Marvel Mystery Comics #78
3000 Years Dead!
The Human Torch and Toro are visited by Morse Kenyon the director of the archeology department at the Museum of Natural History. He has come to asked the two flaming heroes to help him three lives that are in danger in Egypt. The answer the call for help and fly out to Egypt immediately. There they go to the recently unearthed tomb of Prince Aba Fey. Inside they find no trace of human activity inside. The Torch pauses to read the inscription on the sarcophagus of Prince Fey. Apparently, the former prince had led a successful revolt against King Abdullah Razmuz. That’s when Toro finds a note from the archeologists they are looking for. According to the note they had ventured deeper into the tomb to find the remains of King Razmuz.
They follow the trail and locate a camp nearby where the three missing archeologists have located the lost sarcophagus of King Abdullah Razmuz. They are interested in opening a box that was found with the coffin one that allegedly brings life and death to those who open it. Although none of them believe in the curse, the Torch suggests they examine the box with an x-ray before opening it. While the Torch and the others go to get the needed equipment the head of the expedition decides to stay behind and with nobody to stop him also decides to open the box. Inside he finds a stone scarab and upon reading the inscription on he is unaware that the mummified corpse of King Razmuz has come to life and is slowly approaching him.
Hearing the archaeologist’s screams, the Human Torch returns to see what the commotion is. There to everyone’s horror, the mummy uses the scarab to drain lifeforce from everyone weakening them, and also killing the man who freed him. While everyone is recovering from the attack King Razmuz escapes. Overhearing that the monster wants to get revenge against the descendants Prince Fey, the Torch and Toro head back to Cairo to try and learn who these living relatives are. At the records department the Torch and Toro learn that these surviving descendants are Sidi and Landa Fey. Although Sidi is a doctor that lives in the city, Landa left three years ago. The pair quickly rush to provide protection to Doctor Fey.
Meanwhile, King Razmuz tries to make sense of the era he has awoken in. He enthralls one of the locals to assist him in finding shelter and clothes as well the location of his enemies descendants. Learning that Doctor Fey is under protection, King Razmuz has his minion call in a false mummy sighting to lure the Human Torch and Toro away from the doctor’s home. When the King tries to kill Sidi the Torch and Toro return. Unfortunately, they are doused in a potion by the King’s minion, disorientating them long enough for Abdullah to escape with Sidi as his prisoner. Once they have recovered, the pair manage to follow the trail back to the home Razmuz had been hiding out. However, the monster had already fled back into the desert in order to have his revenge. The rush back to the old tomb where they free Sidi from suffocation in a glass tomb. After rushing him to the hospital they learn that he knew where Landa has been living this whole time and was forced to reveal that she lives in New York City through hypnosis.
The pair rush back to America where they find King Razmuz praying to the god Isiris at the museum. When they try to stop him they are trapped in an airtight room that prevents the Torch and Toro from flaming on. However, the Torch has memorized the hypnotic command that King Razmuz has used to control his hypnotic thrall and uses it to call Razmuz’s minion to free them. They then rush to Landa Fey’s apartment where they use their powers and a statue of Isiris to make it look like the former King offended the gods. As Abdullah begs for forgiveness from the gods, Toro tosses away the scarab returning Razmuz to death. With the threat over, the mummy is returned to its sarcophagus and put on display in the museum.
Recurring Characters
Human Torch, Toro
The Witch of Capetown
In the New England town of Capetown a tour is about to start. A young woman who is part of the tour drops a flower on the ground but insists that the bus driver wear it on the lapel of his jacket instead. Soon the tour starts and the driver takes them near Gallow’s Isle where witches were hung. As he tells them of the most famous witch, Helen Stander, when the young woman — also named Helen Stander — reveals that she is the descendant of the legendary witch. Suddenly, the bus driver begins to feel old and swerves off the road and over a cliff into the water below. Luckily the Sub-Mariner is passing by and rescues everyone from drowning in the waters. Among the passengers, Helen Stander is rushed back to her hotel room to rest. The other passengers, especially a woman named Emma Hartley have become suspicious of the young woman — particularly due to her family heritage — and accuse her of doing something to the bus driver. When Namor points out how preposterous this is, he is almost attacked by one of the passengers who thinks doesn’t like his wife’s credibility is questioned. Namor’s friend Betty Dean has arrived just as the situation was gotten back under control.
The pair decides to go to the hotel to question Helen but upon arriving at her room they discover that she has gone missing in the middle of packing her bags. However, the pair decide to leave this mystery for now to watch a play being put on about the witch trials in the area. Before the play stars none are aware when the actress who is playing the original Helen Stander is knocked out and replaced by someone else. When he play progresses, another actress playing the role of a woman named Dame Susan suddenly collapses after being handed a bouquet of flowers from “Helen Stander”. When people rush to the woman’s aid they discover that she is dead. When they try to capture “Helen Stander” — accusing her of being a witch — the mystery woman manages to escape on a boat. Namor tries to follow after the killer but is struck over the head when he tries to climb aboard. This stuns Namor long enough for the boat to escape. Judging from the blow he received, the Sub-Mariner convinced that the killer is not a woman. Returning to the scene Bof the crime, Namor learns that the murdered woman was the descendant of someone that Helen Stander was accused of murdering. Suspecting that the killer is avenging the death of Standard by murdering those related to her alleged victims, the Sub-Mariner heads for the descendant of the next victim, John Rice.
Unfortunately. Namor arrives too late but spots what appears to be the killer’s boat trying to speed away from the scene of the murder. Luckily the boat crashes and the Sub-Mariner nabs that person on board. It turns out to be the modern day Helen Stander who professes that she is innocent of murdering Susan Ames and Bill Rice. The locals are in such a frenzy, they believe that Helen is a witch just like her ancestor and demand that she be put to death on Gallow’s Island just like her namesake. When Helen tries to explain how she was framed, nobody believes her except for Namor. However, when the Sub-Mariner tries to calm the unruly mob he is struck over the head and locked in the local jail. In his weakened state, Namor cannot break from his chains, luckily a fire starts in a nearby building, summoning the fire department. Crying out that he is on fire, Namor convinces the firemen to spray the inside of his cell with water, reviving his strength. Breaking free from the jail Namor is greeted outside by Betty Dean who explains she started the fire in an attempt to free Namor. The Sub-Mariner thanks Betty with a kiss then rushes to Gallow’s Island where the locals are preparing to hang Helen Stander for the murders she has been accused of.
Having stopped at the coroner’s office before arriving, Namor reveals that Bill Rice was murdered before Susan Ames and this timeline does not match up with the timeline and activities of the real killer. He suspects that the real killers are a male and female combo that have been working together. When asking about women who are capable of piloting boats in the area he learns that Emma Hartley is the only one. Realizing their scheme has been exposed, Emma and her husband try to make their escape but they are caught and evidence proving they are responsible for the murders is found on their persons. As it turned out the Hartley’s were deeply in debt to their victims and used the legend of Helen Stander to try and get away with murder.
Recurring Characters
Sub-Mariner, Betty Dean
The Lights Go Out!
Story continued from last issue…
Miss America has been sent to Buenos Aires to investigate the disappearance of an American counter-espionage agent. However upon her arrive, Madelyn Joyce and her new friend, Peter Carr, discover her hotel room had been ransacked in a failed attempt to obtain a recently obtained bracelet Madelyn brought with her.
Suspicious of Peter Carr, Miss America rushes to his room and begins snooping around. Recalling that Peter said he was a writer, she finds no manuscripts nor a typewriter in his room. She also finds a strange emblem with the initials “L.R. “ inscribed on them, much like Peter’s monographed gloves that led her to doubt his identity. She also finds an invitation to Cafe Luxuria and decides to go there to learn if Peter Carr is an enemy spy. She also brings the bracelet the thieves were looking for in case she runs into Peter to see how he reacts to it. As she heads to Cafe Luxuria, Miss America is unaware that she is being followed by another car.
Meanwhile, anti-espionage agent Ted Banning wakes up and discovers that he is a prisoner of Rex Herr, and escaped Nazi. Herr wanted to prevent Banning from returning to America with a list of escaped war criminals who he hopes to reunite and help rebuild the Third Reich. Torturing Ted, Rex is interrupted by one of his men who informs him that they failed to steal the bracelet and the secret microfilm hidden inside. Furious to learn that Miss America interfered with his plans and demands that they find get it before it falls out of their grasp. By this time, Madelyn arrives at the Cafe and meets with Peter. She is surprised to see that this evening’s performer Elise Winters, the sister of Varnum, the woman who first gave Madelyn the bracelet and she wonders what Elise’s connection to Peter might be. Madelyne and Peter talk for a moment but she sees right through his story about being a writer. When Elise is finished her performance, Madeline excuses herself to deliver the bracelet to Elise like she was instructed.
However, in the dressing room, Elise is confronted by Rex Herr who wants the bracelet, and refuses to believe that Miss America has not turned it over to Elsie yet and begins threatening her with a gun. Having arrived outside and hearing the commotion, Madelyne looks through the keyhole and sees there is trouble. Changing into Miss America she comes crashing in through the window to stop Rex Herr from terrorizing the woman. Unfortunately, one of Rex’s minions comes up from behind and hits her over the head, knocking her out. Searching Miss America they are shocked to discover that the hero has been carrying the bracelet the whole time.
Recurring Characters
Miss America, Elise Winters, Peter Carr, Ted Banning, Rex Herr
Jewels of Despair!
After a long meeting at their club out, Bucky suggests that he and the rest of the Young Allies call it a night. On the way they notices that there is a light on at the old abandoned house. Suspicious, the youths decide to check it out. Peaking through a keyhole they discover that the gang of crooks are ripping the place up. Their leader, a pointy toothed man named Fangs, tells his minions that this home was the former hideout of Lifter Louie and his gang. Although they were mowed down by the authorities in a stand-off ten years prior, Fangs is certain that the missing jewels they stole are hidden somewhere in this house. As they have found nothing, one of Fangs men suggests that the jewels were hidden somewhere else before Left Louie was killed.
When Bucky relays this to his teammates, Knuckles O’Toole suggests they start a fight and pulls a brick from a nearby fireplace where they discover a map hidden on the opposite side. That’s when Fangs and his men enter the room and demand that the Young Allies hand over the map. The youths refuse, with Toro using his flame powers to burns the guns out of the hands out of the gangsters. However, the crooks manage to escape when Fangs smashes their flashlights plunging the room in darkness. Having lost the crooks, the Young Allies decide to use the map to find the lost jewels.
Sure enough, when the begins digging for the jewels, Fangs and his gang ambushes the youths and tie them up. To prevent Toro from flaming on, they soak him thoroughly with condensation shaken from a tree. However, as Fangs and his men dig they cannot find the jewels. This takes long enough for Toro to dry up and flame on, burning through his bonds. The Young Allies quickly ambush Fangs and his men and tie them up. They then discover that Toro’s flame has burned away part of the tree revealing the jewels hidden inside. When the Young Allies turn in the stolen jewels it makes front page news.
Recurring Characters
Young Allies (Bucky, Toro, Knuckles O’Toole, Tuby Tinker)
Continuity Notes
This story presents Bucky as though he is the original, aka James Barnes. However, as per Avengers #4, Bucky went MIA with the original Captain America in 1945. As explained in What If? #4 the United States government covered this up by recruiting successors. The Bucky here is actually Fred Davis.
Murder by Magic
The Angel is attending a charity show at the Hotel Ritz watching a performance by the Great Magouin, a famous magician. Asking for a volunteer from the audience, the Great Gagouin selects an elderly woman and then pulls off a trick where he turns her priceless jewels into dust and then back to normal again using a special machine. This trick is impressive to the audience, leaving the Angel to wonder how it is done. Also impressed was the woman, who wants to hire the Great Magouin for a private party. However, his assistant, a young lady named Magna in the audience doesn’t trust Magouin and hands the Angel a note warning him that the Great Magouin is actually a thief. Spotting Magna from the stage, the Great Magouin decides to stop the Angel from meeting with her. As the hero leaves the audience, the magician then makes it appear as though he disappears.
This is all a cover that allows the magician to go back stage and club the Angel over the head with a blackjack. Magouin then performs his next trick where Magna in a cage. This is all an elaborate trick to murder her and make it look like some kind of freak accident. Although Magna has been killed, the Angel refuses to give up his investigation into the Great Magouin, hoping to get the evidence he needs to prove that the magician is actually a thief. When it turns out that the volunteer from earlier had her jewels replaced with fakes, the Angel has the evidence he needs to go after the magician. \
The Angel crashes the magician’s next performance and despite Magouin’s attempts to use his magic tricks to escape, the Angel sees through them and captures the crook. A few weeks later, the Great Magouin is found guilty of murder and hanged for his crimes.
Recurring Characters
Angel
