Comic Strip Review: Jet Scott: Volume 1 written by Sheldon Stark, art by Jerry Robinson
It is the very near future, and science is advancing rapidly. Sometimes it’s misused and disaster looms; then the U.S. government calls upon the Office of Scientifact and its top agent, Jet Scott. Scott travels the world battling criminals and spies who misuse the latest technology.
This was a 1953 comic strip that ran in the New York Herald Tribune and a handful of other papers. At that point, they were shaking up their comics page with more modern strips, and liked the proposal by proven creators Sheldon Stark and Jerry Robinson (the latter of whom started out as one of the creators of the Batman comic books. It ran only a couple of years, but is fondly remembered by those who saw it.
Jet Scott is a clean-cut fellow with a never-explained scar that has removed half his left eyebrow. We get very little information on his background, beyond having gone to college, and having dated several attractive women. The first strip has someone call Scott an “egghead” but he doesn’t seem to have a specialty, instead just a general education in modern science so that he can recognize the purpose of the weird technologies he runs into.
Most of the stories in this volume deal with the misuse of a specific technology, starting with “banthrax germs” in the first story. The final story in the volume switches it up with ESP, as a man with precognition is suspected of stealing government secrets. Generally the story is about discovering the scheme rather than the details of the technology.
The series used a “girl of the week” format, with both damsels in distress and cunning villainesses making plays for Jet Scott. Sadly, even when the woman in question was supposed to be competent, any attempt by them to be useful/proactive in the story was generally useless. The one big exception is “Mother” Makrae, a retired physics professor who’s invented a device that destroys buildings and is apparently extorting their owners. She’s also the most memorable character in this volume, with her pet monkey and seemingly harmless exterior.
There’s also some period ethnic prejudice, with natives of certain countries being “superstitious,” while white Americans run businesses for their benefit.
The art ranges in style a bit, as Mr. Robinson got to stretch his skills as he got to be a full partner instead of just an employee. The results aren’t always quite on target, but some scenes are drawn very well.
I recommend this book for Jerry Robinson fans, and comic strip collectors.
