Number 1907: Agent of the Border Patrol

When I think of the U.S. Border Patrol I think of uniformed officers stopping people at the border and checking for contraband. According to Wikipedia the agency called the United States Border Patrol was founded in 1924, far too late for the tale I am showing today. “The Wandering Killer” is a story of an undercover agent of the BP, investigating some mysterious killings. Referring again to Wikipedia, as early as 1904 there was an organization of mounted guards, working for the U.S. Immigration Service, but they never numbered more than about 75, and as the article states, they only went to work when resources permitted. You could fit this story somewhere in that time frame, but for now I’ll just consider this posting from Border Patrol #3 (1951) an exaggeration using artistic license; it is anachronistic to call John Brand a member of the Border Patrol. But then, the story is actually a tale of Indian slaves, sinister Mexicans, and the hunt for buried gold.

The handsome drawings are by Harry Anderson.

Number 1791: T-Man shakes a lady’s maracas

T-Man Pete Trask is a tough guy, with a tough job. He trails a known diamond smuggler even though the smuggler knows Trask is following him. Being “made” by bad guy Anton Wolak doesn’t matter to Pete. Being known to the smuggler gives Pete an excuse for a little hands-on action. He tells the smuggler, “Where did you get that black eye?” With a set-up like that, Wolak should have known Pete would deliver the punch-line — with a punch! — to that jokey question. Pete is a fine example of a government agent (“T-Man” stands for Treasury Man, you know), dogged in his pursuit, ready with his fists, and he can also crack wise when the mood strikes him, or in this case, when he strikes someone else.

The Grand Comics Database credits Harry Anderson for the sharp artwork, and Joe Millard for the script. “Musical Murder” is from T-Man #2 (1951):

Number 833

The dancing girls and the cult of killers!

Hallowe'en is in two days...and this is not a Hallowe'en story. Sorry to disappoint, but it does have a masquerade of sorts, and people wearing masks. They're all members of an opium-smoking, dancing girl-watching cult. I'm always interested in good cults, and if you know of any would you sponsor me for membership? Besides this blog, there isn't much for me to do in retirement. I'm not looking for anything satanic, but sex and/or UFOs would be acceptable. Especially a UFO sex cult. (If one does not exist I may have to invent it.)

Enough of that...the story is from Wanted #52, from 1953. The artwork is credited by the Grand Comics Database to Harry Anderson. I'm fairly certain this is the first story of Anderson's I've ever posted. He was a solid pro who worked in comics until the 1950s. Wanted was published by Orbit, whose publisher was listed as Ray Hermann, which was a pseudonym for Ruth Hermann. You'll notice a screw-up with the dates in the Cult of Killers story...the body is found in 1948 and the execution of the murderer is four years earlier.

Wanted had a gimmick, which was to offer $100 rewards for the capture of criminals profiled in the comics. Here's a typical Wanted wanted poster:

I wonder if anyone ever collected that $100.








After posting this story I need to get busy furthering my Hallowe'en preparations. I have my moat filled with water and alligators. Today I'm planting landmines in case any of the trick or treaters get past the 'gators.