustavson

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

The Angel [Tom Hallaway]; Miss Mary; Mulligan (Policeman); Slugger (villain, introduction); Nick (villain, introduction); their gang (villains, introduction for all)

Synopsis:

The Angel rescues a girl and prevents a gang of bank robbers from successfully making a getaway with their loot.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #2 (2006)

Indexer Notes

Oddity: the Angel appears bare-legged in this story. Writer revision from Paul Gustavson to Ray Gill ? by Craig Delich 2008-11-8. The Who's Who only lists Ray Gill as writer in 1940, and this story may be by him. Notes added by Craig Delich 2008-11-8.

[On the Side of the Surface Men] (Table of Contents)

Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Bill Everett (signed)

Pencils:

Bill Everett (signed)

Inks:

Bill Everett (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

Bill Everett

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

The Sub-Mariner [Prince Namor]; Betty Dean; Tha-Korr; Lt. Mogar; Mills Gilligan (villain, introduction)

Synopsis:

Namor, after successfully ending the mine and sub menace in the Atlantic, briefly visits home, then heads back to America to help out with ending non-war related crime. But upon his arrival, he is immediately taken prisoner until Betty Dean convinces the authorities to release him to deal with criminals that have flooded the city's subway system.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #2 (2006)

Indexer Notes

Story continued next issue.

[Mystery of the Poisoned Arrows] (Table of Contents)

The Masked Raider / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Al Anders [as Anders] (signed)

Inks:

Al Anders [as Anders] (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

western

Characters:

The Masked Raider [Jim Gardley]; Ben Wallis; Sam (deputy, death); Grimsey (villain, introduction); Manuel (villain, introduction)

Synopsis:

The Raider must deduce the reason behind a series of murders by poisoned arrow that occur close to election day.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #2 (2006)

Indexer Notes

Story title taken from last panel in strip found in Marvel Mystery #4. Writer revision from Al Anders to ?. Who's Who lists no writers for the strip and Anders was an artist only. Notes added by Craig Delich.

It's In the Cards (Table of Contents)

text story / 2 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Ray Gill (signed)

Pencils:

Harry Ramsey [as H. Ramsey] (signed)

Inks:

Harry Ramsey [as H. Ramsey] (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

adventure

Characters:

Ace Carver; Alice Carver; Billy Creele; "Slit" Kincaid (villain)

Synopsis:

Ace Carver, a member of the "Clever Carvers," a performing troupe involved in card tricks and memory stunts, trys to woo a young kid away from the clutches of the evil "Slit" Kincaid by agreeing to teach him their tricks of the trade.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #2 (2006)

Indexer Notes

Illustration at top of text piece.

[The Tyrant of Torpis] (Table of Contents)

Electro The Marvel of the Age / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Steve Dahlman [as Dahl] (signed)

Inks:

Steve Dahlman [as Dahl] (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Electro; Dr. Phil Zog; King Sangor; Bill (Operative #4); Kalph Belgri (villain, introduction, death)

Synopsis:

Professor Zog informs Operatives #1 and #4 that he is going to displatch Electro and them to the Republic of Molivia, which has been attacked and invaded by the dictator armies of Kalph Belgri, who seeks to control that nation.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #2 (2006)

Indexer Notes

Writer revision from Steve Dahlman to ? by Craig Delich 2008-11-8. The Who's Who does NOT list a writer for this strip. Notes added by Craig Delich.

[King of the Counterfeiters] (Table of Contents)

Ferret, Mystery Detective / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Stockbridge Winslow (signed)

Pencils:

Irwin Hasen [as I. Hasen] (signed)

Inks:

Irwin Hasen [as I. Hasen] (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

detective

Characters:

Ferret; Nosey (a ferret); Little Frankie (death); Rickey (villain, introduction)

Synopsis:

The death of an underground stoolie and a piece of blank paper leads Ferret to uncover a major counterfeiting ring.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #2 (2006)
• in Marvel Mystery Comics 70th Anniversary Special (Marvel, 2009 series) #1 (July 2009)

Fifth Episode [Return of the Oman] (Table of Contents)

Adventures of Ka-Zar The Great / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Ben Thompson (signed)

Inks:

Ben Thompson (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

jungle

Characters:

Ka-Zar [David Rand]; John Rand (cameo); Zar (a lion); N'Jaga (a leopard); Nono (a monkey); Paul De Kraft [aka Fat Face] (villain, death); Ed Kivlin (villain, death); Aroangi (villain); Bawala (villain)

Synopsis:

When De Kraft learns that David Rand [aka Ka-Zar] still lives, he tracks down the "Jungle God" and takes him captive, arranging a rather protracted and cruel death for him.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #1 (2004)
• in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #2 (2006)

Indexer Notes

Character created by Bob Byrd. Writer revision from Ben Thompson to ?. Thompson was an artist and the Who's Who lists no writer for the strip. The bracketed story title was given in the last panel of the Ka-Zar story in Marvel Mystery #3. Notes added by Craig Delich 2008-11-8.