Mystery Men Comics #2
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeMystery Men Comics #2 (September 1939) marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of one of the Golden Age's most durable characters: Dan Garrett's Blue Beetle makes his second appearance here, and for the first time he wears a full costume closer to the chainmail-and-mask design that would define the character for the rest of his Fox run and beyond. That rapid visual transformation — from pulp plainclothes detective in issue #1 to armored costumed hero in issue #2 — illustrates, in real time, how the superhero genre was crystallizing its own visual grammar in the summer of 1939. The issue also contains, within the Zanzibar the Magician strip, the first comic-book appearances of Hercules, Zeus, and Venus as characters — a detail with a surprising downstream consequence, as DC's in-continuity version of Hercules (the 'H' in SHAZAM) is traced back to this very issue. As an anthology title that packaged adventure, science fiction, humor, and nascent superheroics all under one cover, Mystery Men Comics #2 is a snapshot of the medium still inventing its own rules.
In "The Tong War of San Sin," Captain Anthony and Sir Norbert are forced to crash-land in Duraguay after an aerial ambush, setting off a tense political maneuver as agents from Gothland seek to exploit their absence. Written, drawn, and inked by Bob Powell, this 1939 adventure blends espionage and international intrigue, with Lou Fine's dynamic cover capturing the high-stakes atmosphere.
In "The Tong War of San Sin," the Green Mask ventures into the heart of Chinatown’s escalating gang conflict, teaming up with the enigmatic and dangerous San Sin in a risky bid to save Fong Lee’s daughter—though the true motives behind their alliance remain shrouded in mystery.
In "Crisis on Capris," Rex and Cynde race against time to save Earth from a deadly plague, setting off on a daring mission to the distant planet Capris in search of the only known cure—radium. With the fate of all life hanging in the balance, their journey into the unknown begins with urgency and courage.
Billy Bounce, the Kid Detective, finds himself face-to-face with two dangerous crooks who've kidnapped him for ransom—but his quick thinking and courage may turn the tables on these desperate criminals. With the help of his loyal shadow, Billy must outwit his captors and call for help before it's too late.
Hemlock and the good doctor take a detour to Spookington Castle, chasing a $10 reward for returning the kidnapped Mrs. Spookington—what starts as a simple case quickly turns into a mystery wrapped in cobwebs and creaky floorboards.
When a wanted poster bearing the Waco Kid's name surfaces for a bank robbery he didn't commit, he becomes the target of Killer Barkus and his gang—men determined to keep him framed and silenced. Trapped in a cabin alongside Sheriff Elliot, the Kid must fight his way free and track down the real culprits to clear his name and recover the stolen loot.
In "Baron Garza's Plan," detective Bancroft answers a cryptic summons to a crumbling mansion, where a dying man names Baron Garza as his killer. As Bancroft digs into the mystery, he uncovers a dangerous smuggling operation tied to the baron and his ruthless gang.
In "The Peace Pact Problem," Captain Anthony and Sir Norbert find their diplomatic mission thrown into chaos when their plane is attacked mid-flight and crash-lands in Duraguay, a nation eager to form an alliance with Sir Norbert’s country. With Gothland’s agents working behind the scenes to exploit the situation, the duo must navigate a web of intrigue in a land where peace is as fragile as the treaty they’re meant to secure.
In "The Alien Smugglers," Lt. Drake takes on a bizarre case that leads him through the underbelly of San Francisco, where he uncovers a smuggling ring using giant fish to hide their cargo—oriental aliens in plain sight. The story unfolds with a blend of wartime intrigue and pulp mystery, keeping readers on edge as the truth behind the fish begins to surface.
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Mystery Men Comics was Fox Features Syndicate's second title, launched in August 1939 by publisher Victor Fox, who had already drawn a lawsuit from National (DC) over Wonder Comics #1's Superman analogue. Much of the creative work was produced through the Eisner & Iger packaging studio, which supplied scripts, art, and lettering for the anthology's many features; the Grand Comics Database tentatively credits Will Eisner as scripter on the Blue Beetle stories, while Charles Nicholas Wojtkoski — working under the house name 'Charles Nicholas' — provided the art on the Blue Beetle strip. Fox's editorial offices were headquartered at 480 Lexington Avenue in New York, with the title formally registered through Fox Publications, Inc. in Springfield, Massachusetts. The rapid costuming evolution of Blue Beetle across issues #1 and #2 reflects both the frenetic pace of Golden Age production schedules and Fox's push to establish the character as a marketable superhero as quickly as possible.
Trivia · 7 facts
- Published September 1939 by Fox Features Syndicate (Fox Publications, Inc.); cover-dated Vol. 1, No. 2.
- Contains the 2nd overall appearance of Blue Beetle (Dan Garrett) and his first appearance in a costume design substantially closer to what became his enduring look — a full chainmail-style suit rather than the plainclothes fedora-and-suit of issue #1.
- First comic-book appearances of Hercules, Zeus, and Venus occur within the Zanzibar the Magician strip; DC later established this Hercules as the same figure whose strength powers the 'H' in the SHAZAM acronym.
- The cover features Rex Dexter of Mars — not the Blue Beetle, who does not appear on a Mystery Men Comics cover until issue #7.
- The anthology carried roughly 14–15 distinct features per issue, including Green Mask, Rex Dexter of Mars, Zanzibar the Magician, Hemlock Shomes (a Sherlock Holmes parody), Wing Turner, Billy Bounce, and Lt. Drake of Naval Intelligence, among others.
- The 'Armored Truck Robbery' Blue Beetle story was reprinted in Blue Beetle #1 (December 1939), Fox's solo spin-off series — itself historically notable as only the second superhero to receive a dedicated solo title after Superman.
- The issue (like all Fox Feature Syndicate titles) is now in the public domain due to lapsed copyrights, enabling modern facsimile and digital reprints; DC Comics owns only the Blue Beetle intellectual property, not the other features.
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Reprinted in Blue Beetle #1 (1939), The Green Mask #1 (1940), The Flame #2 (1940), Action! Mystery! Thrills! Comic Book Covers of the Golden Age: 1933-45 #[nn] (2011)
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