Mask Comics #1

"Name Your Price for Slaughter" in Mask Comics #1 (1945) delivers a gritty, character-driven tale from the early days of the comic book era, spotlighting two boys and their dangerously unreliable jalopy—an oddball partnership that ends in a bittersweet farewell. Penciled and inked by L. B. Cole, the story’s raw, expressive artwork captures the tension and camaraderie of youth facing uncertain futures, all rendered in the distinctive style of a 1945 wartime comic. The cover by L. B. Cole mirrors the story’s mood, a stark, striking image that hints at the stakes without revealing a single plot beat.