New Menace Overseas

LONDON - A major setback in the war effort overseas occurred earlier this week when allied bombers, making their first foray into beyond the borders of Germany, were attacked and destroyed by a flying, armored, swastika emblazoned menace.

Survivors claim that this Axis figure flew through the air smashing through B-17 bomber wings and deflecting heavy gun-fire.  He also reportedly destroyed fighter escort planes from a distance.

High ranking RAF officials remaining anonymous fear that this new Nazi weapon could change the balance of power in the war unless something can be done to counter this move.

This armored threat has been christened the Iron Cross.

Vanguard 13 Missing, Believed Dead!

SHORE CITY - Shore City's very own Vanguard team has gone missing and is believed to have met their demise in a mission to protect this city from Nazi spies.

Facts still remain vague but according to unnamed sources, V13 was investigating the erupting gang-war involving someone called the Mogul.  Their investigations lead them to a Nazi spy ring.  In pursuit of the fleeing suspects, V13 is believed to have entangled these high above the Atlantic Ocean.  They have not been heard from since.

No clues as to their fate has been found on either side of the Atlantic but the remains of what appeared to be an air-ship with Nazi insignia was found by a US battleship.  It is believed that this may be a clue to what may have happened to Shore City's fighting force.

Shore City reporter Penelope Kirt, who was interviewing Lord Genovasis around the time of their disappearance, has also gone missing.  Her fate as well is unknown.

Vanguard 13 has been responsible for the defeat of a series of thefts and sabotage by Nazi robots as well Mr. Roboto's giant robot attack on the city.

"They have given their lives in defense of this great nation," said Senator Henry Knight.

A memorial is being planned by the city for a week from next Wednesday.

VANGUARD 13 circa 1942:  King Cobra, Automaton, Lord Genovasis, Prophylactica,
The Scarlet Hood, Col. "Popeye" Sanders.  Nate Brown, aka the Sponge, is not pictured.

Crime Wave Plagues City

SHORE CITY - Citizens are growing concerned with a rash crime spreading across the city. Break-ins, robberies, and murders have been on the rise for the last month. Much of the violence appears to be linked to mob activity.

The Shore City Police Department is having trouble keeping up with the rise in crime. Police Chief Robert O'Malley said, "We are certainly seeing an unusual level of criminal activity. We are stepping up patrols. There appears to be some sort of power struggle going on between several of the crime families."

Shore City's resident super-teams are doing their part. "I am sure it is just the OctoFather and his criminal organization up to its old tricks," said Captain Victory of the Golden Gladiators. "Never fear citizens. The Golden Gladiators will bring these criminal goons to justice." He then proceeded to sign autographs.

The new super-team, Vanguard 13, fresh off their victory over the evil Mister Roboto and his giant mechanical monster, has been fighting back against the crime wave. King Cobra and Automaton, the Mechanical Marvel, recently stopped grocery store hold-up. Lord Genovasis and Prophylactica sent two muggers to the hospital on Monday, both muggers are in critical condition.

"These genetically impaired criminals will bow before the superiority of the meta-humans," said Lord Genovasis, father of the meta-humans. "The scoundrels and gangsters of Shore City will realize the wisdom of submitting to the leadership of meta-humans as will the rest of humanity." Before this reporter could ask for a follow up, Genovasis was pulled away by one of Vanguard 13's army handlers.

Vanguard Victorious

Supers Stop Robot Rampage

SHORE CITY - The city was rocked today by a nefarious attack by Jap saboteur Mister Roboto. The villain rampaged down main street in a giant robot. The 50 foot tall metal monstrosity flipped cars, terrorized citizens, and smashed buildings.

The attack went unopposed for nearly twenty minutes. There appeared to be no hope to stop the evil Roboto. Despite their valiant attempts, Shore City police were powerless against the thick metal armor of the mechanical menace.

Then, salvation appeared from the sky.

Vanguard 13 appeared on the scene flying in their custom built Auto-Gyro. Citizens watched in horror as the flying machine was shot down by Roboto’s blazing guns. Total disaster was averted by quick maneuvering of Lord Genovasis. He acrobatically flipped out of the helicopter, grew to enormous size, and caught the helicopter before it was dashed to pieces.

After battling Roboto’s henchmen, the team took the giant robot head on. A negro man known only as the Sponge, disappeared and reappeared inside the cockpit of the rampaging robot. While he scuffled with Roboto, Lord Genovasis grew to 20 feet in height. He proceeded to sock the robot where it counts.

The robot went down and Mister Robot was taken back into custody.

Look out Golden Gladiators, Vanguard 13 is the super team on the scene.

Police Search For Scarlet Killer

SHORE CITY - A mysterious shrouded figure known only as the Scarlet Hood is wanted by Shore City police for questioning in the execution style death of two gangland thugs in Old Town yesterday evening.

Witnesses say that the scarlet clad vigilante chased the two gun wielding thugs down an alley before preceding to beat them bloody with a wooden staff. After a tense exchange, the Scarlet Hood was heard to say "…the Scarlet Hood has passed judgement and you are found guilty." He then pulled out a pistol and shot dead the two thugs.

"After he shot them he just plain vanished," said one witness wishing to remain anonymous. When pressed on how the Scarlet Hood got away, the witness emphasized that the scarlet avenger just disappeared. "One minute he was there and the next he was gone. Poof! Just like that. Gave me the willies!"

Police are having trouble tracking down leads due to the tight-lipped nature of the neighborhood.

"We can't have these vigilantes taking the law into their own hands," says precinct captain Alister McCrosky. "Let the police do their work. We don't need no help from a bunch of masked lawbreakers. If you ask me, they should all be outlawed."

Police are asking that if you have any information about the mysterious Scarlet Hood to please pass the information along to the Old Town Precinct.

Super Team a Super Bust?

SHORE CITY - Two months ago Shore City saw the birth of a new super team. Or did it?

For weeks, Shore City had been terrorized by marauding metal men. These nefarious machines attacked several sites around town including Acme Aviation air-field.

Their onslaught was brought to a halt when the metal men attacked Old Mercantile Exchange. The attack was stopped by three superheroes: the controversial Lord Genovasis, Automaton the Mechanical Marvel, and a still unknown colored man. The machines were taken down one by one. Once the battle was over, the group of heroes were whisked away by the US Army.

Little else has been heard from this new group of heroes over the past two months. There were reports of activity from the super team at a farm outside of Shore City, but the Army will not comment on any activity. Anonymous sources at the Maudlin Army Base say that the Army is frustrated with the progress of this government backed superhero group. Even public appearances by Lord Genovasis have been less than normal.

What happened to this super team? Why haven't we heard from them in two months? Will the government pull the plug? Or will this mysterious group burst back onto the scene?

ROBOTO ESCAPES!

SHORE CITY - Notorious Jap saboteur and mad scientist Tagiomi Takeda aka Mister Roboto has escaped from Iron Island Prison.

A guard noticed Roboto's cell empty at 4am. One of the prisoners said the regular night guard opened the cell and took Roboto with him. The prisoner remarked that the guard looked odd and walked stiffly. After Roboto's disappearance was discovered, the night guard was found bound and gagged without his uniform.

"The incident is still under investigation," said Warden Donald Wheeler. He had no further comment.

The strangest part of the tale comes from a fisherman coming into dock late that night. "It was awful late and awful foggy, but I saw the queerest thing," said Art Grenman. "I was sailing past Iron Island like any other night. When I saw a huge hand come up out of the water. Almost as big as my boat. It picked up a man from the shore and disappeared. I swear on my mother's grave. I swear I was sober. Well, mostly sober."

Roboto was convicted of espionage and sabotage and was serving multiple life sentences. Roboto could be armed and should beconsidered extremely dangerous. Do not approach him. Contact authorities with any information.

Iron Island is on lock-down and Shore City authorities remain on high alert.

Life on Mars?

SHORE CITY UNIVERSITY - Astronomers have observed structures on the surface of Mars.

For decades, stargazing scientists have been reporting the existence of canals on Mars. Now a group of astronomers at Shore City University are reporting the existence of pyramid shaped structures on the Martian surface.

"There are dozens of these structures on the planet's surface," said Dr. Franklin Millman, head of astronomy at the university. "It is very exciting."

The pictures are grainy and the structures are hard to make out. The scientists are cautiously optimistic about the possibility that these are a sign of life on Mars.

"We have to do a great deal more analysis and it is possible they are natural formations. But, there is a regularity to the structures that suggests the work of an alien civilization," said Millman.

There is new hero about town: Automaton the Mechanical Marvel

SHORE CITY - Last week Shore City saw a new kind of hero burst onto the scene. Automaton is a synthetic man unveiled to world during a lecture by Professor Millicent Barnes.

As Professor Barnes, Shore City’s first female engineering professor, introduced the machine and described the inner workings of its artificial mind, the Old Mercantile Exchange just outside the lecture hall was attacked by the dastardly metal horrors that had plagued Shore City for weeks. After quite a show, Automaton, the infamous Lord Genovasis, and an unidentified colored man stood victorious over the machines. The crowd was not sure of Automaton and turned on the machine before the army broke up the crowd. The mechanical man is now reportedly involved with a mysterious new superhero team.

Where did this new synthetic hero come from? What makes it work? Do we have anything to fear from a mechanical here? We interviewed Professor Barnes to get to the bottom of the Mechanical Marvel.

We first asked the professor what makes Automaton tick. Is it alive?

“Well, that depends on you definition of ‘alive’, doesn’t it?” said 51 year old professor. “Automaton is a sophisticated mechanical construct. His mind is made up of thousands of compumatic nodes. These structures allow him to reason. His mental capabilities are that of an above average human. In some areas, he mental abilities far outstrip that of normal men.”

As Shore City is still smarting from weeks of attacks by mechanical men, why should the city trust a mechanical man like Automaton?

“I have worked tirelessly with Automaton to train him to use abilities with utmost care. He knows right from wrong. His primary objective is to protect the citizens of Shore City,” said Barnes.

Finally, we had to confront the professor with the rumor that has dogged her since Automaton was unveiled. Some have said that Automaton is in fact not the creation of Professor Barnes. They claim that the machine is actually the creation of the Japanese criminal mastermind Tagiomi Takeda aka Mister Roboto.
“I will not respond to rumors,” responded Barnes. She then abruptly ended the interview and left.

Only time will tell if Automaton is a new kind of hero or a new kind of foe.

A Falling Star Falling Up?

OTUSBERG, OHIO - Rural citizens two hundred miles south of Shore City were quite startled at 1:23 am when they were suddenly awoken by a rumbling roar and the site of a falling star falling - - upwards?

"I was out checking on the cows, on account as they was'a restless, when I 'eard this-a roar like nothin' I ever 'eard before," said Morris Tucker a local farmer. "Then when I's'a look I sees dis here fallin' star, only it ain't'a fallin'. It was going upward into the sky. I ain't ever seen anything like it".

Other witnesses speak of seeing and hearing much of the same thing, of some fiery object rising from the earth heading into the heavens.

With the war going on in Europe many folks are on edge.

"I says it was dem dang Nazis," said store owner Carl "Tubby" Danvers.

Whatever it might have been it was the talk of the town.

Later that morning a convoy of military trucks were seen traveling in the direction of an abandoned farm and the area had been cordoned off.

Metal Monsters Defeated!

SHORE CITY - Yesterday saw the return of the giant metal machines that have been wrecking havoc in Shore City. Their target was the Old Mercantile Exchange on Tuska Avenue.

No sooner had two of the three robots burst into the building in a blaze of gunfire when another metallic being walked out of the Hogarth Lecture Hall across the street and engaged the villainous robot.

The metal being, now known as Automaton, saved a number of citizens from the gunfire of the devious machine before it was taken down by what appeared to be a janitor.

It was then that the infamous Lord Genovasis appeared on the scene.

While preaching his usual rhetoric of meta-human supremacy, he was attacked from behind by the two remaining machines leaving the Mercantile Exchange.

The battle lasted mere moments but the two machines were destroyed and the three mystery men were victorious.

However, the battered and fearful citizens turned their rage upon Automaton and began to attack him but were soon dissuaded by the twenty foot presence of Lord Genovasis.

Before more chaos erupted a convoy of military trucks appeared. After a brief discussion with the three mysterious 'heroes' who were joined by Professor Millicent Barnes, they boarded a military truck and drove off.

It is not known what the connection is between these three figures and the military but sources say that there may be a new group of 'super-heroes' in town to give the Golden Gladiators a run for their money.

The disabled machines were placed onto trucks and hauled away.

Six Mercantile Exchange security guards were killed in the attempted robbery and scores injured in the violent chaos.

Monsterous Metal-Men Strike Again!

ACME AVIATION - For the third time in as many weeks the mysterious metal monsters have caused havoc in Shore City.

Six twelve foot tall, heavily armed metal automatons attacked the Acme Aviation's air-field during a test flight of the Air Force's new top-secret war plane.

The new experimental aeroplane, the XP-56 Wing Bomber was being flown by ace test-pilot Michael Gallant.

During the attack, Gallant expertly maneuvered the XP-56, avoiding fire from the metallic onslaught. Before any other fighters could be scrambled the XP-56 was hit. In one final valiant effort, Gallant banked the fiery aeroplane into one of the flying metal men destroying it and the XP-56. Michael Gallant died in the battle.

Those on the scene say that the Metal Monsters appeared to focus their attack directly at the XP-56 which lead officials to believe that this was a deliberate act of sabotage by Axis spies.

The Golden Gladiators appeared on the scene shortly afterwards. Captain Victory seemed most distraught and vowed to track these saboteurs down no matter where they may be hiding and bring them to justice.

Services for Michael Gallant will be held this weekend.

Are Meta-Humans A Fascist Plot?

SHORE CITY UNIVERSITY - Professor Otto F. Wortham of Shore City University believes so.

Since the infamous surprise attack on Pearl Harbor last December dragging our great country into the War, Professor Wortham claims that he has evidence to show that this odd appearance of these colorful 'Supermen' are a Nazi plot to weaken the resolve of the United States.

"Where were these so-called 'heroes' before America was attacked?" said the Professor . "Why didn't they stop the attack in Hawaii or the bombing of London? They must be working for the Enemy"

Professor Wortham puts the blame on Professor Hollis James Dickersham, the father of Meta-humanity, now known as Lord Genovasis. "Professor Dickersham was irresponsible in the way he handled his discoveries. The very existence of humanity is in jeopardy due to his recklessness."

Professor Wortham believes these characters to be America's gravest threat, but there are many others that disagree.

"These men and women that have been blessed with powers far beyond those of us mere mortals have proven themselves by standing with America in the fight against tyranny," said Senator Henry Knight speaking at a fund raiser accompanied by Captain Triumph. "They are true American Heroes!"

Giant Mechanical Men Rob Shore City Bank

SHORE CITY - For the second time in as many weeks mysterious mechanical automatons have violently robbed a Shore City institution.

Witnesses say that the mechanical men flew in from the sky and burst through the walls of Shore City's 1st National Bank. The mechanical men tossed bankers around like rag dolls and tore the vault door like paper.

"Their strength was incomprehensible," said a terrorized banker Mr. J. Pennies Morgan.

Others said that these mechanical men were heavily armed.

"They fired flames from their mouths," said one horrified witness. "I thought they were going to just kill us all. Just kill us!"

It is thought that these same mechanical men robbed the jewelry vault of the Kroninski Brothers. Both brothers were killed in that incident.

Police are baffled as to origin of these 'living' machines. Mayor McGuiness is considering declaring a state of emergency and calling in the National Guard.