Sunday, February 10, 2019

Bring on the Bad Guys: Pancho and Pepita Valdez

Real names: Pancho, Pepita Valdez
A.K.A.: N/A
First appearance: Wonder Woman I#1 (Spring 1942)
Abilities: Spies and dancing
Quotes: "Ah, for the marriage we must wait!"
Worst act: Tricking Mint Candy and spying
Created by: William Moulton Marston (script), Harry G. Peter (pencils/inks)

This yarn focuses on Etta Candy, Wonder Woman's sidekick and her brother Mint. Mint is serving a hitch in the Army and he gets a concussion on his motorcycle. Mint brushes it off, but everyone else sees it as the work of spies. When Diana and Etta pay him a visit, they find dancer Pepita Valdez stuck in a mineshaft.

Of course the whole thing was a set up to get Pepita in the Candy's good graces while she takes her orders from Candy ranch hand Pancho, who's working for the Japanese (Pepita is at least being blackmailed into working for the Axis).

Not a terrible story, although not as racist as the San Yan tale isn't the highest bar to clear.

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