In case you wondered what would happen if the Joker and Red Skull were fused into one person.
Sarge Steel #3
Charlton Comics Group (April-May, 1965)
“Heritage Of Hate”
CREATOR: Pat Masulli
WRITER: Joe Gill
ARTIST: Dick Giordano
LETTERER: Jon D’Agostino
While at the gym, someone tries to steal Sarge’s Lugar. He manages to chase the thief off, but the man returns at Sarge’s office with some help and they manage to take the gun. Sarge is awakened by a girl he raced past earlier heading to the gym, and some government agents who tell him the gun’s ballistic and serial number matches the silver Lugar of Rudolph Volk, a would-be Neo-Nazi and killer that the girl ends up working for. Not knowing the authorities already confirmed Sarge’s alibis given his international cases, the “Smiling Skull” (Volk’s face stuck in a smile) plans to frame Sarge for his crime. Sarge manages to free the girl and stop the Skull’s operations.
What they got right: Sarge’s alibis means this isn’t a story where he’s on the run from his own government and has to clear his name. There’s no time for that trope, and given his previous adventures it makes sense he would have an excuse for NOT being where the shootings take place, seeing as Volk only recently learned about the oddity with their guns. There’s some good action in the story, and everything has an explanation that is at least acceptable.
What they got wrong: Though I do find it hard to believe two guns could have the same serial number and ballistic report despite being made close together like that. Apparently the girl doesn’t tell Volk about the alibis despite being in the room when the agents arrived to question Sarge. I also don’t believe they’d let him keep Volk’s gun when they would have taken it for evidence.
What I think overall: This is an interesting take on noir format, by adding these international adventures. I’d like to think they were done recapping how Sarge got his metal hand every issue, but I bet it comes up again next time. Overall I enjoyed it.
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