THRILLING COMICS #3 (APRIL 1940)

Thrilling Comics, an anthology series, ran for eighty issues from 1940 to 1951, and introduced a number of comic book heroes; the very first issue, for example, brought us Doc Strange (not to be confused with Marvel's Dr. Strange), the second introduced the Woman in Red, the nineteenth, American Crusader, and issue #56 gave us Princess Pantha.

Thrilling Comics #3 introduced its readers to The Ghost, a pulp hero created by G. T. Fleming-Roberts in The Ghost Super Detective (January 1940).  Sometimes known as The Green Ghost, he appeared in 14 original stories from1940 to 1944, seven in that magazine (which was retitled twice during its brief run), and and then in six issues of Thrilling Mystery; the final story was published in Thrilling Detective, but was rewritten to give the character a new name and all mention of The Ghost was dropped.   (Sic transit gloria mundi.)  The comic book Ghost had a much better showing than his pulp magazine counterpart:  he went to appear in 49 more issues of Thrilling Comics and made an appearance in Black Terror.

In this issue we learn the origin of The Ghost.  He's George Chance who was taught magic by yogis in India after his father died.   Arriving in America, he is asked to performance a party that evening, but the host suddenly died, supposedly by suicide, before the part took place.  George smalls a rat and determines to find the truth; in doing so he dons a disguise as The Ghost and vows to dedicate his powers to fighting crime.  The "suicide" is part of a clever and deadly insurance plot by villains Tanko and Trask,  buT they are no match for The Ghost!

Also in this issue:

• Dr. Strange is in the Orient when vital military secrets are stolen.
• The Three Comrades -- Lucky, Books, and Cal -- go into action when German spies steal a book that reveals the location of the treasure of the Aztec King in code.
• It's the Woman in Red versus The Terror as "Death Stalks the Grange," frightening a lonely old ladt.
• The Lone Eagle, the famous American ace, enlists in the British air force to aid democracy.
• The Rio Kid is always on the hunt for adventure and he finds it in an Arizona cowtown.
• And in a juvenile adventure, Marco Polo Jones is panning a trip to the Milky Way.  see, all the poor kids in the world don't have enough milk to drink, so Marco Polo Jones is going to round up all the cows in the Milky Way and bring them home.  Joining him is young Polly (whose mother tells her that milk is good for her) and Snowball, Marco Polo Jones's chauffeur (an offensively Black character).  So off they go in a covered wagon pulled by a winged Pegasus.  This tale is the epitome of twee.

Some winners here, a few turkeys, and one loser.

Enjoy.

https://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=102390