Writer – Robert Kanigher, Bob Haney
Artist – Russ Heath

The first issue of Sea Devils which finds the team transitioning into their very own series begins with a story where they face something unlike anything they have faced before, a so-called octopus man. It is all part of a film shoot and the creature is supposed to be a robot, which it is. The movie’s director had it made based on old sea legends and it would end up looking quite fearsome. As the Devils do their thing, the director springs it on them with no knowledge beforehand, thereby surprising and frightening them to no end. This all leads to a real octopus man who shows up with his pet octopus on a chain and he means business, looking to put an end to those who have invaded his realm. As it is, Dane Dorrance, Biff Bailey, Judy Walton and Nicky Walton manage to fend off the creature with a whole lot of luck thanks to some quicksand. They wonder though, if they will see it again and given the ocean’s mysteries, it is quite possible. A second story called Secret of the Emerald Whale finds the team on a treasure hunt after finding a mysterious letter containing the story of a whale, some pirates and an emerald spear. Having nothing better to do and liking the challenge and thrill of it all, the team embarks on what they assume will be just another fun adventure but it turns into so much more. Also after the spear is one Capt. Shark and he means to do everything within his power to gain the invaluable prize. The one thing that nobody counted on was the whale, frozen in ice for decades and now free once more and more than angry. Thankfully, the Sea Devils are not the ones within its sight. From start to finish, from the first story to the last, this book was packed with adventure and compared with the books released currently some sixty-plus years later, it manages to tell two complete stories that are far more entertaining than most. Readers get to meet the players in this game, the previously mentioned Sea Devils, and though only a little background is given, very little is needed to enjoy the proceedings or to understand their characters. Robert Kanigher and Bob Haney, the writers for the first and second tale respectively do a great job of it, providing everything needed for a most exciting yarn and despite there being no sort of cliffhanger in sight, it still makes readers want to come back for more. Both of these stories would be illustrated by Russ Heath and the man does a fantastic job of making it the best possible book he can. All of this equals a great first outing for a team that would usually feature in backup tales more often than not.

4 out of 5