More Fun Comics #53

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Graded population

CGC records 46 graded copies for More Fun Comics #53 (1940). Population is the number recorded by this grading source, not the total print run or all surviving copies.

The Spectre: "The Spectre Strikes!"

Detective Jim Corrigan apprehends members of Gat Bensons gang on the same night of his engagement announcement. His fiancée Clarice Winston desperately waits for Corrigan to show up at her family estate but he does not make it. Corrigan successfully subdues the criminals but lands in the hospital due to his wounds. Clarice tracks Corrigan down and meets him at the hospital where he is released. The couple then leaves but they are captured and taken hostage but Benson's men. Corrigan is then stuffed into a Barrel that is filled with cement . He is then dumped into the river. The barrel plummets to the bottom and Corrigan's soul rises out of its body. He hears a mysterious voice from above informing him that his mission on earth is unfinished. He is informed that he will be sent back with supernatural powers to battle crime. Corrigan then finds himself sitting at the bottom of the river but he does not drown and moves about very easily. He rises above the water and uses his supernatural powers to rescue his fiancée Clarice. Bullets pass through him and criminals drop dead as soon as they touch him. One of the criminals then shoots Clarice but Corrigan is able to heal her with his newfound powers. The police are summoned and the surviving thugs are apprehended. Corrigan then drives his fiancée home and informs her that their engagement is off with no explanation as to why. As he drops off Clarice, Corrigan comes to the sudden realization that he is not even breathing when he notices that he does not even leave an moisture as he sits next to the car window. Corrigan goes home and fashions a costume to fight crime as he comes up with the name of Spectre as his new identity. | Appearing1 = **Featured Characters:** * The Spectre) (Jim Corrigan)) The Spectre Spectre **Supporting Characters:** * Clarice Winston) **Antagonists:** * Gat Benson) dies, is resurrected * Ricky dies, is resurrected * Louie) dies, is resurrected **Other Characters:** * Wayne Grant) **Locations:** * Earth-Two ** Cliffland, New Jersey

| Writer3_1 = Albert Sulman | Penciler3_1 = Joseph Sulman | Inker3_1 = Joseph Sulman | StoryTitle3 = Biff Bronson: "The Marching Mechanical Men, Part 2" | Synopsis3 = | Appearing3 = **Featured Characters:** * Biff Bronson) **Supporting Characters:** * Dan Druff **Antagonists:** * The Wizard **Items:** * Wizard's Marching Mechanical Men **Locations:** * West Point

| Writer4_1 = Robert Hirsch | Penciler4_1 = Russ Lehman | Inker4_1 = Russ Lehman | StoryTitle4 = Lt. Bob Neal: "The Mine Sweepers" | Synopsis4 = | Appearing4 = **Featured Characters:** * Lt. Bob Neal) **Supporting Characters:** * Tubby Potts **Vehicles:** * Sub 662

| Writer5_1 = Paul Lauretta | Penciler5_1 = Paul Lauretta | Inker5_1 = Paul Lauretta | StoryTitle5 = King Carter: "The Rocket Ship" | Synopsis5 = | Appearing5 = **Featured Characters:** * King Carter **Supporting Characters:** * Red Rogers

| StoryTitle7 = Captain Desmo: "Cult of Assassins, Part 1" | Synopsis7 = | Penciler7_1 = Ed Winiarski | Inker7_1 = Ed Winiarski | Appearing7 = **Featured Characters:** * Captain Desmo) from Adventure Comics **Supporting Characters:** * Gabby **Antagonists:** * Society of Assassins **Locations:** * Mumbai|Bombay, India, 1940

| Writer14_1 = Jerry Siegel | Penciler14_1 = | Inker14_1 = | StoryTitle14 = Radio Squad: "The Reckless Driver" | Synopsis14 = | Appearing14 = **Featured Characters:** * Radio Squad) ** Sandy Keene) ** Larry Trent)

| Writer21_1 = Joe Donohoe | Penciler21_1 = Joe Donohoe | Inker21_1 = Joe Donohoe | StoryTitle21 = Detective Sergeant Carey: "Murder in the Ring" | Synopsis21 = | Appearing21 = **Featured Characters:** * Detective Sergeant Carey) **Supporting Characters:** * Sleepy

| Writer22_1 = | Penciler22_1 = John Lehti | Inker22_1 = John Lehti | StoryTitle22 = Red Coat Patrol: "The Search for Half Breed Charlie" | Synopsis22 = | Appearing22 = **Featured Characters:** * Constable O'Malley), RCMP **Supporting Characters:** * Red Coat Patrol * Black Hawk * Flame, O'Malley's Wolf-Dog

| Writer23_1 = Bart Tumey | Penciler23_1 = Bart Tumey | Inker23_1 = Bart Tumey | StoryTitle23 = Bulldog Martin: "The Fall of Billy Evans" | Synopsis23 = | Appearing23 = **Featured Characters:** * Bulldog Martin **Supporting Characters:** * Jonah

| Notes = * Published by Detective Comics, Inc.. * First More Fun Comics issue for **Captain Desmo**, by Ed Winiarski. This feature previously appeared in New Adventure Comics Vol 1 26 thru Adventure Comics Vol 1 47. * The **Spectre:** ** *The Spectre Strikes!* is reprinted in Golden Age Spectre Archives 1) and Secret Origins #5. ** By the end of this two-part origin story, Clarice Winston) has been kidnapped once and shot once. * Also appearing in this issue of *More Fun Comics* were: ** *Butch the Pup*, by Fred Schwab ** *Ginger Snap*, by Bob Kane, last seen in More Fun Comics #48. | Trivia = | Recommended = | Links =

Creative credits

Writers: Jerry Siegel, Albert Sulman, Robert Hirsch, Paul Lauretta, Jerry Siegel, Joe Donohoe, Bart Tumey

Interior art: Bernard Baily, Joseph Sulman, Russ Lehman, Paul Lauretta, Ed Winiarski, Joe Donohoe, John Lehti, Bart Tumey

Source records & attribution

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

COMICBASE: comicbase:767230

GCD: 681

PANEL PROFITS: 2347755