Explorer Joe #1

Explorer Joe charts the legendary vessels that shaped American naval power, beginning with the U.S.S. Constitution—the formidable 44-gun frigate that earned its fearsome reputation as a fighting ship and defender against maritime threats. This look back at the historic ships that helped establish the United States as a dominant sea power captures the early glory days of American naval warfare.

Explorer Joe treks into the remote Ruwenzori mountains—the legendary "Mountains of the Moon"—following a twenty-year-old lead that his missing father might still be alive somewhere in the African wilderness. Armed with supplies, a questionable guide named Hans van Groot, and his faithful sidekick Gadabout Swanson, Joe pushes deeper into the mist-shrouded peaks, where superstitious natives warn of curses and strange magic. As the expedition battles brutal weather and mysterious dangers, an unexpected discovery in the high passes threatens to unravel everything Joe thought he knew about his quest.

Explorer Joe Thomas heads to the steaming jungles of New Guinea in pursuit of a fortune in pearls lost when a schooner sank in Papuan Bay, but what he finds underwater is only the beginning—the real mystery lies with a dangerous man from the ship's past and a native village holding his companions hostage. With head hunters closing in and time running out, Joe must navigate treacherous islands and deadly secrets to save his friends and uncover the truth behind the Sea Pearl.

Explorer Joe Thomas and his pal Gadabout Swanson arrive in Madagascar with a simple plan—resupply and move on. That changes when a dying man presses a fortune in opals into their hands and whispers of a young woman in danger at a remote plantation. Racing against ruthless fortune-seekers and international smugglers, Joe must navigate treacherous jungle intrigue to uncover the truth behind the Fire Opal of Madagascar and save the imperiled girl caught in their crosshairs.