National Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of October, 1944.
Synopsis for Barker: "Benny the Beep"
A small-time hood robs the famous Kula Diamonds at gunpoint then escapes from the police onto the Lane Circus fairgrounds. Seeing Lane holding the empty case the diamonds were kept in, the police arrest him. However, the bearded lady got a good look at the thief when he crashed through her show, so the carnies head over to the police station to look through mugshots. Lena the fat lady and Major Midge pretend to be a married couple having a domestic dispute to distract the cops while the others sneak in through a window and look through some profiles in crime. The guilty party's identified, Benny the Beep, but the police laugh off the suggestion such a loser could be behind the theft of something as high-profile as the Kula Diamonds, or that any respectable gang boss would hire him to steal them. Knowing where Benny hangs out because of his profile, though, the Barker calls over there and pretends to be his boss, ready to pay him for the job. Benny heads back to the same jewelry store he robbed, revealing the Barker was right about his hunch: no crook worth his salt would be dumb enough to hire Benny, but someone sloppy who'd never committed a crime before might. The jeweler pretended to have the diamonds stolen and promised to split the insurance payout with Benny, but they're hauled in by the carnies and Lane's released.
Appearing in Barker: "Benny the Beep"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Colonel Lane
- Lena
- Liz Flannery
- Major Midge
- Spuda the Spider-Man
- Tiny Tim
- Madame Shali, snake charmer
- Peaches, bearded lady (First appearance)
Antagonists:
- Benny the Beep
- Barteer (First appearance)
Other Characters:
Locations:
- Mammoth Circus
Items:
- Kula Diamonds
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Sally O'Neil Policewoman: "The Crazy Criminals"
Appearing in Sally O'Neil Policewoman: "The Crazy Criminals"
Featured Characters
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Rocky Rhodes (First appearance)
- Nuts Nisi (First appearance)
- Pete Trigger (First appearance)
- phony psychiatrist
Other Characters:
- Dr. Woods (First appearance)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for G-2: "The Case of the Rescued Captive"
Appearing in G-2: "The Case of the Rescued Captive"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Major Kyle (First appearance)
- Dr. Gates (First appearance)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Chic Carter: "The Arsonist Alderman"
Appearing in Chic Carter: "The Arsonist Alderman"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Alderman Kerney
Other Characters:
- Gay
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Quicksilver: "Three Keys to Doom"
Appearing in Quicksilver: "Three Keys to Doom"
Featured Characters
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Edgar Aldington
- Quimby
Other Characters:
- Jim Connell
- Sims (Dies)
- Harrison Walsh (Dies)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Uncle Sam: "The John Thorpe Murder Case"
Appearing in Uncle Sam: "The John Thorpe Murder Case"
Featured Characters
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- John Thorpe (First appearance) (Dies)
- Count Torza (First appearance)
- Dr. Colbu (First appearance)
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Destroyer 171: "The Hoshima Incident"
Appearing in Destroyer 171: "The Hoshima Incident"
Featured Characters
- Lt. Commander Harvey Blake
Supporting Characters:
- USS Pawnee crew
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
- Destroyer 171, USS Pawnee
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- Also featured in this issue of National Comics were:
- Salty Waters by Bernard Dibble
- Windy Breeze by Ralph Johns
- "Wagon Train" (text article)
Trivia
- Jack Cole signed his "Windy Breeze" strip as "Ralph Johns".
See Also