(More Fun Comics 074, 1941)
I have taken an immediate liking to Dr Clever. I mean, just look at the guy: the classic tuxedo-and-cape combo, the rictus grin, the bald pate with two little hair-horns, the tiny skull-and-crossbones pin... he's really a triumph of design when you think about it. Lucky for us he's a recurring foe of Johnny Quick so we'll be seeing him again.
Somewhat strangely for a man with such an overall villainous look, Dr Clever's major line is in con artistry: he manages to pull off three schemes in short order in this issue and the only impediment to their success is the involvement of Johnny Quick. Maybe people just love a smiling man. In order then:
1. Under a fairly flimsy pretense he gives away free food that contains a chemical that turns the eater blue, then sells an antidote for big bucks. This one might be a warm-up as he only seems to get about ten people.
2. He advertises his new invention: a machine for extracting gold from seawater. Dr Clever sells the gold from this machine for 50 cents on the dollar, but really it's just a way to launder stolen gold.
3. He creates a service whereby he will register your patent for you but really he just keeps them for himself.
It's all almost wholesome, crime-wise. Don't worry though: Dr Clever is actually an evil wretch of the highest order as evidenced by the above panel in which he murders two henchmen for essentially no reason.
