The Comet

    In January 1940, John Dickering, a young scientist, discovers a gas that is 50 times lighter than hydrogen. He also discovers that by injecting small doses of the gas into his bloodstream, his body becomes light enough to make great leaps into the air. After many of such injections, the gas accumulates in the eyes and throws off two powerful beams. These rays when they cross each other cause whatever John Dickering looks at to disintegrate completely. To prevent disintegrating everything he looks at, it becomes necessary for John to wear a glass shield over his eyes, for glass is the only thing that the ray cannot penetrate. Realizing that such a phenomenon would wreck civilization if it should fall into evil hands, John Dickering destroys the formula and makes a solemn vow to use his power ever for the good of humanity. Thus is born the Comet. Dubbing his power "dissolvo-vision," the Comet sets out on a reign of ruthless terror against the underworld leaders of organized crime! Although written up in the newspapers by his girlfriend, Thelma Gordon, as an heroic figure in the fight against crime, the police and public are wary of the Comet’s murderous methods. Be it poisoners, extortionist, murdering criminals, or cowardly thieves, more often than not these malcontents would meet their deaths at the deadly gaze of the Comet. Unfortunately the Comet also unleashes his dissolvo-vision on policemen as well, making him a criminal to law enforcement.

    While the circumstances surrounding the needless killings can be disputed, the Comet would come to a bloody end one day after his brother, Robert Dickering, comes to visit the Comet after Bob's college graduation. Discovering his brother is secretly the infamous Comet does not seem to be a concern to him, until Bob is kidnapped by the Big Boss gang, who mistake him for John. While Bob is being dragged into a waiting car John as the Comet comes to Bob's rescue and, in a hail of bullets meant for Bob, saves him and defeats the gang. Upon hearing the approaching police cars’ wailing sirens, Bob takes the limp form of his brother, the Comet, back to the Dickering penthouse. Upon his deathbed, the Comet makes Bob and Thelma swear together to carry on in his stead and then promptly dies. Enraged, Bob Dickering makes a vow of vengeance to even the score as the Hangman. But that is another story for another day. Did the Comet die? Can a man so transformed ever truly be dead as we know it? The Comet's body has disappeared. So who's to say.