(August 1941)

Quality Comics, 1941 Series
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Price
0.10 USD
Pages
68
Indicia Frequency
monthly
On-sale Date
1941-05-02
Indicia / Colophon Publisher
Comic Magazines, Inc.
Brand
Quality Comic Group
Editing
Will Eisner (credited as W. E. Eisner) (editor)

Issue Notes

Some information was verified using a DCM scan (http://digitalcomicmuseum.com/).

The on-sale date is the publication date reported in the U. S. Copyright Office filing.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents)

Blackhawk / cover / 1 page (report information)

Pencils
Will Eisner; Gill Fox (sourced) (art assist, see notes)
Inks
Will Eisner; Gill Fox (sourced) (art assist, see notes)
Colors
?
Letters
?
Genre
adventure; war; aviation; military; science fiction; superhero
Characters
Blackhawks [Blackhawk]
Reprints
Keywords
tank

Indexer Notes

The Archives volume also lists Gill Fox assisting on the art chores on this cover.

Cover Thumbnail for Military Comics (Quality Comics, 1941 series) #1
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Cover gallery

[The Origin of Blackhawk] (Table of Contents: 1)

Blackhawk / comic story / 11 pages (report information)

Script
Will Eisner; Bob Powell (sourced) (see Note #1)
Pencils
Chuck Cuidera (signed as Charles Cuidera)
Inks
Chuck Cuidera (signed as Charles Cuidera)
Colors
?
Letters
Sam Rosen (sourced) (see Note #1)
Genre
adventure; war; aviation; military; science fiction; superhero
Characters
Blackhawks [Andre (unidentifiable member, see Note #3 about possible candidates); Baker (introduction, only appearance); Blackhawk (origin) (introduction, see notes); Boris (possible unidentifiable member, see Note #3 about possible candidates); Chuck (possible unidentifiable member, see Note #3 about possible candidates); Hendrickson (unidentifiable member, see Note #3 about possible candidates); Olaf (unidentifiable member, see Note #3 about possible candidates); Stanislaus (unidentifiable member, see Note #3 about possible candidates); Zeg (unidentifiable member, see Note #3 about possible candidates)]; Jack (Blackhawk's brother, introduction, death); Connie (Blackhawk's sister, introduction, death); Ann (Red Cross nurse, unidentified by name in this story, named in issue #3); one unnamed captured soldier; Captain von Tepp (Nazi villain, introduction, death); Captain von Kreck (Nazi villain, introduction, presumably killed); Nazis (villains, many die)
Synopsis
Warsaw, Poland 1939. The Nazis are massing to rout the Polish Air Force, the only obstacle to their victory over Poland, and are being led by the Nazi commander, Captain von Tepp. However, in his attack, the brother and sister of a lone survivor are killed, and this survivor, later to become The Blackhawk, vows to hunt down von Tepp and make him pay personally for their deaths.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

(1) Writer addition of Bob Powell and letterer credit per Chuck Cuidera.
(2) Introduction of Blackhawk. Introduction and death of Blackhawk’s brother Jack and sister Connie (both buried by Blackhawk). Blackhawk (DC, 1957 series) #242 (Aug-Sep 1968) reveals that Blackhawk's civilian name is Bart Hawk, however, the story of Jack's death in that issue is vastly different from the original account, and therefore cannot be considered in the same continuity. Given this, one cannot state unequivocally that the three siblings' last name is "Hawk", or that Blackhawk's first name is "Bart".
(3) A minimum of 8 Blackhawks, including Blackhawk himself, are depicted. Baker, a Cockney Englishman, is the only one named. Based on later revelations of the team's early membership, the 6 unidentified members likely include Andre, Hendrickson, Olaf, Stanislaus, Zeg, Chuck, and/or Boris. Based on his physical appearance, the prisoner referred to as "Blackhawk's man", seen on page 5 panel 4 between the Red Cross nurse and Captain Von Tepp, could be Andre or Zeg. Based on his physical appearance, the man struck in the head by a rock, seen on page 6 panel 9, could be Stanislaus, Olaf, or Boris.
(4) A small map of Blackhawk's Island is depicted.
(5) The lyrics to the song of the Blackhawks are: "Over land over sea, we fight to make men free, of danger we don't care... we're Blackhawks!"

[Flying with the Red Dragon] (Table of Contents: 2)

Loops and Banks / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script
Bob Powell ?
Pencils
Bob Powell (signed as Bud Ernest)
Inks
Bob Powell (signed as Bud Ernest)
Colors
?
Letters
?
Genre
aviation; adventure
Characters
Loops McCann (introduction); Banks Barrows (introduction); Gen. Cheng [the Red Dragon] (introduction); the Chinese (villains, some die)
Synopsis
The boys lose their contract as test pilots after a crack-up and find themselves being asked to join a group called the Red Dragon Squadron.
Reprints

[Origin of the Blue Tracer] (Table of Contents: 3)

Blue Tracer / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Script
Fred Guardineer ?
Pencils
Fred Guardineer (signed)
Inks
Fred Guardineer (signed)
Colors
?
Letters
Fred Guardineer ? (sourced)
Genre
aviation; war; adventure
Characters
Captain William "Wild Bill" Dunn (introduction); Private Boomerang Jones (introduction); the M'Bujies (villains, introduction for all, some die)
Synopsis
"Wild Bill" Dunn, an American engineer, survives a British scouting expedition in Ethiopia, meets an Australian named Private Jones, and for months they work together to create a war machine from the remains of Fascist equipment that they call the Blue Tracer, and which they hope will provide the capabilities to overcome a local enemy tribe.
Reprints

[Episode with a Goat] (Table of Contents: 4)

Archie Atkins / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
Harry Campbell ?; Frank Frollo ? (sourced) (see notes)
Inks
Frank Frollo ? (sourced) (see notes); ?
Colors
?
Letters
?
Feature Logo
Archie Atkins, Desert Scout
Genre
war
Characters
Archie Atkins (introduction); Jack Bailey (introduction); Achmed (introduction); Billy (a goat, introduction); Major Douglas (introduction)
Synopsis
Three British soldiers, looking for help for their battalion under seige, are saved, ironically, by a billy goat, and soon find help with a group of French soldiers.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

The Millennium Edition lists Frank Frollo as the artist.

[Enlisting the Hard Way] (Table of Contents: 5)

Shot and Shell / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Script
Klaus Nordling (signed as Nordling)
Pencils
Klaus Nordling (signed as Nordling)
Inks
Klaus Nordling (signed as Nordling)
Colors
?
Letters
?
Genre
aviation; adventure; military
Characters
Colonel Sam Shot (introduction); Slim Shell (introduction); Herr von Slobben (villain, Nazi military attache)
Synopsis
An unlikely duo team up to foil the attempts of a Nazi attache who is interested in obtaining information on a secret U.S. fighter.
Reprints

[The Coming of the Yankee Eagle] (Table of Contents: 6)

Yankee Eagle [Jerry Noble / Military Comics only] / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script
John Stewart (sourced)
Pencils
Bill Smith (sourced)
Inks
Bill Smith (sourced)
Colors
?
Letters
?
Genre
adventure; military; war
Characters
Jerry Noble (introduction); Sam [the Yankee Eagle] (an eagle, introduction); Senator Noble (Jerry's father, introduction); Captain Webb; Chalky; Nazi spies (villains)
Synopsis
A group of Nazi spies work their way into the ranks of America's military services, attempting to turn over to the enemy some of the U.S.'s best ships.
Reprints
Keywords
Nazis; U.S.S. America; World War II

Indexer Notes

Sam the eagle is referred to as the Yankee Eagle once in this issue only, however, Jerry Noble is referred to as the Yankee Eagle multiple times in issue #8.

Not the same character featured in Smash Comics (Quality Comics, 1939 series) #38-47.

[Origin of the Death Patrol] (Table of Contents: 7)

Death Patrol / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script
Jack Cole (signed)
Pencils
Jack Cole (signed)
Inks
Jack Cole (signed)
Colors
?
Letters
?
Genre
humor; aviation; war; adventure
Characters
Death Patrol [Del Van Dyne; Butch O'Keefe; Peewee; Hank; Slick Ward; Gramps] (introductions and origins for all); the Nazis (villains, some die)
Reprints

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

Sabotage / comic story / 0.75 page (report information)

Script
Tex Blaisdell (signed)
Pencils
Tex Blaisdell (signed)
Inks
Tex Blaisdell (signed)
Colors
?
Letters
Tex Blaisdell ?
First Line of Dialogue or Text
They say he's a spy!!
Genre
humor
Characters
O'Rourke (former Brooklyn taxi driver)
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Comprised of 4 independent gag cartoons.

The Machine Gun Drill (Table of Contents: 9)

Camp Capers / cartoon / 0.25 page (report information)

Script
Dick French (signed as Lane French)
Pencils
Dick French (signed as Lane French)
Inks
Dick French (signed as Lane French)
Colors
?
Letters
Dick French ?
Genre
humor
Synopsis
Sarge orders his men to dismantle, then reassemble their machines guns inside of ten minutes.
Reprints

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

Miss America [Quality] / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script
Elmer Wexler ?
Pencils
Elmer Wexler (signed as El Wexler)
Inks
Elmer Wexler (signed as El Wexler)
Colors
?
Letters
?
First Line of Dialogue or Text
Out of the very heart of the spirit that is America comes a new champion of democracy...
Genre
superhero
Characters
Miss America [Joan Dale] (origin) (introduction, reporter); unnamed FBI Chief Inspector; Mr. Grost (villain, factory owner)
Synopsis
Joan is imbued by the famed Statue of Liberty with special powers in order to help the country against her enemies, foreign and domestic, gaining her name from a man she saved from an attack by thugs. She uses her new powers to deflect a bomb and crush the getaway car of the spies involved.
Reprints
Keywords
Statue of Liberty

Gone with the Draft (Table of Contents: 11)

text story / 1.67 pages (report information)

Script
Dick Scopes (signed)
Pencils
? (spot illustrations)
Inks
? (spot illustrations)
Colors
?
Letters
typeset
Genre
non-fiction; war
Characters
Dirk
Synopsis
After discussion of the draft, a letter from a trainee at Fort Wadsworth Training Center in New York discusses what went on during his first week in basic training.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

The text story has three spot illustrations, as well as an illustrated drawing with text about the Garand rifle.

U.S. Army Insignias (Table of Contents: 12)

illustration / 0.33 page (report information)

Pencils
?
Inks
?
Letters
?
Genre
non-fiction; military
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Illustrated chart of U.S. Army rank insignias.

[Sink the Kaiser Adolf] (Table of Contents: 13)

Q-Boat / comic story / 9 pages (report information)

Script
Henry Kiefer ?
Pencils
Henry Kiefer
Inks
Henry Kiefer
Colors
?
Letters
?
Genre
war
Characters
Capt. Foghorn (introduction, origin); Bob Wayne (introduction, origin); Dick Martin (introduction, origin); Freckles [Marmaduke Van Weyden] (introduction, origin); Captain von Marz (villain); the Nazis (villains)
Synopsis
The schooner "Albatross" succeeds in capturing the Battleship "Kaiser Adolf," then must take on the Nazis' new battleship, "Kronzprinz Albrecht."
Reprints
Keywords
Albatross; Beryl M; Kaiser Adolf; Navy

Indexer Notes

Only appearance of this feature.

Editing
Issue at my.comics.org
Related Scans
Series Information
Table of Contents
  1. 0. [no title indexed]
    Blackhawk
  2. 1. [The Origin of Blackhawk]
    Blackhawk
  3. 2. [Flying with the Red Dragon]
    Loops and Banks
  4. 3. [Origin of the Blue Tracer]
    Blue Tracer
  5. 4. [Episode with a Goat]
    Archie Atkins
  6. 5. [Enlisting the Hard Way]
    Shot and Shell
  7. 6. [The Coming of the Yankee Eagle]
    Yankee Eagle [Jerry Noble / Military Comics only]
  8. 7. [Origin of the Death Patrol]
    Death Patrol
  9. 8. ["They say he's a spy!!"]
    Sabotage
  10. 9. The Machine Gun Drill
    Camp Capers
  11. 10. ["Out of the very heart of the spirit that is America comes a new champion of democracy..."]
    Miss America [Quality]
  12. 11. Gone with the Draft
  13. 12. U.S. Army Insignias
  14. 13. [Sink the Kaiser Adolf]
    Q-Boat
This issue was most recently modified by:
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