Lightning Comics (Vol. 2) #3
Doctor Nemesis
At Mercy Hospital, Professor Forte tells Doctor James Bradley that he has just finished his latest experiment and tells the doctor to keep it quiet until he can present his findings to the medical board because should anyone find out the application of his work could be dangerous. With that, Forte leaves to go bowling, the sport that helps him relax.
A few hours later Doctor Bradley learns that Professor Forte had suddenly dropped dead in the street. Suspecting foul play, James changes into Doctor Nemesis so he can investigate. He pays a visit to the professor’s daughter, Emily, to see how she is taking the news of her father’s death. At the Forte home, he discovers that someone has rifled through the professor’s office. In the next room he finds Emily who tells Doctor Nemesis she suspects her lover and her father’s assistant, Bill West, was responsible. As the police start knocking on the door, Doctor Nemesis departs after having Emily swear to keep his involvement a secret.
Watching from the window, Doctor Nemesis witnesses as the police come in with Bill West to question him about the theft of the formula. Bill insists that he is innocent and that he can get the formula back. Wrestling free, Bill tries to make a run for it but is tackled by police. Seeing an opportunity, Doctor Nemesis changes back into his civilian guise and uses his medical credentials to get close to West, claiming the man needs a tetanus shot after his fall. This allows Bradley to inject Bill with his truth serum. Bill once more attests his innocence but unfortunately the officers take him off before the can reveal the identity of the truth thief to James. In the police wagon, Bill snapes of his trance and finds Doctor Nemesis’ business car with a written assurance that Bill will be helped. After calling Emily Forte and informing her that Bill is innocent, Doctor Nemesis then continues his own investigation.
Going to the city morgue, Doctor Bradley examines Professor Forte’s body and confirms that the man was killed by poison. Retracing Professor Forte’s steps, Doctor Nemesis arrives at the bowling alley, which is advertising a show featuring the “Masked Marvel”. Using his own mask to throw off the owner, a man named Blackie, Doctor Nemesis begins searching the bowling balls and discovers one with a needle hidden in one of the finger holes. In the ensuing struggle with Blackie is injected with Doctor Nemesis’ truth serum. Learning that the formula is being used to create a gas to knock out the staff of a bank in order to rob it. That’s when he spots Bill West, who just broke out of jail, sneaking into the gang’s hideout. There Doctor Nemesis watches as Bill refuses a cut of the bank robbery, refusing to keep quiet about them anymore. That when Doctor Nemesis comes bursting in and fights Blackie and his men until the police arrive on the scene. With the situation under control, Doctor Nemesis injects Blackie with his truth serum again and reveals that he is Bill’s brother and after learning about Professor Forte’s formula he murdered the scientist and stole it. As it turns out, Bill only discovered his brother was involved only after the fact. With Blackie arrested, Doctor Nemesis has Bill swear to make sure the formula is only used for good in the future and disappears before the police can question him.
Recurring Characters
Doctor Nemesis
