Ace Spy Smasher (Black Cobra Comics #1)

Character Intro

This version of the Black Cobra (published for only three issues in October through November of 1954) was a reworking by Ajax-Ferrell of an earlier Chesler hero.  In this version, the Black Cobra was secretly FBI agent Steve Drake.  Like his namesake, the Drake/Cobra had no superpowers of his own, but fought crime with his wits, brawn, and a variety of cutting edge tools and weapons.

So, without further ado...let's dig into the first appearance of Ajax-Ferrell's Black Cobra!

Black Cobra #1 (October 1954)

Ace Spy Smasher

I'm glad the Cobra is there fighting tyrants and standing up for justice and what-not but...ummm...do you really want to describe your hero as having "even greater guile" than "the red tyrants"?

The story opens on young (marginally nerdy) FBI agent Steve Drake working away in a surprisingly gender-integrated office.  When a hot tip comes in on the teletype that "the Reds" have a spy embedded in the Voice of America broadcast, sending coded information back to Russia, Drake is assigned to work on the case.  True to the standard superhero plot, this means he must cancel a date with his co-worker/girlfriend, Debbie.

On the next page, readers get their first peek at the Black Cobra's "Super Racer," as well as learning the name of the supposed Soviet plant on the Voice of America staff--Adam Cleve!

The Cobra speeds off, intent on teaching the traitor a lesson--and feeding some of his own false information back to Moscow.  Upon entering Cleve's home, however, the story takes a surprising twist.

Wasting no time, the Cobra hops back into the Super Racer and speeds off to the Voice of America broadcasting station.  After smashing critical components in the equipment room (as well as having to rough up some well-meaning workers who try to stop him), the Cobra hurtles up the building's stairwell to the broadcast booth, only to find Adam Cleve announcing...or, at least someone made up to look like him!

Yes, that's right friends...the Black Cobra has a plastic suit (he's not big on breathability, I guess) that can't even be dented by anything less than a machine gun!  Naturally, his head is left completely unprotected.😕  #somebodyneedstoconsultednamode

The Soviet spy's no fool, though.  Once he realizes bullets can't pierce the Cobra's suit, he goes old school by seizing a lovely blonde hostage.  The spy issues the standard "don't move or I'll blow her brains out" shtick, but of course that's only a viable threat until the moment he has to climb a ladder.

So ya got lucky this time Cobra...but seriously, the Soviet Union was a biiiiiiiiiiiiiiig place.  I'm bettin' they had a better marksman somewhere.  You should really re-think your wardrobe priorities.

The spy makes it to the roof and threatens the Cobra if that if he comes any closer the spy will jump.  (Yes you read that right.)

The Cobra calls B.S. on this threat, and tosses in a sweet little dig at the Soviet "justice" system.

As it turns out, the Russians have apparently planned for this sort of contingency having equipped their operative with a quick-opening parachute.  (Seriously, what scenarios do these international spy organizations not anticipate, am I right?)

However, since good ole' American ingenuity was every bit the match for our Cold War counterparts,  it will not surprise you to learn that the Black Cobra himself has some gadgetry designed for just this sort of occasion--suction boots!

Now, I'm no physicist...but I've got some reservations about how well just slappin' a few suction cups onto the bottom of a boot is gonna help you run hundreds of feet down the vertical face of a building--especially when your feet aren't even in contact with the building's surface!

First to the ground, the spy finds Black Cobra's Super Racer unattended and decides that he'll add shame to defeat by escaping in our hero's ride.

A beat cop passing by sees what's happening and rushes up to aid Black Cobra, but our hero informs the officer there's no need.

Well shucks, Black Cobra!  Can't I at least pull out my nightstick and rough him up a little bit?

This is because, as it turns out our hero has another invention designed for--you guessed it--just such situations. (Man!  The Black Cobra would absolutely kill it as a disaster planner, wouldn't he?)

Pretty ingenious there, Black Cobra!  I, too, have a special process invention for preventing car theft--I don't leave my keys in the ignition.

And, since this was Steve Drake in the fifties--rather than Peter Parker in the sixties--even the hero's love life woes are nicely wrapped up on the last page.