Dr. Fate: 1st appearance of Dr. Fate. Featuring the 1st appearances of Inza Cramer and Wotan.
Spectre:1st appearance of Zor

Review by Jack Holt Bgztl@aol.com

Issue highlights: Two titanic first appearances. The Spectre's otherworldly, but rakishly dressed foe, Zor. And that Student of the Ancient Mysteries, Doctor Fate.

The Spectre (Untitled):

SYNOPSIS:

Clarice Winston is kidnapped by Zor, who describes himself as another spirit who continued to live on Earth, but more experienced than Jim Corrigan in the use of his powers.

SUMMARY:

The Spectre, as policeman Jim Corrigan, is up to his usual tricks in this issue. With his partner Wayne Grant, Jim investigates crimes. However, being able to read minds, Jim figures out who the culprits are pretty quick.

For the nonviolent criminals, usually, Jim gives them the opportunity to repent. If they confess to the police they live, if not. . .they are sent by the Spectre (or Jim) to the Valley of Death!

[Actually, only the ring-leaders are usually so lucky. Getaway men and gunmen are usually not so lucky. For them, trucks crash off cliffs and mayhem ensues.]

Zor reveals himself to Jim during the case. Zor appears to have all of the Spectre's powers including his ability to grow to titanic size, fly, and alter matter. Zor decides to get at the Spectre through Clarice Winston, Jim's old girlfriend who is still pining for Jim. Zor escapes with Clarice into another dimension. Even the Spectre does not have that power.

But the Spectre is not to be deterred where the life of an innocent is at stake.

Calling on the Voice who sent him back to Earth, the Spectre pleads for help. The Voice grants the Spectre the power to "walk between worlds."

Soaring off after Zor, the Spectre comes to Zor's other-dimensional castle. However, the Spectre was expected. Zor imprisons the Spectre in a paralyzing beam or "pillar" of purest light.

Trapped, the Spectre sees no way out but to offer Zor the Formula for Creating Life, itself. Zor is tempted, despite his better judgment. Zor releases the Spectre. The Spectre offers Zor a piece of a scroll and Zor takes the scroll from his hand.

As Zor reads the scroll, however, the Spectre imprisons Zor himself in the pillar of light. The Spectre believes Zor will be imprisoned for all eternity.

Whisking Clarice Winston back to Earth, the Spectre resumes his identity as Jim Corrigan. Jim tells Clarice that the adventure with Zor was all just a dream. Jim also tells Clarice there is still no hope for their romance.

Doctor Fate (Untitled):

SYNOPSIS:

Doctor Fate becomes known to another student of the Ancient Mysteries, Wotan, who attempts to harm the Doctor through Inza Kramer. Taking control of the mind of a pawn, Wotan makes an assault on Inza which is deflected by Doctor Fate. Revealing his power, Doctor Fate proves to be a formidable foe to Wotan. Overconfident, however, Wotan permits Doctor Fate to physically grapple with him. Wotan is thrown from a window. Is he dead? Read next month to find out!

SUMMARY:

The scene opens on Wotan, a green-faced sorcerer, describing how he has discovered that another student of the ancients lives on Earth -- Doctor Fate. However, Wotan also has determined that when Inza Kramer dies, Doctor Fate will be at his mercy! (Wotan does not tell us how exactly Inza's death will debilitate Doctor Fate or how he knows this).

Wotan uses a multi-colored, hypnotic globe to send his voice to a passer-by named William Frawley. Ensorcelled, Frawley appears in Inza's apartment and threatens to kill her.

Inza calls out "Doctor Fate." Instantly, Doctor Fate appears out of a black cloud which has materialized in the room. He stops Frawley.

Sensing Doctor Fate's presence, however, Wotan plots to burn down Inza's apartment, with everyone still in it, using the alchemy of the ancients. Doctor Fate sees the fire and disappears with Frawley and Inza into his black cloud.

We are introduced to this character for the first time.

"Who is Doctor Fate?" the narrator asks.

You can almost feel the capital letters coming:

"Student of the Ancient Mysteries that were partially destroyed when Caesar burned Alexandria's library,

"Delver into the Unknown Science of the Occult and the Word,

"Alchemist and Physicist Extraordinary,

"Doctor Fate has learned the ultimate Secret of the Universe -- the true conversion of Energy into Matter and Matter into Energy!"

Appearing suddenly alongside the now-awakening Frawley, Doctor Fate demonstrates his skills by releasing the energy found between the atoms of a vase, turning the vase into dust!

Doctor Fate decides that he and Inza will confront Wotan directly.

Turning himself and Inza into pure energy, Doctor Fate launches their energy into the ether. In the street below, passers-by pull their coats a little closer as the wind whistles past, slightly shriller, somewhat colder. Doctor Fate and Inza have passed!

Arriving in Wotan's lair they face Wotan's clever death trap. (I am not making this up!!) Two gorillas!!

Even Doctor Fate is somewhat taken aback. "You choose a very elementary means of killing me Wotan!" he says.

[[Now, just an aside here, "elementary" is not exactly a word I would choose. "Hare-brained, " maybe or "just plain silly." But not "elementary." Ah, the glorious Golden Age! Let's just assume that Wotan was not expecting Doctor Fate so soon and the gorillas were there for someone else -- Congo Bill maybe. In that case Wotan was only one issue too early. Onward!]]

Easily able to deal with his own gorilla, Doctor Fate lends his strength to Inza!!!

Inza then fights the gorilla on her own with Fate's powers!!

"Elementary, but effective!" Wotan shouts, grabbing a knife and trying to stab Doctor Fate. Doctor Fate, however, recovers from his surprise and shouts "Stop!" Doctor Fate's word of command stops Wotan in his tracks but does not harm him.

Then Doctor Fate uses tentacles of flame to surround Wotan. He commands Wotan to tell him why Wotan wants Doctor Fate dead. Wotan explains that if Doctor Fate dies, the "clumsy ignorant moderns" would be Wotan's slaves. (He calls ordinary people clumsy and ignorant with a straight face right after he attacked Doctor Fate with two gorillas and a kitchen knife? Wotan was never much for irony, I suppose.)

Unfortunately, despite Wotan's ham-handed efforts, Doctor Fate is forced to concede that neither he nor Wotan can harm the other except by surprise.

Wotan demands that Doctor Fate leave Inza as a hostage. Doctor Fate responds by "surprising" Wotan with a haymaker punch.

"Sometimes," muses Doctor Fate, "I think a good fight accomplishes more than all the learning in the world!"

Doctor Fate then picks Wotan up and throws him out the window.

Is Wotan dead? Come back next issue kids and find out!!

INTERESTING POINTS:

I always assumed the dynamic between Kent and Inza was essentially made up by modern writers. But Messner-Loeb and others were harvesting a fertile field. In this original appearance, a strange connection between Doctor Fate and Inza is suggested. Inza is able to summon Doctor Fate solely by calling out his name. She is also somehow able to be imbued with Doctor Fate's strength during the adventure itself.

Another interesting facet of this story is that Doctor Fate is not Egyptian in origin at all. As this first appearance points out, Doctor Fate owed his sorcerous skills to all of the ancient cultures of the world, not merely to Egyptian culture.

Likewise there is no intimation of the later Order/Chaos connection developed in the modern series. That myth is ultimately derived from Indo-Iranian sources, which are, again, distinct from Doctor Fate's original influences.

Instead, in this first appearance, Doctor Fate controls forces that seem to be innate and involve the "simple" movement of energy. Thus, these forces are not, strictly speaking magic, but merely the harnessing of the energy in every person.

The Egyptian connection appears to come from Walt Simonson's First Issue Special from the 1970's. In it, Walt transfers Kent's origin tale from Sumeria to Egypt and has Doctor Fate fight a mummy. A great story. But Walt's creation.

What if Walt Simonson's relaunch of the character back in the 1970's had focussed on Doctor Fate as a science fiction concept instead of a mystical one?

Could Doctor Fate have been relaunched as a sort of Golden-Age Adam Strange, wielding the technology of another society in the pursuit of justice? We'll never know. But what a difference, huh?

Finally, Doctor Fate's helmet was full-faced in this issue but it was sharply pointed at the top rather than gracefully curved. Also, Doctor Fate wore no gloves at this time.

MORE FUN COMICS #56 "Untitled"

Review by Jack Holt Bgztl@aol.com

In this issue the Spectre tale is just Jim Corrigan against some garden variety political bosses and thugs, so no summary.

This issue is interesting because it is the first appearance of Congo Bill in this title. He just missed Wotan's gorillas, darn it. In Congo Bill's story Professor Kent (one of those "general purpose" DC scientists) is an archaeologist looking for a lost city. Toto, a Bantu native is killed by the Skull, a recurring Congo Bill foe. Bill performs numerous feats of derring-do and defeats the Skull and his minions.

Doctor Fate (untitled):

SYNOPSIS: Doctor Fate and Inza travel to the Underworld of the Aramaeans or the Chaldees (or at least of H. P. Lovecraft?) and find out that Wotan did not die. Returning to Earth, the good Doctor defeats Wotan's plan to destroy the Earth.

SUMMARY: The story picks up immediately after Wotan was hurled to his supposed demise in More Fun # 55. Even though he was the one who threw Wotan to his doom, Doctor Fate doubts that Wotan has perished.

Fate asks Inza if she is willing to travel with him to "face those gods of old, fiery Baal, cruel Moloch, to save the world from Wotan!"

Ever game, Inza replies, "With you, I dare anything Doctor Fate!"

The two pass instantly into a shadowy and cold land.

Coming on to a river they face Charon, the boatman of the river Styx, who refuses to carry them because they are not dead. Doctor Fate however, shows his power by having flame issue from his hands. After that display, Charon relents, giving Inza and Doctor Fate passage.

Arriving in the Underworld proper, Fate and Inza pass quickly through seven gates each of which is made of a different substance.

Beyond these gates, sat the gods of old. But we do not see them.

Instead, a massive Stair of Judgment appears before the pair of travelers. At the top, there is a blinding hemisphere of light, identified as "The Wisdom Who Rules the World".

"The Wisdom" questions Doctor Fate and Inza, asking whence they come and what they seek. Doctor Fate replies that they have some from the world of the living and seek the soul of a dead man. The Wisdom is aware of their quest. The Wisdom shows Fate and Inza an image of Wotan. Then, It tells them that Wotan is not there.

Speeding quickly now, Doctor Fate retraces his steps and passes back through the Seven Gates of Hell, along the rocky path, and re-enters the Upper World.

There, he finds Wotan is up to no good. The very Earth is shaking. Doctor Fate directs his power at the ground and stills the earth quake . For now at least.

The scene switches to the still living Wotan. Wotan has used his scientific devices to increase the electrical and magnetic forces of the earth, cause earthquakes, and create other natural disasters. Wotan's goal is nothing less than the destruction of the whole globe. Wotan himself planned to escape to another dimension.

(Wotan had apparently had enough of the rest of us "slaves" and was ready to call the whole thing quits).

Meanwhile, Doctor Fate communes with the ancient powers of the world and eventually accepts help from a giant eagle (shades of the Hobbit!!!!). The giant eagle takes Doctor Fate to Wotan's lair. Wotan's lair, however, is a modern-looking establishment that would make Frank Lloyd Wright jealous.

Doctor Fate destroys Wotan's monumental abode, but not before Wotan is able to leap for a lever which will trigger his device.

Nothing happens.

Doctor Fate explains to Inza that he realized when he stilled the earlier earthquake that his magic could counter Wotan's earthquake machine. Fortunately, once he identified Wotan's machine, Doctor Fate cast his spell to prevent the destruction of the Earth before Wotan even pulled the lever!! Therefore, Wotan's plans have come to naught.

Fate then slugs Wotan twice and leaves him chained in a bubble in the middle of the Earth.

INTERESTING (?) POINTS: This great little story has a lot of interesting points. Doctor Fate's full helmet is now the standard, gracefully curved version. Inza is clearly Doctor Fate's partner in all things.

The highlight here for me was Fox freely adapting Chaldean/Aramaean mythology to his purposes.

It is not quite the mythology developed and used by Lovecraft, although it is similar.

The descent into the Underworld through seven gates is borrowed from Innana's descent. (Sometimes this is also called Ishtar's descent).

At the time Fox wrote, it was believed that Innana/Ishtar descended into hell to retrieve the dead Tammuz -- a retelling of the Egyptian Osiris myth and the reverse of the Greek Orpheus myth. Actually, the original Innana/Ishtar from Babylonian/Chaldean sources descended into hell to see her sister Ereshkigal and prove she could so -- for pride. She got out by offering up her faithless husband Tammuz to take her place. Now, I am absolutely fascinated by this and make no apologies. But the faint-hearted may want to move on.

The gates are, in order:

1. Iron,

2. Copper,

3. Silver,

4. Gold,

5. An Unknown Grey Metal [It is tempting to think of this as Hawkman's Nth metal, but it is probable that Fox was intending a metal known as abaru, a silvery metal used in the ancient Fertile Crescent for small, but always rare, objects. Abaru was well known from cuneiform tablets as a name for a metal even in the 1940's, but, to this day, no one knows for sure to which metal the original inscribers of the tablets were referring. Some scholars suspect magnesite -- that is, an antimony alloy. But the HawkGod is said to be in the other plain, a sort of limbo where Katar Hol is fighting him still. Is he behind the fifth gate? For what it is worth, the Egyptian HawkGod, Horus, was also a god of the underworld. Hmm.].

6. Alabaster [Similar to the Gate of Dreams from Greek mythology] and

7. Emerald. [This is interesting because in Lovecraft's time and Fox's as well, the Greek account of Sumerian/Aramaean/Semitic mythology held that emerald was important. However, most modern scholars do not think the Greeks meant our modern green emerald, -- a fact only realized recently. The "emerald" referred to in the Bible, for example, probably meant a type of red garnet. This issue has also come up in Hebrew studies because the high priest of Israel was said to wear a breastplate which the Hebrew texts says held garnet and the Greek version says was "emerald"].

There is a lot of story potential here.

The Stair of Judgment is similar to the so called Ladder of Souls, as well as to Jacob's Ladder (or Stairway, as it is sometimes translated) . In the ancient world, one always approached the gods up a hillside, stairway or tower. The Jewish Temple also reflected this Semitic idea.

Oddly enough, although Baal and Moloch are mentioned, they do not appear. Both are Semitic forms of the names of gods that were worshipped throughout the Near East.

Baal was probably depicted as the Lord of the Underworld based on the common Semitic legend of Baal/Bel dying only to return again.

Moloch is the same as Mot and is the more conventional lord of the undead, like Hades or Pluto.

All of this simply re-emphasizes Doctor Fate's 1940's origin in Mesopotamia rather than Egypt.

Interestingly enough, by the time of the Chaldees, the Egyptian ankh began to be used as a symbol of life and power in the Fertile Crescent as well as in Egypt.

The Wisdom is similar to the Spectre's Voice but appears to reflect a Lovecraftian origin. Originally, I think the idea was Hermetic (meaning it has been linked with both magic and science for a long time).

Wotan's disposition is similar to Merlin's -- and also to the JSA's newest mystical foe, Mordru!!

Dr. Fate: 1st Dr. Fate cover as origin continues with Wotan as the villain.
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #57 "Untitled"

Dr. Fate: 1st appearance of Mango the Mighty (villain)
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #58 "Untitled"

Dr. Fate:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #59 "Untitled"

Dr. Fate:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #60 "Untitled"

Dr. Fate:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #61 "Untitled"

Dr. Fate: 1st appearance of the 3 Fates of Norm
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #62 "Untitled"

Dr. Fate: 1st appearance of Raymond Rall
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #63 "Untitled"

Dr. Fate: 1st appearance of Haldane the Sorcerer
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #64 "Untitled"

Dr. Fate: 1st appearance of Mayoor
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #65 "Untitled" (March 1941)

Dr. Fate: 1st appearance of Fishmen of Nyarl-Amen
Spectre:

Review by Jack Holt Bgztl@aol.com

Synopsis: In this Lovecraftian story, the original Dr. Fate faces the vile sorcery of Nyarl-Amen, who ruled the world 50,000 year ago from a city in the sea.

Observations: Classic Dr. Fate. "High in his tower above the ghostly Salem Hills, the Strange Creature known as Doctor Fate keeps watch on the world for menaces that have to do with the lost wisdom of the ancients. . ." However, he is also called ". . . a man possessing the knowledge of the Chaldeans, Egyptians and those races that dwelt before our written history begins -- Atlantis the Lost -- Mu the Sunken-- magic and the lost arts, the secrets of nature and the universe are his!"

He is not well-known or recognizable to the general public. He wears his full helmet and cape. He pulls flame and lightning out of his own body rather than using magical tools or spells. There is no mention of Kent Nelson.

Story: Almost a year before Pearl Harbor, a naval base in Hawaii is attacked by strange men with the heads and scales of fish. In his Salem Tower, Dr. Fate observes the weird figures arising from the sea. He identifies them as the fish men of Nyarl-Amen, a dynasty from 50,000 years ago. Launching into the skies, Dr. Fate rushes to prevent Nyarl-Amen from overrunning the world once again.

Meanwhile, using strange tridents that shoot lightning the fish men take over the Hawaiian naval base. Dr. Fate arrives just in time. First, he lands and gives the ancient fish-men the opportunity to depart: "Peace! Go back whence you came or be destroyed."

The fish-men fire their tridents at the Doctor but to no avail. Calling on "the power in my body" Dr. Fate directs its flames toward the fish-men who are overcome.

The base officer commends Dr. Fate for his quick action but does not recognize him. Dr. Fate identifies himself and indicates he will pursue the fish-men and destroy them.

Diving beneath the waves, Dr. Fate searches the sea floor for the lost city of Nyarl-Amen. He then finds the city. He states that he must beard the lost wisdom in his lair down in the city that has kept him for 100,000 years (Suggesting that Nyarl-Amen had already been alive for 50,000 years when his dynasty ended).

As Dr. Fate arrives, Nyarl-Amen (who is revealed to be a fish-man himself) receives news of the defeat of his troops. It is not clear whether the palace is filled with air or water. Nyarl-Amen orders a fresh force of fish-men to go after Dr. Fate and bring him back to the city.

Meanwhile an American officer has been kidnapped. He wears no breathing equipment and talks plainly. Does magic let him breathe underwater or is the palace filled with air? Anyway, under the hypnotic gleam of the magic eyes of Nyarl-Amen, two glass eyes set in the wall of the undersea palace, the officer reveals the strength of the U.S. forces. Dr.. Fate rescues him and they duck down a passageway to escape the pursuing fish-men-guards.

Dr. Fate leaps out of the corridor alone. He states that Nyarl-Amen should prepare to die. However Nyarl-Amen is not taken so easily. He surrounds himself with a protective ring of fire. Dr. Fate acknowledges that Nyarl-Amen also has the olden Wisdom and, the doctor cannot penetrate the ring of fire.

Returning to the corridor where he left the officer, Dr. Fate returns the captive to the surface. He leaves the officer on a small island where a tramp steamer would hopefully pick him up. The officer is actually grateful for this.

Returning to the city, Dr. Fate gives Nyarl-Amen one last chance. The crazed ancient, however, uses a gun-like tube to shoot Grecian Fire at Dr. Fate which lights when it meets water. (This time anyway, the palace is clearly filled with water).

Dr. Fate dodges the flames. "Close but not close enough!" he says. Nyarl-Amen then draws a blade. Moving inside the steel, Dr. Fate uses a little "modern persuasion" and socks Nyarl-Amen on his fishy jaw. Nyarl-Amen falls on his sword, killing himself.

Soaring above the waves, Dr. Fate releases the pent-up power stored in his body. There is a terrific underwater explosion and the city of Nyarl-Amen perishes. At last its ruins shelter nothing more harmful than few fish. Dr. Fate flies away stating his mission once again -- "to guard mankind from the weird threats of eerie evil!"

(This story was also reprinted in Wanted. The World's Most Dangerous Villains. # 3, published in 1972)

MORE FUN COMICS #66 "Untitled"

Dr. Fate: Dr. Fate finally reveals identity to Inza Cramer
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #67 "Untitled"

Dr. Fate: True Origin of Dr. Fate revealed, features Nabu, Sven Nelson, Inza Cramer and Black Negal (villain)
Spectre:

Review by Andrew Bistak paladin@dzign.com.au

Synopsis: A flashback to Valley of Ur in the 1920's reveals the true origin of Dr. Fate and the first appearance of Nabu the Wise. The story then goes into the present (1940's) where Kent Nelson approaches a man who seems very worried. Kent Nelson than becomes Dr. Fate to investigate the problem.

Plot: The scene opens on the Valley of Ur in the 1920's with Kent and Sven Nelson in an expedition tent during the evening. A young and curious Kent Nelson questions his father about why they are on this particular archeological dig. Sven Nelson answers Kent by saying that he hopes to discover those who built the pyramids and believes them to be from another planet. Sven Nelson explains to Kent that tomorrow they go into the chambers of history of this old temple and hopefully their may something inside for them.

The next morning, father and son leave for the temple and venture into the Chamber of History. Sven Nelson discovers a new language that is neither Chaldean, Egyptian or Babylonian. Meanwhile, Kent is exploring the temple and stumbles upon what appears to be a life like statue of an ancient Egyptian. The statue shoots beams from his eyes that forces Kent to swing a lever that releases a white gas that brings the statue to life. The man then explains to Kent that he was never really dead and that he mastered the molecular control of his body and is close to half a million years old. The man tells Kent that he is from the planet Cilia and that long ago, the planet moved past the orbit of the Earth. The man is called Nabu the Wise!

Kent walks away to tell his father about this wonderous being but finds him dead. Nabu tells Kent that when the chambers were built, a poisonous gas was prepared so that any who knew not the secret of the chamber was sure to die. Kent pleads for his dad not to die as Nabu comforts the boy. After burrying Sven Nelson (1870-1920), Nabu offers to teach Kent the secrets of the universe but the boy only wants his father back. Eventually years pass and Kent leans to love his teacher as his own father. Nabu points towards the sky and tells Kent that someday he will return to his mother planet. Kent asks if it would be possible for him to travel too, but Nabu tells Kent that his mission is to bring good to those on earth. Kent then demonstrates the abilities that he learned from Nabu, he possess the power of levitation and the ability to move inanimate objects by thought. Nabu gives Kent one final gift, the artifacts of Fate, a helmet, an amulet and a cloak and from that day on, he would become Doctor Fate.

Thus was born the greatest of all masters of the supernatural! He met Inza, his companion in Alexandria when returning to America from the Valley of Ur. With her, he roams the world overcoming those men who practice sorcerery - as Doctor Fate!

The issue then moves to the present (1940's) where Kent Nelson and Inza Cramer are having dinner in a restaurant. Inza observers a man acting strangely and Kent goes to investigate. The man explains to Kent that shadows of dead men are trying to take his life away and they come at night. The man tells Kent that he made a pact with the dead to help them return to life if they died first. Unfortunately for this stranger, it did not go as planned. Kent asks Inza to safely escort the man home while Kent goes to investigate as Dr. Fate. When Inza and the stranger arrive at his home, he is attacked by the shadow men. Inza screams for Dr. Fate and he soon appears. "By the wisdom of Nabu, I banish you gone" says Fate as he banishes the shadow man. Dr. Fate tells the man that he must follow the shadow to make sure that this will never occur again.

Dr. Fate and Inza travel to the world of shadows where Dr. Fate discovers that Black Negal is behind these attacks. Dr. Fate threatens Negal who finally agrees to never let his shadow men enter the world of the living. Dr. Fate tells Inza a final warning "The world of living and the dead must never mix! When they do, all nature revolts! Before he allowed his shadows to overrun this world!"

MORE FUN COMICS #68 "Untitled"

Dr. Fate:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #69 "Untitled"

Dr. Fate: 1st appearance of Ian Karkull
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #70 "Untitled"

Dr. Fate: Features Wotan and Ian Karkull and Arctic Base
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #71 "Untitled"

Dr. Fate: 1st appearance of Adam Igorovich
Johnny Quick: 1st appearance & origin
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #72 "Untitled"

Dr. Fate: 1st appearance of the Half Helmet
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #73 "Untitled"

Aquaman: 1st appearance & origin
Dr. Fate: 1st appearance of Mr. Who (villain)
Green Arrow & Speedy: 1st appearance
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #74 "Untitled"

Dr. Fate: Featuring Mr. Who (villain)
Green Arrow & Speedy:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #75 "Untitled"

Dr. Fate: 1st appearance of The Dude (villain)
Green Arrow & Speedy:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #76 "Untitled"

Dr. Fate: 1st appearance of Michael Kruger (villain)
Green Arrow & Speedy:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #77 "Untitled"

Dr. Fate: 1st appearance of Uhlah (villain)
Green Arrow & Speedy:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #78 "Untitled"

Dr. Fate:
Green Arrow & Speedy:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #79 "Untitled"

Dr. Fate: Featuring Mr. Who (villain)
Green Arrow & Speedy:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #80 "Untitled"

Dr. Fate: 1st appearance of Octopus (villain)
Green Arrow & Speedy:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #81 Hall of Lost Heroes

Dr. Fate: 1st appearance of The Clock (villain)
Green Arrow & Speedy:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #82 Luck for Sale

Dr. Fate: 1st appearance of The Red Sage (villain)
Green Arrow & Speedy:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #83 The Two Fate

Dr. Fate: 1st appearance of Two Fates (villains)
Green Arrow & Speedy:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #84 Crime's Hobby Horse

Dr. Fate: 1st appearance of Mordunt Grimm (villain)
Green Arrow & Speedy:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #85 The Man Who Changed Faces

Dr. Fate:
Green Arrow & Speedy:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #86 The Man Who Wanted No Medals

Dr. Fate:
Green Arrow & Speedy:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #87 The Mystery of Room 406

Dr. Fate: 1st appearance of Frog (villain)
Green Arrow & Speedy:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #88 The Victim of Dr. Fate

Dr. Fate: 1st appearance of Mad Dog McBain (villain)
Green Arrow & Speedy:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #89 The Case of the Crystal Crimes

Dr. Fate: 1st appearance of Krishna Das (villain)
Green Arrow & Speedy: Origin of Green Arrow & Speedy
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #90 The Case of the Healthy Patient

Dr. Fate:
Green Arrow & Speedy:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #91 The Man Who Belittled Dr. Fate

Dr. Fate: Featuring Mr. Who (villain)
Green Arrow & Speedy:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #92 Fate Turns Back the Clock

Dr. Fate: Featuring The Clock (villain)
Green Arrow & Speedy:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #93 The Legend of Lucky Lane

Dr. Fate: 1st appearance of Lucky Lane (villain)
Green Arrow & Speedy:
Spectre:

Review by Jack Holt Bgztl@aol.com

This is a brief summary of More Fun # 93's Dr. Fate tale, "The Legend of Lucky Lane", dated Sept.-Oct. 1943.

Synopsis: Gangster Lucky Lane believes his lucky ring protects him from harm.However, Dr. Fate pursues Lucky during a heist at the opera and Lucky's own ring proves his undoing as Lucky attempts to escape and his metal ring short circuits an electrical panel backstage.

Interesting points: Kent Nelson depicted with brown hair. Dr. Fate's magic ring appears and helps him track the criminals by glowing when the felons are near. As usual for this time period, Dr. Fate has no cape and wears his half mask.

Plot: The scene opens on a gangland war involving Lucky Lane and other participants. However, the "fantastic figure of Doctor Fate, man of magic!" hurtles onto the scene to uphold the law stating that killing is against the law even when the victims are murderers. as bullets bounce harmlessly off of his body Dr. Fate delivers KO blow after KO blow to the thugs. Then he realizes that Lucky Lane has taken two bullets -- one near his lungs and the other near his shoulder. Doc thinks Lucky is finished but Lucky says no one can finish him because his lucky ring (a gold band with intertwining snakes) protects him.

Sure enough, as Kent Nelson appears at his trial (with brown hair!!) the chief witness against Lucky suffers a heart attack. Although Dr. Nelson tries his best to revive the witness it is useless and Lucky walks away a free man.

The police set a trap for Lucky but he forgets his lucky ring and has to go back, foiling the police officers' plans. Frustrated, Dr. Fate takes an active hand and bursts into Lucky's lair. While making jokes, Doc uses his fists to subdue Lucky's henchmen. Unexpectedly, a uniformed officer is drawn by the noise and opens the door, knocking Dr. Fate aside. Lucky Lane then uses the butt of a gun to knock Dr. Fate out. (Remember Doc just shrugged off bullets!!)

Lucky kills a stool pigeon among his men who tipped off the uniformed officer and then drops the stunned Dr. Fate out the window. Dr. Fate wakes up, however, and seems to be suspended in mid-air Leaping back through the window, he sees the villains are gone.

Later at the opera house, Lucky's newest scheme unfolds. Dressed in tuxedos, his goons knock out the men patrons and steal the jewels of the ladies watching the opera. But not for long. Dr. Fate is drawn to the boxes where the villains are by the glowing of his red magic ring.

Once more using his fists, the man of magic battles Lucky's mob. Leaping from balcony to balcony, Dr. Fate finally finds Lucky himself. Lucky runs off back stage using a prop dragon to distract the Doctor. After a few more puns and knocking Lucky and his men every which way, Doc is jumped by Lucky who tries to choke the Doctor which cello strings (Did I mention that bullets BOUNCED off him before?????? Oh, I did. Well, who says Golden Age stories had to make sense.). But the Doctor gamely fights back, clubbing Lucky with his powerful fists. While Doc is stunned, Lucky runs off but fails to notice a live electrical board in his path. As Lucky's ring grazes the board, the mobster is electrocuted.

As Doctor Fate notes, the mobster's lucky ring finally brought him BAD LUCK!!

Spectre

In this installment Percival Popp dresses up as the Spectre himself to strike fear in the hearts of criminals. Fortunately, the Spectre himself arrives , "in the ectoplasm, Percival,. . . " and gives Percival the strength to defeat the bad guys. at the end however, the Spectre convinces Percival to take off the costume. Percival is knocked out at the last minute and his chief still thinks he's a loafer as he finds him sleeping.

MORE FUN COMICS #94 The Destiny of Mr. Coffin

Dr. Fate:
Green Arrow & Speedy:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #95 Flame in the Night

Dr. Fate:
Green Arrow & Speedy:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #96 Forgotten Magic

Dr. Fate:
Green Arrow & Speedy:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #97 The Pharoah's Lamp

Dr. Fate:
Green Arrow & Speedy:
Spectre:

MORE FUN COMICS #98 The Bashful King of Crime

Dr. Fate: Last Appearance of Dr. Fate
Green Arrow & Speedy:
Spectre:

Review by Jack Holt Bgztl@aol.com

Story summary: Continuity: More Fun Comics #98 was the last appearance of Dr. Fate and was not a sterling adventure. Dr. Fate is depicted wearing his half-mask and no cape. He wears a magic ring on his right hand. As the story makes clear, Dr. Fate prepares for action by putting his Dr. Fate garb over his ordinary clothes. (The opposite of Superman and some other tights-wearing heroes). The story also shows that Dr. Fate ended his career as more than a mere intern (medical student) but was treating patients.

Synopsis: In the "The Bashful King of Crime", Dr. Kent Nelson is shown treating a little boy suffering from a fever at Weatherby Hospital when he sees a holdup at a jewelry store across the street. Quickly switching into his costumed identity the good doctor leaps into action. As he gets closer he sees an old enemy, Stumpy Small, "the tiniest and cleverest of all crime kings." Dr. Fate knocks down the two holdup men with one punch and turns to face "Stumpy" but "Stumpy" is refusing to touch the loot and is pretending to be innocent. Befuddled Dr. Fate stops in his tracks.

The two holdup men get up and put a hood over the doctor while clubbing him over the head. This is enough to stun Doc who falls down as the villains and "Stumpy" escape. But Dr. Fate quickly recovers. Using his magic ring, he follows the crooks to their hideout. There, "Stumpy" continues to feign innocence. Just then a noose drops out of the rafters, tying up Dr. Fate's arms.

He is quickly gagged as the real Stumpy comes out of hiding. Stumpy also captures his double whose name is Henry Halfpint. Stumpy explains he saw the holdup and how his double was inadvertently involved. And now, Stumpy has a plan. They will commit one last robbery, kill Henry and let Henry take the blame for the crime. Stumpy will then live free from fear of capture for years as he continues to build his criminal empire.

The villains throw Dr. Fate in a special room. Although Dr. Fate is almost impossible to kill, he can't live without air, so the crooks begin filling the room with water. Unexpectedly, Dr. Fate does not struggle overmuch to escape. Instead, he hopes the water rises higher. As it does, the water hits the prescription he had just filled at the hospital before he left (which was in his breast pocket under his costume). The chemical instantly freezes the water producing sharp-edged ice with which Dr. Fate severs his bonds. [Shades of bad movie serials, Batman!!]

Flying into the air, Dr. Fate tracks the criminals once again. As the holdup men enter the bank he captures Stumpy and whisks him away with blinding speed to the police station. [If he could run that fast why wasn't he able to escape the noose?? Ah, the glorious Golden Age!!] Then he gives Stumpy's cigar to Henry. The crooks hop in the car, believing the boss had already killed Henry. Henry drives the villains to the nearest police station and becomes hero. (Fear not, faint-hearted readers, Dr. Fate rode to the station on the roof of the car just to make sure Henry wasn't hurt.)