Logo design credit from Todd Klein via his Facebook page, used with permission.
Syd Shores recalled that his first job at Timely was inking this cover (Alter Ego #11, page 46). Per Keith Chandler, examining it in detail Simon appears to have inked the heads, at least, of Captain America and Bucky, and probably that of Hitler also. Some of the far background, including the image on the screen and the faces of at least some German soldiers, are cruder in style and may well be Shores' work.
However, per Syd's daughter, Nancy Shores Karlebach, Syd's wife kept a detailed scrapbook and she recorded that Syd became a part of the staff of Timely not until March 24, 1941 (posted on the Joe Simon Appreciation Facebook page, 27 May 2021). So he could not have been involved in the creation of this issue as a "staffer."
Joe Simon's grandchild, Jesse Simon, confirms this cover's work is by Simon and Kirby, Jack Kirby's pencils, and Joe Simon's pencils and inks (via Joe Simon Appreciation Facebook page, posted 28 May 2021).
Michael J. Vassallo examined the work and concludes "Kirby/Simon is the most likely answer - Joe Simon certainly had a hand in the cover design, I'm certain. Syd Shores has been attributed as an inker but this is old data stemming from a Shores interview in the early 1970s. I just don't know if Shores was with the crew as early as this first issue. Did Al Liederman help ink it? I don't know, but I highly doubt it." (posted to the Joe Simon Appreciation Facebook page, 28 May 2021).
Vassallo, after a discussion with Nancy Shores Karlebach, noted in a 2 June 2021 conversation, that there is the need to reconcile two seemingly disparate notions. First of all, Syd gave an interview saying he worked on the first issue; Syd told his family the same. Secondly, Syd joined the staff “after” the issue was produced, so could not have worked on the issue as a “staffer.” Finally, the only way to reconcile this, without knowing the veracity, is to postulate Syd worked off-staff, off-site within the loose Simon and Kirby “shop” that produced the issue, along with Al Liederman (and anyone else who we will never know).
Inside front cover.
Table of Contents page introduces the stories and features in text and art for this issue.
Some info added by Craig Delich on June 9, 2008.
Al Liederman inking credit from Joe Simon, via Greg Theakston. Joe Simon inking credit from Keith Chandler.
Synopsis added by Craig Delich June 9, 2008.
Per Keith Chandler, there are at least three different inkers here. Joe Simon does the Captain America and Bucky figures on page 1. Syd Shores (who recalled at least partially inking this issue) is evident on much of page 2 (the face of the saboteur in panel 1 is typical of his later credited work), 3, and 4. A different inker takes over on page 5 and into page 6. By comparison with his known Captain Kid stories in Captain Marvel Adventures 5 and 6, this does not look like Liederman's style, however, and despite Simon's identification, I cannot see Liederman here at all. Shores returns for at least a portion of pages 7 and 8.
However, per Syd's daughter, Nancy Shores Karlebach, Syd's wife kept a detailed scrapbook and she recorded that Syd became a part of the staff of Timely not until March 24, 1941 (posted on the Joe Simon Appreciation Facebook page, 27 May 2021). So he could not have been involved in the creation of this issue as a "staffer".
Kirby inks credits and Howard Ferguson letters credits are from the table of contents in the King-Size Kirby (Marvel, 2015 series) [#nn] (2015).
Michael J. Vassallo examined the work and concludes "Story by Simon & Kirby, pencils by Jack Kirby with additional pencils by Joe Simon, inks by Al Liederman. Additional inks by Simon and Kirby a possibility, though more likely Simon. Lettering by Howard Ferguson." (posted to the Joe Simon Appreciation Facebook page, 28 May 2021).
Vassallo, after a discussion with Nancy Shores Karlebach, noted in a 2 June 2021 conversation, that there is the need to reconcile two seemingly disparate notions. First of all, Syd gave an interview saying he worked on the first issue; Syd told his family the same. Secondly, Syd joined the staff “after” the issue was produced, so could not have worked on the issue as a “staffer.” Finally, the only way to reconcile this, without knowing the veracity, is to postulate Syd worked off-staff, off-site within the loose Simon and Kirby “shop” that produced the issue, along with Al Liederman (and anyone else who we will never know).
Simon and Kirby pencil credits from Greg Theakston.
Synopsis added by Craig Delich June 9, 2008.
The title is taken from the Table of Contents.
Michael J. Vassallo examined the work and concludes "Story by Simon & Kirby, pencils by Jack Kirby with additional pencils by Joe Simon likely, inks by Al Liederman. Additional inks by Joe Simon a possibility. Lettering by Howard Ferguson." (posted to the Joe Simon Appreciation Facebook page, 28 May 2021).
Jack Kirby and Joe Simon art credits and synopsis added by Craig Delich June 9, 2008.
Michael J. Vassallo examined the work and concludes "Script Joe Simon, (?) Martin Burstein (?) (I have no idea), illustrations by Jack Kirby." (posted to the Joe Simon Appreciation Facebook page, 28 May 2021).
The title is taken from the Table of Contents.
Simon and Kirby pencils credits from Greg Theakston.
Synopsis added by Craig Delich June 9, 2008.
Per Keith Chandler, Syd Shores (per his claim in Alter Ego #11, page 46) is evident in the inking of the villains and most of the minor figures, but not Captain America, Steve Rogers, or Bucky Barnes, both in and out of costume. These appear, in the main, to be inked by Simon.
However, per Syd's daughter, Nancy Shores Karlebach, Syd's wife kept a detailed scrapbook and she recorded that Syd became a part of the staff of Timely not until March 24, 1941 (posted on the Joe Simon Appreciation Facebook page, 27 May 2021). So he could not have been involved in the creation of this issue. Shores credit removed.
Michael J. Vassallo examined the work and concludes "Story by Simon & Kirby, pencils by Jack Kirby but more penciling appears to have been done by Joe Simon, inks by Al Liederman and Joe Simon, Lettering by Howard Ferguson." (posted to the Joe Simon Appreciation Facebook page, 28 May 2021).
Ed Herron script and Simon and Kirby pencil credits from Greg Theakston.
Synopsis added by Craig Delich June 9, 2008.
Michael J. Vassallo examined the work and concludes "Story by Ed Herron, pencils by Jack Kirby with help from Simon, inks by Al Liederman with Joe Simon, lettering by Howard Ferguson." (posted to the Joe Simon Appreciation Facebook page, 28 May 2021).
The story is a reworked Mercury story (the character previously appeared once in Red Raven Comics (Marvel, 1940 series) #1 (August 1940)).
Kirby inks credit from Greg Theakston.
Synopsis added by Craig Delich June 9, 2008.
Kirby letters credit identified by Greg Theakston and later Harry Mendryk on the Jack Kirby Museum web page http://kirbymuseum.org/blogs/simonandkirby/archives/2369, 31 October 2008 (retrieved 15 December 2014).
Michael J. Vassallo examined the work and concludes "Story unknown, penciled, inked and lettered by Jack Kirby." (posted to the Joe Simon Appreciation Facebook page, 28 May 2021).
Kirby inks credit from Greg Theakston.
Synopsis added by Craig Delich (June 2008).
Kirby letters credit identified by Greg Theakston and later Harry Mendryk on the Jack Kirby Museum web page http://kirbymuseum.org/blogs/simonandkirby/archives/2369, 31 October 2008.
Michael J. Vassallo examined the work and concludes "Story unknown (Otto Binder a possibility as per Binder's records), penciled, inked and lettered by Jack Kirby." (posted to the Joe Simon Appreciation Facebook page, 28 May 2021).
The splash panel describes Tuk setting off to find Attilan, "the island of the gods," though he never does find it. Much later Avengers stories implied a connection between Tuk and the Inhumans based on this reference to Attilan, also the name of the home of the Inhumans (Note prompted by Fred Snyder via the GCD Error Tracker).