Don Winslow of the Navy is a largely forgotten hero of multiple medias, highly popular in the 1930s and 1940s. His straight arrow, unabashed patriotism is no longer much in fashion, his references to the Japanese especially unfortunate. But for a time, his adventures captured the imagination of a mostly younger audience, with plenty of coded messages for them to decipher.

That said, there were plenty of curvaceous femme fatales in Don Winslow of the Navy for older male readers to enjoy. They would be an impressive bunch if they didn’t almost always sacrificing their villainous allegiances for a shot at romance with the handsome Winslow. Winslow, the tease, never delivered with even a kiss. His loyalty and what passed for affection lay mostly with Mercedes Colby, an admiral’s daughter and later war nurse. Though he certainly spent more time with his pal and fellow officer, Red Pennington.

The other most notable character of the comic strip was the mysterious Scorpion, probably one of the top ten comic strip villains ever to terrorize the comic page.

Don Winslow of the Navy had fairly sober origins, conceived of by Frank V. Martinek as a way to get boys enthused about the possibility of military service. Martinek had served in Naval Intelligence in World War I but sacrificed realism for mysterious intrigue and fantastic action from the very start. Leon Beroth supplied more than competent artwork for most of the strips run, beginning with the first appearances of the strip in 1934.

Martinek expanded on a character he had created for a Don Winslow novel and several more novels followed, in some cases paralleling the action of the comic strip. Big Little Books translating dialogue into narrative and using panels from the strip further blurred the distinction between the character’s rendition in the various media.

The Unfolding Saga of the Scorpion

The Scorpion, a behind the scenes leader of a multifaceted operation named Scorpia, was referenced from the very start of the comic strip. Initially never seen and only occasionally overheard, the Scorpion had international ambitions. He also possessed military resources many a small country would envy, including a small air force, naval ships and a wide array of scientists who pushed the limits of science.

When Scorpion sightings began to appear, several years into the narrative, the reader was informed that the villain possessed multiple masks and disguises and that not even his chief officers had ever seen his actual face. Time in Tibet also has allowed him to develop seemingly supernatural powers, such as spirit possession of another body, though such an activity exhausts him and places him near death. An early trio of Scorpion lieutenants from 1934 were Lotus, Cho San and the Masked One. Other agents serving the Scorpion during the Thirties were the Falcoln, the Shark, Miss Scorpion (Tasmia), the Tyrant, Captain Nimbo, Doctor Q, and Dr. Centaur.

The Scorpion is finally captured in 1936 and stands trial. As he awaits execution, he allows his spirit to leave “his body”, actually a body that he possessed over 20 years before, and in this way escapes captivity. Or has he. For several months, the Scorpion goes unseen and unreferenced.

Don Winslow and the Scorpion’s Daughter

With the Scorpion presumed dead, readers are confronted with a veiled woman Madame Mask. AKA, the Mask of Death, the otherwise unnamed daughter of the Scorpion. A slim and attractive masked woman for whom both Tasmia and another named female agent named Sonja work. Madame Mask operates an all-woman battalion of female pilots called the Battalion of Death. Madame Mask flees, escaping capture as the last of her schemes is undone late in 1937.

The Scorpion returned in 1937 to rescue Tasmia, haven taken over the body of a steeplejack from India. This is the first time Tasmia has ever seen the Scorpion and it is this body that he is seen in through the rest of the narrative. The Scorpion continued acts of mass terror and destruction, such as flooding the Rio Grande and poisoning all the animals in the region. He soon lost interest in Tasmia, evoking her acute jealousy when he throws her over for the equally beautiful Amara. During this period, the Scorpion appears to be of Eastern European origin. He possesses both a brilliant strategic mind and a powerful body.The Scorpion largely disappears from sight during World War II,

World War II

The creators of Don Winslow of the Navy make a calculated decision to retire the Scorpion for the duration of the War. Since the Scorpion’s efforts were all about world conquest, it would be hard to square his aspirations with the reality of German and Japanese plans for conquest. While the strip increases in popularity during this period, the storylines are less exciting and imaginative.

There is only one brief exception. The fiend is seen briefly in 1942 leading an unsuccessful and short-lived Japanese operation in Northern California. It is almost as the creators realize that it all seems ill advised—the Scorpion seems out of place in the new reality and his stature seems reduced leading a simple infiltration operation. And not for his Scorpia organization but in the service of Japan.

The loss in narrative drive seems to have been recognized and what had been shorter and more self-contained adventures now shift back into extended dramas. In the daily strip, readers are confronted with the Closed Fist and cleverly named operatives that echo that metaphor: The Thumb, the Ring and the Red Palm. Over on the Sunday comic section, Don Winslow has an extended encounter with the Panther’s Claw, an atypical Arab villainess who keeps her face covered consistent with cultural traditions. The Panther nonetheless seems perfectly fine with revealing her shapely figure.

Don Winslow of the Navy’s Uncertain Future

With the end of the War increasingly in sight, Don and Red start a private detective agency called Crime Smashers in 1945. For a time, it appears the intention was to turn the two heroes into some type of private detectives. The military connection was seemingly jettisoned. By 1946, they are working for a United Nations like organization, the Universal Security League. But that too was soon forgotten. Stories were rather lackluster and nothing was catching on. Winslow’s creators seemingly had only one card left to play, and it was a most familiar one at that.

The Return of Scorpia

The Scorpion is heard, but not seen, addressing an an unprecedented gathering of the Scorpia Supreme Council  in 1946 by loud speaker. It was his first activity in four years. While the Scorpion continues to not be directly portrayed, one after another of his agents pursue Scorpia interests. Tasmia soon returns as the Jade Tigress. Madame Mask will also make a less than inspired return. The return of Scorpia, however, lacked the novelty, mystery and intrigue it had enjoyed in the thirties.

New Players and the SS6

The comic strip continued to drift into a malaise and new changes were introduced in the 1950s to try and perk things up, largely unsuccessfully. In October 1952, Don and Red are joined by Jane Steele and three others to form the super secret espionage team only as SS6. The following year Don’s sister Mary Winslow joins the team. But Don’s recorded adventures were soon to end, first in the dailes in 1954 and a year later in the Sunday funnies as well.

Don Winslow of the Navy’s Life on Radio and in the Movies

Don Winslow of the Navy’s popularity was indicated by his appearance in multiple media, including novels, big little books, comic books, and the like. Winslow had a radio show devoted to his adventures from 1937 to 1939. Several of the characters from the comic strip were featured including Red, Lotus, Tasmia and, of course, the Scorpion. Misty Gaye was a romantic interest for Red Pennington who later was introduced to the comic strip. The radio show returned in 1942 for a brief run, probably because the first of two movie serials were showing in theatres.

The first movie serial, entitled Don Winslow of the Navy appeared in 1942 and starred Don Terry as Winslow. Red Pennington, Mercedes Colby, Misty Gaye and the Scorpion all appeared. A new character, Mike Splendor, an ace intelligence officer, was also introduced and only later appeared in the comic strip. He may have been in one of the earlier Winslow novels. A new serial, Don Winslow of the Coast Guard, followed in 1943 with Don Terry reprising his starring role. This time comic strip characters included Pennington, Mercedes Colby, the Scorpion, and Tasmia.

 Singapore Sal and Winslow’s Comic Book Foes

Despite the fact that the comic strip Don Winslow of the Navy had a rather healthy rogues gallery, only the Scorpion made the transition into the comic books. He was a far less intriguing character there, his mystical background and his international organization largely ignored or underplayed.

Instead, Fawcett’s comic book featured mostly nondescript wartime adventures mixed in with a few reoccurring foes: the sexy female pirate, Singapore Sal; the ruthless Renegade who sported a nasty reversed R branded on his forehead; and most intriguingly, a crew-cutted Japanese patriot educated in the United States and spouting our slang known only as the American. A few lesser foes like the Snake and Rubberface also made return appearances.

 

Don Winslow of the Navy’s Friends and Allies

Lt. Red Pennington. Winslow’s best friend, Pennington is not as quick-witted as Winslow and often gets in jams. That said, he is courageous and has helped Winslow out in numerous a tight spot. In earlier years, he is said to have brute strength beneath his chubby exterior but this attribute gradually disappears from the narrative. 3/34-5/44ds, 1/45-x/46ds, 2/49-x/49d, 5/50-x/50, 1/7/51-x/55d.

Admiral Warburton. Admiral Warburton is a brilliant military strategist and inventor who is apparently killed in a Scorpia attack on an experimental dirigible he invented. This is the event that triggers the Navy to assign Winslow to bringing down the Scorpion and his international paramilitary and criminal operation. Three years later Winslow learns that Warburton was not killed and had been hidden and in disguise. Once he resurfaced, Warburton was immediately appointed head of naval intelligence and often was the one to assign new missions to Winslow. 3/34d, off and on from 4/37(136A-137A) to x/55d.

Lotus. Described as a lovely half caste woman—part Chinese and part white, Lotus was intially one of three head agents working under the Scorpion. Lotus was in love with another Scorpia agent named Count Borg. Borg looked exactly like Don Winslow, so when he died in a plane crash, Winslow impersonated him as a way of infiltrating the organization. Lotus surmised the substitution but by the time she did she’d fallen in love with him and betrayed the Scorpion to rescue a captured Red Pennington. When the Scorpion attempted to execute her, Winslow rescued her in turn. In 1935, Lotus returned to assist Winslow in his struggle against the Falcoln. She appeared briefly in 1936 to testify at the Scorpion’s ill fated trial. She returned briefly in 1941 with an uncle to help locate a Scorpia cell. In 1943, Lotus appeared out of nowhere to rescue Don and Red from a Japanese concentration camp. 1934d (96-97, 169-184), 1935d (246-288), 1936d (745-747), 5/41d, 3/43d.

Long Tai. Aka, “Son of Heaven.” Long Tai is a spiritually gifted young Chinese boy who the Falcon takes under his wing in order to use him for his own purposes. The Falcon declared that under his tutelage, “all peoples will fall victims to his unworldly charm and wisdom. Long Tai has a pet fox named Pango. He has a happy ending when the evil spirit of the Falcoln leaves his human host, who vows to take good care of the boy. 1935d (254-341).

Mercedes Colby. When Mercedes first appears, she is described as Commandant Bentley’s ward. She is later shown living with her father, Admiral Colby. Don is immediately impressed with Mercedes’ powers of observation, deduction and fearlessness and enlists her help in solving a murder case and a second one immediately thereafter. Mercedes gets involved in the complicated relationship Winslow has with a smitten Scorpia agent named Sonya. Mercedes is a talented horsewoman and her only failing is something of a jealous streak. Mercedes and Winslow are often engaged and ready to get married, but a call to duty or a sense that he can’t properly devote himself to her when threats to national security still exist consistently pull them apart. In February 1941, Don calls on Mercedes to utlize the fact that she’s had “some nurses training” to pose as a nurse caring for Asmara. After Pearl Harbor, Mercedes enlists as a WAVE, and begins nursing duries full time for the Navy. In 1944, when Don is hospitalized, he is surprised to find Mercedes there, not as a nurse, but as a patient. It turns out that Mercedes was injured when tending to injured soldiers in France and appears to be suffering from war trauma. Mercedes is rarely seen thereafter, disappearing from the narrative entirely in 1946. Mercedes is attractive with dark hair. She is often referred to as a “little lady” or “little Mercedes” so is apprarently short in stature. 1935d (424-c510), 1936d (734-x), and off and on from 7/6/37-1/43d, 3/43s, 7/44d, 3/46-4/46, 7/46d.

Admiral Colby. Winslow’s commanding officer during the thirties, but later retired. Off and on from 7/37 to 9/39d.

“Buzz” Grant. Teenage associate of Don Winslow, who first encounters him at the age of 14 or so. His mother is ill and his father was a trucker killed by organized crime for not cooperation. He helps Winslow bring down the gang and Winslow in turn sees to it that he is enrolled Renskill Academy, a prep school with plans to go to the Naval academy after that. He returns as a student at Renskill and afriend of the mysterious White Pheasant who seems to know more about secret codes than she should. 9/38-2/39d, 11/39-1/40d.

Dr. Kram. Noted Hollywood make-up artist who assists Winslow, sometimes reluctantly, with disguises as needed. He often worries that Winslow will not be able to pull off the impersonation, for example that he is too tall to pose a Japanese. 7/39-10/39d, 1/40, 10/40d, 7/42, 11/42d, 8/44d, 4/46d.

Catfish Smith/Wester. African American cook employed by Winslow or the Navy. He is portrayed and drawn in very stereotypical fashion. 8/39-1/40d.

Misty Gaye. Attractive blonde haired nurse who works with Mercedes and who falls for Red Pennington and vice versa. 1/42-2/42, 4/42d, 3/43s.

Greda. Originally an Axis agent of Gohitro, this lovely brunette is won over by Don to help undo the scheme of her former boss. In 1944, Greda is instrumental in crafting Don’s female disguise when he goes undercover as Daisy of the Navy to infiltrate the Scarlet Thread. 9/43-2/44d.

Phil “Snoop” Well. A slightly built cowboy from Rattlesnalke Gulch, Wyoming who was rejected by the military because of a bad knee but is eager to help the cause. Don and Red first meet him when he is an inadvertent agent of the Scarlet Thread organization. He adopts the role of Don’s sidekick when Red Pennington goes missing. Snoop speaks with a decided drawl and has very wide open eyes. 5/44-1/45ds.

Flamingo. A Native American assistant park ranger who helps Winslow bring down the Whisp. 7/45-8/45ds.

Michael Splendor. Handsome blond-haired man and one the most highly respected naval intelligence officers. He had been previously featured in a Don Winslow novel and on the Don Winslow radio program. 5/46-6/46d.

Clem Peters. A boy who helps Winslow out on cases for a brief period. 10/46-1/47ds.

Thorn-Apple. Attractive blonde Scorpia agent whose mother Blue Nose kidnapped to insure her loyalty. This, of course, had the opposite effect and Flo Vicmar, aka Thorn-Apple ended up assisting Winslow. 10/46-1/47ds.

Tommy. A Navajo young man who assisted Winslow on a mission. x/50-1/51.

Jane Steele. A Naval captain in the WAVES, Jane meets and assists Don and Red after they discover her superior officer is the Scorpia agent Black Pete attempting to trigger a deadly germ warfare attack. Jane subsequently goes undercover with Don playing his girl friend as they square off against Baroness Zee. In 1952, Jane is enlisted to join an elite, cross military espionage group to be known only as SS6 (Secret Service Six). 3/51-6/51, 10/51-3/52, 10/52-5/53, 8/53-9/53d, others.

Mary Winslow. Don’s younger sister, a WAC captain. In 1953, Mary goes undercover as a Latina woman Maya, even fooling her brother who fails to recognize her. Her success in this enterprise leads to her joining the SS6, along with Jane Steele, Don and Red. In April 1954, she is seen being brainwashed by the Dragon, yet another Scorpia agent. 10/52-11/52, 2/53-6/53, 4/54d, others.

Gilbert Winslow. Don’s younger brother, an Air Force pilot. May be a member of the elite SS6, though he never shares an adventure with his brother. 10/52d.

Don Winslow of the Navy’s Notable Adversaries

Admiral Gohr. Nazi commander in charge of U-Boat Island and a plot to make the seaways unsafe for America. 11/42-3/43s.

Asmara. Attractive dark-haired female agent of the Scorpia organization. When the Scorpion returns to one of his headquarters, he is immediately taken by her exotic beauty. That and her cruel efficiency contributes to his quick decision to place her in charge of some major operations. Winslow finally captures her, but not before she has attempted to kill him by jabbing him with her poison ring. In June 1941, at Winslow’s urging, she is released from prison when she renounces Scorpia to engage in counter-espionage. Asmara flies to Portugal where she uncovers a ring of enemy agents posing as “penniless war refugees headed for a a rest camp in Pennsylvania headed by a foreign agent in disguise. She continues to thrive on flattery and adulation. Asmara makes her final bow, helping arrange a plot for Don to pose as a German expert in sabotage in hopes of his meeting Hitler. 9/40-4/41d, 6/41-10/41d, 10/42-12/42d.

Bango. Scorpia operative in charge of distributing opium. 10/52-1/53d.

Baroness Zee. Beautiful foreign agent who assists the sinister Dr. Skell in trying to perform brain surgery on Winslow. While Jane Steele is skeptical, Admiral Warburton believes her when she expresses a desire to turn over a new leaf. 10/51-12/51d.

The Black Moll. Tonette Muntan adopts the identity of a female private named the Black Moll. She takes over the seafaring vessal, the Black Dagger and its crew when the original pirate captain is forced to walk the plank. The Black Moll dresses in a revealing blouse and short skirt and wears a skull and crossbones pirate hat. She resembles Don Winslow’s comic book foe, Singapore Sal, except that Sal wears slacks instead of a skirt and sports a black eyemask. 11/47-12/47d.

Blue Nose. Right hand man to the unseen Scorpion, who only communicates via a voice box. The enemy agent summons a rare meeting of Scorpio regional chiefs, the Supreme Council of the Flaming Rose. There is one chief for every continent. Blue Nose, as his nickname suggests, has a large discolored nose. 10/46-1/47ds.

Bright Eyes. A small man, whose dapper style of dressing—complete with vest and arm band—belies a vicious nature. The saboteur has an intense gaze suggesting mental instability. Bright Eyes works with a nurse to infect military officers with tampered food and has the nurse kill them in their weakened state. Mercedes Colby, in her role as a naval nurse, is central in identifying his method. 1/42-2/42d.

Captain Nimbo. Captain of the Scorpion flagship. When Winslow succeeds in sinking Nimbo’s ship, he’s able to obtain a copy of the Scorpion’s secret codebook. Popular Comics 5-7. x/35-11/35s.

Captain X. Non-descript villainous captain of a foreign navy intent on destroying the Panama Canal. Popular Comics 80-81. 10/40-1/41s

Cho San. Chinatown crime lord and Scorpia agent. In 1934, he is identified as three of the top figures in the organization, along with Lotus and the Masked One. Cho San is not seen again until 1940, when with Tasmia the two are unnerved by Winslow’s use of a mystical Tibetan device. 1934d (97, 771-x), 5/40-6/40, 9/40d.

The Clenched Fist. The Clenched Fist is described as “the most vicious organized gang of spies and criminals” ever to come to the attention of authorities: “racketeers, murderers, spies and saboteurs.” The explicit goal of the organization was to profit from provoking a third world war even before the second one was over. It is apparently part of a larger international body called the Purple Circle, which has similar goals. Both the Clenched Fist and the Purple Circle are headed by the Red Palm (11/44-2/45), initially unseen and referenced but ultimately to be revealed as an tempestuous red-bearded figure. The five “digits” of the Clenched Fist, in charge of various aspects of the organization, are gradually introduced. They include the the Little Finger, a cloaked figure with a horrific face who specializes in covert action and murder (8/44-11/44), the Thumb, the apparent chief of operations who wears a black hood that covers the upper half of his face and has “thumb” printed across the forehead (9/1/44-12/44), the Index Finger and Middle Finger, in charge of finances and other organizational details, and Ring Finger or Mistress Ring (9/1/44-1/45), always a woman and a dark-haired beauty at that. Knuckles, a “specialist in painless, stainless death” is one of their trusted operatives (12/44-1/45). In December, Ring joins forces with Winslow, with whom she’s fallen in love. The operations of the Clenched Fist, the American branch of the Purple Circle, are shut down by December.  For a time, the Rook of the Purple Circle (1/45-2/45), who was also the head of the Scarlet Thread, attempted to convince Winslow that the long missing Pennington who now serves the Purple Circle was actually the Red Palm. Pashona (1/45-2/45) was another agent of the Purple Circle, head of its “women’s battalion of death.” The Purple Circle’s overall international organization is never actually defeated, but only forced to go underground when Winslow wrests a missing and brainwashed Red Pennington from its clutches. The Clenched Fist and the Purple Circle collectively: 7/17/44-2/45ds.

The Conqueror. AKA Horatio Bloo, a megliomaniac who threatens America over radio broadcasts. His ambition is tobecome the ruler of the Western hemisphere. He promises his lovely associate, the Orchid, that when that happens, she will be his empress. 5/39-7/39d.

The Crocodile. With facial features resembling that of a crocodile, this ruthless enemy of America discovered Reddite, a substance that resists the pull of gravity. With it, he was able to build a stratospheric island called the Sky City. The Crocodile also infected American troops with malaria in a demonstration of another approach to destroy American troops. Popular Comics 15-27. 4/19/36-10/15/36s.

Dr. Centaur. “The Scorpion inventor,” Centaur devised a weapon that generated ultra-short sound waves capable of paralyzing all who hear it. Possesses short red hair and a goatee. Part of the Scorpion Gang after his leader’s death, allied with Tasmia. 12/36-4/37s, 1/37-3/37d (xx-90A).

Doctor Thor. Manages a munitions plant for the Dwarf, aka War-Maker, whom he ultimately deserts when his boss is in trouble, absconding with millions of dollars. Thor continues his association with the lovely but deadly Duchess, who also worked for the War-Maker. When captured by Winslow after their second battle, Thor reveals his original identity, wealthy banker Lucius Thorndyke who went bankrupt during the Great Depression. Faking his own death falling overboard a yacht, he made a fortune as a criminal, but an unscrupulous crew member—the only man to know his secret—began blackmailing him, threatening to harm his young daughter if he didn’t capitulate. Winslow agrees to protect his daughter. Thorndyke has a hawk nose and has his brown hair in a severe crewcut. Crackajack Funnies 14-16, 20, 27-35, later appearances reprinted in Don Winslow/Four Color 22. 11/37-12/37s, 5/38s, 11/38-5/39s.

Doctor Q. Unstable scientist whose research into a massive waterfall in Africa that disappears into the earth is funded by the Scorpion. Q discovers if the waterfall is dammed up and the earth’s core is no longer cooled, he can create volcanoes anywhere in the world with strategically placed deposits of Thorite. Q is bald with a white beard and monocle. He is also very strong and utilizes a pet jaguar named the Scourge he has trained to track enemies. Popular Comics 7-14. 11/35-4/12/36s.

The Duchess. Short-haired, brunette beauty, this member of the European aristocracy initially served as a spy in the service of the Dwarf in the elegant circles of Monte Carlo. She later did espionage work learning sensitive secrets from the families of Naval personnel who came to her in her disguise as a psychic specializing in the fate of military personnel. After her capture, the Duchess was willing to provide Winslow with information that allowed him to locate another War-Maker associate Doctor Thor. When an incognito Thor surmises that the Duchess could identify him, he tries to kill her. Crackajack Funnies 13, 24-31, her later appearances reprinted in Don Winslow/Four Color 22. 10/37-11/37s, 8/38-3/39s.

The Duster. A master of torturous interrogation, in his first appearance, the Duster is portrayed as a large bald headed man who wears a long dark overcoat and a sadistic expression. In 1938, he is variously and somewhat inconsisted described as reporting to a spies by the names of the Tiger and later the Ghoul or as being the head of a spy ring. He returns in 1948 as one of Scorpia’s most brutal agents with a full head of hair and wearing a paramilitary uniform. 5/38-7/38, 5/48d.

The Dwarf. AKA the War-Maker, the tuxedo clad, balding little person is described by Winslow as “a ruthless and powerful munitions magnate (who) sends out a fleet of pirate submarines to sink ships of all nations, thereby promoting war and a market for his deadly products.” Initially, no one knew who the War-Maker was, only that he was a behind the scenes figure trying to provoke war. As it emerged, his “Excellency” as he was called by his minions, the Dwarf was also the little seen ruler of the small Balkan nation of Ironia, where he located his munitions plant run by Doctor Thor. The Duchess was also in his employ. Crackajack Funnies 11-12, 16-17, 19-21; Don Winslow/Four Color 22. 9/37-6/38s.

The Falcon. AKA Kai Foo. A magician-warlord who learned dark arts alongside the Scorpion. The Falcoln is the only minion who harbors ambitions of overthrowing the leadership of the Scorpion and ruling the world on his own. The Falcoln appears to be an old man who wears dark square sun glasses and walks with a cane. Don Winslow attempts to turn the Falcoln actively against the Scorpion by making him falsely believe his rival attempted to kill him in an assassination attempt. Ultimatley, though, the Falcoln is detained and Ling Tai is freed from his influence. Several weeks later, the Falcon escapes capture by using his hypnotic powers on his guard. Kai Foo meets with Winslow not long after, revealing that the Falcoln is actually an evil spirit that possessed his body and recently left it. Kai Foo vows to resume his guardianship of Ling Tai, but this time with only honorable intentions. In 1936, Kai Foo is summoned to Washington to testify against the Scorpion during his trial. 1935d (252-287+, 333-341), 1936d (750-752).

Gohitro. The leader of Chicago-based espionage operation. Gohitro is White and operates out of a lavish penthouse, dresses elegantly and smokes cigars. His agents include Greda, who ultimately is won over by Winslow, Lenanda—a blonde who nearly succeeds in seducing Red, Gimp, Rimmel and Wilhelm. Later on in the mission, Colonel Inoda (11/43-12/43) of the Black Dragon organization is revealed as Gohitro’s master. Inoda ends up committing Hari-kiri rather than be captured. 9/43-12/43d.

Gorilla. Brutish thug with enormous strength, who incongruously dresses in plaid slacks. Rather surprisingly, Gorilla also has the ability to place othrs ina catalyptic trance. He may have been the final colorful villain of Winslow’s established narrative. 6/54-8/54d.

Half- Dome. Scorpia agent who appears to be missing the top half of his skull that seems not to impede his sinister plotting in the least. 12/50-1/51d.

Lawson Lugg. Master of disguise who is the brains behind a scheme to destroy the American naval fleet. Crackajack Funnies 41-43. 2/40-7/40s.

Madame Mask. AKA, the Mask of Death, the otherwise unnamed daughter of the Scorpion. A slim and attractive veiled woman for whom both Tasmia and another named female agent named Sonja work. Madame Mask operates an all-woman battalion of female pilots called the Battalion of Death. Madame Mask flees, escaping capture as the last of her schemes is undone late in 1937. Of possible interest is the appearance of a woman named Pashona who is operating an all female Battalion of Death in 1945. Since both Madame Mask and Pashona have dark hair and since Madame Mask’s given name is never given, its possible they’re the same woman. Years later, referred to only as the Mask of Death, the Scorpion’s daughter returns in 1950 with a complicated scheme of kidnapping the horse (Purple Mist) of an Arab oil czar and maintaining a Scorpia prison block cell in the American southwest. 5/37-7/37d, 10/37-11/37d (150-179A, 208-209A, 281-293A), (Pashona: 1/45-2/45d), 2/50-5/50d

Natajap. Unseen figure who operates internationally in cities as far flung as Algiers and Bogata, Colombia. In Algeria, he is assisted by the hijab wearing Queen Dido (2/44). In Colombia he is assisted by the Bandit Jagota and the lovely Libera (3/44-4/44. Notajap operates on behalf of the Axis, though if his name is any indication, he is not a Japanese. 1/44-4/44s.

Nochin. Demented scientist who, as his nickname implies, has no chin to speak of. He is assisted by Madam Torso, a middle-aged woman with a large bust, and his hare-faced thug and muscle, Wabbit. The mistreated Wabbit finally kills Nochin in a rage. 1/40-2/46ds.

The Orchid. Attractive female spy who has a gang of foreign thugs at her command and who serves the Conqueror who promises to share power with once he takes over. 2/39-5/39d.

Owl Eyes. Smuggler with owl like eyes who blackmails Dr. Thor on the side, threatening the safety of his daughter who is unaware her father’s still alive, let alone an infamous criminal. Owl Eyes appears to die in a submarine due to lack of oxygen but appears years later, the brains behind a kidnapping plot. Crackajack Funnies 34-41, earlier narrative reprinted in Don Winslow/Four Color 22 . 5/39-12/39s, 6/49-9/49d.

The Panther’s Claw. Organization operating out of Algiers in support of the Axis and headed by the Pantheress, Queen Dido, who wears an Arab headcovering such that her face is covered and only her eyes show. Also called the Panther, the Queen is killed while in the service of the mysterious Notajap when her aircraft explodes. 6/43-2/44s.

Polecat. Scorpia agent whose flaring black hair and center white streak give him a vaguely catlike appearance. Ironically, given cat’s hatred of water, he is Scorpia’s heavy water specialist and operates out of their “Cobra’s Nest” hideout. 1/48-3/48.

The Purple Dictator. Hostile foreign despot who dresses in military garb and sports a monocle and a neatly trimmed beard. The Purple Dictator has a deadly pet ocelot named Lena which he can unleash on unwary enemies. Popular Comics 77-79. 7/40-9/40s.

Red Vulture and Banana Hawk. Unlikely co-conspirators and fellow Scorpia agents. The Red Vulture is is bald with a goatee, five o’clock shadow and dirty t-shirt. Banana Hawk is a neatly dressed middle-aged man. Together their scheme is to cause an explosion that will flood and thus ruin the Panama Canal. 8/52-10/52d.

The Rook. The mysterious Rook crosses paths with Winslow on two occasions. The first time the Rook’s voice is only heard from behind a screen—the apparent top man of the Scarlet Thread operation, see below. The Rook is apparently lost at sea along with Red Pennington by an explosion that destroys his headquarters within a vessal known only as Tomb’s End. Winslow next encounters the Rook on an island where he is regarded as a “witch doctor” by the natives there because of his ability to brainwash men to do his bidding, Red Pennington now within his power. The Rook, now fully seen, is a slender, bald headed man with a sinister expression, working for the Red Palm of the Purple Circle. The Rook meets his death within a cage of gorillas he kept to kill his enemies. 4/44-5/44, 1/45-2/45d.

The Scarlet Thread. An axis organization that enlists the assistance of unsuspecting teenagers and others to facilitate their sabotage efforts. The Scarlet Thread’s face is a beautiful blonde named Karmina (1/44-4/44), who recruits alientated teens at her juke box joint, the Vulture’s Lair. The true head of the Thread, however, is a man named Cokee (2/44-7/44), with a neatly trimmed mustache. Don goes undercover as a lady of night named Daisy in February and March to work Cokee for information. Cokee and a turbaned telepath known only as Doc (3/44-5/44) both work for the Rook (4/44-5/44), whose voice is only heard from behind a curtain in a secret room hidden within a ship called Tomb’s End. A ship explosion ends the Rook’s schemes for the time being (see above), but Cokee survives. He is shown paralyzed with abject fear of the mysterious Closed Fist just before he is killed by one of its agents.  1/15/44-7/7/44d.

The Scorpion. Behind the scenes leader of a multifaceted operation named Scorpia with international ambitions, the Scorpion appears to be of Eastern European origins and possesses both a brilliant strategic mind and a powerful body. He also possesses military resources many a small country would envy, including a small air force, naval ships and a wide array of scientists who push the limits of science. Time in Tibet also has allowed him to develop seemingly supernatural powers, such as spirit possession of another body, though such an activity exhausts him and places him near death. An early trio of Scorpion lieutenants from 1934 were Lotus, Cho San and the Masked One. Other agents serving the Scorpion during the Thirties were the Falcoln, the Shark, Miss Scorpion (Tasmia), the Tyrant, Captain Nimbo, Doctor Q, and Dr. Centaur. The Scorpion is finally captured in 1936 and stands trial. As he awaits execution, he allows his spirit to leave “his body”, actually a body that he possessed over 20 years before, and in this way escapes captivity. The military pretends to execute the befuddled fellow he’d possessed in order to leave the Scorpion’s organization in turmoil and despair. During this time, the Scorpion’s heretofore unseen daughter, Madame Mask, takes over operations. The Scorpion returns in 1937 to rescue Tasmia, haven taken over the body of a steeplejack from India. This is the first time Tasmia has ever seen the Scorpion and it is this body that he is seen in through the rest of the narrative. The Scorpion continues acts of mass terror and destruction, such as flooding the Rio Grande and poisoning all the animals in the region. He soon loses interest in Tasmia, evoking her acute jealousy when he throws her over for the equally beautiful Amara. The Scorpion largely disappears from sight during World War II, seen only briefly in 1942 leading an unsuccessful and short-lived Japanese operation in Northern California. He is next heard, but not seen, addressing an an unprecedented gathering of the Scorpia Supreme Council  in 1946 by loud speaker. While the Scorpion remains unseen and even unheard, his agents pursue Scorpia interests. Agents active between 1946 and 1949 include the Jade Tigress (secretly Tasmia), Blue Nose, Jawbone, Polecat, the Duster, General Pink Eyes, and Cold Shivers. A new generation of Scorpia agents is active during the 1950s, including the reappearance of Madame Mask, allies Red Vulture and Banana Hawk, rivals Two Face and Eightball, opium smuggler Bango, and the unnerving Half-Dome. For the first time since 1941, the Scorpion actually resurfaces in 1953, personally overseeing a scheme to terrorize America with a device capable to creating earthquakes. The Scorpion is last seen by Winslow a year later. 1934d voice only (2-3, 97, others), 1935 voice only (390-395, others), x/36-9/36 (c710-770), 9/37-10/37 (263A-281A), 4/40-4/41d, his photo seen 2/42s, 8/42-9/42, 10/46d voice only, 5/53-7/53d, 4/54d.

The Shark. A lieutenant of the Scorpion, the Shark commands a fleet of ships in the Caribbean, and operates out of a submarine near Guantanamo, Cuba. The Shark is a Latino, dresses in paramilitary garb, and speaks with a Spanish accent. 1/36-3/36 (583-627).

Soochow Opal. Beautiful dark-haired emrmy agent hailing from East Asia. 11/53-1/54d.

Tasmia/Jade Tigress. Full name, Tasmia Allen, a very attractive, short dark-haired member of the Scorpion gang who wears her hair in a stylish turban. In her initial appearances she is known only as Miss Scorpion. Tasmia comes into prominence after her leader’s apparent execution late in 1936. As part of the Scorpion gang, she schemes primarily with Dr. Centaur. After his capture Tasmia escapes and becomes an agent of Madame Mask. Hospitalized after a battle with Winslow and awaiting execution, she is rescued by the Scorpion—returning from seeming death—who carries her off to safety. Tasmia is not then seen again until 1940 when she accidentally encounters Winslow in Calcutta. This time, after her capture, the Scorpion leaves her in prison, distracted by a new female agent named Asmara. Embittered, Tasmia gives authorities information that helps them thwart Asmara’s current scheme. Tasmia returned to the fold in 1946 as the Jade Tigress, swearing to her servant never to refer to her as Tasmia again. During this time she once again worked with the Scorpia organization and Jawbone in particular. When this plan fails, she escapes disguised as a man, vowing to operate once again under her own name. She is never captured. 9/36-10/36d (799-819), 1/37-11/37d, 5/40-6/40d, 9/40-10/40d, 3/23/46-5/28/46.

The Trigger. An noted spy and arms smuggler who disguises his identity, going under the name of Reggirt, trigger spelled backwards. Once captured, he supposedly commits suicide though his death was under suspicious circumstances. x/38-2/39d.

Two Face and Eightball. Rival Scorpia agents who both hope to be made regional head. Two Face is a bizarre fellow who is bald and sports a mustache on one side of his face and has long luxurious hair and is clean shaven on the other. His appearance disgust Eightball, a small, timid looking fellow who is entirely bald. 5/51-6/51d.

The Tyrant. Dictator of Tierra Nueva, a Latin American country and staunch ally of the Scorpion. The Tyrant is assisted by a Latino badman named the Beetle. The Tyrant’s hold on Tierra Nueva is destroyed by a massive military operation in which Winslow and Red play a major part. Popular Comics 1-5. 4/35-10/35.

The Whisp. AKA the Fiend. Originally a troubled young man named Ben Dica, Jr., he becomes embittered when both the Navy and Army reject him. Going to work as an expert in flame throwers, he falls in love with a young woman but becomes troubled, donning a facial mask with a pronounced black mustache and irrationally repeating his new identity as the Whisp. He then kills her father because he denied him her hand in marriage. A master of disguise and getaways, a Native American assistant ranger named Flamingo knew him only as the Fiend. 3/45-9/45ds.

The White Pheasant. Attractive, blonde-haired female spy, a former Hollywood actress, Faith Heather, who was known then and as a spy as the White Pheasant. Heather, it emerges, only acts with evil intentions due to an earlier brain injury. 12/39-4/40d.

 

 

Chroniclers: Frank Martinek and Carl Hammond (w) entire run

            Leon A. Beroth (a) 3/5/34-2/28/53

            John Jordan (a) 3/2/53-7/30/55

Active: 3/5/34-8/7/54 dailies, 4/21/35-7/30/55 Sundays

 

Don Winslow of the Navy Timeline

1934    Winslow is to bring in the mysterious Scorpion and meets the lovely Lotus. 

1935    Winslow and Lotus challenge the Falcon. Enter Dr. Centaur.

1936    The Scorpion stands trial, his evil spirit escaping. The Crocodile defies gravity.

1937    Enter Madame Mask–Scorpion’s daughter, plus Tasmia, Duchess and Dr. Thor.

1938    The Dwarf, aka the War-Maker, tries to spark a global conflict.

1939    The sinister Owl Eyes blackmails Doctor Thor by threatening his daughter.

1940    Enter the White Pheasant. Jealous of Asmara, Tasmia betrays the Scorpion.

1941    Lotus returns. With Don’s entreaty, Asmara becames a double agent.

1942    Bright Eyes is foiled by Mercedes. Asmara schemes to help Don meet Hitler.

1943    Lotus rescues Don from a concentration camp. Also Gohitro and Panther’s Claw.

1944    Don spars with the Scarlet Thread (in drag!) and then the deadlier Clenched Fist.

1945    Briefly a private eye, Winslow foils the murderous Whisp, a master of disguise.

1946    Tasmia returns as Jade Tigress. Jawbone and Blue Nose mark Scorpia’s eturn.

1947    The Black Moll, a female pirate, terrorizes the sea lanes.

1948    The Duster, Scorpia hitman, makes his second appearance, the Polecat, his first.

1949    Enter Cold Shivers, Scorpia agent.  Owl Eyes returns with a kidnapping scheme.

1950    The Mask of Death returns. Don and Red travel to the planet Celeste.

1951    Half-Dome, Two Face and Eight Ball engineer Scorpia plots. Enter Jane Steele.

1952    The Red Vulture threatens. Don, Red, and Jane join the highly secret SS6.

1953    Mary Winslow joins the SS6. The Scorpion returns with an earthquake machine.

1954    Winslow has one final encounter with the Scorpion. Plus, the menacing Gorilla!

1955    No data available.

Don Winslow of the Navy Daily Narratives

Early episodes of the comic strip didn’t include dates but rather numbers. This was because whenever a new newspaper took on the comic strip, they started with the first comic strip rather than wherever the narrative was unfolding at that point. As such, until, 1937, it is difficult to determine with precision the dates of the early storylines.

1930s: *The Scorpion 1934 (1-95), Scorpion’s Triad 1934 (96-xx), The Plot Against Detroit … (114-xx), Danger in Holy Ghost Canyon (128-140+), Lotus 1934 (169-184), The Falcon 1935 (…234–287+), Captives of the Iceburg 1935 (c290-341), Sabotage and the Aircraft Carrier (342-377), The Scorpion’s Floating Naval Base (377-422), Mercedes Colby and the Murder of Professor Ide (422-       ), Don and Mercedes’ Second Case (482-   ), The Shark 1936 (583-627), ——–, The Trial of the Scorpion 1936 (c710-770), Dr. Centaur and Tasmia 1/37-3/37, Tasmia, Sonya and Madame Mask 4/37-11/37 (c140-293A, The Scorpion’s Eskimo Allies 12/37-4/38, The Tiger and the Duster 5/38-7/38, The Ghoul 7/38-9/38, “Buzz” Grant and the Crime Ring 9/38-11/38, The Trigger 11/38-2/39, The Conqueror and the Orchid 2/39-7/39, The Countess, the Cruise and Catfish Smith 8/39-11/39.

1940s: The White Pheasant 11/39-4/40, Cho San and Tasmia 5/40-9/40, Asmara, the Scorpion’s New Favorite 9/40-4/41, Asmara and the Sinister War Refugees 5/41-8/41, Magna, the Psychic Giantess 9/41-10/41, Sabotage Aboard the Vermont and the Anti-Submarine Screen 10/41-12/41, Nurse Mercedes and Bright Eyes 12/41-2/42, Dr. Tisho and his Hypnotized Suicide Pilots 2/42-4/42, Operation Alaskan Fishing Boats 4/42-5/42, The Black Dragon Society 5/42-7/42, Striking Japan from Within/The Scorpion’s New Alliance 7/42-10/42, Asmara and the Plot to Meet Hitler 10/42-1/43, Captives of the Japanese 1/43-3/43, Minor Missions 4/43-6/43, The Murder of Nick Eslat 6/43-8/43, Gohitro’s Gang of Spies 9/43-12/43, The Scarlet Thread 1/44-7/44, Mercedes’ War Trauma 7/44, The Clenched Fist and the Red Palm 7/44-2/45, The Crime Destroyer and the Whisp 2/45-9/45, ———, Nochin, Wabbit and Madam Torso 1/46-3/46, The Jade Tigress 3/46-5/46, —–, Blue Nose 10/46-1/47, —–, ——-, Black Moll 11/47-1/48, Polecat 1/48-3/48, Duster Returns 3/48-5/48, In Pursuit of the Red Whale 6/48-8/48, Pork Jowl 8/48-10/48, “Hy” Douglas and General Pink Eyes 11/48-1/49, Cold Shivers and Cactus Rat 2/49-6/49, Owl Eyes Redux 6/49-9/49, ——-, Grifter and Buckskin …12/49-1/50.

1950s: Return of the Mask of Death 2/50-5/50, Detour to the Planet Celeste 5/50-7/70, The Sea Monster of Hell’s Canyon 7/50-10/50, Half Dome 11/50-1/51, Enter Jane Steele 3/51-5/51, Two Face and Eightball 5/51-6/51, —–, Baroness Zee 10/51-12/51, ——-, ———–, Red Dragon and Banana Hawk 8/52-10/52, Bango and the Opium Trade 10/52-1/53, Mary Winslow’s Undercover Mission 2/53-5/53, Return of the Scorpion 5/53-7/53, —–, Soochow Opal 11/53-1/54, The Dragon c4/54, The Gorilla 6/54-8/54*.

Don Winslow of the Navy Sunday Narratives

The Tyrant 4/35-10/35, Captain Nimbo 10/35-11/35, Doctor Q 11/35-4/36, The Crocodile 4/36-10/36, Dr. Centaur 12/36-4/37, ——–, The War Maker 9/37-6/38, Doctor Thor and the Duchess 8/38-5/39, Owl Eyes 5/39-12/39, Lawson Lugg 2/40-7/40, The Purple Dictator 7/40-9/40, Captain X 10/40-1/41, The Lancton Bomb 2/41-3/41…, ——, Dunmore Slycker 5/42-7/42…, Blackmailing Phyllis Burnham 9/42-x/42, Admiral Gohr and U-Boat Island 11/42-3/43, The Panther’s Claw …6/43-12/43, The Mysterious Natajap 1/44-4/44…, by 7/44 the Daily and Sunday narratives have merged.