All-Star Comics #46

Issue Details

Synopsis

THE ADVENTURE OF THE INVISIBLE BAND! The Justice Society of America set out to track down the Invisible Band, a gang of thieves who pull spectacular robberies but are never seen doing so. The JSA has been stymied by the fact that they have no clues to work with. Doctor Mid-Nite and Black Canary draw up a theory of the gangs latest robbery, and the members set off to look for clues. Dr. Mid-Nite accidentally leaves his sketch in the wastebasket, where the cleaning woman recovers it, and gives it to her young nephew Elmer, an aspiring amateur detective. After studying the drawing, Elmer thinks he has cracked the case of the Invisible Band, and goes to Justice Society headquarters to look for more clues. Meanwhile, the JSA, reach a dead end, and decide their best bet to capture the Invisible Band is to think like them, so they return to headquarters to plan four spectacular robberies, hoping that they can predict the gang's next move. Elmer, who has been eavesdropping and taking notes, mistakenly identifies the Justice Society as the Invisible Band in disguise, and thinks they are planning their next four jobs. Elmer sets off to capture the Justice Society, but not before dropping off his notes at his detective correspondence school, in hopes that the JSA plans are good enough to earn Elmer his diploma. What Elmer doesn't realize is that his correspondence school is staffed by the Invisible Band, and that they use their students "assignments" to plan their next jobs. Armed with the four JSA robbery plans, the Invisible Band sets out to commit the spectacular robberies.  The Invisible Band steals an ancient coin collection from a wealthy man's apartment by timing the robbery with a parade outside. Hawkman and Black Canary stop the gang, but Elmer Doolittle arrives and sees them with the stolen coins. Elmer tries to stop them, but accidentally knocks them out while he falls down a dumbwaiter, leaving Elmer empty handed, and the JSA members at the mercy of the Invisible Band. The band commit their next heist at a department store. Hiding in a storeroom, they cut a pneumatic tube, and escape with the store's cash. Wonder Woman and Dr. Mid-Nite catch them fleeing into a subway car. Again, Elmer arrives too late to see the real crooks in action, and trips into the emergency brake, knocking out Elmer and the JSA. The Invisible Band recovers before Elmer, again leaving with the loot and the JSAers. The next crime happens at a florist's shop. The band robs the store while a movie crew is shooting a robbery scene outside in the street. Green Lantern quickly ties up the gang, but Elmer trips over a balcony, and drops a flowerpot on GL's head, causing the same outcome as his previous efforts.   The gang robs a bank for their last caper. They blow the vault at the same time a fireworks display is going on outside, to disguise the noise. Flash and Atom subdue the gang, but again, Elmer arrives and again knocks out both members of the JSA and himself. Believing himself a total failure, he returns to his detective school to resign. The Invisible Band, instead, tell him he will graduate with honors. Having captured the Justice Society, but not wanting to take the rap for murder, they trick Elmer into shooting at cardboard targets with the Justice Society tied behind them. Elmer, with his usual coordination, trips into the gun, rupturing the water pipes, instead. The cold water revives the Justice Society, who quickly put the Invisible Band out of action.