In Smash Comics #27, Cole returns to using antagonists nearer to what we might think of as "supervillains." As the story opens, Big City is experiencing a rash of murders directed specifically at the "idle rich." Both the use of this language, and the artistic depiction Cole gives of what he must've presumed was the stereotypical "idle rich" leads me to wonder about his politics. Was he into left-wing causes, or was this sort of language simply in the air of the 1940s as a result of Roosevelt and his New Deal propaganda?
One after another, the city's millionaires are cut down by an arrow-wielding "maniac" known as the Ghost of Robin Hood.
Once again, Team Midnight utilizes the visoscope to get a lead on the case. While surveiling a Mr. Van Topps, Wackey spots a suspicious figure with a bow and arrow, also stalking the Big City patrician.
When an arrow comes whistling through the air and dead centers his head Team Midnight assumes the Ghost of Robin Hood has added one more notch to his bow.
They're shocked to discover, however, that this time the arrow features only a suction cup head. (Van Topps had simply fainted out of terror).
Attached to the arrow, is a note threatening Van Topps to, "Walk through the park tomorrow with one million dollars in a bag, or the next arrow will have a steel tip!"
The timid blue blood immediately exclaims his willingness to meet the demand, but Midnight intervenes and says he'll do no such thing. Rather, Midnight will take Van Topps' place in order to lure the assassin out and (hopefully) bring an end to his reign of terror.
The following night as Midnight executes the plan, Gabby is shocked when an arrow burrows into the back of the faux-Van Topps. Thinking his pal has been killed the monkey blows the operation by rushing up to see if Midnight is okay.
When he realizes that some sort of trap has been set, the Ghost of Robin Hood flees the scene. (Meanwhile, much to Gabby's relief, the crimefighter reveals that he expected GRH would assassinate "Van Topps" regardless of the latter's response. Consequently, he came prepared wearing a steel corset with a cork lining).
Displaying a penchant for gimmicks beyond simply the bow and arrow, GRH flees in a car equipped with giant tacks. (Holy patented trademark violation, Batman!) Though the tacks perform their purpose of flattening all the tires on the pursuit car, being the single-minded junkyard dog of justice that he is, Midnight doesn't let that slow him down.
Around a blind curve, GRH stashes his car in a secret garage built into the hillside. Finding no sign of his quarry as he exits the curve, Midnight reasons that the villain can't have gotten far. He parks the rim-mobile and heads up to investigate a dilapidated old house.
Leaving Gabby on the porch to stand guard, Midnight enters the structure only to have the door slam shut and lock behind him! A magnetized plate in the ceiling yanks the vacuum gun from Midnight's hand. A small panel on the wall slides back and the face of GRH mocks Midnight for having foolishly walked into his "super trap."
In another of the plot holes peppering Golden Age comics like my brother on a bowl of pinto beans, it didn't seem to occur to Cole that if the super magnet in the ceiling picked up the vacuum gun, it would probably pick up the steel corset Midnight announced he was wearing on the previous page.
The crimefighter charges, attempting to bust through the wall to his tormentor, only to discover he's now stuck fast to the wall by some sort of super adhesive.
Rather than simply dispatching his foe. GRH decides to make a big show of his superiority by taking the time to outline Midnight's form with arrows. By the time he finally gets around to taking a killing shot, the villain is stopped at the last moment by a doorknob to the base of the skull!
The next thing we know, it's Gabby to the Rescue! as another door knob strikes GRH square in the head (like some latter-day David and Goliath scenario). GRH stumbles backward and into the adhesive wall of his own trap.
After freeing himself with a "herculean effort," Midnight unmasks GRH to discover the assassin is, himself, a former millionaire.
This panel raises some questions in light of the anti-rich impression that could be left by the opening panels of the story. Did Cole intend to be sending any political message(s) with this story? If so, what were they? Was he "anti-rich" in the vein of Huey Long and (to a lesser extent) FDR; or was he critiquing the tendency of some political elements to wrap themselves in Robin Hood myths simply as a front for their own greed? I'd appreciate hearing from any others who might be able to shed light on these questions.
No comments:
Post a Comment