Joe Palooka Comics #1

Dates

Cover date

November 1945

Pages

36

Editions and covers

• Original edition

  Source ↗

Creators

Stories

• The Story Behind Ham Fisher's Joe Palooka · 2 pages
• How Joe Became World Champ · 10 pages

  On a transport ship, the men are shown the movie "Bare Knuckles", starring Joe. The men later beg Joe to tell the story of how he became champ. Joe took a job at Knobby Walsh's haberdashery. When Knobby leaves him in charge of the store, thugs come in, clear the shelves, and tell Joe that they have an account with Knobby. Knobby tells Joe that he has ruined him. Joe pursues the men, beats them and recovers the goods. Later, Knobby overhears fight promoter Jack Mulfie looking for a candidate to take a dive for his fighter. Knobby eagerly volunteers Joe, planning to keep the fee to himself.

• The Big Fight · 8 pages

  Knobby keeps Joe in the dark about the cash that he will get for Joe's fight. Joe meets World Champion Jack McSwatt in the ring, and McSwatt beats Joe senseless for four rounds. Knobby's conscience bothers him, and he wants to stop the fight, but Joe refuses. Knobby lies to Joe, telling him that McSwatt was the ringleader of the men who robbed Knobby's store. Joe comes out his corner, and with one punch, becomes the next World Champion.

• Jerry Puts on the Gloves · 10.67 pages

  After telling his story, Joe and Jerry walk the decks. Jerry accidently bumps into sailor Larry Malss, and angry words are exchanged. Before you know it, Malss' challenge for a boxing match has been accepted. Jerry is no match for Malss, but, while the match is underway, an submarine is sighted, and all of the men go to stations on alert. The boxers, however, are engrossed, and keep fighting. Joe returns to the ring to find both men knocked out, and the match is called a draw.

• Untitled · 2 pages

  Joe's mother, upon receiving a birthday card from Joe in the mail, tells the story to the mailman of when Joe was 7 years old. Joe, on his way to buy his mother a present, comes upon Herman Manskawich. Bullies have stolen Herman's football, and Joe seeks justice from the older boys. In the ensuing fight, Herman's ball is popped. Joe uses the birthday money to buy Herman a new ball. Joe's mom tells the postman of how Joe and Herman remained friends until Herman died on D-Day.

Reprinted in

All-New Comics (1943)