Zip Comics #5

(June 1940)

[The Zeta Ray Saboteurs] (Table of Contents: 1)

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

Script

Abner Sundell (signed)

Pencils

Charles Biro (signed)

Inks

Charles Biro (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Steel Sterling [John Sterling]; Walter Cummings (scientist); Dora Cummings (daughter); Black Knight (villain)

Synopsis

The Cummings Plant engaged in production for the U.S. Army has been sabotaged.

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

Mugsy / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script

Kin Platt

Pencils

Kin Platt (Quincy)

Inks

Kin Platt

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

humor

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

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

Script

Harry Shorten (signed)

Pencils

Irv Novick (signed)

Inks

Irv Novick (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

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

Synopsis

Texa's dirigible points its nose to California and Alcatraz to free the greatest of criminals from the prison and make them her servants.

[The Disappearance of the Ames Brothers] (Table of Contents: 4)

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

Script

?

Pencils

Frank Volp

Inks

Frank Volp

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

western-frontier

Characters

Nevada Jones; Little Joe (sidekick); Carl Ames [Cactus]; Steve Ames; Sister

Synopsis

Carl has murdered his brother to keep their gold mine for himself.

Indexer Notes

Art is identical to Volp'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)

[The Leopard Men] (Table of Contents: 5)

Kalthar / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Harry Shorten

Pencils

Robert Pious

Inks

Robert Pious

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

jungle

Characters

Kalthar; Leopardmen

Synopsis

Leopardmen has clawed and killed many of the Urganas hunting party and the rest they took prisoners.

Indexer Notes

Originally credited to Lin Streeter. Pious is also credited on this feature by Jerry Bails' Who's Who, and the art is identical to his signed story in #2.

[Smashing the Supply Train] (Table of Contents: 6)

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

Script

?

Pencils

Ed Smalle (signed)

Inks

Ed Smalle (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

war

Characters

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

Synopsis

The Eagles are lost in a German forest, and are caugt, but escape in a German bomber.

Rocky Mountain Canaries (Table of Contents: 7)

text story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

Genre

non-fiction; western-frontier

Characters

Lou Dickerson

Synopsis

The story of the burro.

[Captured by Yat Sing and Tania] (Table of Contents: 8)

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

Script

Abner Sundell (signed)

Pencils

Mort Meskin (signed)

Inks

Mort Meskin (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

adventure

Characters

Captain Valor; Ronnie; his sister Angie; Big Dip; Yat Sing (Villain); Tania (Villain)

Synopsis

Ronnie is held prisoner by Yat Sing and Taina. They want the military plans for the Chinese campaign against the invaders.

[The Mardi Gras Murder] (Table of Contents: 9)

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

Script

Harry Shorten

Pencils

Edd Ashe

Inks

Edd Ashe ?

Colors

?

Letters

?

Characters

Mr. Satan (Dudley Bradshaw); Doris O'Day

Synopsis

A New Orleans paddle wheeler is used as a counterfeiters' hideout and as an easy way distribute the printed money up and down the river.

Indexer Notes

The art is similar to the other signed by Ashe, but the inking is different.

[The Faces in the Sky] (Table of Contents: 10)

Zambini the 'Miracle Man' / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

Joe Blair

Pencils

Elmer Wexler [as El Wexler] (signed)

Inks

Elmer Wexler [as El Wexler] (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Zambini (magician); Witch Doctor

Synopsis

Strange faces appear in the sky over the city and strike terror into the people who see them. All the diamonds in the city are gone when the faces disappear. Clues leads Zambini to a tropical island where natives use witchcraft to raid for diamonds.