The Green Mask #10

(August 1944)

[Origin of the New Green Mask] (Table of Contents: 1)

The Green Mask / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

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Our country's need for able-bodied men...

Genre

superhero

Characters

The Green Mask; Johnny Green; Phil; Mrs. Schuyler; Punchy; Curly(a dog); Michael "Slug" O'Banion; Lenny the Gyp; Butch; Wiley; Dorgan

Synopsis

15 year old Johnny Green's father Walter was superhero Green Mask, but he's in the armed forces now. When gangsters working for O'Banion kill his pal Punchy and Johnny's dog Curly, Johnny's "righteous wrath explodes and transforms" him into the Green Mask. The Green Mask defeats the gangsters, then falls asleep. He reverts to young Johnny--who has no idea what happened. Johnny discovers Punchy and Curly aren't dead after all.

Indexer Notes

This is the first story of the "new" Green Mask. The alter ego of the previous Green Mask was Michael Shelby, but this has apparently been ret-conned to make him Walter Green (who is never shown in the new series). The Johnny Green/Green Mask transformation is similar to Billy Batson/Captain Marvel, except Johnny is unaware that he transforms into the superhero when angry.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 2)

One Round Hogan / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

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Pencils

Al Zere

Inks

Al Zere

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First Line of Dialogue or Text

Tim Hogan, ex-Marine, spends his compensation money vainly searching for a job

Genre

sports

Characters

Tim "One Round" Hogan; Tony Magenta; Mamma Magenta; Spike McVey; Chuck; Blimp; Kane

Synopsis

Ex-Marine Tim Hogan goes to work for restaurateur Tony. After defeating Spike and his gangsters, Tim becomes a professional boxer with Tony's backing. Although gangsters try to distract Tim during the bout, news that he's been cited for bravery in the war encourages him to win the fight.

Keywords

boxing

Indexer Notes

First One Round Hogan story. He teams up with his regular corner man Blimp, but his manager is not yet identified as Spigot Barnett.
Art credit from JVJ index card attached to online scanned version.

The Screwy Sleuth (Table of Contents: 3)

Dick Transom / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Hap Harris ?

Pencils

Al Zere

Inks

Al Zere

Colors

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Letters

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Genre

humor; detective-mystery

Characters

Dick Transom; Simeon Foxface; Joe; FBI man

Synopsis

Private detective Dick is hired by Foxface as his bodyguard. Foxface says he carries a secret formula on his person at all times, and Dick accidentally gives this away (it was hidden in a pen). Dick apprehends the man he thinks took the pen, only to learn his prisoner is an FBI agent and Foxface is the leader of a gang of saboteurs and the formula is stolen. Dick captures Foxface before he can flee the country.

Reprints

• in All Great Comics (Fox, 1944 series) (1944)

Indexer Notes

Later stories were bylined "Hap Harris" but he is not credited here (if indeed Hap Harris is a real name and not a house byline).

Art credit from JVJ index card attached to online scanned version.

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

Camp Capers / cartoon / 1 page (report information)

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Al Zere

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Al Zere

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Positively no loitering

Genre

humor; military

Synopsis

6 gag cartoons, all with military themes.

Indexer Notes

Art credit from JVJ index card attached to online scanned version.

The Devil's Loop (Table of Contents: 5)

text story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

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Letters

typeset

Genre

adventure

[Save Paper] (Table of Contents: 6)

Jr. Air Warden / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script

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Pencils

Al Zere

Inks

Al Zere

Colors

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Letters

?

Genre

humor

Indexer Notes

No dialogue in this strip.
Art credit from JVJ index card attached to online scanned version.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 7)

The Joy Family / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Hal George ?

Pencils

Al Zere

Inks

Al Zere

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First Line of Dialogue or Text

Dawgone the dawgone job!

Genre

humor; domestic

Characters

Mr. [Cuthbert] Joy; Judy Joy; Junior Joy; Boss; Joe

Synopsis

Mr. Joy quits his job in disgust, planning to reopen the rural Candlewick Inn. He discovers this is a derelict resort hotel apparently being used as a gangsters' hideout. However, the "gangsters" are a movie company and they pay the Joy family enough to get out of their financial bind. Mr. Joy goes back to his office job.

Indexer Notes

"Hal George" gets credit on other Joy Family stories, but not this one. It was probably a house byline.

Art credit from JVJ index card attached to online scanned version.

This is a fairly blatant imitation of "Blondie." In future stories Mr. Joy is named Cuthbert.

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

Rocket Kelly / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

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When Gen. Stillwell started his campaign to clear China's life line...

Genre

aviation; war

Characters

Captain Patrick "Rocket" Kelly; Corporal Wacky; the Professor; Chief Daikal; Puna

Synopsis

During World War II, Patrick Kelly is assigned to fly in the Burma theatre of war. He and his gunner Wacky crash land and are captured by Japanese-allied natives. The Professor, another prisoner, helps them escape using a rocket engine that is attached to their airplane.

Keywords

Burma Road; General Stillwell; World War II

Indexer Notes

next appearance in THE BOUNCER (Fox, 1944 series) #nn

Kelly's sidekick is spelled "Wacky" and "Whacky" at different times in the story.

Death In a Padded Cell (Table of Contents: 9)

The Green Mask / comic story / 9 pages (report information)

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Genre

superhero

Characters

Green Mask; Johnny Green; Stephen Mallory; Oliver Danby; Dr. Blair; Ben; Ned; Alan Spencer; Leonard Spencer; Mrs. Leonard Spencer

Synopsis

Teenager Johnny, mistaken for Alan Spencer, is abducted and taken to Dr. Blair's asylum. Johnny gets angry and becomes the Green Mask. He learns Steven is being held prisoner there so his brother can squander his fortune. The Green Mask rescues the real Alan. Lawyer Denby, mastermind of the plot, tries to eliminate all of the witnesses and evidence. The now-insane Steven escapes and murders Leonard and Danby before the Green Mask kills him.

Indexer Notes

Steven is called Steven Mallory although his brother is named Leonard Spencer and the Green Mask also refers to Steven's "brother Tom" who is never seen. Alan Spencer is Leonard's nephew but it appears he's also supposed to be Steven Mallory's son? No explanation is given for the variance in names.

Uncensored! Fun and Revelry (Table of Contents: 10)

advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Script

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Letters

typeset

Indexer Notes

ad for The Pleasure Primer- a rare collection of entertainment, guide to fun and revelry. a Primer for Hale and Hearty Living. Stories by Voltaire, Ovid, Balzac and others.