Data courtesy of the Grand Comics Database under Creative Commons license.

Issue Details

Issue #54
Published September 1940
Cover Price 0.10 USD
Pages 68
Editing Vincent Sullivan ?

Cover Details - "The Hour-Man and the Minute Men of America"

Characters The Hourman; Jimmy Martin; Thorndyke; Minute Men of America
Genre superhero
Pencils Bernard Baily (signed)
Inks Bernard Baily (signed)

1 page Daisy Air Rifles; Red Ryder advertisement "Announcing the Sensational New Daisy 1000-Shot Red Ryder Carbine"

Characters Red Ryder; Little Beaver
Synopsis Advertisement for the Red Ryder 100-Shot Carbine air rifle from the Daisy Manufacturing Company of Plymouth Michigan. Rifle was advertised with a price of $2.95.
Pencils Fred Harman (signed)
Inks Fred Harman (signed)
Letters typeset
Notes Advertisement appears on the inside front cover. This page also contains the indicia for this issue.

9 page The Hourman with Minute-Man Martin story "The Kidnapping of a Minute-Man"

Characters The Hourman [Rex Tyler]; Rodney Morvan; Mr. Morvan; Mrs. Morvan; Guest-Stars: Jimmy Martin; Minute Men of America; Ricky Maffiri (villain, introduction); Maffiri's gang (villains, introduction)
Synopsis Shortly after his mother forces him to resign from the Minute Men of America, banker's son Rodney Morvan is kidnapped by Ricky Maffiri's gang. With the help of the Minute Men, the Hourman tracks down the gang and reunites Rodney with his family who allow the boy to rejoin the Minute Men.
Genre superhero
Pencils Bernard Baily (signed)
Inks Bernard Baily (signed)
Letters Bernard Baily
Notes Letterer credit added by Craig Delich 2008-2-21. The last panel of the story encourages readers to write in and let the editors know how they like the Minute Men of America, because the editors are offering ten $1.00 awards PLUS an autographed picture of the Hourman and Minute Man Martin for the ten best letters received.

6 page Barry O'Neill story "Fang Gow's Challenge"

Characters Barry O'Neill; Inspector Le Grand; Folette Fornet; Agent Fornet; Fang Gow (villain)
Synopsis When O'Neill and Le Grand learn of Fang Gow's attempt to poison a group of refugee children, Fang Gow takes control of O'Neill's mind. Le Grand makes a deal with Fang Gow for O'Neill's release and, upon Fang Gow's escape, the children are saved.
Genre adventure; spy
Script Ed Winiarski
Pencils Ed Winiarski
Inks Ed Winiarski

2 page Oscar Skatterbrain filler "Darling, I love you." "Oscar! Look out! A truck!!"

Characters Oscar Skatterbrain (introduction); Ann
Synopsis On a drive with his sweetheart Ann, Oscar's car is damaged by a bull. After having the car fixed, Oscar gets into another accident leaving his mechanic's garage.
Genre humor
Script Hal Sherman
Pencils Hal Sherman
Inks Hal Sherman
Notes Only appearance.

6 page Mark Lansing of Mikishawm story "The Dreaded Mokos"

Characters Mark Lansing; Jada; Kit; Tony; Koda; Mokos (villain, introduction); Mokan the Monster (villain, introduction); a Tradman (villain, introduction)
Synopsis Mark and his companions are captured by the Mokos. Mark, Jada and Koda escape, but Mark and Koda are recaptured and Mark is forced to fight as a gladiator in order to win his friends' freedom.
Genre science fiction
Script Howard Purcell
Pencils Howard Purcell
Inks Howard Purcell
Notes Story title from last issue's blurb. The first line of the story reads: "Marooned in the strange land of the Mikishawm beneath the surface of the Earth, Mark Lansing and his party of four are unaware of the danger that lurks on the clifftop above them...".

4 page Federal Men story "Death of a Borinquen Butler"

Characters Steve Carson; Ann Carr (introduction); Tommy Watkins (introduction); The Borinquen ambassador (villain, introduction); Williams (villain, an enemy agent, introduction)
Synopsis Investigating an alleged murder at the Borinquen embassy, Steve Carson finds that the supposedly murdered butler is still alive. Upon returning to headquarters, Carson learns that a photographer, who's been seen outside, is actually a Borinquen agent and returns to the embassy to bust the ambassador.
Genre detective
Script Jerry Siegel
Pencils Chad Grothkopf
Inks Chad Grothkopf

1 page Junior Federal Men Club promo (ad from the publisher) "Junior Federal Men Club Conducted by Steve Carson"

Synopsis A text piece about how the FBI is tracking Fifth Columnists and a call for readers to help by joing the Junior Federal Men Club for 10 cents.
Script ? [as Steve Carson]
Letters typeset

1 page Nothin' Serious filler "I want t'go t'morrow"

Synopsis A play on words involving men buying tickets at a train station.
Genre gags
Script Russell Cole [as Alger] (signed)
Pencils Russell Cole [as Alger] (signed)
Inks Russell Cole [as Alger] (signed)
Letters Russell Cole
Notes Letterer credit revised by Craig Delich 2010-1-3, eliminating the question mark behind Cole's name.

6 page Cotton Carver story "Cotton Carver and the Beast Men"

Characters Cotton Carver; Atlantis (origin in flashback); Norlon (introduction); Nora Blake (ntroduction); Jim Bent (introduction); Guest-Stars: Lupa; Qwar [Quar]; Beast Men (villain, introduction)
Synopsis Escaping a group of Amazons with the aid of Qwar, Cotton and Lupa travel to the land of Ugar where Norlon reveals the fate of Atlantis to Cotton. Ugar is then attacked by Beast Men and Cotton is taken prisoner.
Genre fantasy
Script Gardner F. Fox
Pencils Jack Lehti
Inks Jack Lehti

2 page text story "Too Clever"

Characters Jim Norton; Tom Larsen
Synopsis Coast Guard radio operator Jim Norton helps to retrieve stolen radio plans that are being unwittingly smuggled by Tom Larsen.
Genre adventure
Script Clem Gordon (signed)
Pencils Kenney (signed)
Inks Kenney (signed)
Letters typeset
Notes Text story with accompanying illustrations.

6 page Socko Strong story "The Great I: Part 3"

Characters Socko Strong; Professor Watson; The Great I (villain, death)
Synopsis Socko uses a paint sprayer and paint that conducts electricity to defeat the invisible Great I.
Genre adventure
Script Albert Sulman
Pencils Joseph Sulman
Inks Joseph Sulman
Notes The first line of the story reads: "Socko Strong has laid elaborate plans to trap the Great I, an invisible maniac who has embarked on a career of revenge and crime...".

1 page Sports Close-Ups! filler "Hard to Discourage!"

Characters James J. Braddock; Glenn Cunningham; Johnny Weismuller
Synopsis A look at people who overcame disabilities and discouragement to become successful athletes.
Genre sports; fact

1 page advertisement "Adventure Stamp Page"

Synopsis Advertisement for an assortment of postage stamp dealers with reproductions of stamps.
Letters typeset
Notes Advertisers include Tatham Coin Co., Lake Stamp Co., Lee Wright and Co., Potomac Stamp Co., Belmont Stamp Co., Beamann Stamp Co., R. T. Roberts & Co., Arnold Stamp Co., Lorraine Brown, Monumental Stamp Co., Dominion Stamp Co., Eureka Stamp Co., D. W. Crowder Co., Cochecos, Abell Stamp Co., John J. Gunther, Ensign Stamp Co., Mortimer Ellis, Bruce's Stamps, Empire Stamp Company, Pilgrim Stamp Co., L. D. Williams & Co., Seminole Stamp Co., and Globus Stamp Co.

6 page Steve Conrad Adventurer story "Adventure of the French Agent"

Characters Steve Conrad; Chang; Fifi (villain, introduction)
Synopsis Steve and Chang are fooled into assisting a spy in Paris.
Genre adventure
Script Jack Lehti
Pencils Jack Lehti
Inks Jack Lehti
Notes First line of the story reads: "Well, Chang, shall we go out and stroll the boulevards of gay Paree?"

1 page Fantastic-Facts filler "Horses wear pants in South Africa -- to protect them from flies!"

Synopsis Facts about horses in South Africa, dog teeth in New Guinea, a chapel in Le Puys, France, knee injuries, and Chief Mountain in Glacier Park.
Genre fact

Half page Sandy MacBeagle; Morrow Coaster Brakes advertisement "A MacBeagle Can Smell a Bargain!"

Characters Sandy MacBeagle
Synopsis Advertisement for Morrow Coaster Brakes produced for bicycles by the Eclipse Machine Division of the Bendix Aviation Corporation of Elmira, NY.
Letters typeset

Half page Superman; Superman Radio Program advertisement "Superman Is on the Radio!"

Characters Superman
Synopsis Advertisement for the Superman radio program, listing stations and times that the program aired.
Letters typeset

10 page The Sandman story "Case of the Kidnapped Heiress"

Characters The Sandman [Wesley Dodds]; Dian Belmont; Nana Martin (intro); Jim Holt (intro); un-named gang of kidnappers (villains, intro)
Synopsis While attempting to help a friend, both Dian and Nana Martin are kidnapped by a gang of crooks, and the Sandman races to help save them and the ransom money that had been paid on their behalf.
Genre superhero
Script Gardner F. Fox
Pencils Creig Flessel [as Flessel] (signed)
Inks Creig Flessel [as Flessel] (signed)
Notes Credits updated 11/04 by Bob Hughes, identification by Craig Delich; Flessel signed his last name on Page 7 in panel 4 on a tombstone.
Reprinted in Golden Age Sandman Archives (DC, 2004 series) #1

Half page DC Comics promo (ad from the publisher) "The 'Big Six' Comic Magazines Still Lead the Field!"

Characters Superman; Sandman; Batman; Green Lantern; Spectre; Flash
Synopsis Advertisement for Action Comics, Adventure Comics, Detective Comics, All-American Comics, More Fun Comics and Flash Comics giving approximate dates of release for each title.
Letters typeset
Notes According to the text of the advertisement Action Comics was on sale "about the 23rd of every month", Adventure Comics "about the 7th of every month", Detective Comics "about the 5th of every month", All-American Comics "about the 20th of every month", More Fun Comics "about the 1st of every month", and Flash Comics "about the 15th of every month".

Half page Baby Ruth candy bar advertisement "Baby Ruth"

Synopsis Advertisement for Baby Ruth candy bars.
Letters typeset

1 page Johnson Smith & Co. advertisement "Under Water Swimming Goggles"

Synopsis Advertisement for various novelty items from Johnson Smith & Co.
Letters typeset

1 page U.S. Bicycle Tires advertisement "Gator Toughness - Cat Grip"

Synopsis Advertisement for U.S. Bicycle Tires from the United States Rubber Company.
Pencils ? (photo)
Inks ? (photo)
Letters typeset
Notes This sequence appears on the back cover.