Quality 1941 Week--National Comics #13 (Part 2)!!

We're back, and you delving deep into the second half of National Comics #13 (1941). And a familiar character is next on our hit parade:

You may recognize him as Max Mercury, Impulse's mentor. Of course, DC acquired him with the rest of the Quality characters, but by the time they finally got around to using him, the Quicksilver name was kind of taken, so Mark Waid renamed him Max Mercury.

The really cool thing to note about this Quicksilver is that he's called "The Laughing Robin Hood" (although he never robs from the rich to give to the poor), and that this story is by Jack Cole. What does that mean?

It means we're going to get some of the craziest and most fun uses of super-speed ever done in comics! Plus, goofy villains!

And when the bad guys try to fix a speedboat race?

Woo hoo!!! Loads of fun!!

Next?

Jack And Jill are a private detective and his Gal Friday/main squeeze. They go after an arson for hire/insurance scam gang this story...

And they do know how to live the high life afterwards:

Next, a one page comedy strip starring Cupid--yes, that Cupid--who wants to become a super-hero!! Oddly, though, he's anti-union!

But after he busts a belligerent picketer?

Ah, the joys of irony.

Next?

Yes, more alligator wrestling!!!

Another difference between Quality and Fawcett--Quality had for more super-powered super heroes. The Marvels and Bulletman aside, most of Fawcett's characters were just normal men putting on costumes, Batman style--Minute Man, Golden Arrow, Zoro, Devil's Dagger, Mr. Scarlet, the Hunchback. Quality was for more likely to come up with come up with characters with powers. I've no idea why that is, but there you go.

And who is Wonder Boy? He's an alien from the planet Viro who came to Earth when his planet was destroyed, and here he has the strength "of a thousand men." So, OK, not the most original guy ever created, especially as he debuted less than two years after Action #1.

Anyway, he's helping some scientist explore South America, so he roughs up some wild life:

And he stop a plane from crashing by putting his body between the plane and the ground...OUCH!!

Next, the perhaps the biggest wish-fulfillment character ever:

Yep, Pen Miller is not only a cartoonist, he's a handsome and wealthy and famous cartoonist, who also fights crime!!

Yes, really.

This issue, he's up against a pick-pocket gang that's swiped his wallet on the subway:

Our bold, adventurous cartoonist goes searching in the forgotten sections of subway tunnels...

And he's so handsome and famous and dashing that even thieves recognize him on sight!!

He whoops them, of course, but is left with a small problem:

Do he and Niki, his houseboy (because all cartoonists have houseboys), literally go door to door to return the wallets!

What a swell fellow!!

Next up--Paul Bunyan:

Yes, he's that Paul Bunyan. Look how fast he can run:

Hear how loud he can sing!

We shan't dwell on his treatment of Native American gangs of arsonists...

Finally, we have:

No, not that Merlin. However, this guy is a magician, and he's discovered a dandy excuse for looting national treasures from third-world nations:

Inside an ancient Buddhist temple, he finds himself in quite the pickle:

Trapped between the spider and the octopus!! Use that magic, Merlin, use that magic!!

What?

You have a magician character, and you have so little imagination that you name him Merlin and give him the exact same shtick as Zatara??? Really??

Well, actually, for the first 11 issues of National Comics, Merlin just gestured and jiggled like a generic magician. But in issue #12, Fred Guardineer, who created Zatara in Action Comics #1, took over the strip. And suddenly, Merlin started doing his "backward speaking spells." So Guardineer was recycling himself. Fortunately, DC's lawyers were distracted by Fawcett's Captain Marvel...

Still, I've got to admit--magically transforming yourself into a Mickey Finn is pretty damn unique:

Well played, Merlin.

He gets the diamond, and then decides, who needs some old Buddhist temple, anyway?

So he gives the diamond to our special guest star:

Winston?!?!?!

Tune in tomorrow for more Quality 1941!!