Planet Comics #4

(April 1940)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 1) (Expand) /

Bull's-Eye Bannon / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

Slave Planet (Table of Contents: 2)

Flint Baker / comic story / 11 pages (report information)

Script

Herman Bolstein (credited as Starr Gayza)

Pencils

Art Peddy

Inks

Will Eisner ?; Art Peddy

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Flint and Mimi are returning from an adventure on a distant planet...

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Fletcher "Flint" Baker; Mimi Wilson; Parks (crew member); the Great Eye (villain, introduction, death?); the Great Ear (villain, introduction); the Great Mouth (villain, introduction); space monsters (villains, creatures, some die)

Synopsis

On their way back to Earth, Flint and Mimi are attacked by a space monster as they pass the planet Jupiter, and when others threaten,the crew decides to land on Jupiter. There they face the threat of the Great Eye, the Great Ear and the Great Mouth.

Reprints

• in Planet Comics (BSV Hannover, 2018 series) #4
• in Roy Thomas Presents Planet Comics (PS Artbooks, 2012 series) #1 (September 2012)

Keywords

City of Zu; Jupiter

Indexer Notes

The story title is taken from the cover.

HS notes that the last three pages show evidence of involvement by Will Eisner.

Script credit suggested by the Who's Who.

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

Auro Lord of Jupiter / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Herman Bolstein (credited as Nick Charles)

Pencils

Bob Powell; Sid Greene ?

Inks

Bob Powell

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Auro and his loyal followers save the universe from a diabolical plot of a power greedy Saturnian...

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Auro [also as Thogra]; Jano (Prince of Saturn, introduction); Thogra (villain, Jano's uncle, a Saturnian, introduction, death)

Synopsis

The people inhabiting Auro's planet gather to watch a strange space ship hurtling from space and landing in a lake. When Auro investigates, he discovers the ship contains a young Prince of Saturn who was shot into space by his madman uncle.

Reprints

• in Planet Comics (BSV Hannover, 2018 series) #4
• in Roy Thomas Presents Planet Comics (PS Artbooks, 2012 series) #1 (September 2012)

Keywords

Saturn

Indexer Notes

Powell's credit suggested by the Who's Who.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 4)

The Red Comet / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Script

Ken Jackson (credited as Arthur King)

Pencils

Alex Blum ?; Dan Zolnerowich ?

Inks

Dan Zolnerowich ?; ? [shop]

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Speeding on his strange, adventurous journey among the stars and planets...

Genre

science fiction

Characters

The Red Comet; unnamed Earth explorers

Synopsis

While cruising in outer space, the Comet spots an Earth ship heading directly toward Vegeto, the Planet of Deadly Plants. He decides to follow them down and saves them before the planet's vegetation destroys them.

Reprints

• in Planet Comics (BSV Hannover, 2018 series) #4
• in Roy Thomas Presents Planet Comics (PS Artbooks, 2012 series) #1 (September 2012)

Keywords

Vegeto

Indexer Notes

Art credits suggested by the Who's Who.

Oddity: The Red Comet shrinks down and communicates with termites (ala Ant-Man).

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

Captain Nelson Cole of the Solar Force / comic story / 13 pages (report information)

Script

? [as Beekman Terrill (byline)]

Pencils

Charles Sultan

Inks

Charles Sultan

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

A banquet celebrating the third centenary of the Solar Police Force, is given at headquarters on Mars.

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Captain Nelson Cole; Felon (villain)

Synopsis

As Captain Cole is being recognized as guest of honor at the Third Centenary of the Solar Police Force, a death ray strikes and kills a number of dancers. Cole investigates the ray and discovers that his enemy, Felon, is behind it. Cole follows his foe to Earth, where Felon is offering his services to aggressor nations.

Reprints

• in Planet Comics (BSV Hannover, 2018 series) #4
• in Roy Thomas Presents Planet Comics (PS Artbooks, 2012 series) #1 (September 2012)

Keywords

Mars; Solar Police Force

Indexer Notes

Art credits from Roy Thomas Presents Planet Comics (PS Artbooks, 2012 series) #1.

Mist Men of Mercury (Table of Contents: 6)

text story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

? [as Arnot Bissel] (credited)

Pencils

Gene Fawcette ? (spot illustrations)

Inks

? (spot illustrations)

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Would this terrible dizziness never cease?

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Kirk; Hoffer (scientist); the Mist Men

Synopsis

Kirk was spinning out of control through space after escaping from a concentration camp on Earth, being placed there by a mad dictator who was going to execute him for a crime he never committed. He lands on Mercury by chance and discovers the eerie Mist Men.

Reprints

• in Red Comet (Atlas Publishing, 1961 series) #3 (October 1961)
• in Roy Thomas Presents Planet Comics (PS Artbooks, 2012 series) #1 (September 2012)

Keywords

Black Forest; Mercury

Space Islands of Destruction (Table of Contents: 7)

Spurt Hammond, Planet Flyer / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

? [as Wm. S. Mott (byline)]

Pencils

Henry Kiefer

Inks

Henry Kiefer

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

A young American space pilot, in the year...

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Spurt Hammond; Janice Dale (introduction); Mercurian pirates (villains, introduction for all)

Synopsis

Spurt is sent to Mercury to battle the dreaded beaked men who wear detachable bat wings and have been attacking the commerce routes and taking hostages for ransom.

Reprints

• in Planet Comics (BSV Hannover, 2018 series) #4
• in Rocketman (Farrell, 1952 series) #1 (June 1952) [feature changed]
• in Roy Thomas Presents Planet Comics (PS Artbooks, 2012 series) #1 (September 2012)

Keywords

Mercury

Indexer Notes

Story title is taken from the cover blurb.

Story occurs in the year 25000.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 8)

Buzz Crandall of the Space Patrol / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

? [as Bob Jordan (byline)]

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Adventure at the center of the Moon.

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Lieutenant Buzz Crandall; Doctor Curan [aka Curran]; Sandra Curan (the doctor's daughter); Dr. Zynnon (villain, introduction, death)

Synopsis

Dr. Curan brings desperate news from the Earth to Lt. Crandall that the Moon is going to explode due to the build-up of hydrogen gas at its core. Unfortunately for them, one of the passengers invited along for the trip, Dr. Zynnon, has an intense hatred for mankind and seeks to destroy them.

Reprints

• in Planet Comics (BSV Hannover, 2018 series) #4
• in Roy Thomas Presents Planet Comics (PS Artbooks, 2012 series) #1 (September 2012)

Keywords

Moon

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

Kenny Carr of the Martian Lancers / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Script

Stan Ford (byline)

Pencils

Larry Antonette ?

Inks

?

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Kenny Carr's term of enlistment with the service has ended -- and he intends to go back to Earth...

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Captain Kenny Carr (introduction); Dwight (Carr's service buddy); unnamed colonel; enemy soldiers (villains, half die)

Synopsis

The colonel and Dwight scheme to get Kenny to re-enlist. Unknown to them, their phony plot turns out to be real, and Carr re-ups to help repel the invaders.

Reprints

• in Planet Comics (BSV Hannover, 2018 series) #4
• in Roy Thomas Presents Planet Comics (PS Artbooks, 2012 series) #1 (September 2012)

Keywords

Basha; Kakar

Indexer Notes

Only appearance, even though the story seems to imply that this is a continued story from somewhere, and the final blurb indicates that Carr will return in the next issue.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 10)

Gale Allen of the Women's Space Battalion / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Script

? [as Fred Nelson (byline)]

Pencils

Ray Burnley ?

Inks

?

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Captain Jack North of the Universal Space Patrol, is waiting for a scouting party, at his sub-station on a satellite of Saturn...

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Gale Allen and the Women's Space Battalion (introduction for all); Captain Jack North (Universal Space Patrol member, introduction); The Plutonians (villains, introduction for all, some die)

Synopsis

North receives an urgent SOS from a scouting party, stating that they have been captured by pirates from Pluto. North asks the commandant for help and Gale Allen and her Women's Space Battalion arrive to help out, much to his disdain.

Reprints

• in Planet Comics (BSV Hannover, 2018 series) #4
• in Roy Thomas Presents Planet Comics (PS Artbooks, 2012 series) #1 (September 2012)

Keywords

Pluto; Saturn

Indexer Notes

On the cover, this feature is billed as "Gale Allen of the Girls' Space Patrol."

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 11)

Space Facts / comic story / 0.75 page (report information)

Script

? [by Lunar] (signed)

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

The Ancient Egyptians believed that the Milky Way...

Genre

non-fiction; math & science

Reprints

• in Roy Thomas Presents Planet Comics (PS Artbooks, 2012 series) #1 (September 2012)

Keywords

Egyptians; Moon; Sun

Indexer Notes

Amazing space facts are presented in four separate illustrated panels.

Case 2....File-A....Clue 4 (Table of Contents: 12)

The Case of the Frightened Killer / comic story / 0.25 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Bob Powell

Inks

Bob Powell

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Come on downstairs.

Genre

detective-mystery

Characters

Bull's-Eye Bannon; Nora Earl (Dean's daughter-in-law); Clarence Dean (Earl's younger son); Miss Kane (a nurse)

Reprints

• in Roy Thomas Presents Planet Comics (PS Artbooks, 2012 series) #1 (September 2012)

Indexer Notes

The 4th and final clue is provided in Case 2 and which Junior Manhunters of American are asked to solve and discover the identity of the true guilty person.

The Strongest Man in the Universe (Table of Contents: 13)

Jim Giant, the Strongest Man in the Universe / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Script

? [as Ned Small (byline)]

Pencils

Alex Blum ?

Inks

?

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Out of the frozen north, sweep hordes of savage warriors.

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Jim Giant (introduction); an unnamed dictator to be (villain, introduction)

Synopsis

Giant must face fierce men from the North Pole who travel in strange sleds that can reach speeds of 100 mph and are armed with ray guns.

Reprints

• in Planet Comics (BSV Hannover, 2018 series) #4
• in Roy Thomas Presents Planet Comics (PS Artbooks, 2012 series) #1 (September 2012)

Indexer Notes

Only appearance, even though the final blurb indicates that Giant will back in the next issue.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 14) (Expand) /

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

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 15) (Expand) /

advertisement / 1 page (report information)