Pep Comics was the third anthology comic book published by MLJ Publications. In issue #42 (December 1941) it introduced the character of Archie Andrews. Archie was a major hit and by issue #57 the company changed its name to Archie Comics; Pep Comics continued under that imprint until issue #411 (March 1987)
The lead story in Pep Comics #1 featured The Shield. the first superhero to wear a costume based on the American flag -- predating Captain America by a year. The Shield is Joe Higgins, "G-Man Extraordinary." The only person who is aware of The Shield's true identity is the head of the F.B.I., old J. Edgar himself. The Shield's costume is made of a secret construction which not only renders him bullet-proof and flame-proof but gives Joe "the speed of a bullet and the strength of Hercules." The four white stars on his costume signify what Joe has dedicated his life to: Truth, Justice, Patriotism, and Courage. In this adventure, The shield is sent to stop a Stokian spy ring (Stokians evidently come from Stokia and are not followers of the author of Dracula). Art by Irv Novick, who would illustrate stories for Pep through issue #66; story by Harry Shorten, probably best known today for his syndicated cartoon There Oughta Be a Law! The Shielkd was featured in the first 65 issues of Pep Comics.
Comic legend Jack Cole wrote and illustrated "The Coming of the Comet." "After injecting himself with a gas fifty times lighter than hydrogen, John Dickering discovers he can now take leaps that are more like flying. Beams now shoot from his eyes and when the rays cross whatever he is looking at disintegrates." A pretty nifty trick for killing three associates of a typhoid racketeer before The Comet finally meets up with the villainous Dr. Archer. The Comet was rather blase about killing his enemies. He was the first comic book superhero to die, which happened in issue # 17 (July 1941), when he was cut down by gangster bullets; his death inspired his brother to become a similarly brutal hero, he Hangman.
Charles Biro (who created the original 1940's Daredevil) is most likely the artist behind "Sergeant Boyle/" Hank Boyle, an American student in London, headed for home when war broke out, but his ship was torpedoed by a German U-Boat. A non-superhero hero, he was featured in mildly comical action adventures through 1943.
Now we come to the first of three stories penned by one of my favorite authors, Manly Wade Wellman (Wellman also scripted the very first Captain Marvel story). "The Queen of Diamonds" is a one-off story, to be followed in the next issue with a spin-off "The Rocket and the Queen of Diamonds." Behind impassable barriers lay the Diamond Empire, the hidden wonder of the world. All the men her have yellow skin; the Queen (and evidently all other females) has white skin. A villain tries to overthrow the queen but is stopped by our he-man hero who had crash-landed in the Diamond Empire. Art by Lin Streeter. (Evidently the Diamond empire is on an alien planet; in later issues of Pep, a winged character named Falkar of the Hawkmen is introduced to have adventures alongside the Rocket and the Queen of Diamonds.)
The next Wellman story (also illustrated by Streeter) featured Fu Chang, an American-educated Chinese living in San Francisco who uses both a set of magic chessmen and the powers of Aladdin's Lamp to solve international crime. Here he rescues his girlfriend, Tay Ming, from the villain known as the Dragon. Fu Chang and Tay Ming appeared in the first eleven issues of Pep Comics.
The final Wellman story features Bentley of Scotland Yard. "In London the night was clear and calm -- and nobody was prepared for the Mayfair Monster." The monster happens to be a werewolf who% attacks Brenda Joyce, the wealthy ward of Sir Robert Napier. Luckily, Bentley was on hand to stop the attack and save the girl, but the monster got away. Three guesses who the monster actually is. This one was illustrated by Maurice Gutwirth. Bentley appeared in 41 stories between 1940 and 1945.
The Press Guardian, a.k.a. the Falcon (could he be city editor Jim Boyd? -- Nope. See below.), appeared kin this first issue with a winged costume; beginning with the second issue, he became more sedate, wearing a business suit, fedora, and mask. When newspaper reporter Flash Calvert goes up against Slug Wickum and his gang things go south until the Falcon shows up to rescue Flash. Art by Jack Binder, who never met a face he could draw. By Pep #2, the Falcon no longer exists and reporter Perry Chase takes over the role of the Press Guardian, who apparently ended his run with issue #11.
"The Midshipman" is Lee Sampson, who goes through Navy college to graduation in sixteen issues. When a small plane crashes into the river, Lee dives in to save the pilot, the lovely Mae Dennis. Don Lewis, from a rival college and jealous of Lee talking to his "girlfriend," attacks Lee. Mae breaks up the fight and says she will go to the dance with whoever wins the boat race that afternoon. Both Lee and Don are the champion oarsmen for their respective schools. As they near the finish line, neck and neck, Don smashes Lee's prow with his oar, causing Lee's boat to take on water. With a superhuman effort, Lee manages to bring his boat over the line to win the race, but the physical strain causes him to collapse in the water. Mother of mercy, is the end of the Midshipman? Of course not; he goes on for another fifteen issues. Lee is pulled out of the water just in time. Don is pissed and later attacks Lee. Lee defends Don in front of the brass and they become good friends, and Lee goes to the dance with Mae. Script by Will Harr, with art by Edd Ashe.
Lastly, Eddie "Kayo" Ward is a boxer who has to fight both inside and outside of the ring as a crooked manager and his fighter try to make a "sap" out of him. But Kayo is a clean cut powerhouse who is not easily taken. Script by Phil Sturm; art by Bob Wood. Kayo ;punched his way through the first 28 issues of Pep Comics.
A pretty good deal for your 1940 dime.
Enjoy.
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