Judomaster #91 is dated October 1966. The story and art are by Frank McLaughlin. The issue picks up immediately after the events of the previous issue.
The Judomaster story this time is titled "Man Without A Country!" and begns with the "Crimson Crusher" (one of two nicknames used for Judomaster in the series, the other being "Scarlet Smasher") diving onto a junk in the harbor and finding it operated by beautiful woman, an agent sent to pick him up by General Hawkins following his escape from the Japanese. Her name is Sylvia Coates and she says she is the daughter of a missionary who was killed by the Japanese and so she works to thwart them. She takes Judomaster back to the island where he was trained and he is reunited with Suzi and his mentor Bushiri. They indicate they know that his role as a "traitor" is a ruse. Next we see Rip Jagger in General "Hawk" Hawkins office getting his orders for his next mission. That mission takes him to Wyoming to infiltrate a Japanese internment camp in which a security leak has been discovered to exist. Rip poses as a guard at the camp and quickly follows a young Japanese-American boy and finds "The Cat" a notorious Kendo master and a many of mystery who has his face hidden at all times. Rip discovers that secrets are being transported out of the camp by use of hollow chopsticks. The next day Rip finds The Cat all decked out in his Kendo rip, battling two opponents but using tricks to defeat them. Despite this the young boy clearly idolizes the The Cat. The Cat takes issue with Rip's criticism and strikes him and Rip challenges him to a battle that The Cat says must be to the death. The agree to meet early the next morning. Rip brushes up on his Kendo technique then puts on his Judomaster costume, all the while being watched by the young boy. He heads off to his duel with The Cat and the begin a battle that lasts through the morning. Finally the younster throws a rock that strikes Judomaster giving The Cat the advantage. The boy did it help his hero The Cat save face, but The Cat's merciless desire to kill his weakened foe makes the boy see the flaws in his hero and he helps Judomaster after Judomaster fends off The Cat's first attack. The battle continues for a few moments but The Cat falls from a cliff. His fate is somewhat unresolved, but I guess we are to assume he died. The boy admits his mistake and wants to go with Judomaster, but is denied. Later General Hawkins gives Rip Jagger new orders to break up an international spy ring and he flies off to complete his mission. But he discovers that the young boy has stowed away on the plane.
The second feature in this issue is the debut of Sarge Steel or really the continuation of that feature sliding from his own book into the back of Judomaster. There are no credits but the feature is certainly drawn by Dick Giordano and GCD says Joe Gill did the script. Titled the "Case of the Double Agent" this is File 110. It begins with Sarge Steel shooting an astronaut as he approaches his rocket. It turns out the victim was a foreign agent posing as an astronaut and he poisons himself before he can be questioned. Sarge knows that the spy was sent by Irena Dubaya, a dangerous foreign agent who just happens to have a bug on Steel and plans to take her revenge. She poses as a replacement secretary for Sarge in his Private Investigator office but he recognizes her and then decides to pretend to become a double agent offering to sell his services to the highest bidder. She eventually offers him a job as a double-spy but not before he has beat up a few of her thugs with his steel fist. She takes a photo of his first payoff and Sarge realizes he is playing a most dangerous game as the first part of the story ends.
"Flips and Counters with Judomaster" closes out the issue and it offers up three letters from fans. All are flattering, some more that others, but many ask about the design of Judomaster and its obvious connection to the Japanese Empire. The editors indicate they feel enough time has passed but they were nervous about the choice. Also included on this page is a biographical sketch of Frank McLaughlin who is called the "Creator-Writer-Artist" of Judomaster. A photo of McLaughlin is also shown.
You can feel that the series is getting itself together a bit in this issue. The characterizations are strong and the action is pretty dandy. There is a great full-page splash of the fight between Judomaster and The Cat. Overall you can really tell that editor Dick Giordano is wanting to give his Action-Hero books a distinctive if somewhat Marvelesque feel in their tone.
More to come.
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