Post by dans on Mar 29, 2024 22:00:39 GMT
Prior Appearances of Fearless Flint The Golden Age Origin of Fearless Flint Read all the chapters in the introduction to 'The Greatest American Movie' Chapter 1: Blue Fire in: Out of Circulation Chapter 2: Black Zero in: Submarine Sabotage Chapter 3: Lady Fairplay in: Mississippi Mayhem Chapter 4: Mirror Girl in: Kidnapped Chapter 5: Dr. Diamond in: War Zone Fort Rosecrans Chapter 6: Fearless Flint in: Intrigue in Washington Chapter 7: Willow Wisp in: Cold Justice Chapter 8: Master Mystic in: The End of the Beginning (Read me last!) |
A New Assignment
"Come in, Jack!" James Edgar Kirby, Director of the FBI, leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs, his right hand holding his pipe resting on his knee. "Here's your next assignment.”
He pointed with the pipe stem to a file folder of papers resting on his otherwise spotless desk. "As you know, the directors of several Federal Agencies have disappeared recently - Murdoch of the Bureau of Bureaucracy, Nachtstern of the Department of Redundancy Reduction, and Vincent of the Department of Incomprehensible Regulations. We don't know where or why - they've simply disappeared. The lack of Directors is already affecting the efficiency of these departments which is severely impacting the war effort! That's why I'm assigning it to you, m'boy - you're the Bureau's top agent. The outcome of the war could easily be affected by the results of your investigation!"
Jack Bradley, a handsome, fit, blonde man with a square jaw, knew that another reason he was getting this difficult assignment was that Kirby was aware of his heroic identity: Fearless Flint, The Famous Flint man. As Fearless Flint, Jack had super strength and was virtually indestructible, and had already faced terrific dangers while resolving past important cases that no one else could handle. He wasn't shaken by the importance of the assignment; he was eager to get started. "Yes, sir! I'll get on it right away!" He picked up the folder and headed to to the door.
"Thanks, Jack! I knew I could count on you!" Kirby replied heartily. "As always, the resources of the Bureau are at your disposal!"
By the time he'd reached his desk, Jack had two theories. "Either they've defected or they've been kidnapped by Axis agents." He studied the background information on all three, examined their photographs, and reviewed their work records. All three appeared to be typical government employees: middle-aged men with glasses and serious expressions, who had climbed to the pinnacle of the bureaucratic ladders through quiet competence. There was nothing in any of their records that suggested disloyalty, which strengthened Jack's suspicions that the disappearances were indeed kidnappings.
He was about to call in his assistant, Ruth Parson, when a sudden thought struck him. "Could Lee Fang be behind these kidnappings?"
Jack shuddered at the thought that the notorious and relentless Japanese agent might have ordered these recent kidnappings. Just last year, Fang had used a group of ferocious gargoyles under his hypnotic control to cause chaos and death in New York City as part of his plan to take over a valuable skyscraper. Ruth had been one of Fang's kidnap victims until Fearless Flint had rescued her from his deadly clutches. Despite the danger, Ruth had shown unwavering bravery and aided Flint in capturing and unmasking the notorious Dr. Fang, though the cunning criminal had subsequently escaped from prison and was still on the loose. Ruth's courage impressed Flint so much that he offered her a job as Jack’s assistant at the FBI.
If Fang was indeed involved in these kidnappings, Jack feared for the safety and well-being of the victims.
"Ruth, I need all the files on anyone in the DC area who may be suspected of having connections to Axis spy rings. If these recent kidnappings are indeed part of an Axis operation, I want to know about it!"
Ruth was a nifty brunette with curls in her hair, wearing a neat business suit. "You don't know what you're asking for, boss!" she exclaimed with a hint of exasperation. "With all the alarming headlines in the news these days, one would think that every single person in DC is somehow involved in espionage, instead of being loyal patriotic Americans like us!"
She stomped away, but returned quickly, bearing an overflowing armload of file folders. "I hope you have better luck than everyone else has had so far!"
After studying the files for a while, he called her back in. "I think they were kidnapped, and I've narrowed it down to three Axis spymasters who our informants suggest are currently operating in the DC area: Dr. Lee Fang, the Green Skull, or Count Bladderwort."
"Oh, I hope it's not Dr. Fang," she shuddered. "I was sure he was going to order one of his gargoyles to tear me to shreds, just to show papa he wasn't bluffing! The Green Skull sounds even more evil; he uses a gas spray that kills the victim by eating away the skin on his head and turning the exposed bone green." She had to pause to get the horrid picture from her mind. "I don't know much about Count Bladderwort."
"They say he has a warped passion for growing flesh-eating plants, and he's managed to breed plants that eat men!" Jack replied in disgust as Ruth jerked in horror. "He may be worst of all!" He paused for a moment, then jumped to his feet. "I don't know which of them is behind this plot - but I'm pretty sure I know where they will strike next!" He grabbed his hat from the coat rack and pulled his pistol and holster from a file cabinet drawer. "I'm headed to the Bureau of Bureaucracy, the most important agency in the government! That HAS to be their next target!"
"Hey, you hired me to be an agent, too, not just some glorified secretary!" Ruth reminded him. "I'm coming too!"
They raced out of the building and tore across town in Jack's car, the lights flashing and the siren screaming. Jack flashed his FBI badge as they barreled through the lobby of the imposing marble Bureau of Bureaucracy building, and slammed open the outer door to the Director's office.
"We might be too late!" he shouted in anguish The receptionist lay sprawled unconscious on the plush carpeted floor, her desk overturned and papers scattered everywhere. Without hesitation, he lowered his shoulder and smashed open the inner office door. The kidnappers were waiting for him, armed and dangerous. They wasted no time in opening fire on Jack, their guns blazing with deadly accuracy. At point blank range, they couldn't miss!
***
Quite a cliffhanger, eh, Readers? Is this the end of Jack Bradley, the Famous Flint Man? Be sure to buy next month's Edition of FAMOUS FEATURES comic book to find out!