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"Superman and Batman: "The Mystery of the Crimson Avenger"": With the Octopus Gang on a crime spree, Batman and Robin deduce that they may next target the Targo Express Company celebrating their 100th anniversary by reenacting some of t

Quote1 Never fear Superman -- I, the Crimson Avenger, will halt the bandits! Quote2
Crimson Avenger

World's Finest #131 is an issue of the series World's Finest (Volume 1) with a cover date of February, 1963.

Synopsis for Superman and Batman: "The Mystery of the Crimson Avenger"

With the Octopus Gang on a crime spree, Batman and Robin deduce that they may next target the Targo Express Company celebrating their 100th anniversary by reenacting some of their past deliveries with an old-fashioned stage coach. Sure enough, their hunch proves correct and when the members of the Octopus Gang attempt to rob the stage coach, and Batman and Robin are there to try and stop them. Their attempt, however, is bungled by the arrival of a novice super-hero calling himself the Crimson Avenger, whose crime-fighting gimmicks serve only to tie up Batman and Robin instead of helping. When the Octopus Gang escapes, Batman and Robin try to talk the Crimson Avenger into leaving the crime fighting to professionals, however, the Crimson Avenger refuses to retire while the Octopus Gang is free.

When news about the Crimson Avengers bungle reaches the Daily Planet, Superman hopes that this is the last time they have to deal with the blunderer. However, when Superman attempts to capture the Octopus Gang during another robbery, the Crimson Avenger arrives and interferes. His latest device, a rocket-powered ram's head goes haywire, forcing the Man of Steel to stop it before it hurts anyone allowing the gang to get away. Superman's appeal to the Crimson Avenger to leave the crime fighting to the professionals is ignored again, and later in the Crimson Avenger's civilian guise of Albert Elwood, he becomes more determined than ever to stop the crooks after seeing the newspaper press panning his efforts.

When the Octopus Gang attempts to rob the Ancient Arts Museum, Batman, Robin and Superman all work together to try and stop them. They are seemingly betrayed by the Crimson Avenger who uses his latest device to inflate Superman and Batman like balloons allowing the Octopus Gang to escape. When the effects wear off, Batman and Superman find evidence that makes them realize that the Crimson Avenger was captured and impersonated by a member of the Octopus Gang. Finding a trail of ink from the getaway vehicle, the heroes manage to track the gang to their headquarters and clash with their leader.

During the fight, the true Crimson Avenger (having escaped his confinement) helps the three heroes capture the leader of the gang. After the Octopus Gang is turned over to the authorities, Albert reveals to them his true identity, and agrees that he should leave crime fighting up to the three experts and go back to his simpler life of making new inventions.

Appearing in Superman and Batman: "The Mystery of the Crimson Avenger"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • The Octopus Gang (Single appearance)
    • Octopus (Single appearance)
    • Joe (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Horses

Locations:


Synopsis for Aquaman: "The Man Who Controlled Water"

Professor Polloy, a criminal scientist, commits acts of piracy with a molecular ray that enables him to harden water and form it into any shape he chooses. Aquaman and Aqualad have a tough battle against their new adversary before destroying Polloy's ray machine with the help of a giant manta ray.

Appearing in Aquaman: "The Man Who Controlled Water"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Professor Polloy

Synopsis for Green Arrow: "A Cure For Billy Jones"

When young Billy Jones gives up all will to live, his parents and his doctor appeal to Green Arrow and Speedy (the boy's heroes) to help snap him out of his funk. Taking him out with them and giving him his own bow and arrow in an attempt to revive the boy's interest in life, the two heroes are unsuccessful until they are captured and Billy is prompted to rescue them. With the crooks captured, Billy is returned home where he resumes a normal life for a boy his age.

Appearing in Green Arrow: "A Cure For Billy Jones"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Unnamed crooks

Other Characters:


Locations:

  • Star City

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Notes

  • In the story "Mystery of the Crimson Avenger", Albert Elwood said he was inspired by a "former lawman". This is likely a reference to Lee Travis the original Crimson Avenger. As per Pre-Crisis continuity Lee Travis was active on Earth-Two. However, this story was published prior to DC Comics making such a distinction between alternate worlds. One could argue that since Earth-One had comic books about Earth-Two super-heroes (such as the Jay Garrick, whose comics inspired Barry Allen to take on the identity of the Flash), it's possible that Elwood was inspired by Crimson Avenger from comic books.



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