Congo Chronicle 25: The Last Shipment!

Now that we're officially at war, Bill heads stateside for a pow-wow with the big guy himself!

Bill makes his way to "somewhere in China" quick-as-you-please, and vows to do his level best, which believe-you-me, is PLENTY GOOD ENOUGH!

But before the adventuring starts - an inspiring Braveheart-like speech!

No sooner if the convoy underway, when a stowaway is discovered tagging along. Bill makes chase, only to find...

(By "Great Scott", I think he probably meant "Ick"!)

Since she is plain, Ah Hee probably bears no relation to the famous Ah Hee Diggings in Oregon.  Though, like all comic-book Asians, she is a sallow yellow color.  I guess we should be thankful that that artist Fred Ray was progressive enough not to furnish her, or any of the other Asians in today's strip, with comically-oversized teeth or coke-bottle glasses.

In a plot twist I'm too lazy to explain,  the convoy is overtaken by an American air ace, "Broadway Charlie", who proves to be on the up-and-up!

But - what's this? Ah Hee love Broadway Charlie long time!

In another plot twist, the convoy has fallen in with a group of Chinese guerrillas who have arrived to accompany the shipment to Chiang Kai-shek. But Bill has a hunch that something's not on the level!

Congo Bill sees th - - WHAAA?  Japanese people walk differently than Chinese?!?

Well, actually, the Japanese DID cultivate a specialized way of walking the Namba Aruki, through the 19th Century, so I suppose this could be what Bill is referring to. Suffice to say, he knows a rat when he smells one!

Having been captured and bound, Bill overhears an ambush in the planning!

Heh. "Rough pole".

After his inevitable escape, C.B. and B.C. try to out-manly-man each other in their attempt to outwit Tojo's army. Ka-POW!

But...while Bill and Charlie are putting the drop on each other, Ah Hee out-mans them both!

Since, with the advent of war, we've apparently done away with recurring supporting characters, Charlie's heroic act ensures the death of both he and Ah Hee.  But not before Bill gets in a few righteously indignant zingers!

Bill's own showbiz aspirations have already been revealed, so it's only natural that he'd want to share one last manly embrace with the like-minded Broadway Charlie.  And...what's that, Charlie?  

"A-a-a-h....Ah WHO?"  Only natural that you would forget your would-be war bride after experiencing the musclebound jungle embrace of Congo Bill!

Congo Chronicle 21: The Haunted Castle!

Gosh, that's a beautiful slash panel, huh?  Fred Ray (1920-2001), writer and illustrator of our current adventures, spent lots of time copying out Sunday comic strips to improve his technique.  I imagine we're seeing the influence of Hal Foster. 

Fred Ray also lived with his mother until her death and died a bachelor. Not that that signifies anything one way or the other.

Anyway, since we left him last month, Congo Bill (still delirious with grief over the departure of Professor Kent, one has to imagine) has traveled from Freetown to Syria, a mere 3500 miles as the crow flies, give or take. We join him as he explores an old Crusader castle, along with another scientist father/ tagalong daughter pair.

Ann wants to go exploring - what do the men-folk have to say about that?!?

Hmmmph, the unmitigated gall of you men!

In an unrelated note, seeing Ann astride her horse reminds me of my grandmother, who in 1916 wore a pair of her brother's pants and rode the family horse to town on an errand. The mayor arrested her for wearing pants in public.  Her brother had to go to town and punch the mayor in the nose to get her out of jail. She went on to become a rich lawyer's wife and society maven. True story.

By the way, I'm pretty sure that Ann's a lesbian.

She soon finds out the error of her headstrong ways - - 

Bill and Dr. Standish can't go looking for her til morning, because of the torrential rainstorm that Bill "felt". 

Next day....

Yikes!  Good deduction, Bill!

Bill proceeds to traipse through the castle, talking aloud to himself...

...eventually running afoul of a Crusader Knight in the flesh!

 

Bill bobs and weaves with the dexterity of a savage jungle cat, and...watch that first step, brother, it's a DOOZY!

Lots of uninteresting exposition involving a hidden treasure and a pair of swindling gold thieves disguised as crusader knights and - wait, what, did you say hidden treasure?!?  Could this be the answer to Bill's troubles? Why, with an endless supply of gold coin Bill could be with Professor Kent AND still have his little adventures in Africa, right? RIGHT?!?

Aww, gee, what a letdown!  Why didn't they just say "Buy War Bonds" and be done with it?  

Congo Chronicle 13: The Italian Officer!

As mentioned last time, June 1941 sees Congo Bill's move to Action Comics, with #37. Action was (and is) the home of America's favorite champion, Superman. But of course you knew that.

Astute readers will notice a subtle change in the artwork this month. Til now we've been treated to to the work of George Papp, a DC Comics workhorse who slaved away on such features as Superboy, Green Arrow, and The Legion of Super-Heroes. With the move to Action, we welcome artist Fred Ray, best known for his tireless work on Congo Bill's fellow he-man adventurer, Tomahawk.

We join up with Bill and Prof as they travel to Tabur, to meet Kent's old pal Major Stirling. In addition to confirmation that Kent is indeed an old bugger...oh, er, sorry, I mean beggar...we learn his first name...Joe. Hmmmph. I thought at the very least he'd have some kind of high-falutin' egghead name like Reginald or Archibald. Unfortunately, his jolly "I want you to meet Congo Bill" gives us no clue to Bill's surname, if indeed he even has one, and isn't legally named "Congo Bill".

Which wouldn't be unheard of, I suppose. Shortly before the birth of an acquaintance of mine, his mother asked his older brothers what they'd like to name the new baby. They said "Buffalo Bill". And that's what they named him. True story.

I also think it safe to assume that "Tabur" is a made-up name, and that the action hasn't all-of-a-sudden shifted to Malaysia.

Of course, Major Stirling has to introduce a girl into the procedings to foul everything up:

Syble. Think it rhymes with bible?

Stirling explains his predicament:

"Askari", as you probably already know, was a generic term for East African natives that were pressed into military service by various colonial powers.

A renegade Askari escapes the compound to warn the enemy, followed closely by Syble, followed even more closely by Congo Bill, who knows the trouble that a nosey dame can cause! Bill confronts the Askari, who struggles with him at the edge of a steep cliff! Fortunately, the next few panels give Bill a chance to show off many of his masculine skills!

Swimming!!

Tracking!

Pole Vaulting!
Fisticuffs, not to mention witty repartee!

Marksmanship!!

Bossing around uppity dames!!!

All's well that ends well, as the Officer is captured and taken back to the well-appointed offices of Tabur where he can salute his betters to his heart's content!

Also in Action Comics this month......

Superman tackles "a couple of hard guys"!

Pep Morgan, Athletic Ace,

sneaks into a male dormitory!

The Three Aces are startled
by a giant phallic symbol!

Mr. America gets some boys talking!

And Zatara The Magician
bets on the Beavers!


Join us next time for more testosterone-charged adventures with
Congo Bill and his friends!