Ziff-Davis published two issues of Explorer Joe in the Winter 1952 and October-November 1952. The comic followed Joe into different parts of the world on exploring expeditions with his buddy Gadabout Swanson. The comic was canceled after the second issue. The first issue had an Arctic piece but it was in that second one that a story called “Eric the Red” had a supernatural element. The comic was drawn by Bernie Krigstein. The author is not known. The covers were painted by pulp cover legend, Norman Saunders. Since Ziff-Davis also owned Pulps and other magazines, it isn’t hard to figure out how they got him.
Joe is onboard a destroyer off the coast of Greenland. The boat stops and the crew hears about a haunted island called Shumnaki. Supposedly a red-bearded giant armed with ancient weapons haunts the place. When the man shows up, throwing spears, then running away, the explorers’ curiosity is piqued. The boys go to investigate.
They find a cave with surprises in it. A viking ship from the ancient days!
The red-headed viking attacks again, throwing more spears. Giving Joe a rap on the head with his shield, the man flees again. Not very Viking-like behavior.
The specter of the viking makes enough noise that the bad guys find and capture them. The leader is Tamara Wildcat. The enemies’ nationality is never given but the Boris & Natasha quality portrayal suggests Russians. (This is 1952 after all and the Nazi fighters are long gone.)
Tamara questions Joe, attracted to his good looks. Joe plays dumb long enough to turn the tables and tie up the villainess. Free to use the radio, he calls in a fleet of US ships that blow up the subs hiding in the cave.
All this time I was waiting to learn which of the Russians played the part of Eric the Red. None ever does. Gadabout rescues one relic, now knowing the viking was an actual ghost. The helmet belonged to Leif Ericson, Eric the Red’s son. The loss of wonderful relics isn’t as important as stopping Russian raiders. (Not the attitude of an explorer! “It belongs in a museum!”)
Both issues of Explorer Joe can be downloaded for free at the Digital Comic Museum.
