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Issue: Keen Detective Funnies #12
Publication Date: December 1939
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Disclose Detail
Issues: #12 of 24 Issues
Title:
Variant: unnamed
Rating:
Publisher: FlagCentaur
Brand: none
Indicia Publisher: Centaur Publications Inc.
On Sale Date: 10/27/1939
Volume: 2
Pages: 68
ISBN: none
UPC/EAN: none
Price: $0.10 USD
Indicia Frequency:
Content Items: 17 (11 stories, 1 cover)
Editor(s): ?
Disclose Notes: December, 1939. Vol. 2, Number 12. KEEN DETECTIVE FUNNIES is published monthly by Centaur Publications, Inc., 420 De Soto Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri, Editorial and Executive Offices: 220 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y. Entered as second class matter at the Post Office at St. Louis, Mo. Single copies 10c. Yearly subscription $1.00 in the U.S.A. (other countries $1.50). Copyright 1939 by Centaur publications, Inc. Contents must not be reproduced without permission. No actual person is named or delineated in this fiction magazine. Printed in the U.S.A.

On sale date from the publication date found in the Catalog of Copyright Entries, Part 2, Periodicals, New Series, Volume 34, 1939, Number 4. Second class periodical. Copyright number 435460.
  Does this data need corrections? Become an editor.
Disclose Format
Publication Type: Comic Book
Color: color cover; color interior
Dimensions: standard Golden Age US
Paper Stock: glossy cover; newsprint interior
Binding: saddle-stitched
Publishing Format: was ongoing series
Format Notes:  
Disclose Reprinted In7
reprinted as/ in another Issue.
reprinted 4 times as Content Items in other Issues.
Some/all of Issue reprinted as 2 Content Items in other Issues:
FlagContinuum #4bis published March 2008 as [untitled] [Story on Interior Page(s)]
FlagContinuum #4bis published March 2008 as L'homme prodige [Illustration on Interior Page(s)]
Disclose Reprinted From0
There is currently no data for this Issue being reprinted from anywhere.
Disclose Images1
Cover, Front
Original Artwork
Digital Edition
Adult Image
Title Page
Indicia on this Page
 
 
Assets0
 
spacer
Disclose Content Items (17 total)
Disclose Issue Images
[untitled]

Illustration  on  Cover, Front
Credits
Penciller(s): Frank Frollo (signed)
Inker(s): Frank Frollo (signed)
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: mystery
Feature(s): Jerry O'Keefe
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose
Uncle Joe's Christmas Treat: Free Gifts for All

Promotional Material (from Publisher)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): Joseph Hardie
Penciller(s): ? (fireworks ad only)
Inker(s): ? (fireworks ad only)
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Synopsis: "How would you like to get some free Christmas presents from Uncle Joe? Well, I'll be glad to do this--if you'll help me by telling me the things you'd like to have this Christmas! If you will do this, I in turn can help the manufacturers plan for even nicer things next Christmas! Just answer the questions below honestly and carefully and I'll see to it that you get three valuable Christmas gifts absolutely free! I'll be waiting to hear from you, so please answer the questions and send the coupon to me right away!
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Inside front cover. The questionnaire gives a list of items such as books, cameras, athletic goods, aeroplanes, phonograph and records, pen and pencis set, etc. and asks which items you have, hope to get this Xmas (1939) or hope to get next Xmas (1940). It then lists the options for your free gifts in return for filling out the survey- a selection of publications like "Lionel Train Handbook", "Scott' Monthly Journal", etc., including a self-instruction book on how to typewrite well. Finally it asks you to tell Uncle Joe what you've influenced your family to buy during the last month.

Along the side are some other ads and giveaway offers, including a plain text ad for Amazing Man Comics and ads for puzzle books from Centaur Publications, Inc.
Disclose
Four Gangs against the Masked Marvel

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): Ben Thompson (signed)
Inker(s): Ben Thompson (signed)
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: mystery, superhero
Feature(s): Masked Marvel
Character(s): Masked Marvel; ZR; ZY; ZL (dies); Anton Roche (villain)
Synopsis: Anton Roche, previously captured by the Masked Marvel, is freed from police custody by three rival gang leaders. They fear the Masked Marvel and want Roche to lead them in capturing him. The gang leaders sell each other out, planning simultaneous crimes. The police ask the Masked Marvel to have one of his men lead a police detachment at the site of each crime. All three of the gang leaders are captured, but ZL is killed in the fighting. The leaders reveal Roche's location, and the Masked Marvel captures him and dumps him out of an airplane with a parachute over the state penitentiary.
Reprinting
In Content Item: FlagMasked Marvel #3 published December 1940
as [untitled] [Story on Interior Page(s)]
In Content Item: FlagContinuum #3 published December 2007
as [untitled] [Story on Interior Page(s)]excerpt
In Content Item: FlagGolden-Age Greats Spotlight #13 published August 2013
as [untitled] [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 12
Disclose Notes: ZL was mostly bald, which was rather unusual for a Mystery Man, even an assistant one.
Disclose
The Countess Who Feared Radio

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): Charles Pearson [as Chas. Pearson] (signed)
Inker(s): Charles Pearson [as Chas. Pearson] (signed)
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: mystery
Feature(s): Spark O'Leary
Character(s): Spark O'Leary; Drusilla Melick (villain)
Synopsis: Spark sees the Countess de Rossini at a ball with a huge diamond, but she refuses to speak on the radio for him, even after her diamond is stolen. He manages to capture a bit of her tale of the crime on his microphone before she notices him, and a friend of the Countess calls in to say that the woman she heard on the radio did not sound anything like Countess de Rossini. She is revealed to be blackmailer Drusilla Melick, who confesses when confronted with the truth.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 5
Disclose
The Fiend's Organ of Destruction

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): Sam Gilman [as Gilman] (signed)
Penciller(s): Sam Gilman [as Gilman] (signed)
Inker(s): Sam Gilman [as Gilman] (signed)
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: mystery
Feature(s): Dan Dennis, F.B.I.
Character(s): Dan Dennis; Tick; Inspector Teague; The Fiend (villain)
Synopsis: The Fiend, previously captured and now in an asylum cell, still holds the secret of his musical organ of destruction. Dennis strikes a deal with the Fiend, exchanging the plans for leniency, but while police escort the Fiend to his hide-out other criminals intercept them and capture the Fiend themselves. The get the plans but are paralyzed when the Fiend demonstrates the organ for them. Just then, Dennis arrives, distracts the Fiend with ventriloquism, and uses the organ against its creator. Inspector Teague arrives to find Dennis waiting for him with the paralyzed criminals.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 6
Disclose Notes: Pgs 1, 3-4 and 6 are red/black duotone, while pages 2 and 5 are black and white.
Disclose
[untitled]

Activity  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): Max Neill (signed)
Inker(s): Max Neill (signed)
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: mystery
Feature(s): Comicrimes
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 2
Disclose Notes: Each page has one or more puzzles setting up the circumstances of several crimes and asking the reader to work out how the crimes were done. The answers are printed upside-down in the bottom left-hand corner of each page.
Disclose
Foggy Night, Part II

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): Frank Frollo [as Frollo] (signed)
Penciller(s): Frank Frollo [as Frollo] (signed)
Inker(s): Frank Frollo [as Frollo] (signed)
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: mystery
Feature(s): Jerry O'Keefe
Character(s): Jerry O'Keefe; Shorty
Synopsis: O'Keefe, a state trooper, gets into trouble with several smugglers. They've already captured his friend Shorty and take them both to their cabin hideout. They manage to escape. Because of concealing fog, the smugglers can't see them. But Jerry can see the head smuggler backlit by the light of the cabin and shoots him, allowing Shorty to get free and bring the police.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 6
Disclose Notes: Pages 1, 3-4 and 6 are red/black duotone, while pages 2 and 5 are black and white.
Disclose
Fair Exchange

Text Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): Sam Gilman (credited)
Penciller(s): Sam Gilman (credited)
Inker(s): Sam Gilman (credited)
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Synopsis: Pickpocket gang leader Slim Anderson complains that his three boys aren't bringing in enough loot and that all of the "hicks" in town for the World's Fair should be easy pickings. The boys claim that things have gotten a lot harder because the papers have played up the danger so much the hicks are onto them. They dare him to try it himself. Later, they seem to have great success with a friendly hick, but when they get back to their hideout, they find out the hick was Slim himself, who stole all of their belongings while he let them steal his!
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 2
Disclose Notes: There are illustrations of the pickpockets on each page of the text story.
Disclose
The Doctor's Revenge

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): Claire S. Moe [as Clair S. Moe](signed)
Penciller(s): Claire S. Moe [as Clair S. Moe](signed)
Inker(s): Claire S. Moe [as Clair S. Moe](signed)
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: crime
Synopsis: A respected doctor is abducted by gangsters just as his son heads off to medical school. The doctor is forced to do reconstructive surgery on the gangsters' boss to help him hide. He loses his practice as a result of accusations that he is protecting criminals, so he fakes his death and when his son tries to avenge him, he reveals himself and poisons the gangster who started it all. Father and son are happily reunited in the end.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 6
Disclose Notes: Pages 1, 3-4 and 6 are red/black duotone while pages 2 and 5 are black and white.

There is no "e" in "Clair" in the signature, although her name is written with the "e" in Jerry Bails' Who's Who, which confirms the script credit.
Disclose
Lesson #3

Activity  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): ?
Inker(s): ?
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: informational, mystery
Feature(s): How to be an Amateur G-Man!
Synopsis: Various bits of information about fingerprints, invisible ink, the history of the F.B.I., J. Edgar Hoover, the words "cop" and "g-man," crime statistics, costs to the American public, and even some bits explaining the difference between what real crime-fighting is like versus what goes on in comic books. Some items are questions that will be answered in lesson #4, and some are answers from questions asked in lesson #2.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 2
Disclose
The Devil-God Murder Cases

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): Charles Pearson [as Chas. Pearson] (signed)
Inker(s): Charles Pearson [as Chas. Pearson] (signed)
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: mystery
Feature(s): Detective Degan
Character(s): John Degan; Li Wan (villain)
Synopsis: Two mysterious murders lead John Degan to look into a large bronze idol retrieved by an expedition to Tibet that included both victims. When he sees blood and bullet marks on the idol, he consults Chinese scholar Li Wan, who explains that a high priest in a trance could animate the statue. Later, Degan wonders why Li Wan knew so much and returns to find him in a trance controlling the idol. Li Wan's guards fight Degan, but he dodges a hatchet that one guard throws which then strikes Li Wan in the head, killing him.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 5
Disclose Notes: Pages 1 and 3-4 are black/red duotone while pages 2 and 5 are black and white.
Disclose
[untitled]

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): Fred Schwab [as Ed Wood] (signed)
Penciller(s): Fred Schwab [as Ed Wood] (signed)
Inker(s): Fred Schwab [as Ed Wood] (signed)
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous, mystery
Feature(s): Junior Detective
First Line: There's a new kid in town
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: red/black duotone

Script credit suggested by Jerry Bails' Who's Who.
Disclose
[untitled]

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): Frank Thomas (signed)
Penciller(s): Frank Thomas (signed)
Inker(s): Frank Thomas (signed)
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: mystery, occult
Feature(s): The Eye Sees
Character(s): The Eye (introduction); Ann Matte (Matte's daughter); E. D. Mattes (wealthy trader); Talu (Ann's old teacher); Islam Herat (villain); Herat's gang (villains, all die)
First Line: How did work go today, daughter?
Synopsis: Formerly wealthy trader E. D. Mattes and his daughter Ann have been exiled from their home in Afghanistan by Islam Herat, who took over Mattes's business. In New York, Mattes laments that Ann must work and he has nothing left but her.The Eye appears and tells Mattes that if he obeys, all things are possible. Herat plots the death of Mattes so he can capture Ann. The Eye intercepts his assassins in their airplane and blows them out of the sky. Mattes pretends to be his own ghost to get Herat to confess.
Reprinting
In Issue: FlagL'âge merveilleux des Comics #5 published ?
In Content Item: FlagDetective Eye #2 published December 1940
as [untitled] [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 8
Disclose Notes: No origin or explanation is given for the Eye, and whatever Talu might have told Ann is unrevealed.

Script credit suggested by Jerry Bails' Who's Who.
Disclose
The Case of the Whispering Light

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): Harry Campbell [as Harry Francis Campbell] (signed)
Penciller(s): Harry Campbell [as Harry Francis Campbell] (signed)
Inker(s): Harry Campbell [as Harry Francis Campbell] (signed)
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: mystery
Feature(s): Dean Denton, Scientific Detective
Character(s): Dean Denton; Carol; The Conquerer (villain)
Synopsis: A movie star disciple of a new seer called Astra is murdered. Dean realizes that the "magic" crystal balls given to Astra's wealthiest disciples are only loudspeakers controlled through beams of light. He and Carol go to Astra's "Temple of Light." He recognizes the voice of "Astra" as belonging to his old enemy the Conqueror. Denton is captured, and Carol causes a distraction, allowing him to escape. He broadcasts the truth to the remaining followers of Astra, which lures the Conqueror to the station. Denton gets the drop on the Conquerer when he arrives and turns him over to the police.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 8
Disclose Notes: Script credit suggested by Jerry Bails' Who's Who.
Disclose
[untitled]

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): Terry Gilkison (signed)
Penciller(s): Terry Gilkison (signed)
Inker(s): Terry Gilkison (signed)
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: crime, informational
Feature(s): Cop Capers
Synopsis: Strange and amusing trivia involving jail sentences and criminal behaviors around the world.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Script credit suggested by Jerry Bails' Who's Who.
Disclose
This Beautiful Desk for $1.00

Advertisement  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): ?
Inker(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Feature(s): Remington Noiseless Deluxe Portable Typewriter
Synopsis: Advertisement for a desk at a discounted price if bought with a Remington portable typewriter.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Inside back cover.
Disclose
[untitled]

Advertisement  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): ?
Inker(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Feature(s): Johnson Smith & Co.
Synopsis: Back cover. A plethora of small-print ads.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1

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