Revenge is like charity this time -- it begins at home! 
- — Mr. Tarviss
Police Comics #57 is an issue of the series Police Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of August, 1946.
Synopsis for Plastic Man: "Mars -- Keep Away"
A short, heavily-garbed fellow throws a rock at Woozy's head to get his attention, and demands to be taken to Plastic Man, accepting the name "Mr. Misfit" from the annoyed sidekick as a good enough name. Misfit claims he heard on television that a load of atomic fuel had been stolen, but Plastic Man is dubious, as that fuel does exist, but is top secret. Misfit was right about three cylinders of it being stolen, though, so Plas takes him seriously when Misfit next explains he saw on TV that Professor MacGhoul the mad scientist was the one who stole them. MacGhoul denies it, and has two underlings corroborate he was at home all night hanging out with them when the lab was robbed. Plastic Man figures that it takes one man apiece to have lifted each of the large cylinders of atomic fuel, so a three-man gang just confirms his suspicions. Unfortunately, he's a little too late to confront MacGhoul again, as the scientist has just vacated his premises, and with a housing shortage on, a crowd of people looking to rent the space have destroyed all evidence of where MacGhoul's gone.
Plas, Woozy and Misfit split up to look for clues, with Plas finding out MacGhoul ordered a bunch of valuable scientific equipment which he didn't pay for, and thinks he knows what's going on after hearing what kinds of devices. His suspicions are confirmed when the others are grabbed by MacGhoul's underlings, who find out he's built a rocketship and plans to fly to Mars. They plan to conquer the intelligent but peaceful Martian race. Plas manages to show up and nip this plan in the bud as the villains are preparing for blastoff. After making them haul back the atomic fuel they stole, Mr. Misfit explains he's a Martian who came to Earth to head off this invasion. He promptly hurdles a fence, leaving his disguise behind, along with the humans who helped him prevent the invasion of his plaent.
Appearing in Plastic Man: "Mars -- Keep Away"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Professor MacGhoul
- Squeaker
- Snaps
Other Characters:
- Scientists
Locations:
- Mammoth City
- FBI Headquarters
- Biceps Athletic Club
- Experimental station of the government
- Mars (planet)
Items:
- JX-440 (atomic fuel)
Vehicles:
- Rocket
Synopsis for Flatfoot Burns: "The Egyptian Museum"
Appearing in Flatfoot Burns: "The Egyptian Museum"
Featured Characters:
Synopsis for Human Bomb: "The Televised Murder"
Roy's working the kinks out of a "television telephone" that shows a televised image of whoever they call, but keeps getting wrong numbers. One of them shows someone being murdered, and he and Hustace show up to investigate, only to find the victim apparently alive and well. Blood spots on his clothes and on the floor give the game away: that the man they're talking to is an imposter altered through plastic surgery to look like the victim, to take over his financial interests.
Appearing in Human Bomb: "The Televised Murder"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- A criminal disguised as Mr. Tulk
- Hartley
Other Characters:
- Mr. Tulk
Locations:
Items:
- Television telephone
Synopsis for Candy: "Candlewood Camp for Girls"
Appearing in Candy: "Candlewood Camp for Girls"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Theodore "Ted" Dawson
- Trish, Candy's pal
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Mrs. Hemingway
Locations:
- Candlewood
Items:
Vehicles:
- Atom & Eve (car)
Synopsis for Manhunter: "Who Bombed Mr. Tarviss"
A firecracker goes off under Mr. Tarviss' bed, confining him to a wheelchair for a time. He's suspicious of his secretaries, who are also lovers, but grateful to Dills, his new chauffeur. He fires Jeff and Grace, thinking they must've been trying to bump him off because they're his only heirs, and transfers his money upon his death to Dills instead. That night, the chauffeur plans to finish Tarviss off with a real bomb, but is caught in the act by Manhunter. The vigilante was suspicious of Dills all along, thinking the first explosion was just a setup to earn his trust and be written into his will, which turns out to be true. Tarviss not only re-hires Jeff and Grace, he adopts them and makes him his familial heirs.
Appearing in Manhunter: "Who Bombed Mr. Tarviss"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Dills
Other Characters:
- Mr. Tarviss
- Jeff and Grace
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Spirit: "Jackie Boy"
Appearing in Spirit: "Jackie Boy"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Ebony White
Antagonists:
- Dirty Louie
- Tinhorn Tom
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- Plastic Man: "Mars -- Keep Away" is reprinted in Plastic Man Archives Vol. 5.
- Also featured in this issue of Police Comics were:
- Dewey Drip by Bernard Dibble
- Dick Mace: "Is This Murder?" (text story)
- Specks by Michael Senich
See Also
Links and References
