True Comics #58

In 15th-century Italy, a young Leonardo da Vinci pursues a boundless range of studies—from sketching birds to designing flying machines—driven by a conviction that human innovation can unlock nature's secrets. His brilliant mind produces both timeless artistic masterpieces like *The Last Supper* and scientific theories that won't be proven correct for generations, all while his relentless pursuit of knowledge carries him across multiple fields and continents. This is the story of a Renaissance genius whose ideas were simply born too far ahead of the world's readiness to understand them.

Grace Olive Wiley has an extraordinary gift: she can tame even the deadliest cobras without removing their poison sacs, a feat no one else has achieved. When Hollywood comes calling for a snake to star in a Tarzan picture, her talents land her on a movie set where she must prove to a nervous cast that her deadly reptiles are genuinely under control. It's a remarkable true account of how one woman turned her unique ability with reptiles into an unconventional career.

In 1851, pioneers from Illinois begin their journey northwest, and after exploring Puget Sound, John Low and David Denny establish a settlement that will become Seattle—first at Alki Point, then relocating to a site better suited for shipping lumber. From those humble beginnings, the city transforms into a Pacific Northwest powerhouse, driven by the lumber trade, fishing industry, and a strategic harbor that becomes crucial during the Alaskan gold rush of 1897, while innovative engineering projects reshape the landscape itself. Today, Seattle stands as a thriving hub of commerce, culture, and industry, blessed with natural resources and a location that continues to fuel its growth.

When a small task force from the 784th Tank Battalion pushes into the German town of Sevelen in March 1945, they expect a quick victory—but the German forces have been waiting for them, and the bridge behind them is blown, cutting off retreat and resupply. Trapped in close-quarters combat and running low on ammunition, the tankers improvise, moving their crews into the open to man anti-aircraft guns while a supply convoy led by Sergeant Ambrose Hicks fights its way back through enemy lines to reach them. This story captures a pivotal moment of courage and resourcefulness that would cement the 784th as a seasoned fighting unit.

In 1924, eight daring Army pilots set out to accomplish aviation history—a complete flight around the world—facing battling weather, engine failures, and treacherous conditions across multiple continents. Major Frederick L. Martin commanding "The Seattle," Lt. Eric H. Nelson in "The New Orleans," Lt. Lowell Smith piloting "The Chicago," and Lt. Leigh Wade in "The Boston" pushed their fragile aircraft to the limit, encountering everything from fog-choked Alaskan skies to engine trouble over Indo-China and a harrowing encounter with capsizing waves near Greenland. Follow these intrepid airmen as they navigate crashes, mechanical disasters, and desperate rescues on their groundbreaking journey across the globe.

Born Ehrich Weiss in Wisconsin, the young magician who would become Harry Houdini trained himself into a master of escape and illusion, dazzling audiences across Europe and America with seemingly impossible feats of physical control and mental discipline. From locking himself in strait jackets to surviving beneath ice and exposing fraudulent spiritualists, Houdini's career was built on relentless preparation and an iron will—proving that his extraordinary abilities came not from the supernatural, but from unwavering dedication to his craft.

Jim Jeffries had the punch to become a champion, but it took discipline and a willingness to learn the finer points of boxing to get there. This biography traces his journey from a good-natured boiler-maker in Ohio through his early brawling days, his crucial training under masters like Corbett and Tommy Ryan, and his shot at the world heavyweight title in 1899—showing how a raw talent transformed into a skilled fighter who would hold his crown through countless challengers.

Captain Robert A. Bartlett and his crew face their greatest test when their ship, the Karluk, becomes trapped in Arctic ice in 1923, forcing them to abandon vessel and brave one of the harshest environments on Earth. With rescue uncertain and a hundred miles of frozen wasteland between them and safety, Bartlett must lead his desperate men across treacherous ice floes toward Wrangell Island while confronting cold that reaches fifty-five below zero. Illustrated by Ernest Schroeder, this gripping account from True Comics captures one explorer's harrowing struggle against the unforgiving polar sea.