Say your prayers, Murkitt! You will disappear with the Garfish! 
- — Jeb Rivers
Hit Comics #65 is an issue of the series Hit Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of July, 1950.
Synopsis for Jeb Rivers: "Murkitt and the Garfish"
The Mississippi steamboat Paragon, commanded by Captain Pelham and steered by his daughter Marnie, carries the sinister Mr. Murkitt to a spot on the riverbank. Jeb Rivers becomes suspicious of Murkitt; he and his young pal Catfish disembark and inquire about him at the Hackwood plantation, where it soon becomes apparent that Hackwood's daughter Sue Belle is secretly involved with Murkitt. That evening, Rivers discovers that Murkitt has a small ironclad ship, hidden in a tributary, but is captured by a pistol-wielding henchman. He punches out the henchman, then is captured by the rifle-wielding Sue Belle. Murkitt gloats about his ram-equipped ironclad, the Garfish, armed with two heavy cannon, pointed fore and aft. Over Catfish's objections, Rivers pretends to join his river pirate crew. In a week, the "Paragon" will return to this area, and is the gang's next target. The Garfish is powered by a (4 or more) man-powered handcrank, and has a conspicuously-placed stopcock on the inner hull. Rivers finds fault with the underpowered propulsion system and suggests some improvements, including a set of gears, then volunteers to forge the gears himself.
A few days later the Paragon returns to this area, carrying a railroad payroll in a cashbox. By this time, young Catfish has turned Sue Belle against Murkitt by telling her his murderous plans, but the two are discovered and dragged aboard the Garfish as captives. As the pirate ship moves out of the creek into the deeper river and moves into position to attack the Paragon, Jeb opens the stopcock and floods the belowdecks area, then dukes it out with the pirate crew, then grapples with Murkitt as the ship sinks. Jeb surfaces, alone, and now has Murkitt's knife; he re-boards the sinking mini-ironclad and frees Sue Belle and Catfish; all three are then rescued by the steamboat Paragon.
Appearing in Jeb Rivers: "Murkitt and the Garfish"
Featured Characters:
- Jeb Rivers
Supporting Characters:
- Catfish
- Captain Pelham
- Marnie Pelham
Antagonists:
- Mr. Murkitt
- his henchmen, at least 4 of them
Other Characters:
- Mr. Hackwood
- Sue Belle Hackwood
Locations:
- Mississippi River
Vehicles:
- the Paragon, side-wheel-style steamboat
- the Garfish, a manually-powered ironclad gunboat
Synopsis for Sir Roger: "Luxuro Corona Perfecto"
Appearing in Sir Roger: "Luxuro Corona Perfecto"
Featured Characters:
- Sir Roger (Final appearance)
Synopsis for Bob & Swab: "Isle of Takswiggee"
Appearing in Bob & Swab: "Isle of Takswiggee"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Chief
Antagonists:
- Teredo
- Oboi
Locations:
- Tropical Island of Takswiggee
Items:
- Teredo's Ship-Sinking Drill
Vehicles:
- USS Brimstone
Synopsis for Betty Bates: "Charm against Charm!"
Appearing in Betty Bates: "Charm against Charm!"
Featured Characters:
- Betty Bates, Prosecutor (Final appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Larry, reporter
Antagonists:
- Turla, Chieftainess of Crime
- Hitcomb
- Rogg
Other Characters:
- Mr. Canvy, witness
- Mr. Snape, witness
Notes
- This is the final issue of Hit Comics, and the final appearances of Sir Roger, Bob & Swab and Betty Bates.
- Of the eleven features appearing in the first issue of this anthology series, only two ("Bob and Swab" and "Betty Bates") were still in the line-up at the end.
- Jeb Rivers moves to Police Comics #102 for one more story.
- Also appearing in this issue of Hit Comics was:
- "Almost Murder" (text story, featuring Jeb Rivers)
See Also