Flash Comics #20

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The table includes 6 guide observations and 1 catalog references. These are reference values, not guaranteed sale proceeds.

Graded population

CGC records 35 graded copies for Flash Comics #20 (1941). Population is the number recorded by this grading source, not the total print run or all surviving copies.

The Flash: "The Adventure of the Auctioned Utility Company"

At an auction attended by Jay Garrick and Joan Williams), Joan accidentally purchases the deed to the Useless Utility Company for two dollars. She and Jay arrive at the company building, where they are greeted by Jim Coleman, the former owner, who hands over the keys. As Joan prepares to clean the building, Jay, as the Flash, cleans it before she can begin. He then follows Jim to his Uncle Thistlewit's mansion, where he learns that Thistlewit had stolen Jim's inheritance from his father and ran the utility company into the ground.

The Flash follows Jim to a bridge, where the man attempts to commit suicide. The speedster saves him, and together they decide to get back at his uncle. Jim returns to the company to help out Joan while the Flash roughs up several goons hired by Thistlewit to take down some power lines.

The Flash then, after frightening Thistlewit by dragging the old man through his swimming pool at superspeed and dismantling his car, convinces him to have a change of heart and invest in the company, which Joan returns to Jim.

A week later, Joan accidentally buys a stuffed whale at another auction. | Editor1_1 = Sheldon Mayer | Writer1_1 = Gardner Fox | Penciler1_1 = Harold Wilson Sharp | Inker1_1 = Harold Wilson Sharp | Colorist1_1 = | Letterer1_1 = | Appearing1 = **Featured Characters:** * Flash (Jay Garrick)) **Supporting Characters:** * Joan Williams) * Jim Coleman **Antagonists:** * Uncle Thistlewit **Other Characters:** * Cheekers, Uncle Thistlewit's butler **Locations:** * **Items:** * **Vehicles:** *

| Writer2_1 = John B. Wentworth | Penciler2_1 = Stan Aschmeier | Inker2_1 = Stan Aschmeier | StoryTitle2 = Johnny Thunder: "The Fake Accidents" | Synopsis2 = While strolling idly along singing a popular song, Johnny again accidentally activates his Badhnisian Thunderbolt. This time he figures it out, at last, that "Say You" is the phrase that summons this magical being.

Two doctors and one lawyer start up an insurance fraud racket, and hire a thug to push people into the paths of vehicles. After watching Johnny and his Thunderbolt in action, they hire Johnny to help rescue accident victims. Ethical questions arise, and Johnny is reliably informed that money does not grow on trees. After whisking Doctors Carvem and Stichem, along with Lawyer Highfee, to the State Penitentiary, the Thunderbolt is then directed to solve the money problems of three of their "accident" victims, by growing a money tree, right there in their hospital room. | Appearing2 = **Featured Characters:** * Johnny Thunder) **Supporting Characters:** * Thunderbolt) * Daisy Darling) **Antagonists:** * Dr. Carvem * Dr. Stitchem * Lawyer Highfee ** their hired thug **Other Characters:** * Ambrose, car driver * Irish Cop **Locations:** * New York City **Items:** * Money Tree **Vehicles:** * cars, trucks, subway trains

| Writer3_1 = Don Cameron (artist) | Penciler3_1 = Don Cameron (artist) | Inker3_1 = Don Cameron (artist) | StoryTitle3 = Les Sparks, Radio Amateur: "The Adventure of the Harbour Day Invasion" | Synopsis3 = | Appearing3 = **Featured Characters:** * Les Sparks) **Supporting Characters:** * **Antagonists:** * **Other Characters:** * **Locations:** * **Items:** * **Vehicles:** *

| Writer4_1 = Gardner Fox | Penciler4_1 = Harry Lampert | Inker4_1 = Harry Lampert | StoryTitle4 = The King: "The Witch's Double" | Synopsis4 = | Appearing4 = **Featured Characters:** * King Standish) **Supporting Characters:** * **Antagonists:** * The Witch) **Other Characters:** * Stella Larkin * Johnny Carmer * Homer Norton ** Benjamin, his clerk * Beens **Locations:** * New York City

| Writer5_1 = John B. Wentworth | Penciler5_1 = Homer Fleming | Inker5_1 = Homer Fleming | StoryTitle5 = The Whip: "In New York" | Synopsis5 = | Appearing5 = **Featured Characters:** * The Whip) **Supporting Characters:** * Wing Tai **Antagonists:** * Fred * Louie * 3rd counterfeiter * Joe * Taxi Cab Gang **Other Characters:** * Harry Spain * June Spain **Locations:** * Earth-Two ** New York City

| Writer6_1 = Ed Wheelan | Penciler6_1 = Ed Wheelan | Inker6_1 = Ed Wheelan | StoryTitle6 = Minute Movies: "The Hazards of Hazel" | Synopsis6 = | Appearing6 = **Featured Characters:** * **Supporting Characters:** * **Antagonists:** * **Other Characters:** * **Locations:** * **Items:** * **Vehicles:** *

| Writer7_1 = Gardner Fox | Penciler7_1 = Sheldon Moldoff | Inker7_1 = Sheldon Moldoff | StoryTitle7 = Hawkman: "The Mad Bomber" | Synopsis7 = | Appearing7 = **Featured Characters:** * Hawkman) **Supporting Characters:** * Shiera Sanders) * Big Frenchy **Antagonists:** * Bomb-Baby Sathan **Other Characters:** * **Locations:** * **Items:** * **Vehicles:** *

| Notes = * Published by J.R. Publishing Company. * ***Flash:** "The Adventure of the Auctioned Utility Company"* is reprinted in the *The Golden Age Flash Archives, Volume 2)*. * ***Hawkman:**"The Mad Bomber"* is reprinted in Golden Age Hawkman Archives 1). * ***Johnny Thunder:** "The Fake Accidents"* is Johnny's 20th solo adventure. In it, he finally figures out that "Say You" (or "CEI U") is the magic phrase that invokes the Thunderbolt. ** Footnote from the last panel of the first page of this story: "Johnny Thunder was kidnapped as a baby and taken to the land of the Bahdnisians .... They put a magic spell on him in the 7th Inner Circle of the 7 Inner Circles .... Whenever he says SAY YOU (In Bahdnisian it's CEI-U) this Thunderbolt is his for an hour ... See?"

* Also appearing in this issue of *Flash Comics* was: ** "Diamonds From Space" starring Jack Raymond) (text story) by Evelyn Gaines

| Trivia = * Johnny Thunder's magical Badhnisian Thunderbolt creates a money tree, to compensate some crime victims for their losses. How this is legally different from nonmagical counterfeiting is not clear. | Recommended = | Links =

Creative credits

Writers: Gardner Fox, John B. Wentworth, Don Cameron (artist), Gardner Fox, John B. Wentworth, Ed Wheelan, Gardner Fox

Interior art: Harold Wilson Sharp, Stan Aschmeier, Don Cameron (artist), Harry Lampert, Homer Fleming, Ed Wheelan, Sheldon Moldoff

Source records & attribution

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

COMICBASE: comicbase:436143

GCD: 1553

PANEL PROFITS: 2335977