5 – Adventure Comics #465

Flash, Green Lantern and Hawkman search the city to no avail.

They learn from Police Commissioner O’Hara that a ransom for three million will be paid, though they swear to continue their search for the deadly capsule.

Green Lantern, Flash and Hawkman track down and subdue Gotham thugs looking for a clue as to the identity of the blackmailers. So far there enquiries are fruitless.

At the hospital Huntress, with the assistance of Power Girl (yay!) search the records room for clues. Showing the skill inherited from her father, the World Greatest detective, determines a possible suspect. A cleaner from the hospital that shouldn’t have been accessing records inside the cabinets.

(Theses are paper records inside the cabinets, this is well before computerized records were widespread).

Frustrated Hawkman goes to Dr Fates tower, breaking in to demand his help – despite Dr Fate being involved with some very complex incantation that can’t be disturbed. 

Huntress and Power Girl finds the cleaner who admits to stealing the capsule, to help her son Michael who’s mixed up with drugs and needed something to trade for his next hit.

Huntress and Power Girl begin to hassle the pushers of Gotham City until they learn the name of Trader Tim who may have the capsule in question. 

Having pinned up Trader Tom, who sport another cool medallion, Huntress learns that he passed in the chain. She tranqs him, or she would if he hadn’t fainted, and they show some major capeage as they rush off.

Hawkman in frustration breaks the circle and gains Dr fates attention, despite the harm the interruption could cause.

The potential danger is announced on the news as all of the JSA, minus Hawkman and Dr Fate, gather together and attack the gangsters that may have the capsule. After a quick fight, where Power Girl and Huntress kick-ass as usual, we learn that the man just dumped the capsule as just junk. They can’t arrest the man but they leave him in an unbreakable straightjacket and enough evidence to put him away for a long time.

Searching the garbage can Huntress discovers the hair of an animal, which is enough that Green Lantern can follow a trail to the creature (using a green upvote of all things!). This leads them to the Gotham Docks.

They find the creature a dog, and a quick search of the junk barges find the capsule and at the last second Dr Fate, who just flys in, encases it in a magical bubble making it safe for all.

Bemoaning the possible life lost because of the failed ritual Dr Fate is interrupted by Mister Terrific, as it’s JLA / JSA crossover time!

A nice change of pace from the regular villain punching stories, and a nice showcase for Huntress’s power of deduction. It’s also a good showcase of the potential of Huntress and Power Girl as a team, something we’ll see much more of in the future.