“Don’t worry. I met a guy named Midas.”
Judomaster #94
Charlton Comics Group (April, 1967)
“Tiger Hunt”
WRITER/ARTIST: Frank McLaughlin, though the only credit I found was on the first page and it was just his last name on the splash page
Sarge Steel: “Case Of The Devil’s Wife” part 2
WRITER: Joe Gill
PENCILER: Bill Montes
INKER: Dick Giordano
LETTERERING: A Machine
no colorist credited though apparently someone colored the story
Tiger is captured by the sumo Mountain Man and his CO, Suzuki. However, he manages to escape, the soldiers now worried that they’re facing a ninja, the deadliest of assassins in their mind. Unaware of all this, Judomaster comes to his partner’s aid, and ends up being caught. Instead of Tiger luring Judomaster, now it’s the other way around, but the duo manage to escape their trap and put them in the tiger pit instead.
What they got right: Tiger isn’t a helpless sidekick. He proves to be clever and learned his lessons. It’s good to see how strong their partnership is, even if it is rather quick in-universe timewise.
What they got wrong: I’d comment on how they totally exaggerated the ninja, but it’s 1967. We’re lucky they didn’t give Tiger actual ninja magic powers or something. Mountain Man is a lot more yellow on the cover than he is in the comic. Still, it’s 1967 and even if they are doing a World War II comic they should know better.
As for Sarge, he and the ambassador (who shakes off his drugging) attempt to escape the island. Sarge rescues one of the hunting dogs from the water filled with piranha and sharks (I would assume they would just eat each other and the bait and thus ruin their effectiveness as a hazard but what do I know about sea life?), and he becomes their ally. Sadly he will not be joining Team Steel. Our hero does manage to call in the FBI and captures Satana, who tries to kill them by burning her own base. It’s an okay story between the two issues. I don’t know if they changed creators for this part or if they just weren’t credited last issue.
What I think overall: Too bad DC doesn’t do more with these characters. There’s some potential at least for guest appearances, but today’s writer prefer cannon fodder to lesser heroes helping the big names.
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