Issue Contents:
Characters
Credits
- Pencils: Will Eisner
- Inks: Will Eisner
- Pencils: Gill Fox
- Inks: Gill Fox
Story Notes
The Archives volume also lists Gill Fox assisting on the art chores on this cover.
Win One of These 2 Free Trips to Red Ryder's Rocky Mountain Rancho
Credits
- Pencils: Fred Harman
- Inks: Fred Harman
Story Notes
Sold by Daisy Manufacturing Co. Inside front cover.
The Origin of Blackhawk (1)
Storyline
Warsaw, Poland 1939. The Nazis are massing to rout the Polish Air Force, the only obstacle to their victory over Poland, and are being led by the Nazi commander, Captain von Tepp. However, in his attack, the brother and sister of a lone survivor are killed, and this survivor, later to become The Blackhawk, vows to hunt down von Tepp and make him pay personally for their deaths.
Characters
- Andre
- Baker
- Blackhawk [Origin]
- Boris
- Chuck
- Hendrickson
- Olaf
- Stanislaus
- Zeg
- Jack (Blackhawk's brother, introduction, death)
- Connie (Blackhawk's sister, introduction, death)
- Ann (Red Cross nurse, unidentified by name in this story, named in issue #3)
- one unnamed captured soldier
- Captain von Tepp (Nazi villain, introduction, death)
- Captain von Kreck (Nazi villain, introduction, presumably killed)
- Nazis (villains, many die)
Credits
- Script: Will Eisner
- Script: Bob Powell
- Pencils: Chuck Cuidera
- Inks: Chuck Cuidera
- Letters: Sam Rosen
Story Notes
(1) Writer addition of Bob Powell and letterer credit per Chuck Cuidera. (2) Introduction of Blackhawk. Introduction and death of Blackhawk’s brother Jack and sister Connie (both buried by Blackhawk). Blackhawk (DC, 1957 series) #242 (Aug-Sep 1968) reveals that Blackhawk's civilian name is Bart Hawk, however, the story of Jack's death in that issue is vastly different from the original account, and therefore cannot be considered in the same continuity. Given this, one cannot state unequivocally that the three siblings' last name is "Hawk", or that Blackhawk's first name is "Bart". (3) A minimum of 8 Blackhawks, including Blackhawk himself, are depicted. Baker, a Cockney Englishman, is the only one named. Based on later revelations of the team's early membership, the 6 unidentified members likely include Andre, Hendrickson, Olaf, Stanislaus, Zeg, Chuck, and/or Boris. Based on his physical appearance, the prisoner referred to as "Blackhawk's man", seen on page 5 panel 4 between the Red Cross nurse and Captain Von Tepp, could be Andre or Zeg. Based on his physical appearance, the man struck in the head by a rock, seen on page 6 panel 9, could be Stanislaus, Olaf, or Boris. (4) A small map of Blackhawk's Island is depicted. (5) The lyrics to the song of the Blackhawks are: "Over land over sea, we fight to make men free, of danger we don't care... we're Blackhawks!"
Flying with the Red Dragon (1)
Storyline
The boys lose their contract as test pilots after a crack-up and find themselves being asked to join a group called the Red Dragon Squadron.
Characters
- Loops McCann (introduction)
- Banks Barrows (introduction)
- Gen. Cheng [the Red Dragon] (introduction)
- the Chinese (villains, some die)
Credits
- Script: Bob Powell (uncertain)
- Pencils: Bob Powell
- Inks: Bob Powell
Origin of the Blue Tracer (1)
Storyline
"Wild Bill" Dunn, an American engineer, survives a British scouting expedition in Ethiopia, meets an Australian named Private Jones, and for months they work together to create a war machine from the remains of Fascist equipment that they call the Blue Tracer, and which they hope will provide the capabilities to overcome a local enemy tribe.
Characters
- Captain William "Wild Bill" Dunn (introduction)
- Private Boomerang Jones (introduction)
- the M'Bujies (villains, introduction for all, some die)
Credits
- Script: Fred Guardineer (uncertain)
- Pencils: Fred Guardineer
- Inks: Fred Guardineer
- Letters: Fred Guardineer (uncertain)
Episode with a Goat (1)
Storyline
Three British soldiers, looking for help for their battalion under seige, are saved, ironically, by a billy goat, and soon find help with a group of French soldiers.
Characters
- Archie Atkins (introduction)
- Jack Bailey (introduction)
- Achmed (introduction)
- Billy (a goat, introduction)
- Major Douglas (introduction)
Credits
- Pencils: Harry Campbell (uncertain)
- Pencils: Frank Frollo (uncertain)
- Inks: Frank Frollo (uncertain)
Story Notes
The Millennium Edition lists Frank Frollo as the artist.
Enlisting the Hard Way (1)
Storyline
An unlikely duo team up to foil the attempts of a Nazi attache who is interested in obtaining information on a secret U.S. fighter.
Characters
- Colonel Sam Shot (introduction)
- Slim Shell (introduction)
- Herr von Slobben (villain, Nazi military attache)
Credits
- Script: Klaus Nordling
- Pencils: Klaus Nordling
- Inks: Klaus Nordling
The Coming of the Yankee Eagle (1)
Storyline
A group of Nazi spies work their way into the ranks of America's military services, attempting to turn over to the enemy some of the U.S.'s best ships.
Characters
- Jerry Noble (introduction)
- Sam [the Yankee Eagle] (an eagle, introduction)
- Senator Noble (Jerry's father, introduction)
- Captain Webb
- Chalky
- Nazi spies (villains)
Credits
- Script: John Stewart
- Pencils: Bill Smith
- Inks: Bill Smith
Story Notes
Sam the eagle is referred to as the Yankee Eagle once in this issue only, however, Jerry Noble is referred to as the Yankee Eagle multiple times in issue #8. Not the same character featured in Smash Comics (Quality Comics, 1939 series) #38-47.
Origin of the Death Patrol (1)
"They say he's a spy!!"
Characters
- O'Rourke (former Brooklyn taxi driver)
Credits
- Script: Tex Blaisdell
- Pencils: Tex Blaisdell
- Inks: Tex Blaisdell
- Letters: Tex Blaisdell (uncertain)
Story Notes
Comprised of 4 independent gag cartoons.
The Machine Gun Drill
Storyline
Sarge orders his men to dismantle, then reassemble their machines guns inside of ten minutes.
Credits
- Pencils:
- Letters: (uncertain)
- Script:
- Inks:
"Out of the very heart of the spirit that is America comes a new champion of democracy..."
Storyline
Joan is imbued by the famed Statue of Liberty with special powers in order to help the country against her enemies, foreign and domestic, gaining her name from a man she saved from an attack by thugs. She uses her new powers to deflect a bomb and crush the getaway car of the spies involved.
Characters
- Joan Dale [Origin]
- Miss America [Origin]
- unnamed FBI Chief Inspector
- Mr. Grost (villain, factory owner)
Credits
- Script: Elmer Wexler (uncertain)
- Pencils: Elmer Wexler
- Inks: Elmer Wexler
Gone with the Draft
Storyline
After discussion of the draft, a letter from a trainee at Fort Wadsworth Training Center in New York discusses what went on during his first week in basic training.
Characters
- Dirk
Credits
- Script:
Story Notes
The text story has three spot illustrations, as well as an illustrated drawing with text about the Garand rifle.
U.S. Army Insignias
Story Notes
Illustrated chart of U.S. Army rank insignias.
Sink the Kaiser Adolf (1)
Featuring Q-Boat
Storyline
The schooner "Albatross" succeeds in capturing the Battleship "Kaiser Adolf," then must take on the Nazis' new battleship, "Kronzprinz Albrecht."
Characters
- Capt. Foghorn (introduction, origin)
- Bob Wayne (introduction, origin)
- Dick Martin (introduction, origin)
- Freckles [Marmaduke Van Weyden] (introduction, origin)
- Captain von Marz (villain)
- the Nazis (villains)
Credits
- Script: Henry Kiefer (uncertain)
- Pencils: Henry Kiefer
- Inks: Henry Kiefer
Story Notes
Only appearance of this feature.
Take a Tip from a Navy Torpedo
Featuring United States Rubber Company
Story Notes
Inside back cover.
Train Your Feet for Active Sports
Featuring Keds
Characters
- Frank Leahy (photo)
Story Notes
Back cover