Marvel Mystery Comics #16

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CGC records 79 graded copies for Marvel Mystery Comics #16 (1941). Population is the number recorded by this grading source, not the total print run or all surviving copies.

Pinhead and His Underworld Army

After stopping a blazing building the Human Torch is ordered to report to the mayors office. There the mayor tells the Torch that New York has been infiltrated by Fifth Columnists who seek to destabilize the city. The Torch agrees to join the mayors task force -- dubbed the Suicide Squad -- to root out this subversive element. When the Fifth Columnists fly planes over the city dropping notes warning of attacks unless the US changes it's position on the war, the Human Torch flies into action and downs all the planes, however all the pilots die before they can impart any information.

Meanwhile, that the Fifth Columnists secret hideout, their leader Pinhead is furious at this attack by the Human Torch. He explains to his minion that he is to keep American forces occupied so that they are unaware of Japanese forces tunneling through the Bering Straight to invade America through Alaska. The next phase of their plan involves attacking a military storage facility and stealing a number of tanks to siege the city.

When they unleash their attack, the Torch, police and military fight back. Despite Pinhead's superior fire power, the Torch and his allies manage to fight off the attack on the city. Forcing the fleeing Pinhead to crash, the Torch confronts their ringleader. Pinhead charges at the Torch, burning himself to death. His final words of warning are to the Torch telling him that he will not stop the Invader.

| StoryTitle2 = The Nazi Invasion Tunnel | 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:** * Luther Robinson) * Lynne Harris) **Antagonists:** * Nazis) ** Heer) *** Herr Kopf) *** Hans *** Josef *** Heinrich *** Wilhelm *** Numerous unnamed soldiers ** Adolf Hitler) **Other Characters:** * Princess Fen) * Bucky Walters * Royal Air Force) ** Numerous unnamed soldiers * God) * Winstron Churchill) * Human Torch (Jim Hammond)) **Races and Species:** * Humans) * Mutant) Atlantean-Human Hybrids * Chickens **Realities:** * Earth-616 **Locations:** * Earthspace ** Earth *** Europe **** France **** Portugal **** Britain ***** England ****** Dover) **** English Channel **** Germany *** Southern Ocean **** Atlantis) ***** Ice Castle *** Japan, Asia *** New York City, New York, United States of America, North America * Hades

**Vehicles:** * Namor's Aerial-Submarine

| Synopsis2 = Deciding that he does not like how the war effort is going, Namor the Sub-Mariner decides to take himself along with Lynn Harris and Luther Robinson to deal with the Nazi force. Travelling to France, they find a village under complete Nazi rule and decide to infiltrate it. Knocking out some drunk Nazi soldiers and stealing their uniforms the trio begin to learn what the Nazi's are up to.

They learn that the Nazis are planning an attack on Britain and Lynn later spies a map detailing a tunnel being dug under the English Channel to allow an invasion force to storm England. The following day while the Nazi forces are distracted by a British air raid, the Sub-Mariner plants mines in the tunnel so that when the Nazis attempt to cross through it, the mines will go off destroying their forces.

In the aftermath of the chaos, the Sub-Mariner overhears one of the German officers talking about a Japanese attempt to infiltrate America through a tunnel crossing the Bering Strait. Realizing this could mean trouble, the Sub-Mariner flies off to America deciding that he may need to seek out the aid of the Human Torch to stop this other invasion.

| StoryTitle3 = Slaves of Prince Omei | Writer3_1 = N/A | Penciler3_1 = Steve Dahlman | Inker3_1 = Steve Dahlman | Colorist3_1 = N/A | Letterer3_1 = N/A | Editor3_1 = Joe Simon

| Appearing3 = **Featured Characters:** * Electro_(Earth-616)) **Supporting Characters:** * Professor Zog) **Antagonists:** * Prince Omei's Gang ** Prince Omei) ** Bull ** Numerous unnamed members **Other Characters:** * Unidentified Police Department ** Casey ** Unnamed Police Chief ** Clancy ** Numerous unnamed police officers * United States Government) * Ledger_(Earth-616)) ** Unnamed Reporter * Unidentified Fire Department ** Joe ** Two unnamed firefighters * Bill **Races and Species:** * Humans) * Robots * Skunks * Elephants * Rats **Realities:** * Earth-616 **Locations:** * Earth ** United States of America *** Electro Headquarters

| Synopsis3 = Philo Zog is put under the hypnotic control of Prince Omei who uses Zog's invention to demand other local mobsters to claim loyalty to him. When some of the mobsters attempt to destroy Electro, Omei uses it to round them up for torture as a lesson to the others. Omei then commands Zog to send Electro out to commit a series of robberies, pitting the robot against the authorities.

Growing paranoid that the forces against him might devise a way to destroy Electro, Omei learns that the government could use Zog's lab to create another robot to counter Electro. Horrified by this possibility, Omei would send Electro to destroy Zog's lab. However, the sight of his lab being destroyed causes Zog to snap out of Omei's hypnotic spell and he attempts to revolt. Zog is easily overpowered and bound up to be executed by Omei. However before Zog can be killed, Omei's minions turn on him allowing Zog time to summon Electro back by means of his portable controller.

When Electro arrives, it shields it's master from the bullets being fired. Ultimately Omei goes mad and sets off an explosion killing himself and the mobsters. Zog survives, having been protected by Electro, whom he commands to fly him to safety.

| StoryTitle4 = Death Trap | Writer4_1 = Andrew McWhiney | Penciler4_1 = Harry Ramsey | Inker4_1 = Harry Ramsey | Colorist4_1 = N/A | Letterer4_1 = Typeset | Editor4_1 = Joe Simon

| Appearing4 = **Featured Characters:** * Larry * Nick **Supporting Characters:** * Royal Air Force) ** Smith ** Numerous unnamed soldiers **Antagonists:** * Nazis) ** Luftwaffe) *** Numerous unnamed soldiers **Other Characters:** * Government of the United Kingdom) ** Air Ministry) **Races and Species:** * Humans) * Gnats **Realities:** * Earth-616 **Locations:** * Earth ** United Kingdom *** England

**Vehicles:** * Mousetrap (Aircraft)

| Synopsis4 = The British government orders two inventors to ground their experimental strange new aircraft, they disobey and use it to attack and defeat the enemy.

| StoryTitle5 = Dinosaurs at Large | 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:** * Barney Bailey) **Antagonists:** * Dinosaurs ** Tyrannosaurus rex ** Gigantosauros * Matt Carson) * Carson's Men ** Numerous unnamed members **Other Characters:** * Numerous unnamed circus patrons * Numerous unnamed reporters * Lord) * Acme Construction) * United States Army) ** Numerous unnamed soldiers **Races and Species:** * Dinosaurs ** Tyrannosaurus rex ** Gigantosauros * Smokeworlders * Lizards * Insects **Realities:** * Earth-616 **Locations:** * Earthspace ** Earth *** North America **** United States of America ***** Florida) ****** Seacoast City ******* Unidentified Circus ******** Barney Bailey's Dinosaur Exhibit *** Siberia * Smokeworld

| Synopsis5 = Barney Bailey, a wealthy showman, comes across some well preserved dinosaur eggs and utilizes his resources to have them hatched. Putting fully grown dinosaurs on display he hopes to earn a fortune, and dismiss the possibility that the prehistoric creatures could possibly escape.

However a freak lightning storm damages the dinosaur cages unleashing the animals on the city. The rampage attracts the attention of the Vision who seeks to destroy the dinosaurs. As the Vision attempts to destroy the creatures with TNT, Bailey hires mobsters to make sure his investments are captured alive. However they fail to do so, and the now insane Bailey rants and raves about his dinosaurs, leaving him open to being devoured by his Tyrannosaurus Rex.

With no more opposition, the Vision destroys the last of the dinosaurs before returning to his home dimension once again.

| StoryTitle6 = The Rochell Murder Mystery | Writer6_1 = Ray Gill | Penciler6_1 = Bob Oksner | Inker6_1 = Bob Oksner | Colorist6_1 = N/A | Letterer6_1 = N/A | Editor6_1 = Joe Simon

| Appearing6 = **Featured Characters:** * Terry Vance) **Supporting Characters:** * Dr. Watson) * Globe Press) ** Deadline Dawson) ** Scoop O'Brien) * Janice Rochell) **Antagonists:** * Micky * Butch * Spud * Boss Pinnelli) **Other Characters:** * Mr. Rochell (Janice and Fred's Father) * Unnamed Butler * Pete * Fred Rochell) * Unidentified Police Department ** Numerous unnamed police officers **Races and Species:** * Monkeys * Humans) * Fish * Snakes) **Realities:** * Earth-616 **Locations:** * Earth ** United States of America *** Swan Club

| Synopsis6 = Terry Vance and Deadline Dawson agree to accompany Scoop O'Brien on a fishing trip. Out at sea, Terry would spot a hat in the water and the apparently abandoned yacht of Fred Rochelle. Investigating the yacht, they find Fred's cigarette case, butts from his specially initialed cigarettes, and a bloody footprint making Terry believe that Rochelle was murdered.

Going to the Rochelle residence, Terry pretends to be returning the cigarette case to see what he can learn and has the Rochelle door slammed in his face by Fred's brother. Terry is then met by Janice Rochelle, Fred's niece who tells Terry that her uncle had a gambling problem. Learning that Fred frequented the Swan Club, where a illegal gambling operation was worked, Terry and Janice decide to investigate further.

Terry returns to the docks where the authorities have just found the body of Fred Rochelle in the water, and the pathologist on the scene determines the cause of death as a drowning. Terry tells Deadline and Scoop to meet him at the club later that night. That evening, Terry and Jancie dress up and go to the Swan Club, Terry purposely gets himself in deep debt so that he is brought to the Swan Club's proprietor a mobster named Pinelli. When Pinelli demands that Terry pay out, he says he doesn't have money, which is a ruse to have them send Janice out so she can get help.

She comes across Deadline, Dr. Watson and Scoop who storm after Pinelli (who has just discovered that Terry is a detective) before they can drag Terry off to eliminate him. With the crooks rounded up the authorities arrive and Terry proves that Pinelli was responsible for the murder of Fred Rochelle: By pointing out that Pinelli's shoe matches the bloody footprint found on the boat.

| StoryTitle7 = Karl Schwab's Lightning War | Writer7_1 = Paul Gustavson | Writer7_2 = Ray Gill | Penciler7_1 = Paul Gustavson | Inker7_1 = Paul Gustavson | Colorist7_1 = N/A | Letterer7_1 = Paul Gustavson | Editor7_1 = Joe Simon

| Appearing7 = **Featured Characters:** * Angel (Tom Hallaway))

**Antagonists:** * Nazis) ** Fifth Column *** Karl Schwab) *** Hoffman *** Bromberg *** Numerous unnamed members **Other Characters:** * United States Government) * Numerous unnamed New Yorkers **Races and Species:** * Humans) * Catfish * Eagles **Realities:** * Earth-616 **Locations:** * Earth ** United States of America *** New York) **** New York City **** New York State Prison

| Synopsis7 = After 10 years behind bars for attempting to overthrow the United States government, Karl Schwab is released from prison. Two weeks later New York is sieged by a strange series of robberies where the entire street is electrified and men in rubber suits terrorize those paralyzed by the attack. This attracts the attention of the Angel who decides to investigate further.

thumb|60px|left_from_Marvel_Mystery_Comics_Vol_1_16_0001.jpg)Disguising himself as an old man he manages to follow a bunch of men to a secret meeting in the city sewers. There he learns that Karl Schwab is behind the attacks, all in an attempt to disrupt American cities for the Nazis. With the tests of his massive dynamo complete, he prepares to unleash it full power on the entire city of New York. The Angel clashes with Schwab as this is happening the Angel causes the power supply to overload and explode. Ironically, Schwab is killed by a chunk of shrapnel from the exploding machine, ending his threat.

| StoryTitle8 = Showdown with Rajah Sarput | 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) **Antagonists:** * Rajah Sarput) * Sarput's Guards ** Numerous unnamed guards **Other Characters:** * Pindar) (Eagle) * Trajah) (Elephant) **Races and Species:** * Humans) * Baboons * Lions * Birds ** Eagles * Elephants **Realities:** * Earth-616 **Locations:** * Earth ** Africa *** Belgian Congo **** Sarput's Estate ** United States of America

| Synopsis8 = Having just returned to his home in the Belgian Congo after his trip to America, Ka-Zar learns that his home has been terrorized by the poacher known as Rajah Sarput. Deciding to deal with the hunter once and for all, Ka-Zar travels to his temple where he clashes with Sarput. Holding his guards at a stalemate, Ka-Zar battles Sarput until his knife breaks against the hunters bullet proof vest. When Sarput attempts to shoot Ka-Zar, he is rescued by Pindar the eagle, who distracts Sarput long enough for Ka-Zar to escape.

That night, Ka-Zar infiltrates Sarput's home again, however this time he summons an army of animals from the jungle who storm the palace. During the chaos, Trajah the Elephant crushes Sarput to death and Ka-Zar lights him home ablaze. Ka-Zar and his animal allies then flee the blazing inferno to watch his enemies home burn to the ground.

| Solicit = A who's who of Marvel Golden Age greats! Featuring tales starring the Sub-Mariner, Human Torch, the Angel, and Aarkus, and the original Vision!

| Notes = | Trivia = | Recommended = | Links =

Creative credits

Writers: Carl Burgos, Bill Everett, N/A, Andrew McWhiney, Joe Simon, Jack Kirby, Ray Gill, Paul Gustavson, Ray Gill, Ben Thompson

Interior art: Carl Burgos, Bill Everett, Steve Dahlman, Harry Ramsey, Jack Kirby, Bob Oksner, Paul Gustavson, 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:718108

GCD: 1267

PANEL PROFITS: 2385543