Joe Palooka Comics #59

The cover of this August 1951 Harvey Comics issue says it all: blonde, bare-chested Joe Palooka hurls a man through the air while a knife-wielding thug and a gun-toting adversary close in from both sides — a tense, outnumbered brawl rendered with real energy by cover artist Al Avison. The banner promises Joe is "trapped by foreign agents, fighting for his life and America's safety," setting up the patriotic espionage tension within. With 50,000,000 fans following Joe's adventures at the time, this monthly installment captures exactly why the champ kept readers coming back.