Whiz Comics #7
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeWhiz Comics #7 (cover-dated August 1940) is a significant early chapter in Fawcett's bustling Golden Age anthology, marking the first appearance of Dr. Voodoo — a jungle-doctor hero who replaced Scoop Smith as the book's backup feature starting with this issue, broadening the roster of Fawcett's emerging shared universe. The Captain Marvel lead story, 'The Squadron of Doom,' continued building the sci-fi adventure template that made the Big Red Cheese one of the best-selling superheroes of the era, while the Spy Smasher and Ibis strips kept the wartime-espionage and supernatural-fantasy threads alive across the anthology. Taken together, the issue illustrates how Fawcett used Whiz Comics as a proving ground for character variety, a strategy that would eventually spin several of its features into their own solo titles.
In "The Squadron of Doom," Billy ventures to the icy coast of Greenland to investigate the sudden disappearance of the freighter Red Star, uncovering a chilling plot by inventor Rodney Stark. Using a machine that melts glaciers, Stark unleashes prehistoric men from the ice, forcing them to build a secret airforce with plans to conquer America. Written by Bill Parker and brought to life with dynamic art by C. C. Beck—both inks and pencils—this 1940 issue delivers a thrilling blend of adventure and pulp sci-fi, all on a cover by Beck.
In the frozen reaches of Greenland, Billy uncovers a chilling conspiracy when he investigates the vanished freighter Red Star. There, he confronts Rodney Stark, a man whose twisted genius has awakened ancient beings from the ice, using them to fuel a secret airforce aimed at conquering America.
In a dusty frontier town where shadows stretch long, Carol Braddock finds her gold mine shrouded in whispers of ghosts—her uncles Bronk and Brute Braddock feeding the fear to seize her claim. When Golden Arrow rides in, the truth begins to unravel, but the real danger may not be the mine’s curse… but the men who want to own it.
Dr. Carey arrives in Brazil to take over his father’s medical practice among the Blancas, but his presence stirs unease in the village—especially with Okoro, the jealous medicine man who sees him as a threat. When tensions erupt, Hal must prove himself not just as a healer, but as a protector, facing down suspicion and violence in a trial by knife.
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We Buy Collections ▸History
Whiz Comics had launched only six months earlier with its famous cover-dated-February-1940 number (published as issue #2 due to the ashcan numbering quirk), and by issue #7 the editorial team had already begun rotating features. Writer Bill Parker, who had originally conceived the anthology's lineup, scripted the Captain Marvel, Golden Arrow, Lance O'Casey, and Spy Smasher stories; C. C. Beck provided the cover and the Captain Marvel interior art, while Pete Costanza handled Golden Arrow and the Spy Smasher chapter, Bob Kingett drew Lance O'Casey, and John Hampton both wrote and drew the debut Dr. Voodoo story. The replacement of Scoop Smith with Dr. Voodoo beginning here reflects the editorial churn typical of early Golden Age anthology books as Fawcett tested which concepts resonated with readers.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Whiz Comics #7 carries a cover date of August 1940 and was published by Fawcett Publications.
- The issue marks the first appearance of Dr. Voodoo (Harold 'Hal' Carey), a jungle doctor who earns his nickname after a ritual combat among a tribe of 'white Indians'; the story also reveals his origin and is scripted and drawn by John Hampton.
- Dr. Voodoo replaced Scoop Smith as the anthology's backup feature — Scoop Smith's final appearance was in Whiz Comics #6, making issue #7 the transition point.
- The Captain Marvel lead story, 'The Squadron of Doom,' scripted by Bill Parker with art by C. C. Beck, follows Billy Batson investigating the disappearance of the freighter Red Star near Greenland, where villain Rodney Stark is using a prehistoric-ice-melting machine to enslave prehistoric men and build a private air force to attack the United States.
- The cover is by C. C. Beck; interior art credits across the issue include Pete Costanza (Golden Arrow, Spy Smasher), Bob Kingett (Lance O'Casey), and John Hampton (Dr. Voodoo).
- Continuing characters in this issue include Billy Batson/Captain Marvel, Sterling Morris (Billy's radio-station boss), Ibis the Invincible (Prince Amentep) and Taia, Golden Arrow (Roger Parsons), Spy Smasher (Alan Armstrong) with his recurring antagonist The Mask, and Lance O'Casey.
- The Spy Smasher chapter is titled 'The Mask's Kidnapping Scheme,' continuing the serial conflict between Alan Armstrong and the villainous Mask that had run since the feature's debut.
- The Ibis story, 'Chaos at the Carnival,' scripted by Bill Parker with art by Gus Ricca, continues the ongoing adventures of Prince Amentep and Taia established from the very first issue of the series.
Cast · 11 characters
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Reprinted in The Shazam! Archives #1 (1992)
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