Murder Deals In Ersatz

Ersatz: (of a product) made or used as a substitute, typically an inferior one, for something else.
"ersatz coffee" 

synonyms: artificial, substitute, imitation, synthetic, fake, false, faux, mock, simulated; 

antonyms: genuine

Don't pretend you knew, I know you're lying. :-)

I've owned this book for a while now but had held off reading it. For a while, I succumbed to my obsession with readings things in order, but between Altus no longer reprinting the character's stories, and an inability to find The League of Faceless Men at a price I'm willing to pay, I was able to overcome my self-imposed limits.

Tony Quinn and his loyal aides march into battle against a sinister crew of home front enemies whose despicable crimes of sabotage and treachery call for swift and sure punishment.

Sadly, this outing was a little disappointing. There is a note to readers prior to the start of the story that may partially explain why.

TO OUR READERS: Our new format preserves critical materials - but you will find that there has been no reduction in the amount of reading matter per issue.

I would be interested in finding out Ersatz's word count because that story felt shorter than the other Black Bat tales I've read. I suspect there is more "reading matter" in the various short stories in the back of the book than usual.

There are a few moments that stand out. Tony Quinn is immediately on the case as the Black Bat. Typically, at least in the early stories, Commissioner Warner would visit Tony Quinn and suggest that if Quinn happens to be in contact with the Black Bat (nudge nudge wink wink), perhaps he could ask for the vigilante's help. Writer Norman Daniels went off-pattern here and included the Black Bat before even introducing Quinn and it was a refreshing change-up.

Also, McGrath gets a pretty solid win in his ongoing battle (more or less) to unmask the Black Bat and expose Tony Quinn. He doesn't fully succeed, of course, but if he were truly, fully motivated to end the Black Bat's career, he could have done it here. Rivalries can't be compelling when they're one-sided. McGrath was reaffirmed as a threat here somewhat.

There is little mystery to speak of, unfortunately. The usual apparently-nonsensical-but-key clue made an appearance; in this case in the form of paper clippings of auto accidents. The suspects are revealed very early. One is a particularly good fit but so much so that you dismiss him as being too obvious which really only leaves two that are a little too interchangeable.

Another highlight is the full-page image below. If the mystery was lacking, the action was quite good, including a well detailed car chase it illustrates.

Oddly, it appears during the second chapter of the book but features a scene from chapter eight so perhaps its placement could have been better.

I certainly don't regret purchasing this book but while it had its enjoyable moments, it was among my least favourite Norman Daniels stories. It was the 30th published Bat story and is dated Fall 1944.