Target Comics v3 #9 5.5

Target Comics V3 #9 [33] – Key Highlights

• Publisher: Novelty Press

• Publication Date: November 1942 (issue details; introductory description lists December 1942)

• Editor: Stanley Beaman (uncredited)

• Cover Artist: Art Gates

• Interior Artists: John Jordan, Art Gates, Jack Warren, Basil Wolverton, Harold DeLay, Sid Greene, John Daly, and Al Fagaly

• Writers: Mickey Spillane, Jack Warren, Basil Wolverton, Eugene Pollock, and others

• Genre: Superhero, Adventure, Humor, War

• Pages: 68

• Original Cover Price: $0.10

🔥 Key Significance

• Features an early comic-book writing credit for Mickey Spillane, who contributes both a Kit Carter adventure and the two-page text story “Spook Ship.”

• Includes Spacehawk, written and illustrated by legendary cartoonist Basil Wolverton.

• Features a substantial 12-page adventure starring Kit Carter, written by Spillane under the initials “M. S.”

• Includes The Last of the Mohicans, adapted from James Fenimore Cooper's classic novel as part of the Fantastic Feature Films series.

• Showcases artwork by several notable Golden Age creators, including Art Gates, Sid Greene, John Daly, and Al Fagaly.

📖 Story Highlights

• “At Daunton Military Academy — the ‘Inner Circle’ of the Campus Groups…” – 12 pages: A Kit Carter adventure written by Mickey Spillane under the initials “M. S.”, with artwork by John Jordan, credited as “J. J.”

• “(Gulp!) I'm Takin' the Pledge!” – 6 pages: An Al T. Tude humor story illustrated by Art Gates, who handled both pencils and inks.

• “Victory Is Our Target” – 4 pages: A Speck, Spot, and Sis adventure written and illustrated by Jack Warren under the pseudonym “Vincent.”

• “The Case of the Missing Tires” – 8 pages: A Spacehawk adventure written and illustrated by Basil Wolverton, who signed the work.

• “Have You Heard…” – 1-page text article: An Adventures in Stamps feature written by Eugene Pollock, with typeset lettering.

• “Spook Ship” – 2-page text story: Written by Mickey Spillane under his own name. This story was later reprinted in Primal Spillane: The Early Stories, 1941–1942 (Gryphon Books, 2003).

• “The Last of the Mohicans, Part X” – 6 pages: A Fantastic Feature Films adaptation of James Fenimore Cooper's classic novel, illustrated by Harold DeLay.

• The Target and the Targeteers – 8 pages: An adventure featuring the Targeteer against Nazi forces, illustrated by Sid Greene.

• Bull's-Eye Bill – 6 pages: A story illustrated by John Daly.

• Pete Stockbridge — Alias “The Chameleon” – 10 pages: An adventure featuring the excitement-loving Ragsy, illustrated by Al Fagaly.

• “Is This the Way to La Guardia Airport?” – 1-page filler: A gag feature from Targetoons.

📌 Additional Details

• Cover Art: Art Gates handled both pencils and inks; the cover is signed.

• Mickey Spillane Credits: Spillane wrote the Kit Carter story using the initials “M. S.” and contributed the text story “Spook Ship.”

• Basil Wolverton: Both scripted and illustrated the Spacehawk adventure.

• Harold DeLay: Illustrated the tenth installment of The Last of the Mohicans.

• Issue Number: V3 #9, also identified as #33.

• Publication Date Discrepancy: The introductory description gives December 1942, while the issue details list November 1942.

Target Comics V3 #9 is a fascinating wartime-era Novelty Press anthology, particularly notable for Mickey Spillane's early comic-book contributions, Basil Wolverton's Spacehawk, and a strong lineup of Golden Age adventure and humor features.