Detective Comics #20

Issue Details

Synopsis

THE JADE BUDDHA Speed Saunders was reading an issue of Detective Comics when he received a phone call. Later, Speed drove down to a building owned by the Wing Tong and found their leader, Ming Toy, dead with a bullet in his head. Next to Ming Toy's corpse was a Jade Buddha statuette. Next, Speed went to the local library where he found a book of Ancient Chinese lore. Next, Speed went to the police commissioner and told him that the Jade Buddha was stolen from the Anghor Temple in India by Ming Toy's servants and that whoever stole it was cursed to die. Speed visited the Mandarin Hapsu who told him that he wanted the Jade Buddha. Next, the Mandarin Hapsu told one of his servants to take the Jade Buddha from the safe at the police headquarters. Meanwhile, Speed was incarcerated by the Mandarin Hapsu in another room with his hands tied behind his back. Speed spotted a candle and used it to burn away the rope. Next, he opened the window in the room, broke out, and approached a taxi, going to the police headquarters. When Speed arrived at the police headquarters, he saw the Mandarin Hapsu's servant and beat him up. Next, Speed told the police captain to raid the "Yellow Den" where the Mandarin Hapsu was located. When Speed and the police arrived at the Mandarin's headquarters, the Mandarin offered to reveal to them the murderer of Ming Toy in exchange for the Jade Buddha. Speed went to the Wing Tong's building with the Mandarin, where the latter betrayed the former and attempted to kill him. However, Speed subdued him and the Mandarin was turned into police custody. THE ISLAND OF WANATOBA PART 2 Larry Steele and Delores were in the boss' hut trying to escape when its owner came in and attacked Larry, starting a fight. The boss gained the upper hand over Larry, but was defeated due to Delores intervening and killing the boss unconscious with a club. Next, Larry and Delores focused on making their escape and reach a plane. Meanwhile, some of the boss' men went into the hut and found that he had been killed. The boss' men attempted to look for Larry and Delores. Suddenly, the volcano on the island began to erupt, causing Larry and Delores to run to the shore where they swam to their plane. Two of the boss' men attempted to catch Larry and Delores by grabbing onto the plane, but fell off. The plane flew out of range of the island before the volcano erupted. THE DOOR OF DEATH Buck Marshall stopped his horse outside of the sheriff's office where he saw Saw-Tooth Jackson get assault another man. Buck intervened and subdued Saw-Tooth and took him into his custody. Later, the sheriff informed Buck that Bogdan wanted Odell's spread, but Odell refused to sell it to Bogdan. Bogdan came to the sheriff's office and demanded Odell's arrest for having another confrontation with another one of his men. Bogdan claimed that Odell threatened to shoot him with a shotgun. Next, Buck rode for Odell's cabin where he came to deliver a warrant. Odell was outside of his cabin door when the door opened and a gunshot came out, killing him. Buck waited a few minutes before moving in on the cabin, finding that the cabin was empty but had a shotgun left behind. Buck returned to the sheriff's office and returned the warrant. Next, Buck returned to Odell's cabin where he saw Saw-Tooth Jackson outside. Buck confronted Saw-Tooth Jackson who told him that Bogdan made him set up a shotgun trap for Odell. Later on, the sheriff came to the cabin with Bogdan where the former and Buck confronted the latter for the murder of Odell. SAVING SENATOR BARKLEY At the headquarters of the U.S. Spy Service, Bart Regan was being informed that Senator Barkley had arrived in Washington with valuable information and needed to be guarded. Bart and Sally arrived at the senator's hotel to discretely guard him as they were told that the senator insists on not being guarded. A hotel employee handed a letter to Senator Barkley. The senator left the room and threw away the letter. After the senator left, Bart picked the note up from the trashcan and gave it to Sally; the note said that if the senator came to 349 Grogan Lane, "important information" would be given to him. Sally and Bart suspected that it was a trap. The two spies decided to beat the senator to the designated location. They spot two men waiting to kill the senator and attack them, chasing them off. When the senator arrived, he noticed that there was no one there, so he left in his taxi. Bart and Sally, thinking that their job was done, left as well. Suddenly, Bart pointed a gun at the taxi driver, knowing that the driver planned to kill the senator. The senator, thinking that Bart was attempting to mug him, tackled the spy and took him and Sally into their car. The taxi driver drove away with the senator and the two spies. When a car came in front of the taxi, the kidnapper was distracted; Sally used this chance to tackle the driver, causing the taxi to crash into a pole. Bart, Sally, and Barkley survived while the kidnapper died. Barkley thanked Bart and Sally but insisted on being alone. Later, the senator entered his hotel room to open his safe where he was held at gunpoint by a man named Wallace, who wanted the papers inside the safe. It was revealed that Wallace hired the men from earlier. Meanwhile, Bart and Sally were outside of the hotel room. Wallace attempted to shoot Barkley, but was stopped due to the intervention of Bart and Sally. Later, at headquarters, Bart and Sally shared an intimate moment. THE INSIDIOUS DR. FU MANCHU PART 4 Smith was inside someone's bedroom, examining a note. Smith left the note on a table and sat down, waiting for Fu Manchu to arrive. At three o'clock, a centipede crawled on the letter, causing Smith to smash it. Petrie saw a thread that was attached to the centipede. Smith and Petrie looked outside to see that the user of the thread was already gone. However, Smith and Petrie learned that Fu Manchu's centipedes caused the mark of the Zayat Kiss. THE SONG OF DEATH PART 1 Bruce Nelson was playing golf at the Birch Springs Golf Club with Kay Livingston. As he and Kay were leaving, they ran into Ned Renick, a friend of his. Bruce introduced Kay and Renick to each other. Next, Renick asked to talk to Bruce alone for a few minutes. Renick and Bruce went to the men's bar of the clubhouse. Renick asked Bruce to prevent future murders before his show as Lola Maine and Holly Lawson, two of his singers were killed after singing the same song, which was dubbed by the press as the "song of death". Bruce agreed to take the job. The next morning, Bruce talked to the medical examiners over the phone about Lola Maine and Holly Lawson's deaths; the autopsy said that the two women were poisoned. Bruce went down to the Lincoln Theater and told Renick that he'd offer to have Billie Bryson sing for him. However, Renick protested this as he thought a woman as wealthy as Billie Bryson shouldn't risk her life and that she was too inexperienced. At 4 P.M., Billie Bryson came over to Bruce's house to discuss her performance. Bruce informed her that Billie would be a decoy to lure out a murderer. The next morning, Bruce and Billie met up with Ned for rehearsal. Meanwhile, Bruce went around, asking the crew members if they knew anything about Holly and Lola's deaths. When Bruce ran into the Great Zambini, the latter threw a knife that almost hit the former. Zambini yelled at Bruce for almost getting hit by the knife. A fight broke out between the two until Bruce won. Billie commented that questioning the crew members wasn't a very "wise thing to do" and that he couldn't afford to make any enemies there. BLOCK BUSTER During a card game, Joe Marko shot Jack Stone. Later on, Marko was on trial for Stone's murder. Marko's lawyer, Myron Block, claimed that he had witnesses to prove his client's innocence. In the offices of the Globe Leader, Ed told his boss, Lee Travis, that there was no possible way for Marko to be found not guilty. The boss responded that Marko's lawyer, Block, always won a case. A man entered Travis' office and informed him that one of Block's witnesses got Marko acquitted. Travis suspected that Block had the witnesses under his thumb. Meanwhile, at Block's office, Block told Marko that he had several jobs for him. Block said that he planned to use Marko as a witness in two cases. Suddenly, Block's phone rang; Travis called anonymously and said that he wanted to do business at the lawyer's apartment. Block responded that he didn't do business at his home, but Travis hung up. Later that night, Travis arrived at Block's residence, dressed as the Crimson Avenger. Travis told Wing to leave their car parked outside. The Crimson Avenger entered Block's residence and shot his butler. Next, the vigilante turned his gun towards Block, insisting that the lawyer could help him. Travis informed Block that he was going to kill someone and that he wanted Block to supply witnesses to prove that the vigilante was at 18th and Sand at 11:30. Travis promised Block $50,000 in exchange for receiving poison and a gun, saying that the murder would look like suicide. The next day, in Travis' office, he phoned the district attorney and asked him if he could print a story about a crime. Meanwhile, Block took a newspaper from a paper boy. Block read that the D.A. had evidence that could send him to jail, but he assumed that the Crimson Avenger would kill the district attorney for him. Later that night, the Crimson Avenger arrived at Block's office and learned that he already had witnesses who would testify to the police. Block asked if the vigilante had his money, but the latter held the former at gunpoint and made him type a suicide note for the D.A. Next, Block showed the Crimson Avenger the gun and the poison that they discussed the previous night. The vigilante picked up the gun and shot out gas at Block. Later, the Crimson Avenger and Wing arrived at the D.A's residence. The Crimson Avenger entered the house and pointed a gun at the D.A. The vigilante made the D.A. choose between getting shot or taking poison. Suddenly, the two men heard footsteps. At the police headquarters, they received a phone call about the Crimson's presence. Later, the police received word that the Crimson attempted to murder the district attorney. The next day, the police said that they found Myron Block's fingerprints on the gun and bottle. The D.A. assumed that Block attempted to frame the Crimson. Block later learned from Marko that he had been framed for attempting to kill the district attorney. In response, Block and Marko attempted to flee in a taxi, but the driver was distracted and ran into a pole. The police caught up to Block and arrested him. BOAT RACE OF DOOM At the Royal Yacht Club, Cosmo was sitting with some friends. Cosmo and his friends spotted Terry Croft, who had recently been in a scandal. Terry, who was drunk, approached Jane Hallock, one of his guests, and said that he wanted to talk to her. The two discussed Ned Trumble's boatm the Flying Fish, and that he planned to race it next week. Jim Larrabee, a lawyer, tapped Terry on the shoulder, attempting to take him away before he might say something that he may regret. Next, Cosmo and Jane danced together. Jane told Cosmo that she was worried about Terry. After a bit of dancing, Cosmo called Ned Trumble on a telephone, but Trumble was not at his apartment. Cosmo and Jane arrived at a shed where they saw Ned working on a boat. Suddenly, Ned saw his other boat moving away. Cosmo rushed to the water and jumped on the boat. A thug punched Cosmo in the face, knocking him off. Cosmo swam back to the pier and sat down, unhappy. Later on, Ned went to Larrabee's office to talk to him about his missing boat. Larrabee offered Ned money for the boat, but the latter refused, demanding the return of his boat. Ned left and got into a taxi. The taxi drove for a block before two men got into the cab and held him at gunpoint. The gunmen took Ned to a cellar in the outskirts of town. Meanwhile, Ned's speedboat, the Flying Fish, was racing out to sea. The boat stopped by a ship and received cargo from the ship and drove to a cave on a shore where they unloaded the cargo. The pilot of the boat decided to abandon his colleagues and was met by the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard forced the boat to shore and Cosmo and the coast guards arrested the smugglers. At headquarters, Ned was informed that his boat was safe. THE MAGICIAN Slam Bradley was practicing magic and experimenting on Shorty with his magic. Annoyed by Slam using him for his magic tricks, Shorty announced that he was going on vacation. Shorty announced that he was about to pack some clothes, but before he could, Slam quickly opened the drawer, causing clothes to fly into his associate's suitcase. After his clothes were packed, Shorty stormed out. Later, Slam attended the annual Magician's Society Convention and watched Professor Mysto, the chairman of the meeting, conjure illusions. Slam dismissed Mysto as a "rank amateur" and a "fool". Slam walked up to Cosmo and turned him into a monkey. Next, Slam turned to the audience and introduced himself as a magician who wanted to use his skills to help people in need. One of the audience members asked Slam to demonstrate his abilities, so he waved his hand, causing the ceiling to crack. Next, Slam informed them that it was just an illusion. The audience members agreed to join Slam. Slam would later find himself giving interviews to the press about what he intended to do to help people. Meanwhile, a criminal named Pete Hanson read the newspaper article about Slam's intention to fight crime. Hanson ordered his man "Muscles" to go to Slam's residence to silence him. "Muscles" found that the door was open and entered Slam's residence, where he heard a voice and followed it, as the voice told him that he would be lead to Slam's presence. "Muscles" got into an elevator; when he go out, he saw Slam waiting for him. "Muscles" ordered Slam to get out of Hanson's way; Slam responded by having invisible hands throw "Muscles" out of the window. "Muscles" got into a taxi and returned to Hanson's office to find that Slam was already there. Hanson informed "Muscles" that he and Slam were in a conference and ordered his man to leave. Hanson turned around only to find that Slam had suddenly disappeared when he turned back. Next, Hanson called his man Langley. Hanson ordered Langley to speed up production at their factory. Meanwhile, Slam, who was invisible in the room, appeared in the mirror and overheard Hanson and Langley's conversation. Slam secretly got into Langley's car as the latter drove to the Brick Factory. When Langley arrived at the factory, he ordered his foreman, Mike O'Brien, to speed up production. O'Brien turned around to see Slam. Slam claimed that he was O'Brien's grandmother and ordered him to stop production. O'Brien believed Slam's illusion and agreed to stop. Next, Slam ordered O'Brien to tell his men to stop working. Suddenly, Langley came and attacked O'Brien, believing him to be a traitor. Slam cast an illusion that made the workers think that O'Brien was a woman, causing them to attack Langley. Langley quickly phoned Hanson and informed him that the production will not finish on time due to the workers attacking him. Hanson informed "Muscles" of Slam's activities at the factory. Hanson and "Muscles" drove to Professor Mysto's office. Hanson and "Muscles" held Mysto at gunpoint and forced him to come with them to the factory to confront Slam. Mysto noticed that Langley was under Slam's influence and broke him free of it. Next, Hanson ordered "Muscles" to search the factory for Slam. Suddenly, Slam materialized before his eyes. "Muscles" shot Slam on Hanson's orders. The two criminals believed that Hanson was dead, but suddenly, the corpse vanished in front of them. Hanson ordered Mysto to stop Slam from disappearing. Mysto requested a tub of hot water to help him. Meanwhile, Slam waved a hand at Mysto, causing him to fall into the water. Meanwhile, the workers, who returned to their duties, were unaware of the situation. Slam casted an illusion that made the bricks look like gold coins. The workers insisted on leaving the factory as they believed that they were "rich", much to Hanson's dismay. Hanson attempted to whip the workers into staying. Next, Slam made Hanson's whip take the appearance of a snake, chasing him and "Muscles" away. Hanson and "Muscles" drove away. Slam casted an illusion that made the two criminals think that they were driving on a rollercoaster. Slam appeared before them and asked if Hanson would leave the country. Hanson refused, so Slam made the car and the track disappear, frightening the criminal into agreement. The next morning, the newspaper the Morning Herald read that Hanson was sailing for Europe and that he donated a large sum of money to the city. Slam told Shorty, who had returned, that he had given up learning magic.