Volume: #1, Issue: #1
Published: June 1940, Price: 0.10 USD, Pages: 68, Editing:
Color: Full Color Dimensions: Standard Golden Age U.S. Paper Stock: Newsprint Interior; Glossy Cover Binding: Saddle-stitched Publishing Format: Was Ongoing Series
Notes: Pat Lamar packaged this issue for Ace, and per the NY Supreme Court December 1941 hearing records, his studio provided 47 pages of scripts, 64 pages of coloring, and the 60 pages of comics, lettering and logos, etc. 15 pages of script were not provided by Lamar. Lamar stated that he had done comics work for Harry Donenfeld, but that his only artwork for Ace were corrections requested by the art director.
On sale date from the fanzine, Fantasy News, dated April 14, 1940 (on page 3). The comic was scheduled for release during the week of April 14-20, 1940. Information shared by Bart Bush through the Comics History Exchange page on Facebook (4 October 2016).
Publication date of 25 March 1940 was reported to the U.S. Copyright Office and found in the Catalog of Copyright Entries, Part 2, Periodicals, New Series, Volume 35, 1940, Number 2. Copyright number B 451091.
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| Comic Story (12 pages) |
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| Synopsis: |
In Egypt, explorer Robert Morgan trains with the Old Man of the Volcanos until he deems him ready to receive the Amulet of Annihilation, which imbues him with superhuman powers, chief among them the ability to harness lightning. He also gives him the name 'Flash Lightning'. The old man tasks him with rescuing young Mary Barton's father from a Central American jungle where he is being held prisoner by the megalomaniac Green Mask. All obstacles, man or animal, prove no barrier to Flash as he rescues the prisoners and sends the Green Mask's plane crashing into a volcano. |
| Genre: |
Superhero |
| Characters: |
Mary Parker Cynthia (maid) Tony (thug) Mr. Parker The Phoenix (villain, Introduction, Apparent Death) |
| Comic Story (5 pages) |
The Big Moment |
| Synopsis: |
Whiz goes to 1960 Los Angeles and discovers and ultimately thwarts a plan for European dictators to attack the United States coastline. |
| Genre: |
Science Fiction |
| Characters: |
Adelaide Fritz Commander Britt |
| Comic Story (6 pages) |
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| Synopsis: |
After rescuing young Nancy Bentley from some thugs, Marvo the Magician learns that her father, a government official, is on the trail of a gang of counterfeiters. Eventually Marvo and Nancy are captured by the gang and brought to their leader Namnoc. With the help of his magic illusions and an assist from his marmoset Tito, Marvo breaks free and Namnoc and his gang are all captured. |
| Genre: |
Superhero |
| Characters: |
Nancy Bentley Namnoc (villain) Mr. Bentley |
| Comic Story (2 pages) |
Meet "Hap" Hazard |
| Synopsis: |
Hap is tricked into driving a getaway car from a couple of bank robbers but temporarily blinds them by squirting them with red pepper from his lapel flower and turns them over to the police. |
| Genre: |
Humor |
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