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Investigating a letter to Perry White, about a friend who was in trouble, gunshots were fired. Superman pursued the man from the sporting goods store, to a penthouse apartment. We find him today trying to force the underling to talk.Who is the sleeping fat man, and what danger can he hold over his minion? The laughing man thinks its a queer site to see a man in a red and blue suit in his house. Superman thinks its an equal oddity to find a well spoken, and deep thinking gangster. Queer indeed.
Superman is blunt in telling the fat gangster, named Laughter, what he thinks of him. The jovial criminal is glad to had a worthy opponent. In fact he’s sure that despite the soft words, that their encounter together will only end when one of is dead.
With introductions aside, Superman lays out his grievances against Laughter, and his henchman, Killrain. Its the one thing thus far to change the attitude of the laughing man. Why does he want Perry White dead? Can Superman prove that Killrain shot at his friend, despite the dmission? How will Superman’s strength stand up the brain of the Laugher?
Note: Is it just me, or are there some similarities between other crime fighting heroes in this story? The Batman’s rival is the Joker, and this guy is the Laugher. Both are masterminds, in their own way, and have hen men to do their bidding. Moving out of the realm of caped crusaders, there’s also a parallel in the descriptive names, similar to the criminals on the Dick Tracy radio and comes of this era.
In yet another realm, think of Nero Wolfe. A fat man who secluded himself in a comfortable home. A deep thinker, socially reclusive. Sending out his trusted men to carry out the footwork. Hmm… which came first Nero… or the Laugher… On the air, I think it has to be the Laugher, but I’m pretty sure that Nero Wolfe came first in print form.
