True Comics #54

A three-hundred-year journey through one of America's most influential cities, "Boston, Mass." traces how a Puritan settlement founded by William Blackstone and John Winthrop grew into the "Cradle of Liberty"—birthing town meetings, Harvard College, and the revolutionary spirit that sparked American independence. From the Boston Massacre and Paul Revere's midnight ride through the Civil War and waves of immigration, the story follows Boston's transformation into a thriving commercial and cultural hub, home to world-class symphony orchestras, universities, and the industrial might that powered a nation. A celebration of the city's blend of historic landmarks and modern progress, this non-fiction account shows how Boston continues to shape American destiny.

After World War II, the U.S. Army repurposed captured German V-2 rockets for scientific exploration, stripping away their warheads and loading them with research instruments to probe the mysteries of Earth's upper atmosphere. "Starbound Rocket" follows these forty-eight-foot missiles as they shatter altitude records, climbing higher than any aircraft or balloon before them to gather data from the ionosphere and beyond. This 1946 account reveals how cutting-edge engineering and peacetime ingenuity transformed weapons of war into tools of discovery.

In 1792, Captain Vancouver of the British Royal Navy explores the Northwest Coast and encounters the American vessel Columbia, whose captain reports discovering a wide, deep river to the south. After initially dismissing the claim, Vancouver decides to race back and claim the river for England—but Captain Grey reaches it first, naming it the Columbia River in honor of his ship. This true account reveals how one of the Pacific Northwest's mightiest rivers earned its enduring name.

Beryl Markham, a British girl raised on her father's farm in East Africa, transforms her fearless upbringing into a life of daring adventure—from training racehorses in the African wilderness to pursuing her ambitions in aviation and beyond. This story traces her journey from a determined teenager carving her own path in a man's world to a record-breaking pilot whose solo transatlantic flight captures global headlines. Her relentless drive to achieve the impossible becomes the foundation for yet another chapter when she turns her hand to writing.

Lt. Bob Stone, a fighter pilot, finds himself in an extraordinary aerial engagement over Kyushu on July 10, 1945—when a routine bomber escort mission turns into a desperate dogfight against overwhelming odds. After engine trouble forces him earthward with twenty enemy fighters on his tail, Stone must rely on quick thinking and sheer flying skill to survive the chaos unfolding around him. This true account captures five incredible minutes that proved why Stone earned his ace status.