Richie Rich: Vaults of Mystery #28

A villain from Richie Rich's past returns. Known as the Iceman, this fiend has the ability to freeze things. When Richie uses a heat ray gun that he borrows from Rich Labs, he accidentally turns the Iceman into the Scorcher! Now with the ability to produce intense flames, you won't believe what the Poor Little Rich Boy used to cool off this hot shot baddie. Or maybe you will. This comic was published by Harvey Comics...

Then Richie gets the upper hand over a girl who tries to scare his girlfriend Gloria.

Lastly, a bogus fortuneteller tries to separate Richie Rich from some of his money. But in a strange series of events, just plain dumb luck keeps dogging the swindling swami at every turn. 

Vaults of Mystery was known by Harvey Comics fans to be a series that was a bit more mature than its numerous Richie Rich sister series. In an earlier issue I've read and reviewed, Rich is shot at, kidnapped and his pop even packs a piece! Now just 14 issues later and that saccharine humor mixed with misunderstandings and happenstance just oozes through every page. I don't like it. I don't know why, but I prefer the edgier Richie Rich. I don't want Cadbury to die in a hail of bullets or anything like that. I guess with the more serious storytelling, I feel more mature. 

Honestly, I'm not surprised someone hasn't rebooted Richie Rich into a grittier, unfeeling rich boy yet.  It would be perfect fodder in the vein of Riverdale or Nancy Drew. Oh, don't worry. It's coming soon one day. But until then, it's a MEH from me.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Richie Rich: Vaults of Mystery #14 (2023 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Richie Rich: Vaults of Mystery ran from 1974-1982 for 47 issues that were published on a semi-regular basis. The first 5 issues were known as Richie Rich: Vault of Mystery. But in an effort to remain consistent with the pluralization of the rest of the Richie Rich supplemental line, publisher Harvey Comics changed the title at issue #6. 

In this series, Richie Rich and his friends would solve mysteries that occurred in the community. Being one of the wealthiest families in the world, criminals would often try to steal something from Rich Manor. As a result, the Poor Little Rich Boy would be the one to play Sherlock Holmes and solve the mystery. In this series, Richie and his father would sometimes fund expeditions to mysterious and exotic locales. Mr. Rich would also fund the dynamic research of genius inventors and crackpots alike. These grants would sometimes bring nefarious elements out of the woodwork as it this case with this issue.

In this issue, a scientist develops a disappearing ray that would bring about the end of nuclear weapons. The scientist wants to give the very dangerous device to the United States government. But before he can do that, the researcher is killed by an unknown assailant.

To fulfill the inventor's dying wish, Mr. Rich promises to deliver the weapon to the authorities. However, the unseen criminals have no intention of letting the Pentagon receive such a destructive weapon. With bullets flying, Mr. Rich arms his staff including faithful butler Cadbury. Even the cook has a piece! The FBI brings their top man to assist in the delivery of the invention to the military. And Richie ends up a hostage in the hands of the gangsters!

Vaults of Mystery is unlike any Richie Rich title out there. Car Chases, kidnappings and theft are not unexplored territory for the Rich family. But to see Mr. Rich carrying AND shooting back as baddies! Cadbury too! If family dog Dollar was in this book, he'd probably be packing as well!

Fans note that this series was a bit more mature compared to the other Harvey Comics titles on the market. To have a character not just shot but to die at the hands of a sniper is something many readers of Richie Rich or many similar Harvey Comics publications just weren't used to encountering. Vaults of Mystery was an Comics Code approved title and regulations under the CCA were loosening when this book was published. Yet, the Harvey books are looked at as the stuff of the youngest of comics readers. It's all a bit unsettling and exciting at the same time. 

As for those vaults, this story does utilize them as a plot device. The device is placed in one of the Rich family vaults, under armed guard, until the G-Man arrives. Then when Richie is kidnapped, he's taken hostage in either the same strongroom or another similar locale on the estate. Nice to see that for at least 1 issue, the inside material matches the title of this book perfectly.

If all Vaults of Mystery issues are this much more mature in tone and action, then I want to read more of these!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #43 (Something Bought From a Dollar Bin/Bargain Bin) of the 2023 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.