The Stop Button

Thank goodness China went communist because what Asians would Americans have had to demonize once World War II was over….

The villain this issue is a Chinese spy (he looks like a fat Fu Manchu), but also appears to employ a Japanese karate expert. Goodwin never struck me as a dumb writer; he must have known he was being completely inaccurate.

Details aside, Goodwin has a strong (if melodramatic) plot going.

The story’s simple—a woman’s husband is held prisoner until she betrays the U.S. government, Phil finds out about it and helps her. There’s not much action until the finale. It’s mostly these taut scenes with the wife miserable and hesitant to ask Phil for help. Williamson’s better at these “people in crisis” panels than he is at action panels and Williamson’s very good at action panels. Regardless of cultural insensitivity and casual racism, it’s a beautifully drawn story.

CREDITS

Writer, Archie Goodwin; artist, Al Williamson; publisher, King Features.