Comic SUSPENSE (Part One)

COMIC BOOKS in the 1940s often interspersed text vignettes among their artwork; these were ultrashort stories that tapped into the overall theme of the magazine (which could be crime, horror, Western, war, science fiction, and so forth). Starting today we'll deal with what we've found in a comic book called Suspense Comics, which had a limited run of 12 issues in the mid-'40s, possibly becoming the victim of wartime restrictions on paper usage. 

   As always, we'll let you decide on their quality . . .

(1) "Trumped-Up Trumpet."

By Jack Grogan.

Suspense Comics Number 1, December 1943.

Vignette (1 page).

Online at Comic Book Plus (HERE; select page 30).

(Note: Faded but legible text.)

Characters: Nola, Greg, and Bellaire.

Story: A spiritualist claims he can contact Nola's dead father. Nola is a believer, but Greg definitely isn't.

Reference: Séance trumpet (Wikipedia HERE).

(2) "An Apple for a Killer."

Unsigned.

Suspense Comics Number 2, February 1944.

Vignette (1 page).

Online at Comic Book Plus (HERE; select page 51).

(Note: Text somewhat faded.)

Characters: Tony Mazotti, Patrolman Tom Donlan, Luigi, and the slender, hard-faced man.

Story: When a murder occurs, a fruit stand owner doesn't realize he has the clue that will convict the killer.

Reference: Staten Island (Wikipedia HERE).

(3) "Death Spins a Reel."

By Jack Grogan.

Suspense Comics Number 3, April 1944.

Vignette (2 pages).

Online at Comic Book Plus (HERE; select pages 29-30).

Characters: Joe Billings and Bugs McNeer.

Story: A film projector operator gets a visit from someone from his past and finds his life is suddenly in danger.

References: projector (Wikipedia HERE), rheostats (Wikipedia HERE), "Film is dangerous stuff" (Wikipedia HERE), Joliet (Wikipedia HERE), and "queer money" (Wikipedia HERE).

Resource:

- Nearly ten years ago we examined another short-lived crime comic, one which managed to diminish Sherlock Holmes (HERE).

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