“Yesterday’s” Comic> Smash Comics #2

Oh, if Wertham had seen this cover.

Smash Comics #2

Everett M. Arnold (September, 1939)

Well, here’s a new one. And what a cover to start out on. The Grand Comics Database and Comic Book Plus are claiming this for Quality Comics but it just says “Everett M. Arnold” in the publisher credit. Maybe it became Quality like Atlas and National became Marvel and DC respectively?

[Read along with me here]

Espionage starring Black Ace by Erwin

I haven’t seen a comic start with the “living or dead” disclaimer. You know, the one that says any match to a real person is a coincidence. A scientist creates a ray that targets engines or something, and just gives it to the US Government for the defense of the country. That’s something that makes little sense in 2024 but back then people still thought they cared. Not sure why they felt the need to add a magic Hindu man into the story and he barely adds anything, but otherwise a fair start.

The Lone Star Rider by Doyle

It’s the origin story of a Lone Ranger wanna-be. It’s not a bad origin for the time. Old West, Dead parents at the hand of a gang. Kid escapes. Becomes a wandering horse rider who fights evil. It works.

Abdul The Arab

Abdul works with the police to stop a revolt. Pretty sure the colorist needs to learn what “brown-skinned” looks like for the very caucasian looking dancing girl. This is back when people had odd ideas about life in Baghdad. The story ends a bit short. It’s not terrible but not all that interesting, either.

Philpot Veep in The Case Of The Missing Walrus

For a two page comedy about a pair of detectives searching for a kidnapped walrus (and some rather odd motivations for said kidnapping) this wasn’t a terrible mystery. Otherwise I’d bypass it like the gag page that seemed in favor of crooks.

Hugh Hazzard And His Iron Man by Wayne Reed

No Tony Stark here. It’s the story of a man and his robot, Bozo. No clown relation, either. Apparently there was a previous adventure where Bozo was working for the bad guys, but Hugh has his control box now, and he might need it when a gang kidnaps a banker’s daughter for ransom. Not sure how the bad guys knew Hugh was under cover, but it’s a fair story.

Archie O’Toole by Bud Thomas

Archie is king of Pyromania. Odd name for a country. It’s a two page comedy strip, but I did Philpot Veep and this is a continuous story, as Gil O’Teen (geez, these names) tries to cheat to win a race, which will bankrupt the country. Archie saying he has to keep his word and give the prize before learning how in debt they are is rather humorous. “Every government must keep their word.” Name one that has. It’s a story that exists.

Captain Cook Of Scotland Yard

Another story that ends too quick, as Cook deals with an art thief who went after the Mona Lisa (because if it’s Paris, they’re after the Mona Lisa). Part of the explanation via newspaper gets cut off by the panels. This had potential, but it didn’t have the space to meet it.

Invisible Justice by Art Gordon

Kent Thurston is the Invisible Hood, except he isn’t actually invisible. People just don’t know what the masked crimefighter looks like. In that outfit, they’re better off. Still, he wants to be invisible for real. He gets his chance when the Spade gang kidnaps a professor with an invisibility formula. How convieeeeeenent. Eh, I’ve seen worse origins, and it’s the costume that makes him invisible…again, we’re better off, but I hope he has a way to keep track of it when he isn’t wearing it.

Cliff Chance At Cliffside by Scott Sheridan

It’s another “let’s bet on the team with lower odds and then cheat so they win and we get a lot of money” stories, but instead of capturing or blackmailing someone they find a different way to rig the game. It’s the baseball players that save the day on this one. Points for a unique take.

Chic Carter: Ace Reporter by Vernon Henkel

Chic is sent to find out why a munitions dealer is on a cruise ship. When he and his traveling companion, whom Chic had a date with, are killed, they clearly call on a reporter instead of the ship’s detective to solve the mystery…which is actually handled by the crew anyway. He does save their lives, so at least he contributes. It could have been a story about stopping a man from creating a war just to sell weapons but I don’t think (granted I’m no expert) a World War 1 soldier would be allowed to take working weapons home as a souvenir. Overall it was a nice idea that wasn’t full thought out.

Wings Wendall Of Military Intelligence

Spies of an unnamed foreign power want to steal a new US military plane design and Wings has to stop them. Short summary, but the story itself is maybe a tad rushed. Not enough to hurt it badly, but enough that it’s a fair story at best.

overall

A fairly decent read. It wasn’t fantastic but I liked it enough to try the next issue out that comes up in Comic Book Plus’ virtual newsstand.