Marvel Mystery Comics #15

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CGC records 67 graded copies for Marvel Mystery Comics #15 (1941). Population is the number recorded by this grading source, not the total print run or all surviving copies.

Search for the Fire Monsters

thumb|left Continued from last issue...

Culflam, a member of the Fire-Men, has appropriated a pair of Fire-Monsters to commit daring robberies that he hopes the Human Torch will be blamed for. After a successful robbery of the Cantena Bank, Culflam gets away and the authorities believe that the Torch is responsible. The Torch, working with Kalif of the Fire-Men investigates the robbery, and becomes suspicious of Culflam's involvement.

When the Torch is called in for questioning, his story about the Fire-Monsters is not believed until another robbery happens. Seeking Kalif's aid again, the Torch witnesses as Culflam kills him in cold blood. The Torch rushes after the crook but has to stop when he hears reports of one of the Flame-Monsters on a rampage. Going after the creature, the Torch manages to kill it by tossing it onto the third rail of a subway tunnel.

Catching up with Culflam and his gang, the Torch uses his flame powers to slay the next Fire-Monster. Confronting Culflam, the Torch's flame is doused with a fire retarding powder, however this is not enough to stop the Torch who easily defeats Culflam and turns him over to the authorities for his crimes.

| StoryTitle2 = Return to New York | Writer2_1 = Bill Everett | Penciler2_1 = Bill Everett | Inker2_1 = Bill Everett | Colorist2_1 = N/A | Letterer2_1 = Bill Everett | Editor2_1 = Joe Simon

| Appearing2 = **Featured Characters:** * Sub-Mariner (Namor McKenzie)) **Supporting Characters:** * Dorma) **Antagonists:** * Luther Robinson) * Lynne Harris) **Other Characters:** * Empire of Atlantis) ** Princess Fen) ** Atlantean Navy) *** Lt. Folma) *** Numerous unnamed soldiers ** Two unnamed Atlantean surgeons **Races and Species:** * Mutant) Atlantean-Human Hybrids * Atlanteans) * Fish ** Sharks * Humans) * Chickens * Rats * Seals **Realities:** * Earth-616 **Locations:** * Earth ** Atlantic Ocean *** Unidentified French Island ** North America *** United States of America **** New York) ***** New York City ****** Manhattan ******* Battery Park ******* 52nd Street ******** Luther's Apartment (799 East) ******* 72nd Street ***** Hudson River ** Southern Ocean *** Aquaria (Atlantis)) Aquaria **** Palace of Ice

**Vehicles:** * Lynne) (Yacht) * Atlantean Aerial-Submarines

| Synopsis2 = thumb Continued from last issue...

After destroying a Nazi sea base, the Sub-Mariner decides to return to the United States to search for Lynne Harris and Luther Robinson and force them to return to Atlantis with him. Disguising himself as a police officer, he tracks them down to their home in New York City. When the couple attempts to fight him off, he proves to be too strong and he beats them into submission.

Forcing them to accompany him back to Atlantis, they hitch a ride out to sea aboard a cruise ship until they are far enough away from the States for Namor to summon an Aero-Sub to collect them. Back in Atlantis, Luther is forced to undergo the same procedure as Lynne that will allow him to breath underwater. After the operation is completed, Luther and Lynne break free and attempt to flee Namor's home. The Sub-Mariner follows after them and fights Luther into submission. Accepting absolute defeat, Luther and Lynne agree to return with Namor back to his kingdom.

This story is continued next issue...

| StoryTitle3 = Murder by Candle | Writer3_1 = Ray Gill | Penciler3_1 = Bob Oksner | Inker3_1 = Bob Oksner | Colorist3_1 = N/A | Letterer3_1 = N/A | Editor3_1 = Joe Simon

| Appearing3 = **Featured Characters:** * Terry Vance) **Supporting Characters:** * Dr. Watson) * Deadline Dawson) **Antagonists:** * Writer's Son **Other Characters:** * Globe Press) ** Bert Oksner) ** Numerous unnamed employees * Unnamed Janitor * Unnamed Writer * Unidentified Police Department ** Unnamed Coroner ** Unnamed Captain ** Numerous unnamed police officers **Races and Species:** * Humans) * Monkeys * Rats **Realities:** * Earth-616 **Locations:** * Earth ** United States of America *** Tenement District **Items:** * Poison Candles

| Synopsis3 = thumb Terry Vance accompanies his reporter friend Deadline Dawson to cover a human interest story on the state of the slums of New York. While looking around, Terry would come across the dead body of a starving writer. Learning that the last man to see the writer alive was someone who came by two days ago to give him food and candles, Terry decides to stake the place out.

That night, Terry witnesses a man breaking into the apartment and searching around. Getting ape to distract and follow the thief, Terry gets Deadline and the police and puts the man on a chase. Following the man back to the apartment, Terry gets the drop on him and disarms him of his gun. At gun point, Terry learns that the man is the writers son, who made poisonous candles to kill his father hoping to steal his story and sell it for a large sum of money. With a written confession made, Terry calls Deadline Dawson and the authorities.

| StoryTitle4 = Dreadnaught from Mars | Writer4_1 = David Cooke | Penciler4_1 = N/A | Inker4_1 = N/A | Colorist4_1 = N/A | Letterer4_1 = Typeset | Editor4_1 = Joe Simon

| Appearing4 = **Featured Characters:** * Beef Turner) **Supporting Characters:** * "Iron Mike" **Antagonists:** * Martian Imperialistic Army) ** Martian Dreadnaught *** Numerous unnamed crewmembers **Other Characters:** * United Nations of Earth) **Races and Species:** * Humans) * Martians **Realities:** * Earth-41115 **Locations:** * Solar System ** Earth ** Mars)

**Vehicles:** * Martian Dreadnaught

| Synopsis4 = Having roamed through intergalatic space for three weeks, on the lookout for the ships of the dreaded Martian Imperialistic Army, Beef Turner suddenly spots one, and by unusual tactics, manages to defeat it.

| StoryTitle5 = The Seance of Rhamu Rondi | Writer5_1 = Joe Simon | Writer5_2 = Jack Kirby | Penciler5_1 = Jack Kirby | Inker5_1 = Jack Kirby | Colorist5_1 = N/A | Letterer5_1 = Jack Kirby | Editor5_1 = Joe Simon

| Appearing5 = **Featured Characters:** * Vision (Aarkus)) **Supporting Characters:** * Hannah Stone) * Linda Wayne) **Antagonists:** * Rhamu Rondi) * Rhamu Rondi's Thugs ** Mulligan ** Stacey ** Krantz ** Burns ** Numerous unnamed thugs * Harley Stone) **Other Characters:** * Roger Stone) * Unidentified Police Department ** Numerous unnamed police officers **Races and Species:** * Smokeworlders * Humans) * Ghosts **Realities:** * Earth-616 **Locations:** * Earthspace ** Earth *** United States of America **** New England ***** Sanctum of Rhamu Rondi ***** Hannah Stone's Mansion * Smokeworld * Astral Plane

| Synopsis5 = thumb Harley Stone is seeking to frighten his Aunt Hannah who suffers from a weak heart and has a vast fortune. To this end, he offers to pay "master of the occult" Rhandu Rondi to help frighten the woman to death during a seance. Suspecting something fishy, Hannah's ward Linda Wayne tries to talk her out of going, but Hannah insists on going.

Later that night, Linda is visited by the Vision who tells her that he will protect Hannah from any harm. By this point, Harley has come to consider Linda an obstacle in his plans and would send thugs to eliminate her. The Vision would attempt to protect her, however he would be over powered and Linda would be captured. Following the crooks to Rondi's operation, the Vision would free Linda, and confront Rhondi distracting him until the police could arrive to arrest him, foiling his and Stone's plans.

| StoryTitle6 = The Brain of Professor Donaire | Writer6_1 = Paul Gustavson | Writer6_2 = Ray Gill | Penciler6_1 = Paul Gustavson | Inker6_1 = Paul Gustavson | Colorist6_1 = N/A | Letterer6_1 = Paul Gustavson | Editor6_1 = Joe Simon

| Appearing6 = **Featured Characters:** * Angel (Tom Hallaway))

**Antagonists:** * Karlo * Professor Donaire) **Other Characters:** * Unidentified Police Department ** Two unnamed police officers * Samson_(Earth-616)) * Ed Grant) Controlled by Professor Donaire) * Tom Conway) Controlled by Professor Donaire) * Allen Dunn) Controlled by Professor Donaire) * C.D. Ash) Controlled by Professor Donaire) **Races and Species:** * Humans) * Catfish **Realities:** * Earth-616 **Locations:** * Earth ** United States of America *** Fiery Mountain

| Synopsis6 = thumb A series of bizarre deaths near Fiery Mountain would attract the attention of the Angel to investigate. He would be lured to a strange castle within the mountain by a hunch backed man named Karlo who would entice the Angel with answers to this strange mystery. When Karlo would attempt to bludgeon the Angel from behind, the hero would easily defeat his attacker. Searching the facility he would meet Karlo's employer: Professor Donaire.

Donaire would reveal that he had removed his own brain and kidnapped a number of strong, healthy young men, in the hopes of implanting his brain in a suitable body. Setting his slaves against the Angel, the hero would fight them and attempt to confront Donaire. Frightened, the mad scientist would toss a vial of bubbling chemicals at the hero, but the Angel would dodge it. The chemicals would cause a massive fire, and as the Angel would escape, the castle exploded killing Donaire.

| StoryTitle7 = The Green Terror | Writer7_1 = Steve Dahlman | Penciler7_1 = Steve Dahlman | Inker7_1 = Steve Dahlman | Colorist7_1 = N/A | Letterer7_1 = N/A | Editor7_1 = Joe Simon

| Appearing7 = **Featured Characters:** * Electro_(Earth-616)) **Supporting Characters:** * Professor Philo Zog) **Antagonists:** * Dr. Lorrof) **Other Characters:** * Numerous unnamed citizens of Titan City * TCPD) ** Unnamed Captain **Races and Species:** * Humans) * Robots * Crabs * Demons **Realities:** * Earth-616 **Locations:** * Earthspace ** Earth *** United States of America **** Titan City ***** Titan Hospital * Heaven) **Items:** * Green Terror) * Radium Ray

| Synopsis7 = thumb The mad Doctor Lorrof has attacked Titan City with his creation, a mass of green slime he has dubbed the Green Terror. Having been called to the area to help, Professor Philo Zog would send his robot Electro down into the city to try and find a way to stop the creature.

Noting that the creature seemed to be staying away from the local hospital, Zog would pilot the robot inside and learn that it had an aversion to Radium and that the hospital had a new experimental radium gun on the facility. Seeking to use the gun as a weapon against the Green Terror, Zog would find that Lorrof had beaten him to it. The weapon would have no effect on Electro and Lorrof would flee without it. Zog would then use the weapon to destroy the Green Terror.

Tracking Lorrof to his laboratory, Zog would attack the mad scientist with Electro, destroying his giant mutant grabs and preventing him from creating a new Green Terror. The insane doctor would then attempt to slay Electro with a stick of dynamite, but the resulting explosion would only succeed in destroying Lorrof's lab and claiming the mad scientists life, ending his threat once and for all.

| StoryTitle8 = The Return to Africa | Writer8_1 = Ben Thompson | Penciler8_1 = Ben Thompson | Inker8_1 = Ben Thompson | Colorist8_1 = N/A | Letterer8_1 = N/A | Editor8_1 = Joe Simon

| Appearing8 = **Featured Characters:** * Ka-Zar (David Rand)) **Supporting Characters:** * Zar) (Lion) * Unnamed Pilot **Antagonists:** * Nazis) ** Kriegsmarine) *** Unnamed Captain *** Numerous unnamed soldiers * Fascist Italy) ** Regia Aeronautica Italiana) *** Numerous unnamed pilots **Other Characters:** * Royal Navy) ** Unnamed Commander ** Numerous unnamed soldiers * Kru) (Vulture) * Pindar) (Eagle) **Races and Species:** * Humans) * Lions * Pigs * Vultures) * Rats * Eagles **Realities:** * Earth-616 **Locations:** * Earth ** Africa *** Belgian Congo

| Synopsis8 = thumb Continued from last issue..

Lost at sea, Ka-Zar and Zar are spotted and picked up by a Nazi U-Boat. The Germans on board then attempt to kill Zar but Ka-Zar gets in the way. Deciding not to shoot the lion, the captain of the ship decides to instead leave Ka-Zar and his "brother" on a life boat at sea to stare to death. As they are doing this, the U-Boat is attacked by a British destroyer and sunk. Ka-Zar and Zar are taken aboard the ship and the Captain agrees to have one of his pilots fly him back to his home in the Belgian Congo.

En route by air, Ka-Zar's plane is attacked by Italian fighter planes, however the British pilot is able to destroy them all without being shot down. However, turbulent weather causes the plane to crack up forcing them to abandon ship. With specially prepared parachutes for himself and Zar, Ka-Zar manage to get them safely on the ground, finally getting them home after their adventures in America.

| Solicit = At last! Two of the greatest heroes of the Golden Age fighting side-by-side! In the throes of World War II, the Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner square off against the Nazi Menace!

| Notes = ===Continuity Notes=== **Return to New York** * All Alantean) 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.

| Trivia = | Recommended = | Links =

Creative credits

Writers: Carl Burgos, Bill Everett, Ray Gill, David Cooke, Joe Simon, Jack Kirby, Paul Gustavson, Ray Gill, Steve Dahlman, Ben Thompson

Interior art: Carl Burgos, Bill Everett, Bob Oksner, N/A, Jack Kirby, Paul Gustavson, Steve Dahlman, 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:718107

GCD: 1224

PANEL PROFITS: 2385542