Marvel Mystery Comics #4

Edition record · February 1940

Price history & market evidence

Price observations belong to this edition. Guide estimates, catalog references and completed sales are separate kinds of evidence.

Grade	Amount	Evidence	Recorded
9.2	$50,787.50	PANEL_PROFITS · grade_9_2_valueguide	1940-02-01
RAW	$19.99	PANEL_PROFITS · ungraded_valueguide	1940-02-01

Reading this edition’s market

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The table includes 2 guide observations and 0 catalog references. These are reference values, not guaranteed sale proceeds.

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Graded population

CGC records 72 graded copies for Marvel Mystery Comics #4 (1940). Population is the number recorded by this grading source, not the total print run or all surviving copies.

0.5 · 71.0 · 41.5 · 51.8 · 42.0 · 42.5 · 83.0 · 33.5 · 84.0 · 34.5 · 25.0 · 25.5 · 56.0 · 36.5 · 27.0 · 57.5 · 18.0 · 19.0 · 39.2 · 1

New York Hit by Green Flame

thumb|300px_from_Marvel_Mystery_Comics_Vol_1_4_001.png) After reports of a strange army of "Green Flames" attacking New York, the Human Torch is called into the city by his friend Johnson to face a new threat. Asked to take on an alias, the Torch decides on Jim Hammond. Arriving on Broadway, he is stopped by the police, who tell him the city (which is in ruins) is under martial law. The police demand to know his identity when suddenly, a Green Flame arrives. The Torch flames on and battles the foe, realizing that the Green Flame is freezing cold. Pouring on the heat, the Torch kills the Green Flame before he can give any information. Thinking the Torch had killed Jim Hamond, the police attempts to arrest him, however, the Torch manages to escape.

Meeting up with Johnson and his colleague Maizie, the Torch learns that the chaos has been caused by Dr. Manyac. He is threatening to destroy New York City if his demands of ransom are not met. When the city refuses to comply, he sends an army of Green Flames to take out the slums of New York. The Torch goes into action, and when Manyac takes Maizie hostage, the Torch frees her and easily defeats Manyac, turning him over to the authorities. When Inspector Reiss tries to arrest him for the murder of "Jim Hamond", the Torch flames off and reveals that they are the same man.

| Appearing2 = **Featured Characters:** * Angel)|| **Supporting Characters:** * NYPD) ** Unnamed Police Chief ** Numerous unnamed police officers **Antagonists:** * Devil's Playground Mob ** Weasel_(Earth-616)) ** Rickie ** Brink) ** Butch ** Numerous unnamed mobsters **Other Characters:** * Devil_(Earth-616)) **Races and Species:** * Humans) **Realities:** * Earth-616 **Locations:** * Earth ** United States of America *** New York) **** New York City ***** Devil's Playground

| Synopsis2 = thumb|300px_from_Marvel_Mystery_Comics_Vol_1_4_001.png) The Devil's Playground: Location of some of the worst mobsters in the city. A small time mobster named Brink usurps control of his boss's mob with the help of his giant, Butch. He sends Butch out to do his bidding, causing chaos and murder across the city and stealing millions in loot. When the police attempt to stop Butch, they find that nothing they throw at him can harm the creature.

thumb|left0.5|[[Character Index/B#Butch|Butch_from_Marvel_Mystery_Comics_Vol_1_4_001.jpg)]] Learning of the trouble, the Angel swings into action and confronts the creature, who quickly becomes frightened by the Angel's superior fighting skills and flees. The Angel follows the creature with the police not far behind, and they end up at Brink's hideout. While Brink and his men attempt to flee the scene, the Angel fights the creature to the death. Butch crashes through a wall and falls to his death to the street below. After the creature's death, Brink and his men are easily captured.

| Appearing3 = **Featured Characters:** * Sub-Mariner (Namor McKenzie))|| **Supporting Characters:** * NYPD) ** Betty Dean)|| * Holy One)|Marvel Mystery Comics Vol 1 2| **Antagonists:** * Nazis) ** Kriegsmarine) *** Numerous unnamed sailors **Other Characters:** * Royal Navy) * Empire of Atlantis) Empire ** Armed Forces of Atlantis) *** Petrod) *** Atlantean Army) *** Atlantean Navy) **** Ariel-Submarine Number Six **** Admiral Daka) **** Admiral Naka_(Earth-616)) **** Numerous unnamed members ** Court of Three) *** Ertve) *** Blabek) *** Til) * Unnamed Pilot * Lord) * Marie's Crew ** Tim ** Barbara ** Unnamed Captain (Barbara's Father) ** Numerous unnamed sailors **Races and Species:** * Mutant) Atlantean-Human Hybrids * Humans) * Atlanteans) * Whales * Sharks **Realities:** * Earth-616 **Locations:** * Earth ** Atlantic Ocean ** United States of America *** New York) **** New York City *** Boston, Massachusetts ** Southern Ocean *** Atlantis) **** Palace of Ice Palace of Ice ** North Sea ** Denmark ** Scotland, United Kingdom

**Vehicles:** * Atlantean Aerial-Submarines * U-boat * U.S.S. Marie (American Freighter)

| Synopsis3 = thumb|300px_from_Marvel_Mystery_Comics_Vol_1_4_001.png) Continued from last issue...

thumb|left|Ice palace in [[Atlantis (Tha-Korr)|Atlantis]]Betty Dean convinces the Sub-Mariner to help to stop Nazi U-boat raids on supply ships, and Namor leaves her on the island to be recovered by the Navy. Returning to Atlantis, Namor convinces the Holy One to allow him to use the warships of Atlantis to stop the war. As Namor rushes off to find conflict, he vows to stop the war but not choosing sides, just stopping conflicts caused by the power mad governments forcing their people to war.

He comes across an Allied cargo plane being shot out of the sky. Namor orders his fleet of sky subs to attack the Nazi fighters and then keeps the cargo plane afloat while the crew and cargo can be loaded into one of the Atlantean vessels to be taken to their destination. Checking the plane, Namor comes across a newspaper reporting how an American ship is being held by the Nazi's under suspicion of carrying contraband.

The Sub-Mariner rushes out to investigate the situation alone and sneaks aboard the ship, where he convinces the crew to secretly take over one of the U-Boats and use it to sink the other vessel guarding their ship. Their plot is a success, thanks to the help of Namor. He also orders his Atlantean comrades to submerge the mines to eliminate their threat and dives into the water ordering ship to continue on its course to Scotland.

This story is continued next issue...

| Appearing4 = **Featured Characters:** * Masked Raider (Jim Gardley))|| **Supporting Characters:** * Luke * Zeb * Lightning_(Earth-616))|| **Antagonists:** * Buck * Buck's Gang ** "Sharpie" ** Numerous unnamed cohorts **Other Characters:** * Manuel * Ben (Recording Office Clerk) **Races and Species:** * Humans) * Horses * Rats * Toads * Coyotes **Realities:** * Earth-616 **Locations:** * Earth ** United States of America *** Utah) **** Gnaham **Items:** * Eternity Mask

| Synopsis4 = thumb|300px_from_Marvel_Mystery_Comics_Vol_1_4_001.png) When gold prospectors Zeb and Luke find gold, Luke sends Zeb into town to stake their claim and warns him against telling anyone about it. However, when Zeb stops for water he tells his friend Manuel about their find. It is overheard by a pair of thugs who decide to follow him into town and try to trick Zeb out of his claim.

thumb0.5|left|[[Jim Gardley (Earth-616)|Jim Gardley_from_Marvel_Mystery_Comics_Vol_1_4_002.png) riding Lightning_(Earth-616))]] After Zeb has filed his claim, he is confronted by the men who convince him to go to the saloon for a drink, but instead attempt to rob him of his claim paperwork. When he refuses to give it up, they beat him badly and ride off to confront Luke.

Zeb is found by the Masked Raider who revives the man and promises to help him and protect Luke. They arrive just in time, as Luke has been tricked with a white flag and captured. The whole gang, except its leader Buck, flees when they see the Masked Raider. Buck tries to resist but The Masked Raider makes short work of him. However, when Zeb and Luke offer the Masked Raider a partnership in their gold operation, the hero has already departed.

| Appearing5 = **Featured Characters:** * Steve Naylor) **Supporting Characters:** * Jim Stinson) **Antagonists:** * "Slip" Rodney) **Other Characters:** * Anniston Police Department ** Chief Simcox **Races and Species:** * Humans) * Snails **Realities:** * Earth-616 **Locations:** * Earth ** United States of America *** Anniston *** Smithville

| Synopsis5 = Steve Naylor is driving down the road when he reaches a hitchhiker. He picks him up and the hitchhiker turns out to be a escaped convict. He is forced to take the crook to the railroad tracks outside of town in order to flee the state. However, his uncharacteristic behavior alerts one of his friends to call the police who deduce the situation and come to his rescue. While the crook manages to flee, the authorities will be waiting for him when he gets off the train.

| Appearing6 = **Featured Characters:** * Electro_(Earth-616))|-|Marvel Mystery Comics Vol 1 5 **Supporting Characters:** * Team Electro) ** Professor Philo Zog)|-|Marvel Mystery Comics Vol 1 5 ** Dick Gardner) (Operative 3) ** Operative 1 ** Bill (Operative 4) ** Bill Dunn) (Operative 7) ** Eight unnamed operatives **Antagonists:** * Weasel's Gang ** Toby ** Numerous unnamed gangsters * Weasel (Hymie Pazetto)) **Other Characters:** * Mike * Joyce Lovely) * Mrs. Lovely (Joyce's Mother) **Races and Species:** * Robots * Humans) **Realities:** * Earth-616 **Locations:** * Earth ** United States of America *** New York) **** New York City ***** Manhattan ****** Chinatown) **** Highway 16 ***** Purple Slipper Roadhouse

| Synopsis6 = Professor Zog creates a robot that he dubs Electro a crime fighting robot that he hopes will be his greatest contribution to mankind. With a successful test, he sets up an operation in which he hires a dozen law abiding men to be his field agents. Equipping them with portable telephones, he sends them out to investigate crimes and -- if need be, contact him to send Electro to help.

Agent number 3, Dick Gardner, finds a lead on the recent kidnapping of child actor Joyce Lovely and gets the drop of a crook and forces him to reveal the girl was kidnapped by the Hymie Pazetto gang. He is taken to their hide out at the abandoned Pink Slipper Roadhouse where he gets the drop on the crooks and makes an escape attempt with the girl. As he drives away, Dick is shot and crashes. Captured, Gardner is thrown in a cellar along with Joyce.

Far from defeated, Dick calls Professor Zog who sends in Electro, who easily defeats the criminals and rescued both Dick and Joyce.

| Appearing7 = **Featured Characters:** * Ferret)|-|Marvel Mystery Comics Vol 1 5 **Supporting Characters:** * Prosser * Lynne Froehm) **Antagonists:** * Doc Wagner) * Doc's Gang ** Knuckles Johnson) ** Two unnamed members **Other Characters:** * New York Herald Tribune * NYPD) ** Police Commissioner Walter Novak) ** Numerous unnamed police officers * Unnamed Coroner * Prima * Numerous unnamed New Yorkers * Matty **Races and Species:** * Humans) * Ghosts **Realities:** * Earth-616 **Locations:** * Earth ** United States of America *** New York) **** New York City ***** Manhattan ****** Greenwich Village ****** 56th Street ****** Monte Carlo (Night Club) ****** Fifth Avenue *** Washington, D.C. *** Boston, Massachusetts

| Synopsis7 = One day while at home, the Ferret is interrupted when a man who was earlier reported as shot on the radio arrives at his door and collapses dead. The Ferret calls and informs the police commissioner as to what has transpired. The commissioner, a uniformed officer, and the coroner arrive at the Ferret's home. The commissioner explains to Ferret that this appears to be one of another jewel robberies that transpired the previous one being an oil magnet. The commissioner calls for Prosser, a detective in charge of the case. The commissioner, Prosser, and the Ferret discuss the case, coming to the conclusion that a single gang is responsible due to a book of matches found in the dead man's pocket. Using the name on the matches the Ferret heads to the Monte Carlo night club where he begins his investigation of two men, one named Doc the other named Prima. Doc does recall seeing the dead man, however Prima does not. On his way to catch a bus home the Ferret Witnesses starlet Lynn Froheim being dumped out of a car after being robbed, he chases after the getaway vehicle in a cab.

When he gets out near New York Harbor to confront the two robbers, the crook known as Knuckles Johnson gets the drop on him from behind after the Ferret failed to notice two cars were involved in the robbery. Knuckles shoots the Ferret, causing him to fall into the harbor. Surviving thanks to his bulletproof vest, the Ferret calls in a favor from someone named Matty to learn the home address of Knuckles. Arriving there the Ferret falls asleep and soon wakes up to find himself stuck in a blaze set by Knuckles himself. The Ferret manages to break free and escape alive, but learns that Knuckles has since been assassinated.

Unsure who could have killed the man, Lynn Froheim volunteers to disguise herself as a rich woman to try and trick the killer into revealing himself. However, the plan backfires when Lynn's driver is knocked out and Lynn is kidnapped. Finally deducing who the killer is, the Ferret rushes to the Monte Carlo and finding a secret passageway stops Doc before he can eliminate Lynn.

After the police take Doc and his henchmen away, the Ferret reveals to Lynn that he realized it was Doc when he deduced that only a doctor would be able to fatally shoot someone and send them to his door as a message to him, but do so in a way so that the man would die at just the right time to avoid revealing the killer's identity.

| Appearing8 = **Featured Characters:** * Ka-Zar (David Rand))|Marvel Mystery Comics Vol 1 3|Marvel Mystery Comics Vol 1 5 **Supporting Characters:** * Zar)|Marvel Mystery Comics Vol 1 2|Marvel Mystery Comics Vol 1 5 (Lion) **Antagonists:** * Expedition ** Ed Kivlin)|-|Marvel Mystery Comics Vol 1 5 ** Paul de Kraft)|Marvel Mystery Comics Vol 1 3|Marvel Mystery Comics Vol 1 5 ** Bwala) ** Aorangi) ** Numerous unnamed natives **Other Characters:** * Chaka)|Marvel Mystery Comics Vol 1 2|Marvel Mystery Comics Vol 1 20 (Ape) * Sinessa) (Snake) * Kru) (Vulture) * N'Jaga)|Marvel Mystery Comics Vol 1 3|Marvel Mystery Comics Vol 1 5 (Leopard) * Sha)|Marvel Mystery Comics Vol 1 2|- (Lion) * Trajah)|Marvel Mystery Comics Vol 1 3|Marvel Mystery Comics Vol 1 6 (Elephant) **Races and Species:** * Humans) * Lions * Apes * Snakes) * Vultures) * Leopards * Elephants **Realities:** * Earth-616 **Locations:** * Earth ** Africa *** Belgian Congo **** Zar's Lair **** Paul de Kraft and Ed Kivlin's Camp

| Synopsis8 = Years after he murdered John Rand, Paul de Kraft makes a return expedition to the Congo to collect the riches of a emerald rich river bed near the domain of Ka-Zar. He brings along with him Ed Kivlin, who helped fund money on the expedition. Both men are crooked, and plot to betray each other to reap the benefits. Knowing that their native guides far a supposed "white jungle god" of the Congo area, they do not tell the guides where they are going until it is too late. When the guides revolt, De Kraft uses violence to force them to do his bidding.

Ultimately, they reach the river where they begin harvesting the gems. Both men begin plotting against one another, Kivlin hoping to turn the increasingly frightened natives against De Kraft. The humans presences does not go unnoticed and soon Ka-Zar learns of their arrival from the many animals in the area -- particularly Chaka the ape, who is angry that they murdered one of his people. Investigating the situation, the jungle man sends his first warning to those in the camp by firing an arrow at one of the natives, killing him.

When the natives believe it to be their jungle god, De Kraft once more uses violence and threats to force them to do his bidding. Ka-Zar recognizes De Kraft as the "Fat Face" who murdered his father and vows to get revenge. When the other animals in the jungle gather seeking to attack the camp en masse, Ka-Zar with the support of Zar, Sha, and Trajah, convinces them to stay back and let him handle it. N'Jaga is the only one who does not fully trust Ka-Zar as he is also a human.

Ka-Zar nears the camp once more, scaring the natives into fleeing by letting out a lions roar. This sudden display of cowardice angers De Kraft even more. Later when Kivlin heads up river to collect more emeralds for himself, he spots Zar and is about to shoot him when he is confronted by Ka-Zar. The savage warns Kivlin that he and the natives are to leave, sending the man running back to camp in a fright.

This story is continued next issue...

| Solicit = A collection of classics starring Marvel's now iconic Golden Age heroes! The Human Torch first adopts the name of Jim Hammond, and Namor the Sub-Mariner clashes with a Nazi U-boat for the first time!

| Notes = ===Continuity Notes=== **New York Hit By Green Flame** * This is the first time the Human Torch uses the alias Jim Hammond although the name is spelled as Hamond in first issues. * This is the last golden age appearance of Doctor M and his Green Flames. They next appear in 2009's Marvel Mystery Comics 70th Anniversary Special Vol 1 1. **The Sub-Mariner Goes To War** * The Holy One's real name is Emperor Thakorr, throughout publications in the 1940s and 50s, Thakorr is referred to as "The Holy One" or "The Emperor", his real name was not revealed until Sub-Mariner Vol 2 1. * Namor refers to two Atlanteans as Admirals of his Navy) in this issue, Daka) and Naka_(Earth-616)). It is possible that this is the same character and the letterer or writer made an error or they are indeed two separate characters. Neither individual is listed as appearing in this issue per Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Vol 1 but Daka does make an appearance as Namor's uncle in Marvel Mystery Comics Vol 1 24 but makes no reference as being an Admiral prior to his or after his usurpation. * All Atlantean) males are depicted as having fish-like characteristics: greenish skin with scales, large eyes, and catfish like barbels under the nose while females have Caucasian skin but large eyes and some slight fish like features. Atlanteans were not depicted with their trademark blue skin and humanoid features until Fantastic Four Annual Vol 1 1. Additionally, the name of their race and the fact that they had any connection to Atlantis was not revealed until that issue. **Electro: The Marvel of the Age** * Professor Philo Zog's real name was fully revealed in Twelve Vol 1 1 as Philo Zogolowski. * Marvels Project Vol 1 1 revealed that funding for his Electro robot came from the United States government.

| Trivia = | Recommended = | Links =

Human Torch (Jim Hammond)Angel Sub-Mariner (Namor McKenzie)Masked Raider (Jim Gardley)Steve Naylor Electro Ferret Ka-Zar (David Rand)

Creative credits

Writers: Carl Burgos, Paul Gustavson, Ray Gill, Bill Everett, Al Anders, David C. Cooke, Steve Dahlman, Stockbridge Winslow, Ben Thompson

Interior art: Carl Burgos, Paul Gustavson, Bill Everett, Al Anders, Harry Ramsey, Steve Dahlman, Irwin Hasen, Ben Thompson

Color: N/A, N/A, N/A, N/A, N/A, N/A, N/A, N/A

Source records & attribution

Panel Profits keeps each source identity attached to its edition record.

COMICBASE: comicbase:718096

GCD: 665

PANEL PROFITS: 2385569

Original story text reference and license

Original text reference ↗

CC BY-SA 3.0