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By the time Top-Notch Comics #6 (cover dated June, 1940) hit the stands in April of 1940, it was in the middle of comics' very first cross-company storyline (the Mosconian Threat of Top-Notch #s 5-7 and Pep Comics #s 4 & 5). It also came in the middle of a tweaking period for Top-Notch as well. So if one could get past the classic Ed Ashe cover - which promotes the Galahad strip - here's what you would find inside:

THE WIZARD; the book gets of to a flying start as the Wizard renews his battle with the Mosconians as they try to destroy Boulder Dam. Watch for a sequence in which the Wizard perfoms a feat of super strength that rivals what Superman and Captain Marvel were doing at the time. Harry Shorten (story) and Ed Ashe (art) do an excellent job of continuing the Mosconian storyline.

GALAHAD; For his second Top-Notch appearance, Galahad goes on a quest to retrieve the Golden Chalice after it has been stolen by the wicked Earl of Pellam. Although Lin Streeter was no Hal Foster, he was quite able to capture the Prince Valiant feel in this story.

SHANGHAI SHERIDAN; In his second adventure, not only does Shanghai Sheridan renew his battle with warlord Wu Fang; Sheridan and his new ally Scary Dee have to rescue a pair of Americans from being taken prisoner by a Japanese battleship commander. Looking at this story, not only were Joe Blair (story) and Irving Novick (art) able to capture the Terry and the Pirates feel; Novick managed to draw the story in a manner reminicent of illustrator Noel Sickles (who incidently was Milt Caniff's chief influence).

STREAK CHANDLER; Once again Streak Chandler renews his battle with the tyranaical Kalox in story reminicent of what Alex Raymond was putting in his Flash Gordon pages at the time.

WINGS JOHNSON; Joe Blair and Ed Smalle once again bring you the adventures of Wings Johnson. Here Johnson not only leads a bombing run against a German war fleet, he also has to prevent a German raid on a British airbase. All in all, a decent little war story.

DICK STORM; Mort Meskin delivers the goods on the art in this story that has Dick Storm trying to overthrow a blood thirsty dictator in the country of Honduras.

BOB PHANTOM; Here Bob Phantom renews his battle with Ah Ku as he tries to destroy her drug smuggling operation. Here Harry Shorten (story) and Jerry Thorpe (art) deliver the goods on this fast paced thriller.

THE WEST POINTER; In this slice of college life, West Point cadet Keith Kornell teaches a bully from a rival school a lesson in sportsmanship. Ed Wexler delivers on the art.

KARDAK; The Master Brahmin storyline begins in earnest as Kardak and Lorna have their first encounter with the evil mystics. Harry Shorten (story) and C.F. Winter (art) came up with a storyline that rivaled what Lee Falk and Phil Davis were putting into their Mandrake the Magician strip.

For a book that was going through a tweaking period, Top-Notch Comics was quite an exceptional book. And considering what was ahead for the title, it was only the beginning.

Shawn, keep up the good work and KEEP 'EM FLYING!!!!!

Edited by kelso (Sat Feb 25 2006 12:04 AM)