Congo Chronicle 28: The One-Man Army!

Though he enjoyed the second longest running feature in Action Comics behind Superman himself, Action Comics #52 (September, 1942) would be Congo Bill's only cover appearance in that magazine.  And what a cover!  America was fully engaged in the war by now, and her four-color masked men were doing their parts to sell war bonds and the like. (There's actually a clever, in-story explanation as to why Superman didn't just hop across the pond and bash Hitler's face in, involving dark magic and the Spear of Longinus, which I won't bore you with here.) Anyway, sharing the spotlight here, from left to right, are Bill's fellow archetypal he-men Mr. America, The Vigilante, Superman, and Zatara the Magician.

 So, where were we then?  Ah, yes, Bill has left The Flying Tigers behind and continued on to mainland China, where he's leading a band of brave resistance fighters against the Yellow Peril!

 Surveying an occupied village, Bill meets up with a rude and opinionated Japanazi rat!

 Uh-oh, Tojo....you don't wanna mess with our man Bill!  Ka-POW!

 His honor satisfied, Bill continues on his way, and is pulled aside by a Chinese beggar.  But, what's this?  That's no beggar, that's Ting Ho, a Chinese-American, working undercover!  And he's got a mission for an adventurous daredevil!

 

Bill's luck runs out as he's leaving the village, and is captured by the same soldier he decked earlier!

 Worried?  Me either! Not when Bill can put his Jungle Skills to good use!

Well, bully. Now he has a jeep.  But...he's somewhere in the middle of China. And it's raining, so he can't use the stars as a guide. What now?!?

Another clue to Bill's past - he was apparently a Boy Scout! Since we know Bill fought in World War I, and the Boy Scouts were founded in 1910,  we can assume that Bill was born sometime around the turn of the 20th Century, and was probably a charter member!

In a clever bit of lifesaving and educational business, Bill uses the minute hand of his watch, a helmet, and rainwater to fashion a makeshift compass which leads him to the Chinese Commander's village. Now, I know what you're thinking - all this trouble for a lousy pack of cigarettes?  But you see...

'Atta boy, Bill! Show those brave Chinamen the true meaning of Yankee stick-to-it-iveness!