(Hit Comics 007, 1941)
If Tibetan Lams aren't the top religious figures cast as super-villains then they at least have to be in the top three, along with druids and Catholic priests - we won't see any of those for a while but once they get going they go hard.
This bunch of Lamas have decided to turn their formidable mental powers (natch) to the task of world conquest, and have chosen to do so by influencing the mind of one President Karla of an unnamed European state to become a rabid warmonger.
The "Scheming Oriental Mastermind" bit was old before comics existed, and honestly I'd be tempted to skip these guys if this story didn't include two truly incredible bits: 1. Neon the Unknown flies Karla across Europe and Asia as a sort of human dowsing rod to determine exactly where the mental influence is being broadcast from.
2. Neon resolves things via mental combat with all three of the Four Lamas (the artist lost track of one of them midway through the story). He of course wins...
... and their brains explode! Truly a redeeming end for some cliched characters.
