The Fight To Rescue Tanner (Nickel Comics #4)

A new adversary catches the attention of police scientist Jim Barr and his alter ego. Sergeant Kent is sure that a man named Tanner, who is scheduled for execution, is not guilt of the crime. Although Jim agrees with his supervisor, Kent scoffs at any aid that Barr may give him. However, Jim's number one cheerleader Susan is very confident that the object of her obvious affection is astute enough to provide convincing evidence. And sure enough, Jim discovers that blood on Tanner's clothes did not originate from the murder victim. But the clock is ticking...

Donning his costume and trademark helmet, Bulletman rockets across the state to the governor's house in order to present this evidence to him. After an initial shock, the governor reviews the materials provided to him by the "Robin Hood of Crime", and verified Bulletman's claim. However, the politician is unable to contact the prison warden where the innocent man's execution is to take place.

Jetting to the prison, Bulletman leaves the evidence with an official there, but since the falsely accused man is already strapped into the execution chair, there is no time to waste. Ripping metal bars of solid steel from a window to enter the facility, then bursting through a metallic door, yanking the electrocution chair from its foundation, then breaking through another high security door, Bulletman and Tanner escape. 

But why was this man framed?

Bulletman decides to leave Tanner out in the open in order to draw out the culprits behind the scenes of these strange circumstances. Realizing that the mayor of the city is acting odd of late, Bulletman deduces that this will reveal not only who is behind this crime but their motive.

However, the mystery mastermind is one step ahead of his aerodynamic adversary, and lure the hero to a dead body dressed up as Tanner tied to some explosions. The detonation drops Bulletman into a deep well, which the hoodlums fill with rocks to bury him alive. Turning on his Gravity Regulator Helmet, Bulletman frees himself from his underground tomb. Forcing a confession from one of the hoods, he is led to an abandoned house where Tanner is being kept. Once more, a trap is set wherein some more henchmen spray our hero's face with gas that knocks him out. 

Frozen within a block of ice, Barr hears the plaintive cry of the framed victim who is tied to a furnace that is slowly burning him alive! Nudging his helmet controls against a hose through supreme effort, Bulletman frees himself and Tanner, ripping the massive furnace from the floor! 

B-Man flies Tanner to the rooftop of city hall. in order to keep him safe this time, Bulletman connects the dots to this case and realized that Mayor Scott is not who he pretends to be. Meanwhile, Susan Kent has inexplicably been asked to deliver a message to the man she believes to be the Mayor. Undoubtedly, this is a message as to Tanner's innocence, sent by her father. Though why the Sarge sends his daughter rather than one of his officers or himself is mystifying, and indicates that she has some official capacity in the police force. Probably explains why she's always hanging out at the police lab.

Sure enough, busting into his office, the Scott that is sitting at his desk is in a drugged and lethargic state. In an adjacent room is the fake Scott is holding Susan hostage, although he isn't fast enough for his opponent as Bulletman quickly separates him for Miss Kent and knocks him out. Then, he finally asks Tanner why this faux-mayor wants him dead as he knows too much. 

Turns out, Tanner is a plastic surgeon forced to make this crook look like the politician in order to assume his identity, thereby obtaining power in the city which is gang would benefit from. The criminal verifies this claim, but won't admit to not being the real Scott.

Rashly, Bulletman rockets his foe to a large clock tower high above the city, hanging by the hour hand. Then, he jets down to the streets below and interrupts a broadcast while grabbing the reporter. Bringing him up to the clocktower as well along with the journalist's radio transmitting equipment, Bulletman records a confession given by not-Scott for the world to hear. Bringing both men back to city hall rooftop, Bulletman speeds away as Susan cries out "Wait a minute! Who are you?"  A better question, "Susan, do you need an optical prescription?" As she was standing close by the mask-less gliding guardian, the fact that she can't identify him is remarkable.

Back at police lab, a fawning Susan and her father are both glowing in their praise of Bulletman, while Jim states his doubt in the existence of the hero as having never seen him. He can get away with this defense, as even those who do see Bulletman don't recognize his real identity.

Bullet Buddies: Slowly, Sergeant Kent is mellowing as Bulletman is the type of protector his approves of, and will soon equate Bulletman with Jim 'Bullet" Kent.

Rocketing Romance: Susan continues to give off signals yet Jim fails to response. Will this continue, or is change in the air?

Bedeviling Bulletman: Not-Scott is a typical crook yet has some impressive technology

Powerful Projectile: Bulletman's massive strength continues to grow, as well as impressive endurance. Still not clear indication as the the Gravity Regulator Helmet's mystery controls. And now he has telescopic vision? Guess the germ fighting serum works wonders on 20/20 acuity. 

Fawcett Facts: At this point, Barr is still roughhousing his heroics such as ripping through prisons and kidnapping reporters. Expect this to tone down soon.