Sparkling Stars #7

When Ali and his friend Muhrad accidentally acquire a magical flying powder, they get more than they bargained for—especially when a collector named Doctor Livingston spots them soaring through the air and decides he must have Muhrad for his museum of oddities. As the effects of the powder wear off at the worst possible moment, Ali must scramble to save his friend from an increasingly desperate Doctor Livingston, who's willing to trade anything in his collection to keep the "wing donk" for himself.

In 1944, John Lee faced an inexplicable mystery at Exeter, England—scheduled to hang on February 23rd, the execution trap repeatedly failed to function whenever he stood upon it, though it worked perfectly otherwise. His sentence was commuted to life, leaving behind one of history's most baffling unsolved cases.

In "The Castaway," Subi the Jungle Queen tracks a traitor through the dense Brazilian jungles, while a mysterious figure—posing as Hitler or his double, Walter Berger—flees to the same wild terrain. Together, the fugitive and the traitor Igbat form an uneasy alliance, using the jungle’s secrets to plot a dangerous return to power.

"Modern Mother Goose Rhymes" is a playful wartime collection of updated nursery rhymes by Berton Braley that pokes fun at 1944 homefront concerns—from rationing and war bonds to black market profiteers—all delivered in familiar verse with a sharp patriotic edge. The piece captures the era's mix of civilian sacrifice and sardonic humor, reminding readers that doing right by your country (and your neighbors) beats taking shortcuts. A lighthearted reminder that even nursery rhymes can rally the home front.

When a man turns up drowned and his wife Martha Peters quickly moves to collect a hefty insurance payout, Detective Durrand Draw senses something isn't right—especially when a mysterious "mother-in-law" appears at the house and never leaves. Draw's sharp eye for detail, from a telltale pants leg to a pair of special shoes, unravels a scheme far more twisted than a simple insurance fraud, leading to a confrontation that takes an unexpected turn on the street.

"null" from *Sparkling Stars* #7 (1944) tackles four curious questions with crisp, straightforward clarity: a real-life wolf attack, the true story behind Robert Fulton and the steamboat, the legend of Betsy Ross and the American flag, and the surprising truth that chamois skin isn’t made from chamois. The illustrations—penciled and inked by unknown hands—add a vintage charm to this brief, fact-driven feature.