National Comics #4

From Quality Comics' early days comes this vivid 1940 gem, with cover art by Lou Fine showcasing a towering Uncle Sam striding across the waves, American flag billowing behind him as he reaches down toward a blond young companion armed with a pistol — all set against churning surf and a tropical island background. Along the bottom, star-shaped portraits tease three more of the anthology's featured players: Merlin, Sally O'Neil, and Wonder Boy. With the Uncle Sam story billed as "Torpedo Islands of Death" right on the cover, this issue of National Comics crackles with the patriotic, pulp-adventure energy that made Quality Comics one of the most exciting publishers of the Golden Age.