“When I say I want it sliced thin, I mean THIN!”
Keen Detective Funnies v2 #10
Centaur Publications (October, 1939)
The inside cover actually has old style photo developing tips. Neat.
I’m hoping to get to some Christmas themed issues by Christmas but it’s kind of the luck of the “pull” at this point. I’m going by what comes up in the virtual newsstand on Comic Book Plus that I’m interested to read, organized by month and year. We’ll see if we get there on time or if I’m doing Christmas comics in February.
The Masked Marvel by Ben Thompson
A gang boss goes into terrorist mode after going to prison and the Masked Marvel and the Z-Agents have to stop him. This needed more space to tell the story, but I’m not sure how much it would of helped. Marvel and company just happen to learn stuff off-panel, Masked Marvel has yet another “science” spy machine that only seems to pick up the first bombing raid when a deli gets blown up before Scarolti goes hardcore. The ending barely requires him to do anything because the crook is done in by his own bombed bridge plan. It’s just so ridiculous in execution.
Captain Forsythe and Sergeant Maclean: Spy Hunters
More like sabotage hunters. You fight spies with spies, not soldiers. Anyway, a group of Arab saboteurs are causing trouble for an oil pipeline and Forsythe is called in to stop them with a bunch of troops. It’s not very exciting; the story just kind of happens, but it feels like a complete story.
Gabby Flynn by Ken Ernst
Warning if you haven’t gone to read the comic yet for some reason: Gabby asks for a light for his British slang for a cigarette. Odd to see that in an American comic even without knowing what the term means today. The story has Gabby wanting to interview the mobster he’s been ragging on in the paper…and he actually shows up. It’s an excuse for him to beat Gabby up (including a shirtless fight–you’re welcome, ladies) when he decides to take Gabby and Longfellow captive. Suffice it to say there’s no interview, but Gabby does have a clever way to defeat the gang.
“Foggy Night” part 1 by Frollo
Hey, want to watch a police officer get beat up by the same smugglers over and over again every time he tries to bring them in? Can’t wait for part 2.
“Spark” O’Leary” by Will Ely
The “radio newshawk” is covering a boat landing and interviewing celebrities (maybe it was a bigger deal in 1939) when there’s an explosion in the boat, a botched attempt to destroy it. Spark recognizes a man there as the possible bomber, and that leads to him helping the police expose the man who hired him. It’s a good story for the space they had. I’m not sure how else it could have been built on. Some of the earlier stories in this issue should take notes for next time.
Dean Deaton: Scientific Detective by Harry F. Campbell: “The Case Of The ‘Disappeared Crown'”
More adventures with “what if Jeff Dunham became Dr. Benton Quest”, that seems to think last issue was about extorting Hollywood celebs rather than turning them into a cult that believed they could see the past through Bolton Gates’ movies. There’s a joke in there on its own given 1939 special effects. Anyway, “The Conqueror” now wants to steal a priceless crown from the idiot who insured it but doesn’t appreciate it. Deaton has a plan to foil the scheme and teach the other fool a lesson, which works out in the end even when it goes wrong. If you can handle 1939 stereotype black man sidekick, this is a fun story to read. If not…he doesn’t do anything anyway except talk 1930s black man talk in a couple of panels so you can ignore him. I know I want to.
overall
The first half of the comic is mediocre but it gets better with each story. Not a bad read in the second half except for that multi-parter.
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