True Comics #59

Bob Hope went from a kid teased for his name in Cleveland to one of America's brightest entertainers—but his greatest performances came when he took his comedy overseas to lift the spirits of fighting men during World War II. Traveling over a million miles with USO Unit Sixteen, Hope and his troupe braved fog, malaria, and exhaustion to bring laughter to soldiers across Alaska, North Africa, Sicily, the Pacific, and Europe. This is the story of how a comedian answered his nation's call and became a hero to the troops who needed him most.

In the early 1800s, collisions at sea cost countless sailors' lives and millions in cargo. A determined young naval officer named Matthew F. Maury set out to solve the problem by meticulously plotting winds and currents to chart safe, efficient sea routes—a vision that persisted even after a crippling injury forced him away from active duty. Through dogged collection of ship logs, weather data, and ocean depth measurements, Maury transformed maritime navigation and proved the life-saving value of his charts to skeptical captains and the world.

In May 1900, prospector Jim Butler's runaway donkey leads him on an exhausting chase through the Nevada hills—but when the stubborn animal finally stops to kick at the rocks, Butler discovers something that changes everything. Based on a true story, "Lucky Kick" shows how a prospector's frustration with his pack animal becomes the catalyst for one of Nevada's most significant silver discoveries.

Charleston rose from colonial beginnings—when English settlers arrived in 1670 under a royal charter and built a prosperous port on rice, cotton, and indigo—through decades of pirate threats, revolutionary battles under Colonel William Moultrie, and postwar growth that made it America's cotton hub. The city weathered the Civil War's devastation and a catastrophic 1886 earthquake, each time rebuilding itself into the gracious, historically rich port it remains today. From its Georgian mansions to its famous gardens and bustling waterfront, Charleston stands as a testament to resilience and the blend of old-world heritage with modern progress.

Lt. Moe Katz, a former football star, meets Marion, a Red Cross worker, near the front lines in France during 1944—but their budding romance is shattered when tragic news arrives that his three brothers have been killed in combat. Trying to lift his spirits, Marion convinces him to attend a dance in town, but on his way to keep that date, Moe stumbles into a German ambush and discovers he has only fifteen minutes to both neutralize the threat and make it back to see her.

In 1947, True Comics examines the traditional Chinese medical practices that persist alongside modern medicine, showcasing the apothecaries and street vendors who trade in animal-derived remedies—from powdered crabs for wounds to tiger-bone wine believed to grant strength. This non-fiction story reveals how everyday Chinese citizens seek healing through centuries-old cures, filling their medicine cabinets with unusual specimens drawn from nature's oddest sources. A fascinating snapshot of folk medicine in action, capturing a world of remedies that modern science would eventually leave behind.

When the Depression closes his auto business in 1929, pilot Lowell Yerex seizes an opportunity to fly for a Mexican airline—a decision that sets him on a path to revolutionize Central American aviation. Over the next decade, Yerex combines ingenious problem-solving with flying skill, from establishing mail routes to pioneering jungle freight operations that transform remote regions into thriving commercial hubs. His vision and determination build TACA into one of the world's largest cargo airlines, opening new frontiers across Central and South America.

In 1947, a Greek bill collector named Stylianos Kyriakides travels to America to compete in the Boston Marathon, driven by a desire to bring attention to his starving homeland. Running against stronger competitors and fueled by determination, Kyriakides faces a grueling battle over the final miles of the historic race rooted in ancient Athens. Inspired by the glory of Greece itself, he pushes through a punishing test of endurance on the roads near Boston.

From Napoleon's urgent need to feed his troops to America's booming food industry, this six-page history traces how canning evolved from a French chef's prize-winning experiment into a vital American enterprise. Following the pioneers who refined the technique—from the inventor of tin containers to the fishermen who built a salmon empire in California—the story shows how canning overcame public skepticism and became indispensable, ultimately serving everything from soldiers' meals to dramatic wartime rescues. It's a colorful journey through one of the nation's most practical innovations.

When the American merchant vessel "Friendship" falls under attack by Sumatran pirates in 1831, Captain Endicott must find a way to reclaim his ship and stop the raiders who threaten American trading routes. With the help of a local chieftain and eventually the U.S. Navy's intervention, Endicott sets out to dismantle the pirate stronghold once and for all.