Marvel Mystery Comics #21-24

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Marvel Mystery Comics #21-24

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MARVEL MYSTERY COMICS #21 (July 1941)
By Carl Burgos

APPEARANCES:
Human Torch, Toro, Prince Itor, Nalda, police, criminals, bystanders

SYNOPSIS:
The Idol of Death is arriving at a museum and Prince Itor wants it; his family bloodline will grant him powers if he touches the idol. He eventually gets it, it turns him green and he finds he can control other people’s minds. The Human Torch eventually melts the idol and Itor returns to normal. Upset, Itor runs away and accidentally electrocutes himself to death.

2nd Story:
By Bill Everett

APPEARANCES:
Sub-Mariner, Betty Dean, Nazi saboteurs, bystanders

SYNOPSIS:
The Sub-Mariner uncovers a plot for the Nazis to take over the American commercial airplane service (they’re crashing passenger planes using giant underground magnets, and plan to buy out the industry when people lose faith in how they’re run). He and Betty Dean put a stop to that!

NOTE:
Namor mentions the events of last issue as “last month.” This issue starts a cross-country tour of America for Namor, and the plot continues through M/MC 27/2. M/MC 28/2 starts a new chain of events, and is unattached to M/MC 27/2. M/MC 20/2 spans two months, and a month separates M/MC 20/2-21/2. It looks like a bunch of appearances are going to have to be put in those gaps. M/MC 26/2 has an ad for the already out HTC 5B, and M/MC 27/2 ends with a note telling readers to check out (the also already out) SUBC 3.

Skipping even further ahead, M/MC 28/2-30/2 are another continued story, then M/MC 31/2 happens a few days after 12/7/1941 (the attack on Pearl Harbor). That pretty much nails things down for us, doesn’t it? (the Invaders were formed as a result of Pearl Harbor)

3rd Story:
By Ray Gill & Bob Oksner

APPEARANCES:
Terry Vance, Deadline Dawson, Doctor Watson, Maj. Dahl & his daughter, bystanders

SYNOPSIS:
Terry Vance cracks the cash of recent plane sabotage (cripes, that’s two stories in a row. It’s an epidemic!) and convinces the war department to look into miniature remote controlled planes.

NOTE:
Followed by “The Story Behind the Cover” text story (featuring the Human Torch and Toro, by Stan Lee).

4th Story:
By Alan Mandel

This Patriot story is already in the MCP, but it should be the fourth story, not the first. Also, we’re going to move it to be before HTC 5A.

5th Story:
By Ben Tompson

APPEARANCES:
Ka-Zar, Trajah, Pindar (an eagle), Chaka (an ape), Italian fascists

SYNOPSIS:
Italian fascists are setting up it Africa, so Ka-Zar and his animal friends drive them out. Good job, Ka-Zar!

6th Story:
By Jack Kirby, Al Avison & Joe Simon

APPEARANCES:
Vision, Paget (greedy real estate developer), Colgan (crooked engineer), Sen. Reeves, police, bystanders

SYNOPSIS:
Tornados strike the west coast, causing death and destruction. A government investigation reveals recent new buildings (including a SCHOOL! *gasp*) were built on the cheap to save money, endangering the public. The Vision makes the guy in charge confess.

NOTE:
It’s I’m sure intended to be a metaphorical image, but one panel has “the Grim Spectre of Death shrieks in silent glee at the carnage” when the tornado hits. Is it the actual character Death? …maybe? Again, I’m sure it wasn’t intended to be at the time of publication, but…

7th Story:
By Paul Gustavson

APPEARANCES:
Angel, C.J. Miller (suicidal millionaire), Norton (butler), a lady reporter

SYNOPSIS:
Angel has an adventure in a Georgia swamp. He uncovers the plot of millionaire C.J. Miller, who spent all his money, is now broke, and wants to scare everyone with ghost stories, destroy his house and kill himself, so he’ll be remembered for something besides being broke. Angel kills him.

NOTE:
Again, “Death” appears when someone dies. Hmn.

MARVEL MYSTERY COMICS #22 (August 1941)
By Carl Burgos

APPEARANCES:
Human Torch, Toro, Kapula, Salhous (Alslavia ambassadors), Nazi soldiers, British navy, Alslavians

SYNOSIS:
Alslavia ambassadors ask the Human Torch (and Toro) for help against a looming German invasion of their country. They defeat a land invasion and coordinate with the British to defeat a sea invasion. The Alslavians cheer for the Human Torch’s victory.

2nd Story:
By Bill Everett

APPEARANCES:
Sub-Mariner, Nazi spies, a junk yard owner

SYNOPSIS:
Concerned that Nazis may steal America’s jeep technology, the Sub-Mariner leaves New York and invents his own jeep-like vehicle that can glide over ravines in the Great Lakes area. Nazi spies try to steal it, but the Sub-Mariner follows them to Salt Lake City and clears out a spy ring.

3rd Story:
By Ben Thompson

APPEARANCES:
Ka-Zar, Italian fascists, Nazis

SYNOPSIS:
The Italians are reinforced by the Germans, and now they’re killing animals and destroying the jungle to make way for a new base. Ka-Zar disguises himself as a soldier to find out what their plans are but is discovered. He jumps in a tank and attacks the base. To be continued!

4th Story:
By Ray Gill & Bob Oksner

APPEARANCES:
Terry Vance, Deadline Dawson, Doctor Watson, circus performers, police, bystanders

SYNOPSIS:
A jewelry store is robbed, but Terry opts to go to the circus instead of investigating. There, he’s attacked by carnies, and he eventually figures out that one of the carnies has a trained monkey that stole the diamond.

5th Story:
By Alan Mandel

This Patriot story is already in the MCP, but it should be the fifth story, not the first.
Deadline Dawson, Doctor Watson,

NOTE:
Followed by “Dunkirk Incident” text story (featuring Human Torch & Toro, by Stan Lee).

6th Story:
By Jack Kirby & Al Avison

APPEARANCES:
Vision, Khor the Black Sorcerer, sailors

SYNOPSIS:
Ships are vanishing in the Antarctic so the Vision investigates. He finds Khor, a magician who has been trapping ships and enslaving the crews. Vision tosses Khor into a volcano and frees the enslaved crewmen.

NOTE:
Khor tells Vision that he’ll never find the crewmen alive, then immediately takes Vision to his home and shows him what he’s doing with the living crewmen. What?

7th Story:
By Al Gabriele

APPEARANCES:
Angel, “Sphinx” Henchel & his goons, Judge Lind, doctors, a district attorney

SYNOPSIS:
A crazy person bursts into an operating room, interrupting a judge’s surgery; the judge dies. Suspecting foul play the Angel investigates and quickly deduces that criminal “Sphinx” Henchel staged the whole thing. Angel then stops Henchel from killing a district attorney.

MARVEL MYSTERY COMICS #23 (September 1941)
By Carl Burgos

APPEARANCES:
Human Torch, Toro, N-4 (“Herr Leader”), Nazis (Sigmund, Rudolph named), US military, bystanders

SYNOPSIS:
The Human Torch and Toro stop a Nazi plot to interrupt US tank production, uncovering the Nazi in charge as the secretary to Topper (the guy in charge of tank production).

2nd Story:
By Bill Everett

APPEARANCES:
Sub-Mariner, Prof. Dorn (a German scientist), Ramon Valerez, Mona Lake (his lackeys), Dorn’s mutated servants, bystanders

SYNOPSIS:
Leaving Utah, the Sub-Mariner drives to Oregon where he finds a German scientist attempting to create a mutated race of pseudo Sub-Mariners out of convicted criminals. Namor blows up his castle.

3rd Story:
By Alan Mandel

This Patriot story is already in the MCP, but it should be the third story, not the first.

NOTE:
Followed by “the Vision Speaks!” text story (by Stan Lee).

4th Story:
By Jack Kirby & Joe Simon

APPEARANCES:
Vision, Kai-Mak the Shark-God (a shark man), Zambui tribe, explorers

SYNOPSIS:
The jungle natives are restless tonight, so they make another human sacrifice to Mai-Mak the Shark-God. Later, explorers arrive and are captured; they plan to sacrifice them to Kai-Mak. The Vision arrives and challenges Kai-Mak to a fight, and wins. The Zambui tribe thank the Vision for freeing them from Kai-Mak’s slavery.

5th Story:
By Ben Thompson

APPEARANCES:
Ka-Zar, Trajah, Italian fascists, Nazis

SYNOPSIS:
Ka-Zar uses the tank to destroy a bunch of Nazi planes, then tells Trajah to warn the other animals that the Nazis are on the loose. Ka-Zar then steals a plane and uses the gas the Nazis were using to kill the animals to kill the bad guys.

6th Story:
By Ray Gill & Bob Oksner

APPEARANCES:
Terry Vance, Deadline Dawson, Doctor Watson, mayor Brown & his wife, police, bystanders

SYNOPSIS:
Terry and Deadline attend a fancy party at the mayor’s house where the mayor’s wife’s fancy green diamond necklace is stolen. It turns out the butler and chauffeur stole it.

7th Story:
By Alan Mandel

APPEARANCES:
Angel, Dianne Mason, George Hill (vacationing engaged couple), Nazis, natives

SYNOPSIS:
The Angel travels to Inferno Isle (a volcanic island in the Pacific) and discovers a Nazi base. After some shenanigans involving human sacrifice, the Angel eventually destroys the Nazi base.

MARVEL MYSTERY COMICS #24 (October 1941)
By Carl Burgos

APPEARANCES:
Human Torch, Toro, Parrot, Culflam & his goons, prison warden (Thomaz) & guards, inspector Riley, police, bystanders

SYNOPSIS:
The Parrot escapes prison and the Human Torch s called in to help. He finds that Parrot’s cellmate was Culflam (from M/MC 14-15) who helped Parrot escape and taught him the secrets of fire. Later, the Parrot sends the Torch a warning that he’s going to rob an opera. The Torch attends the opera and Parrot gasses the crowd so his goons can steal their jewels. The Torch and Parrot fight; Parrot can counteract the Torch’s flame, but he eventually defeats and traps the criminal.

2nd Story:
By Bill Everett

APPEARANCES:
Sub-Mariner, Dorma, Fen, Daka (Fen’s half-brother), Atlanteans (Simma named), Lonu-Ne (Seal People Emperor), Seal People (Lt. Geerese named), Oregon police, Nazis

SYNOSIS:
Namor puts his fancy jeep in storage in Oregon then travels back to Atlantis where he learns his uncle Daka has put himself in charge of the place as a dictator and allied Atlantis with their enemies the Seal People. Namor disguises himself and sneaks around and learns Atlantis and the seal People are also allied with the Nazis. Namor stages a revolt and stops a Nazi plot to invade South America then attack the US through Mexico. Also, he re-instates himself as Emperor.

3rd Story:
By Ray Gill & Bob Oksner

APPEARANCES:
Terry Vance, Deadline Dawson, Doctor Watson, newspaper employees, “Bull” Dawson, loggers

SYNOPSIS:
The newspaper’s pulp shipment is late, so Deadline’s editor sends him to Maine so he can ask his logger dad what the holdup is. Terry figures out a rival logging company is causing log jams, because they’re jerks.

NOTE:
Followed by “Who Robbed the Carter Bank?” text story (featuring Terry Vance, by Ray Gill).

4th Story:
By Sid Greene

This Patriot story is already in the MCP, but it should be the fourth story, not the first. Also, it ends in a cliffhanger.

5th Story:
By Frank Frollo

APPEARANCES:
Ka-Zar, Prince Ali Hamud (also in fb) & his servants, Ollendorf (Nazi officer), a mysterious friend

FLASHBACK:
Prince Ali Hamud, forced out his own country for being a big jerk, arrives in Africa, enslaves a bunch of natives and has a castle built.
SYNOPSIS:
Ka-Zar, still flying the plane from last issue, spot Hamud’s castle and checks it out. He discovers Hamud plans to refuel Nazi planes on their way to attack British colonies in Africa. Ka-Zar is captured and forces to fight leopards for Hamud’s pleasure, but before Ka-Zar can attack a trap door opens and a hand reaches for Ka-Zar’s foot… To be continued!

6th Story:
By Jack Kirby, Joe Simon & Al Avison

APPEARANCES:
Vision, Grosso, factory workers

SYOPSIS:
Grosso, who hates humans, arrives on Earth to destroy munitions factories. The Vision arrives and recognizes Grosso from his home dimension (they’re from the same place). The Vision eventually defeats Grosso.

7th Story:
By Alan Mandel

APPEARANCES:
Angel, Dr. Hyde & his goons, Blakely, Keene, bystanders

SYNOPSIS:
Dr. Hyde is stealing rich people’s eyes and ransoming them for $180,000. The Angel tracks down Dr. Hyde and throws him in prison.

Chronologies!

ANGEL/DR. THOMAS HALLOWAY
……
M/MC 20/5
M/MC70A
SUBC 1/3
*M/MC 21/7
ALLWC 1/5
*M/MC 22/7
SUBC 2/3
HTC 5A/3
*M/MC 23/7
*M/MC 24/7
SUBC 3/2
HTC 5B
……

*CASEY, JACK (add first name)
*CA:P 2-FB
*CA:P 1 (1 - 6)
*{HTC 4/4}
*CA:P 1 (8)
*M/MC 21/4
*M/MC 22/5
*M/MC 23/3
*CA:P 1 (9:4)
*M/MC 24/4
HTC 5B
*CA:P 1 (9:6 - 11)
MARVELS 1
*CA:P 2-BTS

*CASEY II (renumber to be the first)
FF 354

CHAKA
M/MC 20/6
M/MC 21/5

CULFLAM
M/MC 14
M/MC 15
M/MC 24

DAKA
M/MC 24/2

DAWSON, “BULL”
M/MC 24/3

DAWSON, RAYMOND “DEADLINE”
……
M/MC 20/4
*M/MC 21/3
*M/MC 22/4
*M/MC 23/6
*M/MC 24/3

DEATH
……
WIH 15
*M/MC 21/6
*M/MC 21/7
MISSF 6
THANOSR 1 (1 - 13)-FB
……

DOCTOR WATSON
……
M/MC 20/4
*M/MC 21/3
*M/MC 22/4
*M/MC 23/6
*M/MC 24/3

DORMA
……
SAGASUB 5-FB
*M/MC 24/2
YMEN 28/3
……

FEN
……
SAGASUB 5 (11:3 - 11:4)-FB
*M/MC 24/2
HTC 5B
……

GROSSO
M/MC 24/6

HUMAN TORCH/JIM HAMMOND
……
M/MC 20
*M/MC 21
ALLWC 1
*M/MC 22
YALLIESC 1
HTC 5A
HTC 5A/2
*M/MC 23
ALLWC 2
*M/MC 24
HTC 5B (1 - 53:3)
……

HYDE, DR.
M/MC 24/7

KA-ZAR/DAVID RAND
……
M/MC 20/6
*M/MC 21/5
*M/MC 22/3
*M/MC 23/5
*M/MC 24/5
HTC 5B

KAI-MAK
M/MC 23/4

KALIF
M/MC 14
M/MC 15

KHOR
M/MC 22/6

LONU-NE
M/MC 24/2

MISS PATRIOT/MARY MORGAN
CA:P 2-FB
**CA:P 1 (1 - 8) (delete)
*CA:P 1 (1 - 6)
*{HTC 4/4}
*CA:P 1 (8)
*M/MC 21/4 (move to here)
*CA:P 1 (9:2)
*HTC 5A/4 (remove 1st app brackets)
**M/MC 21/4 (move from here)
*M/MC 23/3
**CA:P 1 (9:2 - 11) (delete)
*CA:P 1 (9:6 - 11)
M/MC 29/7
……

N-4
M/MC 23

PARROT
M/MC 24

PATRIOT/JEFFREY SOLOMON MACE
CA:P 2-FB
CA:P 1-FB
CA:P 1 (1 - 6)
{HTC 4/4}
CA:P 1 (8)
*M/MC 21/4 (move to here)
*M/MC 22/5 (move to here)
*CA:P 1 (9:2) (move to here)
HTC 5A/4
*M/MC 23/3 (move to here)
*CA:P 1 (9:4) (move to here)
*M/MC 24/4 (move to here)
*M/MC 25/3 (move to here)
HTC 5B
M/PROJECT 6
**M/MC 21/4 (move from here)
**M/MC 22/5 (move from here)
**CA:P 1 (9:2) (move from here)
**M/MC 23/3 (move from here)
**CA:P 1 (9:4) (move from here)
**M/MC 24/4 (move from here)
**M/MC 25 (move from here)
M/MC 26/6
……

PINDAR
M/MC 16/7
M/MC 21/5

PRENTISS, LT. BETTY DEAN
……
M/MC 20/2
*M/MC 21/2
INV 29-FB
……

SUB-MARINER/NAMOR MACKENZIE
……
M/MC 20/2 (1 - 6)
HTC 4/3
**M/MC 20/2 (7 - 12) (move from here)
ALLWC 1/4
SUBC 2
SUBC 2/2
*M/MC 20/2 (7 - 12) (move to here)
HTC 5A/3
ALLWC 2/5
*M/MC 21/2
*M/MC 22/2
*M/MC 23/2
*M/MC 24/2
*[M/MC 25/2]
*[M/MC 26/2]
*[M/MC 27/2]
SUBC 3
HTC 5B (1 - 53:3)
……
HTC 5B (60:3 - 60:7)
ALLWC 3/4
SUBC 4
SUBC 4/2
HTC 6/4
SUBC 23
*[M/MC 28/2]
*[M/MC 29/2]
*[M/MC 30/2]
INV 29-FB
M/PROJECT 8-FB
M/PROJECT 8 (1 - 17)
*[M/MC 31/2]
GSINV 1
M/PROJECT 8 (18:1 - 18:2)
INV 1
……

TORO/TOM RAYMOND
……
M/MC 20
*M/MC 21
ALLWC 1
*M/MC 22
YALLIESC 1
HTC 5A
HTC 5A/2
*M/MC 23
ALLWC 2
*M/MC 24
HTC 5B
……

TRAJA
……
M/MC 20/6
*M/MC 21/5
*M/MC 23/5

VANCE, TERRY
……
M/MC 20/4
*M/MC 21/3
*M/MC 22/4
*M/MC 23/6
*M/MC 24/3

VISION/AARKUS
……
M/MC 20/3
*M/MC 21/6
*M/MC 22/6
*M/MC 23/4
*M/MC 24/6
[M/MC 25/6]
MYSC70A
[M/MC 26/3]
{INV2 3}
……
-Daron Jensen
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