Joe Palooka Comics #17

In a small town where dreams are forged in fire and faith, the people pool their savings to build a stadium for a boxer they believe is destined for greatness—only to discover their hero is actually Humphrey, the local blacksmith. When slick managers push Humphrey into dangerous fights, it’s Joe who steps in, not just to fight, but to protect the town’s trust and the man who’s never even thrown a punch in the ring. A heartfelt tale of community, unexpected heroism, and the quiet strength of ordinary men, culminating in a tribute that’s as solid as the anvil Humphrey once wielded.

In "Joe Palooka, Adventures in Hollywood, Part 1, Lost in the Woods," Joe and Knobby find themselves stranded in the wilderness after a plane crash, their flight diverted by low fuel and a wayward pilot. While Joe sets out to find help, Knobby bonds with Sally Grepps, a dreamy-eyed aspiring actress, and the group is eventually rescued by a search plane and guided to a nearby town by a pair of cowboys. When Joe finally arrives, he discovers everyone has vanished—only to be guided by a mysterious outlaw known as "Mr. Clink," a man on the run with a past he’s determined to clear. The story continues in the next issue.

In "Joe Palooka and His Bodyguard," former fighter Chauncey shows up asking to be hired as Joe’s protector, but Joe’s not convinced—until Chauncey’s wife reveals their financial struggles. When Joe learns Chauncey’s in debt to a loan shark, he steps in to settle the matter, turning the tables on who really needs protection.

In "Little Max, Baby Service," Little Max takes on his first babysitting job for Butch Wilkers, only to discover just how much trouble one toddler can be. Trying to keep the little one happy, he stops by an ice cream parlor—where Joe Palooka gives him a reality check about the true cost of baby care. The story captures a moment of gentle humor and unexpected wisdom, with Little Max learning a valuable lesson in the most relatable of ways.

In "Little Max, On The Farm," Little Max tries to help Rosie milk the cow while her mama is away, but with no experience and a bucket full of empty hope, he heads into town with his little red wagon. Using the $2 Joe Palooka gave him for emergencies, he buys five gallons of milk and returns triumphantly—only to be met with stunned joy when Rosie’s family believes he’s somehow milked their cow himself.

In this early tale from *Joe Palooka Comics #17*, young Joe meets Knobby when a slick con artist uses the boy to demonstrate a fake stain remover called "Anni-hy-later." When Joe discovers the product’s temporary fix, he returns to expose the scam—catching the swindler off guard with a crowd of eager salesmen ready to sign up. The truth unravels fast, leaving the con artist bested and the crowd in disbelief. Years later, Knobby still doesn’t realize the boy who stopped him was the same Joe Palooka he’d once met.

In "null," Chickie Ricks and his co-pilot Gootch lend their plane to Maylene as torrential rains threaten to breach a nearby dam, putting her town and its treasures in peril. With Agah Manchu furious at being left behind, Maylene dashes back to retrieve the town’s Sacred Charter—only to be knocked unconscious by a stone thrown by Agah just as the dam gives way. Chickie makes a daring low pass to pull her to safety, leaving Agah to be swept away by the flood.