Zip Comics #3

(April 1940)

[The Black Knight's War on Brazoria] (Table of Contents: 1)

Steel Sterling / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

Charles Biro ?

Pencils

Charles Biro

Inks

Charles Biro

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Steel Sterling [John Sterling]; Walter Cummings (scientist); Dora Cummings (daughter); V: Black Knight; Dr. Yar

Synopsis

The world famous scientist, Walter Cummings is kidnapped and his daughter seeks the help of detective John Sterling, and Steel, he battles the flying tanks of Dr. Yar.

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

Mugsy / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script

Kin Platt (signed as Quincy)

Pencils

Kin Platt (signed as Quincy)

Inks

Kin Platt (signed as Quincy)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Hello, I want to buy a dog...

Genre

humor; animal

Characters

Mugsy (dog)

Death to the Scarlet Avenger [Part 1] (Table of Contents: 3)

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

Script

Harry Shorten

Pencils

Irv Novick (signed as Irving Novick)

Inks

Irv Novick (signed as Irving Novick)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

The Scarlet Avenger (Jim Kendall); Texa (introduction, villain)

Synopsis

Scarlet Avenger battles the airship of Texa who will steal the government's caches of gold bullion.

Reprints

• in Vixens, Vamps & Vipers (Exterminating Angel Press, 2014 series) (2014)

[The Rattleweed Indian Uprising] (Table of Contents: 4)

Nevada Jones / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Frank Volpe

Inks

Frank Volpe

Colors

?

Letters

?

Feature Logo

Nevada Jones, Quick-Trigger Man

Genre

historical; western-frontier

Characters

Nevada Jones; Little Joe (sidekick); Marshal; Doc Poser (villain)

Synopsis

Doc Poser is the leader of a gang of white men disguised as Indians.

Indexer Notes

Art is identical to Volpe's many signed and unsigned Loop Logan stories in Blue Ribbon Comics, from #4. He can be spotted by his very realistic horses in #13, bony faces with marked cheek lines and mouth inked in two short lines. Also the small lines on each side of nose or smiling cheeks. Compare as well his signed London stories in Daredevil Comics #9 and 10 (Lev Gleason)

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

Kalthar / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Harry Shorten

Pencils

Robert Pious

Inks

Robert Pious

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Kalthar is speedier than you, Butah!

Genre

jungle

Characters

Kalthar; Professor Goodwill (introduction); Kate (daughter, introduction); John (villain); Merrick (villain)

Synopsis

White scientists are looking for the lost land of Kybys.

Indexer Notes

The art is identical to Pious's signed story in #2.

[Captured by the Germans] (Table of Contents: 6)

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

Script

?

Pencils

Ed Smalle (signed as Ed Smalle Jr.)

Inks

Ed Smalle (signed as Ed Smalle Jr.)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

war; aviation

Characters

Tim Shane (pilot); Tom Shane (pilot); Kermit (pilot); Herr Schultz (villain)

Synopsis

The twins and Kermit have bailed out over German territory and been taken prisoners. The twins manage to escape in a German plane and later return to rescue Kermit.

The Slip-Up (Table of Contents: 7)

text story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

Genre

detective-mystery

Characters

Larry Duryea; Walter Burbank

Indexer Notes

Two illustrations that have nothing to do with the story.

[Captured by Ho Tsin] (Table of Contents: 8)

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

Script

Abner J. Sundell

Pencils

Mort Meskin (signed)

Inks

Mort Meskin (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

adventure

Characters

Captain Valor; Ronnie; his sister Angie; Gen. Ho Tsin (villain); Hop-Lung (Villain); I: Big Dip

Synopsis

Captain Valor's plane is shot down near the pirate ship, and as a prisoner, he fights a Chinese giant, Big Dip, who later becomes his friend.

[The Disappearing Trains] (Table of Contents: 9)

Mr. Satan / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Harry Shorten

Pencils

Edd Ashe

Inks

Edd Ashe

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

adventure; superhero

Characters

Mr. Satan (Dudley Bradshaw); Sheriff (gang leader)

Synopsis

Trains with payrolls get wrecked and passengers killed by a gang that has built a fake rail switch.

Indexer Notes

Not signed, but same art as in the two previous stories of Mr. Satan.

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

Shield; Wizard; Midshipman; Westpointer / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

adventure; superhero

Indexer Notes

House ad for Pep Comics #4 and Top Notch Comics #5

[Battle in Hell] (Table of Contents: 11)

Zambini / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

Joe Blair

Pencils

Elmer Wexler (signed as El Wexler)

Inks

Elmer Wexler (signed as El Wexler)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Feature Logo

Zambini the 'Miracle Man'

Genre

superhero

Characters

Zambini (magician); Satan (death, villain)

Synopsis

Satan plots the downfall of Zambini, and there is a fiery battle between them in the flames of his burning pit. Zambini turns Satan's men into rabbits, and Satan himself is killed when Hell freezes over.