A Ghost and a Clown

 

cover art by Carmine Infantino

Two weeks ago, we looked at the excellent original Batman story published in Detective Comics #439, which was a 100-pager that included a number of reprints. Today, we'll begin our every-two-weeks look at the reprints from that issue. (There was also an original Manhunter story, but that was part of a multi-issue story arc and we'll look at that seperately if I can dig up the other applicable issues).

We start with "The Riddle of the Clown," written by Bob Kanigher and drawn by Joe Kubert. It was originally published in Flash Comics #92 (Feb. 1948). It's a Hawkman/Hawkgirl tale and gives us the third appearance of the villainous Gentleman Ghost.

Eventually (I think in his next appearance after this one), the Golden Age Gentleman Ghost turned out to be a very-much alive thief and con man who used gadgets and trickery to make it look like he was a real ghost.

But in this story, the good guys are still uncertain about this. And the Ghost certainly seems to be able to pull off some daring crimes. At this point, he's in Paris, foiling pursuit by the local cops and openly planning to rob the Louvre.

The Hawks hear about this and fly to Paris. But they don't do much good. Using smoke bombs and other tactics designed to confuse everyone, the Ghost dodges both cops and superheroes. He also captures Hawkgirl. (It's a flaw in this short but entertaining story that Hawkgirl is largely useless throughout.)

The Ghost leaves a riddle behind hinting at his next crime, which includes a reference to a laughing clown. Hawkman deduces that this refers to a showing of the opera Pagliacci. So he's there in time to save Hawkgirl and stop the ghost from dropping a chandelier on the audience. Hawkman manages to chased down THREE Gentleman Ghosts, using his "Hawkoscope" to detect which costume has an actual person in it. This turns out to be one of the Ghost's thugs, though. All three costumes were decoys.

The real Ghost is spotted, but apparently blows himself up in an attempt to take Hawkman with him. Is he really dead though? Or was he actually alive in the first place?

It's a fun story, galloping along quickly enough through its eight pages to cover over a few plot holes. I always liked the Genttleman Ghost as a villain, especially when moved over to Batman's Rogue's Gallery during the Bronze Age. 

We'll accompany the Atom on one of his time-travelling jaunts in two weeks. Next week, though, we'll return to the Lonely War of Willie Schultz.