Funny Picture Stories #1

"Alias the Clock" kicks off in 1936 with a gritty tale of maritime intrigue, introducing Rat Larson, a gruff sea captain with a past as tangled as the ropes on his ship, the Morgelon. Written, drawn, and inked by John Patterson in a bold, early comic style, the story follows Larson as he crosses paths with a cunning smuggler—setting off a tense game of wits and danger. The cover by George Brenner captures the mood with a striking, noir-tinged image of a man in shadow, a clock at his side, and a hint of something ticking beneath the surface.