More Fun Comics #72

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Graded population

CGC records 50 graded copies for More Fun Comics #72 (1941). Population is the number recorded by this grading source, not the total print run or all surviving copies.

The Spectre: "Spiezel"

Farmer Hiram Spiezel digs up an ancient jug on his land, but when he opens it a dark vapor seeps out and a sinister transformation overtakes his personality. Soon Spiezel becomes wealthy, but also tyrannical, driving people into poverty and suicide with his ruthless but legal business dealings. Suspecting something evil at work, Detective Corrigan transforms into the Spectre to investigate.

Invisibly seeing Spiezel turning down a business partner for more time on a deal, Spectre tries to influence him to be more lenient, but is puzzled when his powers have no effect. Just as much when Spiezel's business partner bursts in and shoots him in a rage to no effect, confirming to Spectre that something inhuman has taken hold of the tycoon. After thwarting an attempt by Spiezel's minions to frame an innocent man, Spectre tries to confront Spiezel again and realizes his enemy can see him. The being controlling Hiram Spiezel says that once it tried to seize control of "an ancient civilization", but was sealed in the jug to contain "my mad ambition".

They battle, but the entity controlling Spiezel proves more powerful, and after hurling Spectre away, embarks on a spree of destruction and conquest. Spectre calls out to the Voice for aid, and is given a ring of crimson energy about his waist that gives him the power to confront the ancient entity and drive it from Spiezel's body. He seals it in its jug again, which the ghost deposits at the bottom of the ocean to keep it from being opened again. Having no idea where he is or what he's been doing, Hiram Spiezel retreats back to his simple farm life, glad to let his business empire crumble without him. | Appearing1 = **Featured Characters:** * The Spectre) (Jim Corrigan)) **Supporting Characters:** * **The Voice** **Antagonists:** * Hiram Spiezel * unnamed evil spirit **Other Characters:** * The Chief * Alton Graham * Markov **Locations:** * Cliffland, New Jersey

| Writer2_1 = | Penciler2_1 = Chad Grothkopf | Inker2_1 = Chad Grothkopf | StoryTitle2 = Radio Squad: "The Invisible Bandits" | Synopsis2 = | Appearing2 = **Featured Characters:** * Radio Squad) ** Larry Trent) ** Sandy Keene) ** Emmy Sanders ** Jasper Rawdon ** Lorna Drake ** Sparky Sanders

| Writer3_1 = | Penciler3_1 = George Papp | Inker3_1 = George Papp | StoryTitle3 = Clip Carson: "The Double-Bar-O Murder" | Synopsis3 = | Appearing3 = **Featured Characters:** * Clip Carson)

| Writer4_1 = Joe Donohoe | Penciler4_1 = Joe Donohoe | Inker4_1 = Joe Donohoe | StoryTitle4 = Detective Sergeant Carey: "The Missing Envoy" | Synopsis4 = Famous Chinese banker and diplomat Dr. Sen Yen has traveled to America by airliner, to secure a War Loan. Detective Sergent Carey and Sleepy are assigned to be his protection detail, and they whisk the Envoy to his hotel. There the diplomat is murdered, in a makeshift gas chamber rigged inside a revolving door. But he turns out to be a body double of the real Dr. Sen Yen, who arrived by private plane. Carey figures that a crime this well set-up must have been carefully rehearsed, so he and Sleepy search all of Chinatown looking for a revolving door like the one at the hotel. Finding this leads to other information which leads them to the hideout of Sen Yen's Chinese enemies. These enemies have meanwhile kidnapped Sen Yen and brought him here. Carey and Sleepy call in a big police raid, but the kidnappers are setting up a deadly trap, with a pressurized tank of poison gas. From a fire escape outside that room, Det. Sgt. Carey shoots the tank with his handgun; it explodes; everybody in that room is killed or disabled, and Carey is blown off the fire escape. He lands on top of a police car, and is hospitalized. | Appearing4 = **Featured Characters:** * Detective Sergeant Carey) **Supporting Characters:** * Sleepy * Police Captain **Antagonists:** * Enemy Chinese Agents, at least five **Other Characters:** * Dr. Sen Yen, famous Chinese banker and diplomat * Sen Yen Impersonator **Locations:** * Airport * Police Headquarters * Chinatown * China

| Writer5_1 = Mort Weisinger | Penciler5_1 = | Inker5_1 = | StoryTitle5 = Johnny Quick: "Mystery of the Murder Maestro" | Synopsis5 = | Appearing5 = **Featured Characters:** * Johnny Quick) **Supporting Characters:** * Tubby Watts) **Antagonists:** * The Murder Maestro (Harry Thorpe) **Other Characters:** * Happy Rogers and Carl Carlton (murder victims) both die * Clive Taylor and his wife * Rollo Martin, Hugo Humbolt, and Danny Smith (members of the Tin Pan Alley Club)

| Writer6_1 = | Penciler6_1 = Cliff Young | Inker6_1 = Cliff Young | StoryTitle6 = Captain Desmo: "The Hook" | Synopsis6 = | Appearing6 = **Featured Characters:** * Captain Desmo)

| Writer7_1 = | Penciler7_1 = Fred Ray | Inker7_1 = Fred Ray | StoryTitle7 = Sergeant O'Malley of the Red Coat Patrol: "Ring of Thieves" | Synopsis7 = | Appearing7 = **Featured Characters:** * Constable O'Malley), RCMP **Supporting Characters:** * Red Coat Patrol * Black Hawk * Flame, O'Malley's Wolf-Dog **Antagonists:** * Dill * Latouche * many more outlaws **Locations:** * Canada

| Editor8_1 = | Writer8_1 = Gardner Fox | Penciler8_1 = Howard Sherman | Inker8_1 = Howard Sherman | Letterer8_1 = Howard Sherman | StoryTitle8 = Doctor Fate: "The Forger" | Synopsis8 = While Inza) is visiting her grandparents, a small gang of criminals led by Fingers Beaumont starts stealing from the village people's bank accounts. Inza's concern reaches Doctor Fate), who goes to town in order to investigate the case.

When Doctor Fate comes across the criminals, they set up a trap for him by preparing a room with knockout gas. Fate inhales the gas, and even though his body is mostly invulnerable to physical damage, his lungs are weak against gas. The crooks leave an unconscious Doctor Fate on a nearby cliff, where he is found by Inza. Once revived, Doctor Fate confronts the criminals again and this time, he captures them for good, retrieving the stolen money for the farmers. | Appearing8 = **Featured Characters:** * Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson)) **Supporting Characters:** * Inza Cramer) **Antagonists:** * Fingers Beaumont ** Ricki ** Slim **Other Characters:** * Inza's Grandmother * Inza's Grandfather **Locations:** * Salem ** Tower of Fate **Items:** * Doctor Fate's Half-Helmet * "That Crystal"

| Notes = * Last issue for **Captain Desmo** by Cliff Young. * Last issue for **Detective Sergeant Carey**. He is last seen in a hospital bed, due to injuries sustained in this story. Sleepy also has his arm in a sling. * **Doctor Fate**: "The Forger" is reprinted in The Golden Age Doctor Fate Archives Vol. 1 (Collected). ** This is the first appearance of the half-mask version of the Helmet of Fate. The reason for the change is given in All-Star Squadron Annual Vol 1 3. ** This story also marks the start of a lighter personality shift for Fate, who starts to make joking banter on a regular basis. ** This story also reveals Inza Cramer's last name for the first time. * **Johnny Quick** villain Harry Thorpe apparently has the exact same extremely rare vision problem as Charles McNider. * Last issue for **Sergeant O'Malley of the Red Coat Patrol**. * Also appearing in this issue of *More Fun Comics* were: ** "Private Pete" by Henry Boltinoff ** "Nose For News" (text story) by Clem Gordon | Trivia = * Even though the cover depicts Doctor Fate fighting Nazis, the story is completely different. This was a common practice during the days of World War II, when comics became a primary supply for the troops.

| Recommended = | Links =

Creative credits

Writers: Jerry Siegel, Joe Donohoe, Mort Weisinger, Gardner Fox

Interior art: Bernard Baily, Chad Grothkopf, George Papp, Joe Donohoe, Cliff Young, Fred Ray, Howard Sherman

Source records & attribution

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

COMICBASE: comicbase:767249

GCD: 1685

PANEL PROFITS: 2347774