In the year 1940, Dr. Matthew Martin invented the first Space-Ship capable of interplanetary travel. As his assistants, Dr. Martin planned to take his co-builder, Douglas Hunt, and Doug's younger brother, Ted. A trial trip to the moon was to be their first venture -
Jane Martin, aged 18, daughter of the famous inventor Dr. Martin wanted to go, but the Dr. told her it's impossible, they might never return!
But outside Dr. Martin's laboratory crouch two men, secret agents of a powerful foreign government. The ship with its ray-gun would make a potent weapon of warfare for their country. With it, they would rule the world!
The secret agents rush in, taking Dr. Martin and Doug by surprise. Meanwhile, Jane visits Ted aboard the ship...
So begins The Space Rovers from Max Plaisted, starring the other Jane Martin.
When the enemy agents rush the ship, Jane makes the desperate decision to launch, so as to keep it out of their hands. Naturally, things go awry and instead of a short jaunt to Luna, Jane and Ted wind up headed towards the sun. But they manage to land on Mercury, run afoul of the natives, and have scantily clad adventures as they make their escape from the inner planet.
Oddly enough, both Jane Martins debuted in 1940; the Space Rover premiered in Exciting Comics #2, just four months before the War Nurse showed up in Wings Comics #1. Even more odd, both are Fly Girls - though the Space Rover flew a tad higher. But not nearly as long - only eight adventures.
Perhaps they didn't last long, but by their second tale Jane & Ted were already grabbing the cover...
Let's join them inside...
"Will They Reach Earth Safely?"
Oh, they get SO close...
page art by Max Plaisted from Exciting Comics #s 2 & 3, cover by L. North (1940)
