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

Issue Details

Issue #9
Published July 1940
Frequency monthly
Cover Price 0.10 USD
Pages 68
Editing Martin Goodman

Cover Details - "Human Torch vs. Sub-Mariner"

Characters The Sub-Mariner; Human Torch.
Genre superhero
Pencils Bill Everett
Inks Alex Schomburg
Letters ?; most typeset
Reprinted In Marvel 65th Anniversary Special (Marvel, 2004 series) #1; in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #3 (2008).

1 page Mystic Comics #3 & Daring Mystery Comics #5 advertisement "Good News!"

Characters Blue Blaze; The Falcon; insets of Blue Blaze, Hercules, Flexo, Invisible Man, Dakor, and Dynamic Man.
Synopsis Promotional ads, with covers, for Mystic Comics #3 and Daring Mystery Comics #5.
Genre superhero; ad
Pencils Alex Schomburg
Inks Alex Schomburg
Notes Sequence and all info added by Craig Delich 11-15-08.
Reprinted In Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #3 (2008).

22 page Human Torch and Sub-Mariner story "The Human Torch Vs. the Sub-Mariner: The Battle of the Comic Century!"

Characters The Human Torch [Jim Hamond]; the Sub-Mariner [Prince Namor]; GS: Betty Dean.
Synopsis Embitted when the Police Commissioner calls Torch afraid for not bringing in the Sub-Mariner as he promised, the Torch and Betty track down Namor and a battle royal begins, that ends with the Fiery Fury being captured by Namor in an airless glass tube.
Genre superhero
Script Bill Everett (signed); Carl Burgos (signed); John Compton (signed)
Pencils Bill Everett (signed); Carl Burgos (signed)
Inks Bill Everett (signed); Carl Burgos (signed)
Letters Bill Everett
Notes Part 3 of Human Torch/Sub-Mariner battle which is concluded next issue. Some info and synopsis added by Craig Delich 11-16-08.
Reprinted In Fantasy Masterpieces (Marvel, 1966 series) #8; in Marvel 65th Anniversary Special (Marvel, 2004 series) #1; in Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #3 (2008).

8 page The Angel story "The Mad Doctor of Carlburg"

Characters The Angel [Tom Hallaway]; un-named girl; Villains: an un-named scientist, a beast man, a gorilla [all D].
Synopsis The Angel becomes involved in a situation in which towns people believe that a vampire is at work, when all along it is a mad scientist, who desires to transplant the brain of a young woman into a gorilla.
Genre superhero
Script Ray Gill?
Pencils Paul Gustavson (signed)
Inks Paul Gustavson (signed)
Notes Writer revision from Paul Gustavson to Ray Gill?. The Who's Who states that only Gill was a writer on the feature in 1940 and this story may be by him. Notes, much info and synopsis added by Craig Delich 11-16-08.
Reprinted In Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #3 (2008).

8 page The Masked Raider story "The Stagecoach Bandits"

Characters The Masked Raider [Jim Gardley]; Mexican Pete; Pecos Bill; un-named Sheriff; Villains: Shep Mason and his gang.
Synopsis The Raider involves himself in a case wherein gold shipments from a mining camp have been waylaid, then end up being turned into the local assay office for cash payment.
Genre western
Pencils Al Anders
Inks Al Anders
Notes Writer revision from Al Anders to ?. The Who's Who lists NO writer for this strip. Notes, and much info added by Craig Delich 11-16-08.
Reprinted In Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #3 (2008).

2 page text story "High Steel"

Characters Juan Matilla; Jim Holland; Nat McCord; V: O'Reilly.
Synopsis Nat McCord finds himself victim from an unlikely source during an unexpected payroll robbery.
Genre adventure
Script John H. Compton (signed)
Pencils Robert Hughes (signed as R. Hughes)
Inks Robert Hughes (signed as R. Hughes)
Letters typeset
Notes Artist credits and most info plus synopsis added by Craig Delich 11-16-08.
Reprinted In Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #3 (2008).

8 page Electro the Marvel of the Age story "On the Planet Ligga"

Characters Electro; Professor Zog; Villains: Jago and his Dragon-Men [all D]; Queen Nara [Nara Gale, I); Gor.
Synopsis Electro and the Professor are taken to the planel Ligra, where they are forced to engage in battle against Queen Nara.
Genre superhero
Pencils Steve Dahlman
Inks Steve Dahlman
Notes Writer revision from Steve Dahlman to ?. The Who's Who lists no writer for this strip. Notes, info and synopsis added by Craig Delich 11-16-08.
Reprinted In Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #3 (2008).

6 page Ferret story "The Trouble At Stacey Cleaners"

Characters Ferret; Stacey; Villains: Hook (I), Frankie (I), Martin (I).
Synopsis Ferret must act quickly against a gang of crooks who are waging a vicious campaign against Stacey Cleaners.
Genre detective
Script Stockbridge Winslow (signed as Winslow)
Pencils Irwin Hasen (signed as Hasen)
Inks Irwin Hasen (signed as Hasen)
Notes Much info and synopsis added by Craig Delich 11-16-08.
Reprinted In Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #3 (2008).

9 page Adventures of Ka-Zar the Great story "The Rescue of Rita Grey"

Characters Ka-Zar [David Rand]; Zar [a lion]; N'Jaga [a leopard]; Trajah [an elephant]; Chadak [a baboon]; Rita Grey (I); Mr. Grey (Rita's father) (I).
Synopsis Ka-Zar helps a young girl make her way back to her father, having to evade attacks by a tribe of wild Wabis.
Genre jungle
Pencils Ben Thompson (signed)
Inks Ben Thompson (signed)
Notes Page count changed from 10, per Barry Sandoval, June 2008. Writer revision from Ben Thompson to ?. The Who's Who lists NO writer for this strip. Some notes, info and synopsis added by Craig Delich 11-16-08.
Reprinted In Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #3 (2008).

1 page filler "The Underworld"

Synopsis This fact featurette features creatures that provide as much drama and adventures as do crooks in the real world, creatures such as the shrimp, long-legged crabs and the octopus.
Genre fact
Pencils Louis Glanzman (signed as Lew Glanz)
Inks Louis Glanzman (signed as Lew Glanz)
Notes Some information on this sequence from Barry Sandoval, June 2008; more info and the synopsis added by Craig Delich 11-16-08.
Reprinted In Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics (Marvel, 2004 series) #3 (2008).