PANGO #60 (UNDATED)

 I can't say much about Pango, either the British comic book or the character..  It ran for 31 issues from 1953  to 1956, so either the numbering of the issues was continued from a previous title to explain that this was issue #60, or the British publisher L Miller & Son Ltd did not understand numbers.  The company was founded by Leonard Miller and his son Arnold in 1943 and continued until 1966; it specialized in reprints of American comics and occasionally (as in this case) created series of their own.  no artist or writer is credited on this issue -- the only one I have found online, although there have been a number of issues isted for sale at various sites, including issue #61, which the seller dated as Jan uary 1953, which is also the the seller listed for all eighteen issues he had for sale, up to issue #91, so there were at least 32 issues of the book published.  If anyone has a copy of P.J. Wolfson's British comic guide, Paperback Pulp and Comic Collector, feel free to fill in the details for me. 

So who Pango?  Evidently, he is "a white boy living in the jungle where he battles black tribes and white intruders as well as hostile animals."  No jungle or black tribes or hostile animals in this issue, though.  This time he is fully dressed and riding his horse through the mountains of North Morocco.  We learn that is young and courageous and has adventured in many lands.  We also learn that was born in France.  And that's all the backstory we have on the character.  Well, except that he's blond.

This issue is titled "The Pirate of the Rif" on the cover and "The Pirate of the Riff" on the story -- indicative of the quality of the overall publication.  The artwork is moderate and not too detailed; the writing is on a par with the "Dick and Jane" texts I read in the second grade; the characgterization boils down to "Pango, good."

Pango meets a young fellow traveler named Ahmed and the two ride off together toward the village to get food and water, they come across a band of riders in the distance, killing and pillaging "to take possession of the land."  The land belongs to Caid Mohamed ben Kaddour, Ahmed's guardian; the raiders belong to Abderhamman, a cruel tyrant.  Pango and ahmed ride on in search of food and water, not bothering to interfere with the lilling and pillaging.  They travel to Souk al had to inform ben Kaddour of the raid.Ben Kaddour wants to make Abderhama pay, but the villain is powerful.  Hr asks Pango for ideas.  Since Abderhaman lives in the mountains and wanders about, Pango says they must surprise him, prise him oout -- then attack!  But that would take a large army, and only the Pasha has one large enough.  Ben Kaddour goes to the Pasha and requests the army he needs, but the Pasha is corruipt and indolent and does not care for the well-being of his people; he refuses be Kaddour.  What to do?

Well, for ben Kaddour the logical thing is to foment a revolt, oust the Pasha, and install the Pasha's son, who is a good guy and cares for his people, and then they could go after Abderhaman.  Ben Kaddour asks Pango for his help and Pango naturally agrees.

There's a little bit of business in the middle, where Pango and Ahmed come across Abderhaman and his men and Ahmed is wounded.   They escape.  I'm not what this has to do with the story.

Pango and Ahmed go undercover to enlist the help of Abd-el-Rhali, the garrison commander at Ain-Acel to enlist his aid in the revolt.  (A wise choice to send Pango, with his long flowing blond locks disguised as an Arab fruit seller.)  A treacherous serent betrays them and the Pasha's men close in.  Rather than be taken alive and tortured, Abd-el-Rhali commits suicide.  Pango is taken and tortured, refuses to betray his friends, and is thrown in a prison cell.  Abdehaman's men storm the city, capture the Pasha, who whines for mercy.  Prince Adbullah (the good guy) is tossed into a prison cell.  During the chaos, Ahmed climbs over a wall, silences a guard, and frees Pango.  That evening, Pango and Ahmed free the Prince, and while Pango stays behind to organize a revolt (not to sure how), Ahmed and the Prince rode off for help (not to sure where).  Several days later, ben Kaddour's men pull a surprise attack and overcome the thugs.  Pango has one-panel scimitar fight with Abdehaman and efeats him handily.  Pango is thanked for bringing peace to the kingsom, the price is corned, Ahmed is commended for his bravery, Pango is showered with riches, and Abdehaman is left to rot in prison.

The final two paages of the comic book is given to photographs of military airplane -- don't know why.

Pango #60 is a fast and simplistic read.  If you wish to check it oput, it can be found at Comic Book Plus:

https://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=96799&comicpage=&b=i