The Crime Crusaders Club

Case 3: "Spider and I"

By Mikel Midnight

[CCC flashback edited from Roy Thomas describing a story written by (probably) Otto Binder]

His sidekick, known as Bolt, is waiting for him. "Did you get the papers, boss?" he asks. His feet are covered by yellow boots, and his legs by red tights. From his waist up he is clothed in a black tunic with the yellow lightning bolt on its chest. A blue quiver is slung over his shoulder, and he has his blue bow at the ready. His face is concealed behind a red bandanna which covers his face like a mask.

The Spider nods, passing them to the other as he slides into the driver's seat of the advanced car known to the underworld as the Black Widow. "It's a good thing I was listening to the police bands. I heard about a bank robbery, after hours, that had been the work of a gang of thieves. The locks were melted off, there was a large hole in the bank vault and the lockboxes were lying open. It should have taken a whole platoon of robbers to open that place up like that. So, there I was at the radio listening to the police, and I heard that they had received a note from the individuals claiming to take responsibility for that bank job."

Bolt skims through it. "It doesn't say much. Just the usual villainous bragging. It's signed by someone named the Black Arrow and Kid Archer. Sounds right up our alley. Though with those names and the sort of gimmicks having been used at the robbery, I wonder whether they could have been taught to shoot by Prof. Millions? He's bugged us before with his pet archers."

The Spider furrows his brow. "Let's hit the streets before the papers hear all about it. It won't hurt our image either but Manhattan already has enough gangsters, we don't need new ones moving in."

That night, the Spider and Bolt pound the beats thoroughly. Any of their usual contacts, and anyone known to have had past association with Prof. Millions, is visited by the amazing archers. It isn't long before they have their source.

Bolt fires an arrow at the running man, and the Spider's Web ejects from its tip, binding him within its strong silk cords. The Spider steps out of the Black Widow and grabs the man by the lapels. "Louie the Punk. You shouldn't run just because you see us on the road. It just makes you look guilty. Ok. Punk, talk."

"Please Spider, ah, I wasn't doin' nothing!"

"When I say talk, you talk!" The Spider hits him in the stomach and the man folds, coughing. "You know what we're looking for. Word is out on the streets. Where are they? The Black Arrow and Kid Archer?"

"All right, all right, I confess!" The man looks back and forth between the two pleadingly. "I know where they spend their nights between jobs. Go to a joint called Star City ... it's a little speakeasy left over from prohibition days that has been turned into a gin bar for criminals."

The Spider grunts. "Thanks for nothing ... Punk." He throws the man to the ground, grinding into the back of his head with his heel. "Keep your nose clean, right?"

The pair jump back into the waiting automobile, and tear down the city streets. As they tour Manhattan, Bolt notes where they're headed, "I think I remember hearing about Star City. It's set in the German district of town, ain't it? On Gustavson Street?"

"That's about right. We have to work on our approach. I know they aren't going to let me in as the Spider and I know they would suspect an upstanding man like Tom Hallaway."

Bolt smirks, "I think it's time for our usual sneaky entrance through the back door."

"I think you're right, pal," says the Spider, as the Black Widow swerves down an alleyway on Gustavson Street and crashes into a side wall, surprising the criminals on the inside.

The Spider and Bolt let fly with a volley of arrows, pinning a couple of them to the tables. They tumble through the room, knocking a couple more out with their dukes, all the time yelling for them to give up the Black Arrow and Kid Archer.

Finally, a pair emerges from a back room: a man dressed like Robin Hood, complete with feathered cap, quill of arrows, and bow with drawn arrow; and a young teenager also dressed like Robin Hood. The amazing archers finish off the last bruisers trying to start a brawl with them, and approach the newcomers.

"So let me ask you," sneers the Spider, "why do they call you Black Arrow?"

"To be honest," adds Bolt, "I think it has to do with how normal they look."

"No such luck," replies the older man, and fires an arrow at the Spider. He jumps aside, and the force of the arrow strike dents the armor and scratches the finish on the Black Widow behind him.

Bolt ducks for cover, and fires an arrow at Kid Archer. He looks, aghast, at the damage done to their automobile. "These guys are real powerful fish for us to try and reel in."

Kid Archer responds with an attack in kind. "You're already in over your head, so-called 'amazing archers,' hah!"

The Spider glares. "No quarter asked, none given. Besides, he damaged my wheels!" He rushes Black Arrow with a series of arrows, and is surprised again when his opponent begins shooting all kinds of trick arrows out of his quiver at him.

The Spider and Bolt duck down behind a table. It burst into flame. They dodge away behind the bar, and streams of acid fly over their heads. They almost don't make it out before it starts to rain down where they were. "That was some quick running," taunts Black Arrow. "But, that isn't the half of it," adds Kid Archer.

They each fire an arrow above the bar and all the metal near the Spider and Bolt begins flying at them. The Spider whispers to his sidekick, "I realise that each of their arrows must hold a different gimmick, so I know we have to take out their arrows before they do anything else."

With a carefully placed shaft he drops a chandelier behind them, making them turn away. "That was your one mistake," smirks the Spider. He fires two of his Spider's Seals, the flat disc of which strikes at the thugs' hands to disarm them.

Bolt laughs and leaps up to get close to them. "So, you got any handcuff arrows in there that we can borrow?"

Black Arrow smiles, "I have another gimmick for you." He smacks Bolt in the jaw with a brass spittoon that had been near the counter. The impact is so great that Bolt flies backwards to land in the center of the bar.

The Spider screams his sidekick's name and dodges as Kid Archer attempts to nab him with a boxing glove arrow. It turns out to be a strategic feint, as Black Arrow releases a pair of handcuff arrows that within ten seconds secure the heroes.

Kid Archer gloats, "Hit him just as hard as the other one!"

Black Arrow smiles. "I don't think it's necessary. He's not going anywhere and he doesn't have the use of either hand."

The Spider glances at his sidekick and snarls. "Ok, you two won this round. Don't think you'll get away with this."

Black Arrow laughs. "You think we brought you two here just to kill you? I assure you, if that were the case you'd already be dead. I know you have police contacts. Why else do you think I sent them a signed note? What kind of fool notifies the police of his identity when he's robbing banks?"

The Spider glares. "Very well then ... what are you after? Prof. Millions has some plan to replace us and hurt our image?"

Kid Archer grins and shakes his head, "We graduated from Prof. Millions' school ages ago. We're working for someone else now."

Black Arrow walks forward, leaning his foot on the Spider's shoulder. "We brought you here to deliver a message. 'Keep your feet on the ground, and let your hand keep reaching for the nebulas and stars.'" He gives him a final shove, and the pair of villains run out the back room. "One parting shot," he adds, shooting an arrow which lands just to the Spider's side. It has a key attached to the end.

Bolt shakes the cobwebs out of his head. "Er, let me get that." He manages to grab the key and unlock the Spider, who frees his sidekick. "Get in the car," the Spider says angrily.

On the drive back to their headquarters, Bolt sulks. "Sorry I screwed up back there. I should never have let them catch me by surprise like that."

"You certainly shouldn't. I think it's time you to take a vacation from being the Spider's sidekick. Maybe you need to do little more training."

Bolt blinks at him. "What?" He opens up the glove compartment and takes out a cigar, which he lights angrily, flicking the match out of the window. "Just because we let the public think I'm a kid instead of an undersized adult, don't you go treating me like one. I'm just as old as you are." He takes a puff, blowing smoke at the Spider's face. "We're partners, you ain't my pop or my boss. You can't send me to school like I'm your child."

The Spider barely glances at him. "I may not be your 'pop,' but I'm the one who finances this operation, including all your equipment. I'm also the one who trained you, in case you've forgotten that before you met me you couldn't aim anything more than your 'Surefly' arrows. So if you're smart, you'll do what I say."

The Crime Crusaders Club Headquarters, Fawcett City, Indiana

A man enters the room wearing a stylish tuxedo with a white tie, concealing his features behind a black domino mask, which compliments his elegant top hat. Accompanying him is a tall, elegant looking blonde. She's wearing a calf-length black dress slit all the way up her right thigh, and a long-sleeved bolero jacket. A small pillbox hat with a lace veil that obscures her face, and black gloves complete her ensemble.

The Gay Ghost enters the room, his cape flowing gently back. "So, King, it's rare to see you in the midwest territory." He looks around the room. "Looks like a large turnout tonight."

The woman loops her arm through the King's.

Minuteman says "So you're the King, Hourman mentioned you a time or two."

The King nods, "It looks like I got here just before the crowd too ... and here's the reason for my appearance!" He hugs the woman at his side.

Genius Jones says "Isn't she a villain, the newspaper morgue has stories of her as a villain."

The King says "Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the Witch ... a former nemesis of mine, now reformed and, I nominate, a member of the Crime Crusaders Club. I hope you welcome her to our ranks as well."

Wonder Girl walks in, putting her lariat back into her belt loop. "Hello boys. You too, Witch."

The Witch smiles broadly, visible through her veil, as Wonder Girl enters. "Ah, I'm glad I'm not to be the only girl in the group." She walks over to the teenager, "though obviously you have me at a disadvantage as we have not been formally introduced." She extends a hand.

Wonder Girl accepts it and gives the Witch an impulsive hug. "Please, call me Drusilla," she says happily. "Of course the King's talked about bringing you over before," she turns to the baffled-looking Answerman, "although you may not have been around at the time Jones, I'm sorry." As she finds a seat and sits down, she speaks warmly, "I've missed a sense of sisterhood with other female warriors ever since I emigrated from Paradise Island, I hope we can be fast friends."

Genius Jones rubs his chin thoughtfully, "I see my involvement in investigations on the East Coast have robbed me of the opportunity to acquire additional information about my teammates. Quite unacceptable." He looks at the other members accusingly. "In recompense, I will accept an account of the organisation's earliest escapade." He suddenly grins broadly, his youth evident through his words, looking like a small child who has asked for a story.

The Gay Ghost gives a small theatrical bow, "By all means King, relate a story for the lad. You are much better an historian than I."

The King says "As the tale opens, the original members of the Crime Crusaders Club -- the Gay Ghost, Neptune Perkins, and I -- were having a meeting when the Gay Ghost discovered that I was lost in thought, looking unhappy and perplexed. Upon questioning, I revealed that I was in the midst of a bond sale campaign and that 'everyone in the country has contributed with the exception of one class' - the criminal class. So, seizing upon an accidental suggestion of the Gay Ghost, I decided upon a treasure hunt of sorts to raise the money he felt the hoodlums should pay to the war effort."

Minuteman says "Intriguing"

The Gay Ghost grins. "Ingenious!"

Genius Jones says "I can see the reasoning behind that, King."

The Witch sits and listens.

Wonder Girl blinks. "But isn't the aim of the criminals to get and -keep- money?"

The King grins. "Ah, there's the rub, isn't it?"

Genius Jones nods in spite of himself.

Minuteman says "Seems an interesting conundrum"

The King says "Soon afterward, pamphlets were distributed by the other Crusaders, saying that I was selling chances on myself: 'Buy a Bond and Get a Shot at the King!' Gathering in an abandoned amusement park, as stipulated, the criminals handed over their guns to Neptune Perkins, having previously been promised full immunity from arrest till midnight. To raise additional funds, we sold back the crooks guns for $100 apiece, with bullets proportionately priced."

Wonder Girl says "I like it! I like it!"

Genius Jones says "I doubt the criminals liked that"

The King says "The result was a rather interesting chase, with one crook attempting to cheat by using a hand grenade he had smuggled past Neptune Perkins. However, it was caught in mid-air and exploded harmlessly by the Gay Ghost. Attempting to flee the area in a racer, I myself crashed into a road barricade set up beforehand by the wily criminals, and was stunned. As they lined up to shoot me, however, a pair of mysterious cloaked and monocled Nazis with a thick accents showed up and declared that they intended to take me to Berlin with them. While I pointed a loaded pistol at the crooks, I escaped in an airplane, only to be shot down by the hoodlums, who stole their own aircraft from a nearby base and gave pursuit."

Minuteman says "Hmmm...rather strange turn of events"

Genius Jones sits on the edge of his seat, involved in the story now. "Something out of the Matinees"

Wonder Girl wows and nods to the Answerman.

The King says "Parachuting into some construction works, I figured I could escape before the crooks touched ground, but I became hung up and helpless. The cloaked Nazis approached and leveled a gun at me -- and then turned out to be our teammates, Guardian Angel and the Flying Fox, in disguise."

Wonder Girl says "My! What were they doing?"

Minuteman says "I think their goal was to distract the real villains from the King's whereabouts, Drusilla"

Genius Jones nods, and listens on...

The King says "As the flying crime busters helped me get free of my entanglements, I inquired as to our exact whereabouts. 'Why, we're on the outskirts of Standish, New Troy,' replied Guardian Angel. 'Swell, I made it!', I cried as I bolted away. 'I'm going to spring my trap!' 'I don't understand,' queried a puzzled Flying Fox. 'It's not midnight yet. Aren't you going to keep your word?'"

Genius Jones claps his hands. "Of course!"

The King says "'Only an hour left till midnight!' came drifting the cries of the crooks, who were still in hot pursuit. Suddenly, out of nowhere, I came rushing at them. Naturally, mere tommy-guns could not stand against my mighty fists and blazing pistols, and the hoods were all neatly confined in the jaws of a friendly steam shovel. 'Yer a liar!' they cried as one man as I left my calling card, with a crown and King's signature, until I explained that, to the contrary, I had merely led them eastward into a different time-zone. It was midnight in Standish, New Troy."

Wonder Girl gahs! "That was _sly_!" she cries in dismay.

The Witch grins broadly. She knew her friend wouldn't be so dishonorable, even among thieves.

The King says "Chalk up $100,000 for the war bond drive, courtesy of the Crime Crusaders Club!"

Genius Jones says "Ahhhh" and applauds.

Wonder Girl looks faintly disturbed. "Good one, but -merciful Minerva-..."

Minuteman chuckles under his breath appreciatively. "Clever ploy King. Clever indeed!"

Genius Jones furrows his brow, "But I requested an account of the organisation's founding, you have reported a subsequent development."

The King nods to the Answerman. "Yes, there was a previous occasion where we were, ah, under a sort of hypnotic control by the villainous Shadowman, and fought the Justice Society ... but that's not quite as dignified a story."

Larry Shafter glares at the bow and the accompanying costume, both of which are layed out on the bed of the hotel room he had checked into. "Maybe you were right, Tom," he mutters to himself. "Maybe it is time for Bolt to have a rest as the Spider's sidekick. But you never said the same thing about a solo career."

He slips on the mask and the costume he had long been accustomed to. "And since you think I need so much practice as an archer, maybe I'll leave my bow behind too, at least for a while. I remember reading about the Golden Age of ancient Greece. They were using a lot of weapons that people aren't used to nowadays ... and that might just give me my own set of surprises."

Donning his hoplite sword and the two-handed pike fashioned as a miniature sarisa, he leans out the window, preparing for a new patrol. "The Seven Soldiers of Victory will just have to be the Six Soldiers for a while. Be prepared, gangsters and punks. From now on The Bolt goes it alone!"