Zip Comics #11

(February 1941)

[Enter: The Rattler] (Table of Contents: 1)

Steel Sterling / comic story / 14 pages (report information)

Script

Joe Blair [as Blair] (signed)

Pencils

Charles Biro [as Biro] (signed)

Inks

Charles Biro [as Biro] (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Steel Sterling [John Sterling]; Clancy McGinty (Police); Dora Cummings; Twisto [The Rubber Man; Pig Panwood; The Rattler] (villain, introduction); Inferno [The Fire Breather] (guest-star, reforms in this story)

Synopsis

Twisto has developed a new bullet proof outfit that looks like a scaled serpent, and he now calls himself The Rattler. Steel is also in disguise to catch the criminals. Inferno saves the life of Steel when the Rattler will kill him with his poison needles.

[Dicky Finds His Father] (Table of Contents: 2)

Dicky in the Magic Forest / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

Louis Golden [as L. Golden] (signed)

Pencils

Louis Golden [as L. Golden] (signed)

Inks

Louis Golden [as L. Golden] (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

fantasy-supernatural

Characters

Dicky; Farenwell (introduction, Dicky's father); Mr. Wish (guest-star); Giant of Komo Castle (villain, introduction); the Witch (villain, death)

Synopsis

Dick has emerged from the Magic Fores with three priceless finds, a flying broom, a magic watch and a wishing bone.

[Jim Creep's Payroll Robbery Plot] (Table of Contents: 3)

Nevada Jones, Quick-Trigger Man / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Frank Volp

Inks

Frank Volp

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

western-frontier

Characters

Nevada Jones; Little Joe (sidekick); Jim Creep (villain, introduction); his gang (villains, introduction); Sue Warren (introduction)

Synopsis

Jim Creep, a rancher, has hired some of his men to rob his own payroll and cut them in.

Indexer Notes

Faces and very realistic horses identical to Volp's credited Loop Logan story in Blue Ribbon Comics #13.

The Case of the Statues of Death (Table of Contents: 4)

Red Reagan / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Joe Blair ?

Pencils

Bernie Klein

Inks

Bernie Klein

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

detective-mystery

Characters

Red Reagan (Police Detective); Bertie Randolph (assistent); Grazan (villain, introduction, death); his gang (villains, introduction); some living statues (villains, introduction)

Synopsis

Murder and robbery is committed by living statues. The statues are petrified human beings made by professor Grazani and sold as statues to millionaires.

Indexer Notes

Originally credited to Sam Cooper. Compare with Bernie's signed Kardak and Bob Phantom stories in Top-Notch Comics #8, 9, 10 and 12. Especially the peculiar mean, angled eyebrows in close up sideview, and also movement of figures, and inking of suits.

There is no writer credit.

[The Secret Fascist Supply Line] (Table of Contents: 5)

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

Script

Joe Blair?

Pencils

Ed Smalle (signed)

Inks

Ed Smalle (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

aviation; war

Characters

Tim Shane (pilot); Tom Shane (pilot); The Fascists (villains)

Synopsis

The outpost of Kadak in East Africa hasn't been heard from in three days, and the R.A.F. wants the twins to find out what is wrong.

[The Wrestling "Gods"] (Table of Contents: 6)

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

Script

Abner Sundell ?

Pencils

Mort Meskin [as Meskin] (signed)

Inks

Mort Meskin [as Meskin] (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

adventure

Characters

Captain Valor; Ronnie; Neek-Olaus (guest-star); Mama Claus (guest-star); Tania (guest-star); Dallas (guest-star); Zeke Pepper (introduction); Hungarian Angel (introduction); Kauliflower Karl (introduction); Bruiser O'Boyle (introduction); Flying Tackle Finnegan (introduction); The Japanese (villains)

Synopsis

The mission where Valor and his company have taken refuge, is surrounded by Zeke Pepper and his gang, who want their ammunition and weapons.

Indexer Notes

The artist signs - as "Meskin" - on both the first and last pages.

Tomorrow's Murders (Table of Contents: 7)

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

Script

Harry Shorten [as Shorten] (signed)

Pencils

Irv Novick [as Novick] (signed)

Inks

Irv Novick [as Novick] (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

The Scarlet Avenger [Jim Kendall]; Inez Courtney [Operative No.1]; Peanut-Head (villain, introduction); his gang (villains, introduction)

Synopsis

After a suicide on the train, Inez finds a newspaper of tomorrow headlining the suicide she witnessed today.

Indexer Notes

The artist also signs - as "Novick" - on the final page.

[The Tail Men of Tanzanyika] (Table of Contents: 8)

Zambini the Miracle Man / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

Joe Blair (signed)

Pencils

Lin Streeter (signed)

Inks

Lin Streeter (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Zambini (magician); The Tail Men (villains, introduction); their Witch Doctor (villain, introduction)

Synopsis

The witch doctor of the Tail Men will kill and eat Zambini to have part of his magic power.