Welcome back to Part 2 of our look at Midnight in Smash Comics #21. Last time we considered both the superlative toughness of Big City's main mystery man, as well as the introduction of his "vacuum gun." We pick up with both here.
After using the vacuum gun to latch onto the getaway boat, Midnight (who by this point has apparently recovered from the effects of being bludgeoned over the head) is able to fully arrest the momentum of said nautical transport with only his strength, the silk cord of the vacuum gun, and a little bit of mechanical leverage. I can't help but wonder if any kids in the 1940s got their arms pulled out of socket after trying a similar stunt.
As the criminals "burn up water" (i.e., swim away) Midnight elects to retrieve the young lady's pocketbook so as to return it to her. He discovers the purse belongs to a Miss O'Day of 322 Main Street.
Cole seems to have made a slip-up in his writing here, as Midnight ponders why the heretofore unnamed "Julie the Jerk" went to the trouble to steal Miss O'Day's purse. In essence, Cole has Midnight proclaiming who's behind the theft before he could've known.
Julie and Midnight independently race towards the O'Day home. The latter arrives first, and while casing the exterior to determine the threat level to Miss O'Day, Midnight is arrested by the impress of a pistol muzzle and the order to "Reach for it!" The only thing more shocking than that a mere human might get the drop on our intrepid hero is to discover the gunman is not a man at all--but a monkey!
In typical comic fashion, just at this moment Julie and his henchmen burst upon the scene, demanding that Miss O'Day hand over her purse (which we now know contains the research notes outlining her incredible scientific processes) and threatening to kill Midnight.
The quick-thinking Gabby, however manages to knock Julie's firearm off-target (thus saving our hero's life) and shutting out the house lights. In the ensuing chaos, the crooks make off with Miss O'Day, and Gabby and Midnight join together in hot pursuit.
As criminals and heroes race up a narrow mountain road, Midnight informs Gabby they cannot fire at their quarry (presumably because of the risk they might hit Miss O'Day). Instead, we get to see another deployment of the vacuum gun, as Midnight uses it to pluck one henchman after another from the open-top car. In addition to having the most impenetrable skull on the planet, Dave Clark is also blessed with the marksmanship of a Special Forces sniper.
In the panic of the moment, Julie loses control of the getaway car and crashes into a tree, killing the beautiful and brilliant Miss O'Day in the process. The criminal mastermind flees on foot. Enraged that his plans for fortune have been thwarted, Julie adopts a "scorched earth policy" by setting fire to the documents outlining the process for giving animals speech. While fleeing the still pursuing fedora-domed avenger, Julie falls from the cliffside and is impaled upon the steeple of a valley church. Much like the case of Mr. Dobbs in Smash Comics #19, here again Cole's villain is ultimately undone by a Providential comeuppance.
The final panel of Midnight's Smash #21 panel depicts the aftermath of Miss O'Day's funeral, wherein Midnight "adopts" the orphaned Gabby and gives him the calling to become a "living memorial to a great woman!" by joining forces with Midnight against crime.
After using the vacuum gun to latch onto the getaway boat, Midnight (who by this point has apparently recovered from the effects of being bludgeoned over the head) is able to fully arrest the momentum of said nautical transport with only his strength, the silk cord of the vacuum gun, and a little bit of mechanical leverage. I can't help but wonder if any kids in the 1940s got their arms pulled out of socket after trying a similar stunt.
As the criminals "burn up water" (i.e., swim away) Midnight elects to retrieve the young lady's pocketbook so as to return it to her. He discovers the purse belongs to a Miss O'Day of 322 Main Street.
Cole seems to have made a slip-up in his writing here, as Midnight ponders why the heretofore unnamed "Julie the Jerk" went to the trouble to steal Miss O'Day's purse. In essence, Cole has Midnight proclaiming who's behind the theft before he could've known.
Julie and Midnight independently race towards the O'Day home. The latter arrives first, and while casing the exterior to determine the threat level to Miss O'Day, Midnight is arrested by the impress of a pistol muzzle and the order to "Reach for it!" The only thing more shocking than that a mere human might get the drop on our intrepid hero is to discover the gunman is not a man at all--but a monkey!
Thus Cole introduces his second major element of Midnight lore--and the hero's future "sidekick"--Gabby the talking monkey. Miss O'Day reveals that through ten years of research, she's learned how to give animals the power of speech.
Midnight, in (I trust) well-meaning but nonetheless ham-fisted (by contemporary standards of social discourse) fashion expresses his admiration/shock that a beautiful woman could've pulled out such a scientific coup.
In typical comic fashion, just at this moment Julie and his henchmen burst upon the scene, demanding that Miss O'Day hand over her purse (which we now know contains the research notes outlining her incredible scientific processes) and threatening to kill Midnight.
The quick-thinking Gabby, however manages to knock Julie's firearm off-target (thus saving our hero's life) and shutting out the house lights. In the ensuing chaos, the crooks make off with Miss O'Day, and Gabby and Midnight join together in hot pursuit.
As criminals and heroes race up a narrow mountain road, Midnight informs Gabby they cannot fire at their quarry (presumably because of the risk they might hit Miss O'Day). Instead, we get to see another deployment of the vacuum gun, as Midnight uses it to pluck one henchman after another from the open-top car. In addition to having the most impenetrable skull on the planet, Dave Clark is also blessed with the marksmanship of a Special Forces sniper.
In the panic of the moment, Julie loses control of the getaway car and crashes into a tree, killing the beautiful and brilliant Miss O'Day in the process. The criminal mastermind flees on foot. Enraged that his plans for fortune have been thwarted, Julie adopts a "scorched earth policy" by setting fire to the documents outlining the process for giving animals speech. While fleeing the still pursuing fedora-domed avenger, Julie falls from the cliffside and is impaled upon the steeple of a valley church. Much like the case of Mr. Dobbs in Smash Comics #19, here again Cole's villain is ultimately undone by a Providential comeuppance.
The final panel of Midnight's Smash #21 panel depicts the aftermath of Miss O'Day's funeral, wherein Midnight "adopts" the orphaned Gabby and gives him the calling to become a "living memorial to a great woman!" by joining forces with Midnight against crime.
If you just can't get enough thoughtful analysis of this story, I recommend reading this excellent post from Cole historian/biographer Paul Tumey at his Cole's Comics blog.
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