Master Comics #107 (September 1949-CMJ)

CMJ and The Disappearance of the Statue of Liberty

This story is important for several reasons. Some of the very early CapJr stories took place in New York City. This one shows Freddy Freeman and his landlady Mrs Wagner visiting the Big Apple.  This at least shows that NYC isn't then Freddy's hometown. Kurt Schaffenberger's very clear story telling enhances this story. In many ways his work at this stage reflects the look that CC Beck and Pete Costanza were doing on the Captain Marvel strip. There was a tendency of thinking that Captain Marvel Jr's artwork was more "realistic/less cartoony" than that of Captain Marvel. Schaffenberger's work here (as well as the Sheldon Moldoff and Bill Ward's drawn stories) show a much more cartoony look for the Blue Boy than is often thought.

Master Comics #100 (February 1949-Tom Mix)

Tom Mix

Perhaps the most exciting sequence of this otherwise ordinary Western story is the trick riding series of four panels on p. 4 (extending on p. 5) and the fight scene on the last page where Tom takes on the gang single-handedly in a fist fight and beats them. Understand this is the guy who mentored John Wayne. Artwork by Carl Pfeufer and John Jordan (GCD).

Master Comics #100 (November 1949- Kanvasback)

Kanvasback "a Chump for the Champ"

As I read this filler strip I was actually rooting for
Kanvasback to show some gumption and either
land a blow on Mal Arkey or even accidentally
knock out the Champ. It was not to be.

Even losers need to win sometime.

Master Comics #100 (February 1949- Bulletman)

Bulletman The Curio Shop Murders

This is one story where Bulletgirl gets to show her stuff. She not only does some detective work by questioning a judge but she takes out the bad girl at the end of the story. This reminds the reader of a similar incident in the Bulletman series (Master Comics #85, "Death Rides the Waves") where Bulletgirl decks the murderess. Once again nice Bill Ward artwork (GCD).