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Diving Into the Comic Vault: Pep Comics #7 Is an Adequate Issue

Welcome back to another episode of Diving Into the Comic Vault! Today we'll be looking at the next installment in the MLJ anthology that would one day give us Archie — Pep Comics #7! This cover by Novick invokes a feeling of terror and excitement, with The Shield fighting off cloaked bad guys while your typical Golden Age damsel looks on in wonder. We then open with Shield living his normal civilian life, cheering on his respective baseball team. Unfortunately for everyone in attendance, Slugger Madaggio explodes in a fireball of flame and death as soon as his bat connects with the ball. Meanwhile, at another baseball game happening at the same time, another player is callously murdered while in play.

It's safe to assume that gang boss Al Moroni had both players killed to make an example to other baseball players. Moroni wants the various baseball stars in (what we can assume) tri-state area to pay him for protection. This is a little out of the realm of possibility to me, especially given Moroni would be going after players in Baltimore as well. I assure you, Moroni wouldn't get far with those kinds of antics in Baltimore.

Yet two baseball players (if not more) are dead; thus, the FBI feels they need to be involved. But instead, the Shield is sent to bust up Moroni's gang. This is a fairy run of the mill Golden Age story and one that is still fairly common in modern comics. It's an engaging story — and while baseball is on hold currently — aptly timed to be read as well. My favorite part of Pep Comics #7 is when Shield goes undercover as a baseball player, but plays with his mask on.

We then dive into The Comet, who has inexplicably lost his ability to fly. This makes him an easy target for the cops who are going after him, so Comet makes a run for it. Once home, the brilliant superhero realizes he can be both the Comet and a normal man depending on the dosage. This is incredibly good news for his love life; he then calls his journalist gal pal Thelma who brushes him off because she has a story she has to cover.

Unfortunately for Thelma, she is kidnapped while working, and the Comet spends the next two days looking for her. I appreciate that for the time period, Thelma was reasonably progressive. She is comparable to DC's Lois Lane though — even down to her looks.

After our two heroes, we check in on The Press Guardian. The Press Guardian is on a quest to rescue the ambassador of Lanfia, by using his journalistic know-how and brute strength. The Press Guardian isn't the most exciting hero in the MLJ lineup, but his adventures are still charming and fun. The rest of the issue has the continuing stories of Fu Chang, Sergeant Boyle, The Midshipman, The Rocket, and the Queen of Diamonds, A Mystery of the Secret Service, Kayo Ward, and Bentley of Scotland Yard.

This issue of Pep Comics was mostly underwhelming but still fun. The art has vastly improved since issue 7, showing that MLJ's bullpen really did improve with practice. They also showed women as slightly more progressive throughout, but there were still plenty of typical Golden Age tropes that illustrate the societal problems that existed in 1940's America. Still, for the sake of history, it is essential to read these to give us a better sense of how not to be for future generations.

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