Next a superhero died for the first time in comics history, issue #17 (July 1941). "The Comet" series ended with him being shot by gangsters while rescuing his brother in the first tale of "The Hangman" by Cliff Campbell. Hangman took The Comet's place in Pep Comics from that issue, and also featured on every cover from #17 to #42.Battling Axis enemies with The Shield and Dusty on every cover except #28, which he appeared on by himself, fighting Captain Nazi over the United States. He was finally ousted from the cover by Archie in issue #43 (October 1943). Issue #17 also saw "Kayo Ward" become a hobo after being terribly disfigured by a fire in the church where his wedding ceremony was taking place.
