CATALOG RECORD

Daring Mystery Comics #1

Marvel · Series began 1940 · January 1940

first appearance of The Fiery Mask, John Steele and Monako

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WHY COLLECTORS WANT IT

The Fiery Mask (Dr. Jack Castle) — introduction · origin
John Steele (Marvel Golden Age hero) — introduction
Monako (Prince of Magic) — introduction
The Texas Kid (Marvel Comics western hero) — introduction
Barney Mullen (Marvel Golden Age boat captain) — introduction
Flash Foster (at Midwestern) — introduction
Phantom of the Underworld (Dr. Doyle Denton) — introduction

Dates

Cover date: January 1940
On sale: October 30, 1939
Pages: 68

Editions and covers

Original edition
Source ↗

Creators

pencils: Alex Schomburg, Joe Simon, Larry Antonette, Ben Thompson, Al Anders, Bob Wood, Maurice Gutwirth, Harry Campbell, Charles Pearsoninks: Alex Schomburg, Joe Simon, Larry Antonette, Ben Thompson, Al Anders, Bob Wood, Maurice Gutwirth, Harry Campbell, Charles Pearsonscript: Joe Simon, Larry Antonette, Ray Gill, Bob Woodletters: Joe Simon

Stories

The Fantastic Thriller of the Walking Corpses · 10 pages
Dr. Jack Castle begins investigating the disappearance of eight men and the appearance of living corpses, bent on serving a mad scientist whose avowed aim is conquering the world.
Untitled · 9 pages
Steele helps a nurse, whose life he has just saved, through a series of perilous encounters with the Nazis in order to get a vital message to the general.
Untitled · 9 pages
The Kid goes after a gang of raiders that are burning the cabins and stealing the cattle of property owners whose mortgage is coming due.
The Menace of Mr. Muro · 11 pages
Monako agrees to help Josette's brother Al, who has just perfected a new powerful explosive for the government, from falling into the hands of the evil Mr. Muro.
The Thundering Terror of Gold Creek · 2 pages
A radio-controlled herd of wild, mad horses destroy the town of Gold Creek, sent on that mission by a gang of criminals from Chelsa City, who had been trying to buy out that town for some time.
The Football Fixing Scheme · 8 pages
Nick Bruno kidnaps the girlfriend of the star of the Midwestern College football team in order to win big money on that game and to prevent Midwestern from being invited to the Rose Bowl.
Case of Perrone · 7 pages
In order to get inside information on crime boss Perrone, Detective Denton takes over the offices of a local doctor so that he'll be in a position to treat Perrone.
Wartime Wonders · 1 pages
Interesting facts are illustrated, such as: some steel used in England's new battleships was scrapped from German ships sunk in WW1; none of the planes currently used in WW2 will be in existence after 20 days of war; the mystery of a new explosive made from wood and air; a pilot thrown from his plane actually fell back into it; and several others.
The Rotterdam Run · 7 pages
Barney takes on the dangerous assignment of transporting a shipment of gold filigree into the war zone of Rotterdam.

Characters

Dr. Jack CastleThe Fiery MaskJohn SteeleMonakoThe Texas KidDoc DentonFlash FosterBarney MullenPhantom of the Underworld

Reprinted in

Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Daring Mystery (2008), The Complete Jack Kirby (1997), Golden Age of Marvel (1997), The Twelve (2008), Marvel Firsts: WWII Super Heroes (2013), Timely's Greatest: The Golden Age Simon & Kirby Omnibus (2019)