Chuck Chandler, a cadet at Custer Military Academy, is motivated by the deaths of his parents at the hands of the Nazis and the villainous Iron Jaw to get vengeance. Wearing his hockey uniform plus a cape, Chuck attacks Iron Jaw, the Axis forces, and crime in general. His partner is Squeeks, a pet monkey. From Boy Comics #8 until Boy Comics #107 (all nicknamed “Illustories”), Crimebuster worked for Jay Loover, head of FBI’s New York City section. Loover always made sure to provide his young charge with back-up, resources, and occasional advice, and Crimebuster was happy to help solve whatever crime came across his desk. In Boy Comics #60, Loover manipulated Crimebuster into changing his costume into a more civilian-looking outfit, ditching the cape and trading the bottom half of his hockey uniform for jeans and sneakers. Since this story involved Loover’s pretty niece, Crimebuster didn’t particularly mind. In Boy Comics #107, Crimebuster discovered that his trustee destroyed his trust fund with bad investments, leaving him penniless. This motivated the young hero to attend college, enrolling in Curtis Technical Institute to study aviation. Although he still solved some crimes in his free time, his life started to increasingly revolve around Curtis Tech and the friends that he made there. He and his roommate, Stew, became best friends, while Squeeks was gradually pushed into the background. While his new acquaintances referred to him as “C.B.” at first, he soon started using his civilian name for the first time in (published) decades. By the time the series ended, Chuck was just another college kid.
Creators/Key ContributorsCharles Biro, Lev Gleason
First Appearance Boy Comics #3 (April 1942)
First Publisher Lev Gleason / Comic House [CB+] [DCM] [GCD]
Appearance List Boy Comics #3-110 as Crimebuster, 111-119 as Chuck Chandler, Daredevil #10-11, etc. (numerous appearances, some 2 page text-based stories)
Description Chuck Chandler, a cadet at Custer Military Academy, is motivated by the deaths of his parents at the hands of the Nazis and the villainous Iron Jaw to get vengeance. Wearing his hockey uniform plus a cape, Chuck attacks Iron Jaw, the Axis forces, and crime in general. His partner is Squeeks, a pet monkey. From Boy Comics #8 until Boy Comics #107 (all nicknamed “Illustories”), Crimebuster worked for Jay Loover, head of FBI’s New York City section. Loover always made sure to provide his young charge with back-up, resources, and occasional advice, and Crimebuster was happy to help solve whatever crime came across his desk. In Boy Comics #60, Loover manipulated Crimebuster into changing his costume into a more civilian-looking outfit, ditching the cape and trading the bottom half of his hockey uniform for jeans and sneakers. Since this story involved Loover’s pretty niece, Crimebuster didn’t particularly mind. In Boy Comics #107, Crimebuster discovered that his trustee destroyed his trust fund with bad investments, leaving him penniless. This motivated the young hero to attend college, enrolling in Curtis Technical Institute to study aviation. Although he still solved some crimes in his free time, his life started to increasingly revolve around Curtis Tech and the friends that he made there. He and his roommate, Stew, became best friends, while Squeeks was gradually pushed into the background. While his new acquaintances referred to him as “C.B.” at first, he soon started using his civilian name for the first time in (published) decades. By the time the series ended, Chuck was just another college kid.
