BOY COMICS #5 (AUGUST 1942)

 Here we are smack-dab in World War II, and every red-blooded American boy (and girl) wants to do their best for the country, so the Crimebusters have come up with a contest where the winner receives a $25 war bond plus 25 war stamlos, each worth $1!  What a way to support America!  All the lucky patriotic boy (or girl) needs to do is to complete the final line of this limerick:

There was a young boy from the west

To defeat the axis he did his best

What this brave fellow did

Will thrill every kid

_________[?]_________

For myself, I would probably have come up with something like "He put ants in Hitler's pants for a jest," and would have immediately lost.  It's just as well that I wasn't around back then.

Anyway, Boy Comics #5 starts off with "Touch of the Leper," a Crimebuster story by Charles Biro.  A mysterious cloaked figure on the docks shoots a policeman and Crimebuster (Chuck Chandler) and his pet monkey Squeeks are in pursuit but have no idea what the shooter looks like.  They follow the cloaked figure into an apartment house and lose him, while at the same time they come across Crimebusteer's old high school coach who is on leve from the army.  The cloaked figure is actually the coach's twin brother who, after being released from prison, was recruited by the Leper, a Nazi agent.  The coach discovers this and is killed. by his brother.  Later, the Leper comes across Crimebuster and shoot him (oh, woe!), but Squeeks harrasses the Nazi agent, causing him to shoot his remaining bullets at the monkey instead of finishing off Crimebuster.  Pretty blonde Barbara is out horse riding and discovers the wounded hero and brings him to a doctor.  Luckily the bullet hit Crimebuister's hockey shoulder pads (remember, the Crimebuster's outfit is his old high school hockey uniform), so he's able to recover easily and nab the murderous brother, then braks up a Nazi meeting to capture the Leper.  But Crimebuster cannot rest easy because in the next issue he is once again facing the evil Iron Jaw!  This story is notable because it was the first to give Squeeks his name.  (In an earlier story he had been called "Gargantua.")

In "Thumbs Up, America" we are introduce to Young Robinhood's band:  Friar Tuck (Fatso), Little John (Freckles), and Big Doc (Shorty) as they go after a gang who are cleaning up selling stolen tires -- a distinct no-no during the war.  Young Robinhood is a whiz with a bow and arrow, Friar Tuck is handy with a staff, and the others are no slouches with their fists.

"Boy's Comic's Hero of the Month" is young Alexandre Tshekolin, a Russian  lad who gave his life helping to delay the Nazi invasion of Russia, and posthumously was honored with the Order of Lenin.

Rabbit Foote, the Luckiest Boy in the World, is checking out aa tire on his father's truck when the tire begin to roll away -- with Rabbit in side it.  The tire (and Rabbit) rolls speedily downhill into the city where it runs over a rattlesnake about to bite a woman, bumps into a baby carriage that had gotten lose (saving the baby), and rolls into a sports center that is being robbed.  Rabbit has only a nickle on him to give the thief but it slips out of his hand and into the slot of a slot machine.  When Rabbit pulls the lever, he wins a jackpot; the coins come spewing out into the thief's mouth, choking him and allowing the police to capture him.

Then there's a page congratulating young Billy Mickey of Los Angeles who won a contest naming Crimebuster's monkey.   Yes, Billy was the one reponsible for naming Squeeks.  His prize? A reall live monkey delivered to his home on Lafranco Street...and I bet his other was thrilled.

Last month, Bombshell, Son of War, escaped to England with Nazi plans to invade America.  Now, the Nazis must use every method they can to stop Bombshell so the planned invasion can go on.  The Nazis, of course, iunderestimate a hero gifted with the mystic gifts of Mars, the God of War.

"In Case 1003," Tony Delara is down on his luck and in the wrong place at the wrong time.  He's accused of robbery and murder and found guilty.  He's about to sentenced to death when the police discover the real murderer and Tony is saved.   Now there's no more self pity for Tony.  Ho-hum.

Swoop Storm, the World's Youngest Pilot, has developed a new type of pontoon in his secret lab.  While lon a test run, Swoop comes across a Nazi sub that has just sunk a ship on a classified government mission.  The new pontoons, wh\ich are armed with bombs, sink the sub.  That'll teah those Germans!

The Little Wise Guys (Dodo, Muggsy, Frank, Gimp, and Specs) are having little luck selling war bonds and stamps.  Knowing some army planes will be flying over that afternoon, they light a bunch of firecrackers, causing the residents of Sleepytown to panic and think they are being attacked.  The panicked citizens begin buying bonds from the boys.  Kids -- do not try this at home!

Yankee Longago, the Boy of Today ion the Land of Yesterday, knows history first-hand because he travels to the past to discover the real facts.  This time he's back in ancient Rome where he accidently causes Cleopatra to be dunked in a puddle.  So it's off to the arena for Yankee, where he m ust face a lion.  Luckily he has a toy store joke hand buzzer that startles the lion.  Cleopatra is impressed and now has eyes for Yankee, who wants nothing to do with her.  Cleo happens to be a fairly homely woman and Marc Anthony is not attracted to her.  Yankee gives Cleo a modern beauty makeover and history as we know it can now go on.

The back cover has a letter from Henry Morganthau, , Jr., the Secretary of the Treasury, urging boys and girls to buy war stamps defend the country.

Much patriotism and some good stories and artwork make this one a keeper.