Back Issue Box: Phantom Stranger #36

Spare your humble host the opportunity to post a little labor of love if you will on this Monday. In fact, this is probably the first of two posts on a little curiosity that I have been trying to track down for a while. 

There was supposedly a rumor in the 70s that Black Orchid and Supergirl were the same person. Black Orchid was completely mysterious. We never knew her origin or her secret identity. I don't even know if we ever completely knew the extent of her powers. We knew she could fly, was bulletproof, and had super strength.  That similarity, as well as the noirish nature of the stories, has always made Orchid a favorite of mine. 

But there was always a mention here and there of a story where she also seemed to have x-ray vision powers. Perhaps it is was that story that led to the fan theory?

I mean it seems to make sense as a plausible theory. The Kara of the time was living a bit in the shadow of Superman, Part of her arc then was trying to find her place in the world, bouncing from journalist to guidance counselor to soap opera star. So a flying, bulletproof woman? Maybe Kara trying out her own identity?

Okay, it is far-fetched. 

But that x-ray vision story has always intrigued me. So imagine my surprise when I finally found it in The Phantom Stranger #36. 

I love fan theories and the Orchid and Supergirl, I couldn't resist but to review it here. And if anyone has some proof of that fan theory (perhaps a letter in a letter column?), please forward to me!

On to the story.

The Crime Computer was written by Black Orchid creator Sheldon Mayer with art by Nestor Redondo.  Redondo's art is perfectly murky and moody.

What a great opening line!

"As mankind's technology grows more and more advanced, there will always be those who will misuse it." In this instance, the crime computer uses it's AI to plot brilliant crimes and analyze people and events. 

We start with a young man named for a crime. He thinks he is at a job interview when he is handed a gun. It turns out that gun has been used to kill an elderly man. A sound effect from a trick cigarette lighter the patsy is given adds the needed gunshot noise and powder burns to bring the law and complete the frame. 

In flies our heroine who tells the crooks they need to turn back and exonerate the man they have framed.

Despite being riddled with bullets from a spray gun, she remains unharmed.

Now in a strange turn of events, Black Orchid simply flies off. She certainly has the power to grab these guys.

Back in their lair, the two field agents, Flint and Harold, talk to the criminal mastermind. 

This unnamed man asks his massive crime computer some questions. For example, who is Black Orchid? Unknown.

But how can Black Orchid do what she does?

The computer, supposedly infallible, comes up with some ideas. Maybe she is an illusion? Or a ghost> Maybe she has trained her body to do it through zen meditation.

Or maybe she is an alien!

Hmmmm ...

One thing the computer does know. The plots it creates are perfect and therefore Black Orchid cannot impact their business.

If that was true, how did Black Orchid stumble upon their plot earlier?

Well, she has been using xrays to read the magnetic tape and their plans. Xrays that could be coming from any distance!

Hmmm ...

At the very least, it means she knows where the computer is located and therefore where they are located.

Later, the criminal genius hatches his next plot.

Cleo Berry wants him to murder her widow's mother. Custody of Cleo's son is being contested.

A plan is set up.

And more importantly, the perfect computer has deemed her completely trustworthy. The plot will work.

It is a crazy plot. 

The mother-in-law is elderly and cared for by a live in nurse. The two flunkies will distract the nurse while the intended victim is sleeping. Then the other will slip inside and kill the old woman. 

But then things go crazy.

The nurse is lured outside by the Harold who tells the caregiver that the elms on the tree have a specific rot that needs to be taken care of.

When Flint slips inside to slip the old woman a lethal dose of her medication, he discovers ... incredibly ... that she is a robot. The android captures this crook.

So let's add access to advanced robotics to the list of clues about Black Orchid. Like, perhaps she might have a duplicate robot hiding in a tree to sub for her in a pinch?

Hmmm ...

And the nurse?

Leaves the garden shed in her 'real' identity - Black Orchid. 

It is assumed she brings him to justice.

But first she makes him make a call.

The call? To the cops who head to the Bus Terminal which was the drop for the cost of the crime.

There it is all wrapped up. It turns out that the whole thing has been a set up. Even Cleo Berry has been a fake, the Black Orchid in disguise the whole time.

And how could the computer be wrong? Well it was reprogrammed or altered by the exposure to xrays.

It is one thing for the computer to malfunction. But to spit out the desired false information due to xray exposure? Black Orchid might need super-intelligence to pull that off. 

Okay, enough silliness.

But seriously, if the Black Orchid series in Adventure Comics and here was built as a mystery like the identity of Sensor Girl or Leviathan, I can imagine that Supergirl would be a very popular guess. I mean, I have built a pretty good case for it here. 

So how hard would you have considered this theory?

As for the story, it moves at lightning pace to get all the plot elements out. The art is lovely. Redondo is a master so that shouldn't surprise.

I know I will have one follow-up to this ... maybe even two. But for now.

Overall grade: B