“Yesterday’s” Comic> Judomaster #92

Oh look, Smiling Skull is…can we call this back if this takes place before the first time we saw him?

Judomaster #92

Charlton Comics Group (December, 1966)

“Judomaster Meets The Smiling Skull”

WRITER/ARTIST: Frank McLaughlin

Sarge Steel: “The Case Of The Double Agent” part 2 (Harvey Dent would approve)

not listed but my guess is also Frank McLaughlin, who is also credited for this issue’s judo lessons

[Read along with me here]

Rip arrives in pursuit of the Nazi spy, but the “Scarlet Smasher” had a stowaway, the Japanese-American kid from last issue who learned his identity as Judomaster. Leaving the boy with a soldier who clearly never took care of a blockheaded boy before, Tiger (as we learn he’s named) gets himself caught by the spy. Judomaster goes after him but it’s a trap by the Smiling Skull, who wants to challenge a martial artist to fight him. Of course Skull cheats, but Judomaster manages to find a way to beat him just as the bombers arrive to destroy the base. (We know they don’t get Smiling Skull because in “present day” he challenges Sarge Steel in his own title.) However, Judomaster really does need the boy’s help: Skull’s trick has left the hero blind.

What they got right: Congratulations to the Smiling Skull, one of the rare Charlton baddies to not only make a comeback but challenge a different hero in another book. Rip shows he’s clever as he works around his enemy’s skullduggery (now that pun was intentional).

What they got wrong: When did Rip learn Tiger’s name? The only time he’s asked the kid just responds he’s an orphan. We don’t see any proof he asked him on the flight over.

Back in the present, and the back-up, Sarge takes Irena to an American base so she can take footage, but his plans to double cross her are foiled by a fake Colonel. Our villains try to drop Sarge and the unwitting escape plane pilots in dummy bombs, but Sarge manages to use his metal fist, which apparently has a few James Bond style tricks to it now, to subdue the villains. I guess this story was afraid to kill the girl, even the bad one, but the dudes all die. Meanwhile, did Sarge really kill that guy last issue or did the “victim” have a bulletproof vest? If not, Sarge is still in trouble.

What I think overall: A good adventure for both heroes.