Consume All Media! Congo Bill: "Chapter Three: A Hot Reception"

Joe Heath is a big fan of comic books and watching things in order. So they made this spreadsheet containing every serial, short, film, television episode, commercial, motion comic, and web series based on a comic book. Now they're watching them all. Previously, Joe watched the second chapter of Congo Bill. This time, they continue with the third chapter.

Congo Bill: “Chapter Three: A Hot Reception” - 16:22 (Available on YouTube)

The guy who got a knife in his back wasn’t Bill, but another circus employee. Whoops.

Bernie “finds” the body and apologizes to Bill for doubting him. He offers to send Bill to Africa to collect some new animals for the circus. His actual plan is to have Bocar murder Bill once he gets there.

Bill arrives in Africa and almost immediately gets involved in a shootout with Bocar’s men. It looks as though Bill gets shot, so Bocar’s men leave, satisfied with a job well done. But it turns out Bill was faking, as he just gets back up and leaves.

At the Green Parrot Inn, Bocar is told that Bill is dead. So Bocar is rather annoyed when Bill walks through the door, completely unharmed.

Bill talks to the inn’s owner, Kleeg (Charles King), about how he’s looking for the lost tribe. Kleeg will be filling the role of comic relief.

Actor Highlights

Charles King (1895-1957)

Other comic book media: Arlen in Hop Harrigan (1946), Conrad in Superman (1948), & a robber in Atom Man vs. Superman (1950)

Kleeg tells Bocar about Bill’s interest in the lost tribe in exchange for gold. Bocar tells Kleeg to find out why Bill is interested and to stop him from trying to find them.

Kleeg sends a guy to go through Bill’s stuff, but Bill catches the guy and punches him until he leaves. Once he’s alone, Bill hides Tom’s letter by taping it to his ceiling fan.

Bill tries to get a safari together, but is having difficulty due to Kleeg’s interference. But he finally meets up with a man named Blinky (William Fawcett) who agrees to give him some information the following day.

Actor Highlights

William Fawcett (1894-1974)

Other comic book media: Newshawker in Superman (1948), Professor Hammil in Batman and Robin (1949), the Mayor of Metropolis in Atom Man vs. Superman (1950), & Dr. Rolph in Blackhawk (1952)

Bill goes to meet up with Blinky only to discover his dead body.

Some of Bocar’s men show up and Bill tries to sneak up on them, but gets caught in clockwork.

Should you watch it, though? I kind of enjoy how oblivious to everything Bill is and the cliffhanger is goofy in a fun way. Bill is finally in Africa, so the plot can start, but it seems like it doesn’t want to. It’s incredibly clunky.

Tune in next time for Congo Bill: "Chapter Four: Congo Bill Springs A Trap" (Available on YouTube.)

A version of this article was previously published on The Dipp.

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