Issue Contents:
"Here's what you get in No. 3"
Storyline
House ad for Shield-Wizard Comics 3. 5 thumb-nail sketches and brief descriptions of the stories.
Story Notes
Inside front cover, black-and-white. In the ad, the stories have individual titles, but in the actual comic the story titles do not appear.
The Return of the Puppet Master (1)
Storyline
The Puppet Master has escaped from prison and sets his plan of living puppets into operation.
Characters
- Steel Sterling [John Sterling]
- Clancy McGinty (Police)
- Dora Cummings
- The Puppet Master [Gargulio] (villain)
Credits
- Script: Joe Blair
- Pencils: Irv Novick
- Inks: Irv Novick
Story Notes
Steinar Ã…dland and Keith Chandler agree that this is Irv Novick. Original indexer credited Charles Biro.
The Sack of the Giant (1)
Storyline
A giant has entered Panora and collects human beings to eat.
Characters
- Dicky Farenwell
- Farenwell (Dicky's father)
- A giant (villain, introduction)
Credits
- Script: R. Louis Golden
- Pencils: R. Louis Golden
- Inks: R. Louis Golden
The Bar-X Ranch War (1)
Storyline
A crooked rancher is fencing off water in public domain.
Characters
- Nevada Jones
- Little Joe (sidekick)
- Hank Mills (villain, introduction, death)
- Tony (villain, introduction, death)
- Charlie (villain, introduction, death)
- several others (villains, introduction)
Credits
- Pencils: Frank Volpe
- Inks: Frank Volpe
Story Notes
Faces and very realistic horses identical to Volpe's credited Loop Logan story in Blue Ribbon Comics #13, but the inking here seems a bit hastier than in the previous stories.
The Devil-Devil Doctor (1)
Storyline
Old Rixon is murdered in his bed by a hooded figure before he could change his last will.
Characters
- Red Reagan (police detective)
- Bertie Randolph (assistant)
- The Devil-Devil Doctor [Bob Rixon] (villain, introduction)
- Thaddeus Rixon (introduction, death)
- Dr. Schwartz (introduction)
- Al Faltz (introduction)
- Bob Rixon (introduction)
- Hugo Rixon (introduction) Bernard Rixon (introduction)
- Pamela Rixon
Credits
- Script: Joe Blair
- Pencils: Sam Cooper
- Inks: Sam Cooper
Swen Olson's Maiden Flight (1)
Storyline
Swen Olsen is ready for action as a gunner in R.A.F.
Characters
- Tim Shane (pilot)
- Tom Shane (pilot)
- Swen Olsen (gunner)
- The Nazis (villains)
- Gen. Vosh (villain, introduction)
Story Notes
Swen is called a big crazy Swede at the end panel, but he was a Norwegian agent in the previous episode.
"A new exciting, mystery-packed feature"
Storyline
House ad for Pep Comics and the appearance of The Hangman. The bottom third of the page announces that the next issue of Zip Comics will have a "suitable for framing" picture of the Steel Sterling cast on the back cover.
Valor on the Slave Block (1)
Storyline
Captain Valor and his friends have taken command of the village of the Chinese lord, but he gets in contact with Mongol horsemen who attack the village to help him.
Characters
- Captain Valor
- Angie
- Ronnie
- Dallas
- Big Dip
- Ab-Ah-Ner (villain)
- company (guest-star)
- Marty Martin
Credits
- Script: Joe Blair (uncertain)
- Pencils: Mort Meskin
- Inks: Mort Meskin
Story Notes
There is no writer credit.
The Framing of a Photographer (1)
Storyline
A news photographer is framed for killing a friend.
Characters
- The Scarlet Avenger [Jim Kendall]
- Inez Courtney [Operative No.1]
- Joe Adams (introduction)
- Joe Devlin (introduction, death)
- Hal Ates (villain, introduction)
- Mayor Sikes (villain, introduction)
Credits
- Script: Harry Shorten (uncertain)
- Pencils: Carl Hubbell
- Inks: Carl Hubbell
Story Notes
There is no writer credit.
Scrambling the Gambling Joint (1)
Storyline
Zambini visits a crooked gambling house.
Characters
- Happy (villain, introduction)
- his gang (villain, introduction)
- Stacey (introduction)
Credits
- Script: Joe Blair
- Pencils: Paul Reinman
- Inks: Paul Reinman
Story Notes
Originally credited to Streeter, but the wedge shaped heads with narrow, pointed ears are like Reinman's signed Scarlet Avenger story in #17.
"Wow! Did I hit the jackpot!"
Storyline
House ad for the first issue of Jackpot Comics. Thumbnail illustrations and descriptions of stories featuring Steel Sterling, Mr. Justice, Sgt. Boyle, and the Black Hood. Cover of Jackpot Comics 1 is also reproduced.
Story Notes
Back cover.