Out of the night comes a menacing winged figure! Blind district attorney Tony Quinn takes his battle for justice from the courtrooms to the streets, battling evil as The Black Bat!
The shadow of wealthy empire-builder J. Perry Wade hung over a series of revolting crimes — and sent Tony Quinn on the trail of a shocking conspiracy! The discovery of a murder map provides the key to a grim secret of sinister treachery!
It was not unusual for Pulp heroes to have allies, a team even to back up them up in battles and to provide both exposition and even humor when necessary. This is especially true in series, where supporting cast often became even more fleshed out than the hero himself. In most cases, these characters were male and specifically qualified by some expertise to be working with the Hero. The Black Bat was one of a handful of characters that diverted from this stereotype, making a woman a primary part of his supporting cast.
Carol Baldwin served more than one purpose in The Black Bat stories. In her first appearance, she is undercover in a gang, which criminal involvement is sort of a theme for The Black Bat’s allies. This gives her a usefulness to Tony Quinn in his campaign against criminals, but she also provides something even greater. She is undercover and comes into contact with Quinn all for the same reason, as a tribute to her deceased father, a policeman. Not only is Carol carrying on her father’s own crime fighting, but she is also the one who insures that her father’s final wishes are carried out and his eyes are donated to science. This results in Tony Quinn receiving her father’s eyes in an experimental surgery and gaining the ability to see in the dark. Carol Baldwin is an ally to The Black Bat and a main reason the character has the ability to fight crime as he does.
Thrill to Riddle of the Dead Man’s Bequest, originally published in Black Book Detective #84 March 1949 and read with two fisted excitement by award winning voice actor Milton Bagby.
Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: Incident One
Chapter 2: Incident Two — and Murder
Chapter 3: Eyes of the Blind
Chapter 4: The Black Bat’s Strategy
Chapter 5: Post Mortem
Chapter 6: The Darkness Man
Chapter 7: Midnight Visit
Chapter 8: Visitors of Violence
Chapter 9: Murder Complications
Chapter 10: Strange Inheritance
Chapter 11: Surprised Heir
Chapter 12: Dead Man’s Murder Plans
Chapter 13: Counter Attack
Chapter 14: The Rope
