Melodious Death - Mr. Scarlet Meets the Ghost - The Horned Hood (Wow Comics #2)

Since his last appearance, which was also his first appearance, in the winter of 1940, evidently big plans were in the works for our red raider, as not one nor two but three tales were penned of him for the upcoming summer 1941 Wow Comics edition! From these tales, the mythos of this masked manhunter were built upon, from his hot and cold relationship with secretary and girl friday in Miss Cherry Wade, to his first repeating rogues revealing themselves in each of these three adventures.

In the first tale "Melodious Death", special prosecutor Brian Butler and Miss Wade are working through their legal case workload, when strange music radiates from a nearby window. Quickly changing into his scarlet spandex, our hero finds the deceased body of orchestra pianist Campini. It seems that the musician had delivered to him an odd melody that he found himself playing until stuck in a cord that inexplicably led to his demise.

Shaking down a hood, as would become his standard m.o., Mister Scarlet ultimately used a note left with the victim with a postdate to somehow track down the culprit and his goons. The ghastly looking Doctor Death was the man behind this crime, although Scarlet needed prove to pin on him. So, leaving the shaken hood at the base of a stairway, Scarlet impelled his adversary to make his next move. That move, to strike at the next man of three that were on his list... a Mister Ravelle.

Once more, Scarlet shows his creepy side as a man with no barriers, once more lunging in midair into the apartment of Miss Wade, who provided him with a key to cause of Campini's death. Poison laced in the paper that contained the notes of the sheet music which was Campini's last performance.

At Ravelle's home, Mister Scarlet made quick work of Doctor Death and his hoods, although it seemed at first that Death had our protagonist somehow sweating for his life! And through deduction, Scarlet ascertained that Doctor Death was in fact Ravelle, who had recently been fired from the symphony and sought revenge on the man he blamed for this.

But never fear, Doc Death would return...as would the next two villains this issue!

In "Mister Scarlet Meets the Ghost", we see our colorfully clad crimefighter this time prowling the streets of the yet to be named Gotham City in pursuit of problematic prey.

Henry Suffridge, the Orphan Society's president, discovered that one of his board members has stolen from that organization's funds. Three candidates as to who this could be... Petrie, Crane or Jones. As each man left the meeting, the mysterious Ghost sent out his minions to scare one of the trio, leaving Mister Jones in a panic when a Mister Scarlet on patrol found him.

Assuring the businessman there is no such thing as ghosts, our caped crusader decided to approach Suffridge himself to see is the president knew anything about this. From a distance, the sheet-clad ghosts working for our arch-villain were spying Scarlet. Meanwhile, Mister Scarlet had a plan.

When next seen, the masked Brian Butler is, yet again, somersaulting through the perpetually open window of his secretary, jarring her from her slumber. Then, almost as suddenly, he leave! What is this guy's deal?

Tracking down the Ghost and goons, who now have cornered Jones and seek to scare him into admitting who the criminal is that is stealing from the Orphan Society, one of their number throws off his sheet to reveal... Scarlet himself.

Making quick work of the thugs, are daring do-gooder reveals his suspicions which turn out to be true, that Suffridge himself was the Ghost who was seeking to distract attention from claims that he himself was the crook behind this theft.

Never fear, the Ghost would reappear, although we first need to meet the third member of this budding battalion of bad guys.

When the Maharaja Jewels were being displayed in the local museum, they were a temptation to much for the Horned Hood to resist. Realizing as Brian Butler that his alter ego would be needed to guard these jewels, Mister Scarlet was on hand later that night when professional henchmen Rocco and Slugger broke in to steal these priceless items, as their boss looked on. Busting up the dastardly duo, Mister Scarlet's attention was distracted as the Hood got away with his ill-gotten gains. Once more muscling information from one of the felons, Mister Scarlet tracked down the jewels to a local fence who seemingly got the drop on the hero, as his boys overwhelmed the hero. Never fear, Scarlet broke through his bonds without breaking a sweat, and once more force one of his captors to reveal the hideout of Horned Hood.

But before facing his the floppish fiend himself, Scarlet decided to revisit his favorite pasttime, breaking into Miss Cherry Wade's flat! At this point, it is quite obvious she's fed up with her employer's frequent visits, although still insists on leaving her windows ajar! Then, after trouncing both his remaining cronies and the Hood himself, Scarlet brought the jewels back to their rightful owners. Another case closed.

• Supporting Scarlet: At this point, Miss Cherry Wade really would like someone else to occupy the attention of Brian and his other identity.

• Red Romance: As for the caped and cowl crusader who during daytime hours plays the part of her Miss Wade's boss, Mister Scarlet seems to be throwing out not-so-subtle hints of interest.

• Menacing the Mister: Three foes who would later reappear... together with others... in their next appearance! Indeed, Doctor Death, Ghost and Horned Hood were the first recurring rogues of many that would face Scarlet throughout the years.

• Crimson Capabilities: Tremendous strength, to burst out of bonds so easily. Daring acrobatics from ledge to ledge, without nary a rope in sight. Astute observational and/or bold assumption skills.

• Fawcett Facts: Still no outside connections to the greater Fawcett-verse. But soon...

Will the streak of multiple tales in a single issue continue? Let's find out...