Detective Comics #17 is an issue of the series Detective Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of July, 1938.
Synopsis for Speed Saunders: "The Snake Death"
Mr. Horn, a weapons designer for the government, calls in Speed Saunders to find his daughter who went missing earlier that day. A gunshot rings out from elsewhere in the house, driving Saunders and Horn to investigate. They find Horn's chauffeur dead in a window along with a note. The note threatens Miss Horn's life if Horn doesn't turn over the plans to his latest weapon design at Midnight in the Miller graveyard. Saunders tells Horn to create a false set of plans for the kidnappers.
Later at the graveyard, Saunders hides atop a nearby mausoleum while Horn turn over the plans to a mysterious man in a car. Saunders creeps onto the roof of the car as it drives away and rides into a forested area where the driver finally stops. The driver delivers the plans to another man via a rope that drops them into a deep gorge. After the new man retreats to a cabin, and the driver leaves, Saunders sneaks into the cabin thinking he has the drop on the kidnapper. After a moment, he's grabbed from behind by a large and savage man. The kidnappers tie Saunders up next to Miss Horn and release a chest full of deadly snakes to kill them. Slipping free of the bonds on his hands, Saunders creates a ring around himself and Miss Horn. The snakes will not cross the rope, allowing Saunders time to free Miss Horn. They escape though a window just as the kidnappers are ready to depart. Saunders uses a spare gun to take out the kidnappers before they can leave.
Appearing in Speed Saunders: "The Snake Death"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- A spy (Single appearance; dies)
- Percy (Single appearance; dies)
Other Characters:
- Miss Horn (Single appearance)
- Mr. Horn (Single appearance)
- Evans (Appears only as a corpse)
Locations:
Synopsis for Larry Steele: "The Maine Castle Mystery (Part 1 of 2)"
Larry Steele gets a visit from his old friend, Bill Graham. Graham asks Steele to accompany him to Maine to scout an old castle that Graham wants to use as a location in a movie. Steele agrees thinking this will provide a sort of vacation for him. When they arrive at the castle the following night, they find that they're stuck in the place as someone has sabotaged the engine in Steele's car.
After returning to the castle intending to stay the night, the men hear a scream. Running to investigate, they stumble into two men who have kidnapped a young woman. The kidnappers bind and gag all three and leave to find their boss. Steele manages to wriggle out of his gag and free Graham using his teeth. After everyone is free, the woman tells them she's Vera Sanders and she's being held for ransom. Steele fashions a rope out of bed sheets and climbs out the window to the room below, then sneaks back to unlock the door and release his friends.
One of the kidnappers, Tony, is sent to check on the prisoners, but the drunk kidnapper is easily overpowered by Steele and Graham. Graham grabs Tony's gun as the other kidnappers realize their prisoners have escaped. After a brief exchange of gunshots, Graham wounds the other kidnapper, Al. But as Steele, Graham and Vera run for the exit, the Boss releases a trap door under their feet!
Appearing in Larry Steele: "The Maine Castle Mystery (Part 1 of 2)"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Bill Graham
Antagonists:
- Boss (First appearance)
- Al (First appearance)
- Tony (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Vera Sanders (First appearance)
Synopsis for Cosmo, the Phantom of Disguise: "Von Ruyter's Explosive Gun"
Von Ruyter has completed his latest invention and takes it to the War Office for testing. Adding a few grains of chemicals to explosive shells increases their power incredibly, when shot from the gun Von Ruyter designed. Tests are done in the desert destroying tons of rocks and at sea by destroying a decommissioned naval cruiser. Von Ruyter is then sent to the Pacific to survey islands to build an installation of his guns. During the survey, a single page of notes is lost to the wind and must be redone. After returning to the U.S., Von Ruyter is tasked with drafting his designs and a plan for the installation. But while Von Ruyter is working late one night, an armed man steals the plans. von Ruyter goes to see Cosmo the next day about retrieving the stolen drawings. Cosmo decides to use his invitation to a Grand Ball at the Russian Legation that night to investigate.
Cosmo attends the party with his friend Dorrain, an attache at the Russian Embassy. Shortly, Cosmo spots Kosloff, a Russian spy. After observing him for a bit, Kosloff brushes near a beautiful woman - someone Cosmo thinks is a likely suspect. Cosmo quickly scribbles a note and sends a messenger to an engineer friend. Cosmo convinces another friend, Crandall, to facilitate an introduction to the woman, Countess Varnoff De Mornay. But Cosmo has Crandall introduce him as Mr. Rawlingson. Cosmo dances with Countess De Mornay, wasting time until the messenger returns. After receiving the response, Cosmo tells the Countess he is a secret agent, and they must recover the plans before they're discovered. He also sends a note to Kosloff to meet the Countess at her ship before it departs, in two hours. As they recover the stolen plans, the Countess tells Cosmo that a local from the island discovered the lost page of notes and brought them to a town official, who happened to work for the Russians. Giving her the plans, Cosmo drops the Countess off at her ship, and waves farewell. Upon returning home, Cosmo is greeted by government agents who have taken Von Ruyter into custody. Cosmo explains the entire scheme and returns the plans to them - letting them know that all the Russian spies escaped with is a map of the Bronx Zoo and the chemical formula for castor oil.
Appearing in Cosmo, the Phantom of Disguise: "Von Ruyter's Explosive Gun"
Featured Characters:
- Cosmo, the Phantom of Disguise
Antagonists:
- Countess Varnoff De Mornay (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Von Ruyter (Single appearance)
- Dorrain (Single appearance)
- Kosloff (Single appearance)
- Crandall (Single appearance)
Synopsis for "The Insidious Dr. Fu Manchu (Part 1 of 12)"
Nayland Smith shows up at the home of Dr. Petrie, requesting Petrie accompany him in his investigations of Dr. Fu Manchu. As part of his explanation of Fu Manchu's evil, the rolls up his sleeve revealing a wound that he says was caused by an arrow poisoned with the venom of a King Cobra. Smith explains they must leave immediately to warn Sir Crichton Davey that his life is in danger.
When the men arrive at Davey's home, they find out that he's already been killed. After speaking briefly to an officer of Scotland Yard, they are ushered upstairs to the library where Dr. Chalmers Cleeve is examining the body. As the men enter, Petrie notices a man in another room examining the carpet. Since Cleeve will not venture an opinion as to the cause of death, Petrie examines the body noting the puffy features and needle marks on Davey's left arm indicating an addiction to drugs. While examining the other arm, Petrie notices a small red mark on the back of one hand. Meanwhile, Smith is questioning Burboyne, Sir Crichton's secretary. Burboyne explains that Sir Crichton had been working in the study undisturbed until a messenger arrived with a note. Shortly thereafter, Sir Crichton burst into the library and collapsed. Burboyne says that as he moved Crichton to the couch he indicated something in the study and said "The Red Hand..." Afterwards, Burboyne examined the study but nothing seemed out of place. Thinking back, Burboyne mentions that three days ago, Crichton has asked him to search the study for something that may be hidden there. Smith and Petrie then moved to examine the study themselves finding the message Sir Crichton received - but it was only a blank piece of paper scented with a pungent perfume!
Appearing in "The Insidious Dr. Fu Manchu (Part 1 of 12)"
Featured Characters:
- Denis Nayland Smith (First appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Dr. Petrie (First appearance)
Antagonists:
- Fu Manchu (Behind the scenes)
Other Characters:
- Dr. Chalmers Cleeve (Single appearance)
- Burboyne (Single appearance)
- Sir Crichton Davey (Flashback only)
Locations:
- London
- Limehouse District
- Limehouse District
Synopsis for Bart Regan, Spy: "The Hooded Hordes"
Appearing in Bart Regan, Spy: "The Hooded Hordes"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- The Hooded Hordes (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Ralph Donat (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Meadeville
Synopsis for Bruce Nelson: "The Coolie Smugglers (Part 1 of 3)"
Appearing in Bruce Nelson: "The Coolie Smugglers (Part 1 of 3)"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Ungi (First appearance)
Antagonists:
- Coolie smugglers
Other Characters:
- Colonel Roark (First appearance)
- Carlos Del Rio (Mentioned only)
- Captain Carstairs (Mentioned only)
Synopsis for Buck Marshall: "The Right Trail"
Appearing in Buck Marshall: "The Right Trail"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- Speck (Single appearance)
- Ram Roddin (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Sheriff
Locations:
- American Old West
- Sage City
- Sage City
Synopsis for "Slam Bradley Gets the Air"
Appearing in "Slam Bradley Gets the Air"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Shorty Morgan
- Sporty (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Ramon Gonzales (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Pinza (Appears only as a corpse)
- Maria Borgio (Single appearance; dies)
Locations:
Notes
- Published by Detective Comics, Inc.
- After this issue, Buck Marshall by Homer Fleming drops out until Detective Comics #20.
- First issue for The Insidious Fu Manchu by Sax Rohmer and Leo O'Mealia.
- Slam Bradley is still set in Cleveland, as mentioned by Shorty in panel #29 (4th page, 8th panel).
Trivia
- Bart Regan might be an amateur ventriloquist, or simply a smart-alec, and the on-panel evidence is ambiguous, but that's what he claims.
See Also