Crack Comics #1

(May 1940)

[The Story of Pug Brady] (Table of Contents: 1)

The Clock / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

George Brenner (signed as George E. Brenner)

Pencils

George Brenner (signed as George E. Brenner)

Inks

George Brenner (signed as George E. Brenner)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Varied are the headlines that temporarily displace those screaming of war, sabotage, hate and persecution...

Feature Logo

The Clock Strikes

Genre

detective-mystery; superhero

Characters

The Clock [Brian O'Brien]; Pat "Pug" Brady (ex-heavyweight boxing champion, introduction); The Big Shot [Mayor Kozer] (villain, introduction, death); Gaston; John Dooly; Dooly's daughter; Tony; Captain Kane

Synopsis

A down and out-of-luck former heavyweight champion boxer and All-American fullback tries to steal Brian's watch. Later he follows the Clock and saves him from harm by Mayor Kozer, but kills the man in the process. Brian then covers for Brady, disguises himself as the Mayor and infiltrates the gang Kozer once led.

Reprints

• in Gwandanaland Comics (Gwandanaland Comics, 2016 series) #2005 - The Golden Age Firsts of Quality Comics: Volume 1 ([May] 2018)

Indexer Notes

Strip continued from Feature Comics #31 (April 1940).

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

Jane Arden / comic story / 1.5 pages (report information)

Script

Monte Barrett

Pencils

Russell Ross

Inks

Russell Ross

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

When that phoney Jim Southern heard me say a big detective was here, he jumped.

Genre

drama; detective-mystery; adventure

Characters

Jane Arden; Jim Southern [Tim Stratton]; Sue; Clarence

Synopsis

Jane does a bit of research on Jim Southern when she suspects that there is something phoney about him.

Reprints

• Reprint strips

Keywords

soap opera

Indexer Notes

Continued from Feature Comics #31. The Jane Arden feature spans two pages and shares .25 of each page with a Lena Pry story. Each story page also includes a paper doll of Jane Arden and clothing.

Lena Heads a Strike... (Table of Contents: 3)

Lena Pry / comic story / 0.5 page (report information)

Script

Monte Barrett ?

Pencils

Russell Ross (signed as Ross)

Inks

Russell Ross (signed as Ross)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

But, Lena... Th' men might git mad if we ups an' refuses t' work.

Genre

humor

Characters

Lena Pry

Synopsis

Lena leads a strike against the men to do no more work.

Keywords

Sparrow Gulch; strike

Indexer Notes

The Lena Pry story spans two pages with 75 percent of each page taken up by a Jane Arden feature.

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

Jane Arden / comic story / 1.5 pages (report information)

Script

Monte Barrett

Pencils

Russell Ross

Inks

Russell Ross

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Gee... I'm so glad that "vacation" is over, Sue!

Genre

detective-mystery; adventure

Characters

Jane Arden; Sue; Jim Porter; Captain Spence

Synopsis

Jane and Jim investigate a murder on a train.

Indexer Notes

The Jane Arden feature spans two pages and shares .25 of each page with a Lena Pry story. Each story page includes a paper doll of Jane Arden's wardrobe for men.

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

Lena Pry / comic story / 0.5 page (report information)

Script

Monte Barrett ?

Pencils

Russell Ross (signed as Ross)

Inks

Russell Ross (signed as Ross)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Say, Lena... ah is very starved!

Genre

humor

Characters

Lena Pry; Dan'l

Synopsis

Lena refuses to feed Dan'l until he completes his chores.

Keywords

skunk

Indexer Notes

The Lena Pry story spans two pages with 75 percent of each page taken up by a Jane Arden feature.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 6)

Off the Record / cartoon / 1 page (report information)

Script

Ed Reed

Pencils

Ed Reed

Inks

Ed Reed

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Gosh I fell in love with Maw's plowin' right from th' start!

Genre

humor

Characters

Miss Smith; Maw; Pa; dentist

Introducing Rock Braddon (Table of Contents: 7)

Space Legion / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Vern Henkel (signed as Vernon Henkel)

Pencils

Vern Henkel (signed as Vernon Henkel)

Inks

Vern Henkel (signed as Vernon Henkel)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

The space-port of the Earth colony "Hispan," on Mars....

Genre

science fiction

Characters

The Space Legion (introduction); Rock Braddon (introduction); Captain Graves (introduction); Harg (villain, introduction, death)

Keywords

Mercury; Metropolis; moon; radium; spaceships

Indexer Notes

The Space Legion was set in the future, when all nations of Earth were at peace.....but not so in space. Braddon commandered the ship "Mercury" and his home base was the city of Metropolis. At this time, there was a civilization on Mars.

[The Sign of the Cricket] (Table of Contents: 8)

Alias the Spider / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Gustavson

Pencils

Paul Gustavson

Inks

Paul Gustavson

Colors

?

Letters

Paul Gustavson

First Line of Dialogue or Text

A reign of terror breaks out in a large city...

Genre

superhero

Characters

The Spider [Tom Hallaway] (introduction); The Cricket (villain, introduction, death); the Crickets (villains, introduction for all); Stevens

Synopsis

With the city in the grip of terror perpetrated by the Cricket, who, like the Spider, left a calling card at the scene of his crimes. With cunning, the Spider tracked him down and sent him to a watery grave.

Reprints

• in Étranges Aventures (Organic Comix, 2013 series) #2 (automne 2017)
• in Gwandanaland Comics (Gwandanaland Comics, 2016 series) #2005 - The Golden Age Firsts of Quality Comics: Volume 1 ([May] 2018)

Keywords

Lebson's Department Store

Indexer Notes

All Gustavson credits verified and courtesy of Terry Gustafson, son of Paul Gustavson.

The Spider was a supreme archer who crafted a special kind of arrow that burst into flame as it was fired. The arrow's tip left behind the Spider's mark: a scarab-like medallion, that served as a warning.

Jimmy Stewart (Table of Contents: 9)

Screen Snapshots / cartoon / 1 page (report information)

Script

Gill Fox

Pencils

Gill Fox

Inks

Gill Fox

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

... and have you been an escort for any of the glamor girls, lately?

Genre

biography; non-fiction

Characters

Jimmy Stewart; Anna Mae Wong

Indexer Notes

Feature continues from Smash Comics (Quality Comics, 1939 Series) #3.

Too Hot to Hold (Table of Contents: 10)

Wizard Wells / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

Harry Campbell (signed as Harry Francis Campbell)

Pencils

Harry Campbell (signed as Harry Francis Campbell)

Inks

Harry Campbell (signed as Harry Francis Campbell)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Wizard Wells, a former All-American half back, has become one of the nation's outstanding inventors and research scientists......

Genre

adventure; science fiction

Characters

Wizard Wells (inventor, introduction); Tug (introduction, Wells' partner); Black Morda (villain, introduction); Mary Perry; Mr. Perry

Synopsis

Wizard and Tug help the Perry's avoid extortion.

Indexer Notes

Wells was a former All-American halfback, now inventor. Despite his athletic background, Wells disliked physical combat and preferred to help people by using his wits. His solutions usually centered around the electromagnetic spectrum of energies, i.e. infrared, ultraviolet light, microwaves and electric eyes.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 11)

Molly the Model / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Script

John Devlin

Pencils

John Devlin

Inks

John Devlin

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Hello Nifty- Will y'tell Danny I'll wait for him outside the gym?

Genre

humor

Characters

Molly the Model (first appearance); Danny; Nifty; Mr. Maloney

Keywords

lingerie panels

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 12)

Ned Brant / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Script

Bob Zuppke

Pencils

Walt Depew

Inks

Walt Depew

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Speed it up for five minutes

Genre

sports

Characters

Ned Brant; Gail Donaldson; Mr. Meegan; Bud Shekels; Jake

Keywords

basketball

Indexer Notes

cont'd from FEATURE COMICS #31; strip reprints

[Lee Gets Her Wings] (Table of Contents: 13)

Lee Preston of the Red Cross / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Script

Bob Powell (signed as Terrance McAully)

Pencils

Bob Powell (signed as Terrance McAully)

Inks

Bob Powell (signed as Terrance McAully)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Look, Whisky.. that plane is going to land!

Genre

adventure; aviation

Characters

Lee Preston (introduction, origin; Red Cross nurse and pilot); Mr. Preston (Lee's father, introduction); Rick Royce (introduction); Jeff Dickers

Indexer Notes

The Who's Who says that Terrance McAully was a house name Powell used while at Quality Comics.

Cross was an intrepid young aviatrix who got her pilot's license, then flew the world to lend a hand.

Love Bird's Brain Test (Table of Contents: 14)

Rube Goldberg's Side Show / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script

Rube Goldberg

Pencils

Rube Goldberg

Inks

Rube Goldberg

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

If a young man's girl has $50,000,000 should he let that prevent him from marrying her?

Genre

humor

Characters

Little Butch; Nibbsy; Prince Alexis; Marjorie Daisy Whimple de Bass; Anna Smythe

Indexer Notes

cont'd from FEATURE COMICS #31; strip reprint

[Origin of the Red Torpedo] (Table of Contents: 15)

The Red Torpedo / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Script

Henry Kiefer ? (signed as Drew Allen)

Pencils

Henry Kiefer (signed as Drew Allen)

Inks

Henry Kiefer (signed as Drew Allen)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero; adventure

Characters

The Red Torpedo [Captain Jim Lockhart] (introduction, origin); Meg (Jim's fiancee); Captain Wells (introduction); The the Nazis (villains)

Synopsis

When U.S. Navy man Jim Lockhart invented a human-guided, one-man submarine, his superiors in the military reject it. Not to be deterred, he took his invention to the private sector and, with his fiancee Meg, built it on their own. Then, donning his distinctive uniform, he saves an American ship from European aggressors.

Reprints

• in Gwandanaland Comics (Gwandanaland Comics, 2016 series) #2005 - The Golden Age Firsts of Quality Comics: Volume 1 ([May] 2018)

Indexer Notes

The Who's Who suggests, as do Mike Kooiman and Jim Amash in the Quality Companion, that Kiefer not only created this feature, but did the art for it through the strip's entire run. Kiefer is also usually considered to have written it.

Drew Allen is Kiefer's pen-name used on the strip.

Corning's Mistake (Table of Contents: 16)

text story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Larry Spain

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

You're through, Corning!

Genre

drama

Characters

Big Bull Belding; John Corning; Bates; Betty Stevens

Synopsis

John Corning discovers that he made a mistake in constructing his building and needs to correct it somehow.

Keywords

Belding Land Enterprises; Chicago

That Battle of the World's Greatest Hurlers (Table of Contents: 17)

They're Still Talking / cartoon / 1 page (report information)

Script

Bob Zuppke ?

Pencils

Walt Depew

Inks

Walt Depew

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Here they come!

Genre

sports; non-fiction

Characters

George Saling; Keller; Beard

Synopsis

A synopsis of George Saling's hurdle race at the Olympic Games held in Los Angeles in 1932.

Keywords

hurdles; Los Angeles; Olympics

[Origin of Madam Fatal] (Table of Contents: 18)

Madam Fatal / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Script

Art Pinajian (signed)

Pencils

Art Pinajian (signed)

Inks

Art Pinajian (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Oh... it's Madam Fatal, our neighbor--

Genre

superhero

Characters

Madam Fatal [Richard Stanton] (introduction, origin, first cross-dressing super-hero); Hamlet (Madam Fatal's parrot); Sarah; Mr. Porter (postman); Johnny; Reeves (Carver's driver); Mrs. Stanton (Richard's wife, death); un-named daughter of the Stanton's; John Carver (villain, introduction, death); Lou (villain); Mike (villain)

Synopsis

Former actor John Stanton, posing as an old woman, does everything he can to track down a man he has been searching for for years, John Carver. Stanton had married the woman Carver loved, but Carver became jealous and, two years later, kidnapped Stanton's only daughter. Now the two come face to face, and all Stanton cares about now is if his daughter is still alive.

Reprints

• in The Quality Companion (TwoMorrows Publishing, 2011 series) (November 2011)
• in Gwandanaland Comics (Gwandanaland Comics, 2016 series) #2005 - The Golden Age Firsts of Quality Comics: Volume 1 ([May] 2018)

Invasions Stopped Free of Charge! (Table of Contents: 19)

Slap Happy Pappy / comic story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Gill Fox

Pencils

Gill Fox

Inks

Gill Fox

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean a giant plane drones its way towards the United States

Genre

humor

Characters

Slap Happy Pappy (first appearance); Flip (first appearance); The Nazis (villains)

[The Man Who Can Fly Like a Bird] (Table of Contents: 20)

The Black Condor / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

Will Eisner (signed as Kenneth Lewis)

Pencils

Lou Fine

Inks

Lou Fine

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

From the beginning of time, man has thought of flight...

Genre

superhero

Characters

The Black Condor [Richard Grey, Jr.] (introduction, origin); Mr. Richard Grey (introduction, death); Mrs. Richard Grey (introduction, death); Father Pierre (introduction, death); Yakki Raiders (villains, introduction); Gali Kan (villain, introduction, death)

Synopsis

Saved by his mother from a group of raiders who had murder his father, infant Grey is raised by condors with whom he seems to connect, and, as he grows, he studies the mechanics of flight, which he eventually succeeds in emulating. Taken in by a kindly Monk, Grey takes revenge on Gali Khan for killing the Monk and swears a life-long effort to bring evil doers to justice.

Reprints

• in Continuum (JMF, 2007 series) #4 (No Date [circa 2008 Mars]), #4 (No Date [circa 2008 Mars]), #4bis (No Date [circa mars 2008])
• in Gwandanaland Comics (Gwandanaland Comics, 2016 series) #2005 - The Golden Age Firsts of Quality Comics: Volume 1 ([May] 2018)

Keywords

giant eagles; Hindustan; Mongolia

Indexer Notes

Richard Grey Jr. will assume the identity of Senator Thomas Wright in issue #11.
Oddity: in this story only, his costume is colored red.