We begin with "Nightstick" drawn by Curt Swan and Ray Burnley and reprinted from Gangbusters #33 (1953).
Next is "The Three-Foot Sleuth" drawn by the Atlas team of Joe Maneely and Joe Sinnott. and reprinted from Gangbusters #61 (1957).
This is followed by "The Cop Without a Gun" drawn by Ruben Moreira and reprinted from Gangbusters #58 (1957).
Next we have "The Greatest Villain of All Time" by Jack Miller and Mort Meskin. Detective Harry Fowler was called onto the scene of a strange crime. A man dressed as a character re-enacted a scene from one of Fowler's old movies that he wrote before he became a detective, and stole an antique clock. Harry and Sergeant Collins follow the clues from each of Harry's four movies, just missing the criminal at the scene of the crime. However, through the process of elimination, they discover the thief's identity is the movie director Leif Conrad, who worked with Harry on his pictures.
Finally, they caught up to him when he was re-enacting Fowler's "Phantom of the City", getting ready to jump off a bridge in the famous 'death-dive' scene. Harry manages to trick him by yelling "Cut!", causing Conrad to hesitate. The cops are then able to bust him. Reprinted from Showcase #5 (1956).
This is followed by "The Hostages" drawn by Curt Swan and Ray Burnley and reprinted from Gangbusters #40 (1954).
Next comes "The Two Faces of Mr. X" by Jack Miller, Curt Swan and Sy Barry. The FBI hires billboard model Don Reed to portray a known criminal overlord, Alex Tate. Tate is supposed to be receiving a list from his lieutenants naming all the underlings in his employ. The FBI captures Tate so that Reed can switch places with him. But unbeknownst to all, Tate was also scheduled to have plastic surgery that day, so that he could change his appearance.
Fortunately, the surgeon, Doctor James, was being forced by the thugs to do the job, so while Reed and the doctor were back in the surgery room, the two of them came up with an exit strategy. While Reed, wearing bandages over his face, distracted the criminals, Doctor James came out with the knockout gas canister and sprayed the men with its contents. Afterward, the FBI came charging in, arrested Tate's thugs, and retrieved the lists of underlings. Reprinted from Showcase #5 (1956)
That is followed by Fireman Farrell: "Fire Under the Big Top" by Arnold Drake and John Prentice. Fireman Farrell reports to Lieutenant Reiner's office where Farrell is informed he will be tagging along with Reiner to perform some fire inspections in the city. Their first destination is the carnival where a major fireworks display will be performed that evening. They confront the manager, Phil Baylor, over the fact that he has not registered with the department and inform him he will have to cancel his show. Baylor's workers complain that he is more concerned with making money than making sure customers are safe, but the unscrupulous manager shrugs off their concerns.
Farrell and Reiner continue their inspection, but the lieutenant soon leaves to complete paperwork, making Farrell work alone. Later, night falls with Farrell still at work, and he is startled from his inspection tour by a firework explosion. The firework goes off course, landing in a big circus tent and starting a fire. Farrell calls for help and rushes to the scene only to find that a child has been left inside. The brave fireman rescues the child and is told that the circus animals are now in danger. While people work to rescue the animals, other local firefighters soon arrive, and Farrell suits up. A lion escapes, but Farrell makes short work of it with the water hose.
As the firemen work to check the spread of the blaze, they notice an elephant trapped on the track of a roller coaster. Using the firetruck and ladder like a crane, Farrell rescues the baby animal, and Baylor is arrested and taken to jail. Reprinted from Showcase #1 (1956)
We end with "Swamp Dragnet" drawn by Nick Cardy and reprinted from Gangbusters #65 (1958).
Edited by Murray Boltinoff.
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