The BLACK CONDOR vs The Ghost Killer!

While on a safari with his wife and infant son across the bleak steppes of Outer Mongolia, Richard Grey and his expedition were ambushed and murdered by Yakki Raiders, leaving young Richard, Jr. orphaned and alone. A nearby condor took little Dick under her wing and back to her nest.

Growing up, young Grey longed to fly like his brothers and sisters could. He put his keen mind to studying the movement of the wings, the body motions, air currents, balance and levitation. Eventually his determination paid off and he could fly!!

One day, Richard met another human, Father Pierre, who taught him how to speak English. After a year of commuting back and forth between Father Pierre and his condor family, Richard found Pierre near death, having been attacked by Gali-Kan's Raiders. With his final breath, Pierre convinced Richard to go out into the human world and use his power to fight evil.

Failing to stop the plot to kill Senator Thomas Wright, Richard Grey, Jr. used their uncanny resemblance to take Wright's place and began living two lives: as Senator Thomas Wright -- and the Black Condor!

Created by writer Will Eisner and artist Lou Fine, the Black Condor debuted in CRACK COMICS #1 (May 1940) and appeared regularly through issue #31 (Aug 1943). That was the end of his career until he was revived by DC Comics in the 1970s.

from
CRACK COMICS #16 (September 1941)
written by ?; art by Lou Fine

[sorry it's from such a ratty copy, but it's still mostly readable]

ZANZIBAR smashes the opium ring!

Zanzibar the Magician appeared in every issue of MYSTERY MEN COMICS (#1-31, Aug 1939-Feb 1942). He also dropped by for appearances in GREEN MASK #2 (Fall 1940), REX DEXTER OF MARS #1 (Fall 1940), BLUE BEETLE #5 (Jan/Feb 1941) and THE FLAME #5-6 (Jun-Aug 1941).

Zanzibar was a magician. Not much different from Zatara, Zambini, Yardi, Marvo, etc...

4 pages. Beginning, middle, end. How many issues do you think this story would run if it were being written today? :-P

from
MYSTERY MEN COMICS #3 (October 1939)
story by ?; art by George Tuska
from Golden Age Comics Downloads

AMAZING MAN battles The Great Question!

Wow. I can't believe I haven't had an Amazing-Man story yet! I did do a tongue-in-cheek post about AMan, but no stories. Wow. And I love this guy! I think he's cool!

Amazing-Man was created by Bill Everett (who also created the Sub-Mariner and Hydroman). He debuted in the first issue of AMAZING-MAN COMICS, which was issue #5 (September 1939). The series ran 22 issues, ending with #26 (January 1942). Amazing-Man also appeared in all 5 issues of STARS AND STRIPES COMICS, #2-6 (May-Dec 1941). [Apparently, Centaur didn't believe in starting a series with a #1 issue!] And that is the entirety of AMan's golden-age career.

You can read all about him on Toonopedia and Major Spoilers.

This story is cool because it features his arch-nemesis, The Great Question, and also features his assistant Zona Henderson. Zona is no damsel-in-distress. Every time AMan tells her to stay back, she's like, "Ummm...no." And she doesn't get captured and need rescuing, she kicks butt. Even the Great Question tells his henchman: "Don't try to out think her, you can't!"

This is good stuff.

from
AMAZING MAN COMICS #21 (March 1941)
story by ?; art by Sam Decker; cover by Lew Glanzman

Golden-age DAREDEVIL No More!!

In this titanic tale, Daredevil's secret identity (and more!) is exposed!!

WONDER why Bart Hill would switch identities out in the open anyway!!

THRILL at the sight of Bart running around in a skimpy little towel!

BE AMAZED by Bart's now-you-see-it-now-you-don't chest hair!

HYPOTHESIZE as to why Bart thinks the nudie pics that Kilroy snaps of him are "sweet!"

from
DAREDEVIL #42 (May 1947)
story by Charles Biro; art by Dan Barry and Charles Biro

The golden-age BLACK PANTHER!

There's not really much to say about the first Black Panther. This is his one and only appearance. Everything we'll ever know about him comes from here.

from
STARS AND STRIPES COMICS #3 (July 1941)
story and art by ?