Cosmic Rays from the stars concentrated in the gravity rod enable me to soar through space! 
- — Starman
Adventure Comics #73 is an issue of the series Adventure Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of April, 1942.
Synopsis for Starman: "The Case of the Murders in Outer Space!"
Clifford Taylor, heir to the Taylor-Hetty fortune, is found dead in California, three hours after being seen in New York. Due to an unusual clause in an eccentric relative's will, Clifford's family will not receive the inheritance, because he was found in California. F.B.I. agent Woodley Allen contacts Starman and alerts him to the strange death. In his civilian identity as Ted Knight, Starman forfeits participating in a horse race to solve the crime. At the track, Doris Lee discusses the Taylor murder with his surviving family, Matt and Jim. Their cousin, Lieutenant Governor Morgan is also present and is upset that Ted Knight lost the horse race, costing Morgan a tidy sum of money. Matt and Jim tell Doris how Morgan has been using funds from the City Treasury to cover his gambling debts.
Ted changes into Starman, then flies out to San Francisco. He examines the body of Clifford Taylor then flies back out east. He finds that a group of thugs has kidnapped Jim Martin and Doris Lee. Starman saves Doris and disables the getaway vehicle as it crosses a suspension bridge into New Jersey.
Starman learns that a villain known as the Hooded Hunchback is in possession of a rocket-gun that can launch a payload across the continental United States in a short period of time. After breaking into the Hunchback's lair, he discovers that the crook murdered Clifford Taylor in New York then used his rocket to make sure the body was found in California. Starman discovers that the Hunchback has kidnapped the elderly Matthew Taylor and has launched him from his rocket. His thugs get the drop on Starman who is subsequently placed inside the nosecone of a similar projectile. While the torpedo flies through space, Starman breaks free and rescues Matthew Taylor from the rocket. He brings him safely back to the Hooded Hunchback's castle in New Jersey. Starman defeats the Hunchback and unmasks him, revealing the face of Lieutenant Governor Morgan. As a cousin to the family, Morgan stood to inherit the Taylor family fortune if all other heirs were seemingly killed in California.
Appearing in Starman: "The Case of the Murders in Outer Space!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Hooded Hunchback (Single appearance)
- Muggsy
Other Characters:
- Clifford Taylor (Single appearance; dies)
- Jim Taylor (Single appearance)
- Matt Taylor (Single appearance)
- Mike (Single appearance)
Animals:
- Fleetwing, racehorse (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Earth-Two
- California
- New Jersey
- Clay Banks
- Gotham City (Behind the scenes)
- New York
Items:
- Gravity Rod
- Rocket Gun
Vehicles:
- Rocket Capsules
Synopsis for Manhunter: "The Secret of the Buzzard's Revenge"
Rick Nelson returns to Empire City from an African hunting trip, and throws a big party as his fashionable apartment. His old friend Inspector Donovan confides in him that a new screwball criminal has been plundering the city, with impunity. Meanwhile the swing music on the radio breaks off and a breathless announcer warns the public that the Buzzard has been sighted ... From behind the announcer is knocked unconscious, as the Buzzard takes over the microphone and broadcasts his challenge to the entire city: he's here to loot it at will, and none of them can stop him!
Donovan leaves the party to go deal with this emergency. On his way out, Inspector Donovan compares big game hunting with crime fighting, giving Rick some things to consider as he dances with Gloria. Soon, elsewhere in the city, Donovan and his cops pursue the Buzzard, shooting as they go. He climbs and leaps and leads them onto some rooftops, then onto a particular roof, where he activates a trap door, dropping them all down a shaft in the middle of the building. None survive.
The next morning, Rick Nelson reads about Donovan's death, and swears to avenge it. By that evening, he's got a costume and a new identity. That night Manhunter takes to the streets of Empire City. Through the open window of a police car, he hears the Buzzard, taking over the police dispatch radio channel and taunting them about it, then describing a crime he intends to commit. Police all go zipping away toward the announced location, but Manhunter races to the opposite side of town. Some local newsboys have seen the Buzzard, on the roof of Mrs. Stanton's big, old, gloomy mansion; Manhunter gets directions then closes in. He gets inside ahead of the Buzzard, and sets a snare. Soon the elusive criminal is dangling upside down above the floor. He challenges Manhunter to fight him fair and square; Manhunter impulsively releases him then steps in for a fistfight. Reinforcements for the Buzzard run into the room, four thugs, they dogpile Manhunter and quickly tie him up.
Then the wealthy Widow Marston is brought into the room. The Buzzard wants her to rewrite her will, in favor of Hugo Van Beck, but the old lady defies him, figuring she's dead either way. And while the Buzzard is trying to intimidate her, he steps in a little too close, and she just snatches that ugly mask right off his ugly head! By this time Manhunter has worked his way loose, and starts taking out the distracted hoodlums one by one, until he works his way back to their boss, and punches him out.
The next morning a big game cage is delivered to Police Headquarters, containing the Buzzard and his henchmen.
Appearing in Manhunter: "The Secret of the Buzzard's Revenge"
Featured Characters:
- Manhunter (Rick Nelson) (First appearance)
Antagonists:
- The Buzzard (First appearance)
- his gang
Other Characters:
- Inspector Donovan (Single appearance; dies)
- Officer Clancy
- Mrs. Marston (Single appearance)
- Glorias
Locations:
Synopsis for Steve Conrad: "Adventure in the Past"
Appearing in Steve Conrad: "Adventure in the Past"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Chang
Antagonists:
- High Priest Rhek-Nisroch (Single appearance)
- A tiger (Dies)
Other Characters:
- Doctor Benson (Single appearance)
- The Queen
- her little brother
Locations:
- 1942
- A forgotten civilization, thousands years ago, which allegedly inspired Egypt and Babylon
Items:
Synopsis for Shining Knight: "The Golden Quest!"
Appearing in Shining Knight: "The Golden Quest!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Bruce Bower (Single appearance)
- Bank Robbers (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Thomas (Single appearance)
- Vera Verne (Single appearance)
- Lyle Sefton (Single appearance)
- Jeff Mason (Single appearance)
Locations:
Animals:
Synopsis for Hourman: "Criminal Quiz!!"
Appearing in Hourman: "Criminal Quiz!!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Professor Q (David Manders) (Single appearance; dies)
Locations:
Items:
Synopsis for Sandman: "Bells of Madness!"
Appearing in Sandman: "Bells of Madness!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Ernest Mansfield (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Martha Mansfield (Single appearance; dies)
- Lois Mansfield (Single appearance)
- Frank Scata (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
Notes
- Manhunter:
- "The Secret of the Buzzard's Revenge" is reprinted in New Gods (Volume 1) #4.
- The superhero Manhunter who premieres in this issue is not the same character as the private detective Paul Kirk, Manhunter who has been appearing in previous issues. In fact, his real name in this issue is given as Rick Nelson. Next issue, his real name will be changed to Paul Kirk, with no explanation given, but they are still separate characters.
- Sandman: "Bells of Madness!" is reprinted in The Sandman by Joe Simon & Jack Kirby
- Starman:
- "The Case of the Murders in Outer Space!" is reprinted in The Golden Age Starman Archives Vol. 1.
- Doris Lee is kidnapped for the 7th time.
See Also