Deadman #4 is an issue of the series Deadman (Volume 1) with a cover date of August, 1985.
Synopsis for "How Close to Me My Killer"
This story is reprinted from Strange Adventures #211.
Deadman follows the Hook's trail to El Campo, Mexico, where he is astonished to discover his twin brother Cleveland Brand is there, along with Cleve's daughter Lita. Unknown to Lita, her father is making extra money by helping wealthy Texas rancher Alf Jackson illegally ferry cheap labor across the Rio Grande. When U.S. and Mexican authorities learn of the operation, Jackson orders Cleve and his aide Orry Kane to take the unsuspecting laborers back to the Rio Grande and sink the boats, drowning them and thus removing any evidence of Jackson's wrongdoing. At first, Cleveland agrees, but, when he is on the Rio Grande, he finds himself unable to commit such a crime. Deadman then enters Cleve's body and helps him and the Mexicans defeat Kane and Jackson's gangsters. Later, Cleve tells Lita he only wishes Boston could see him now. Deadman, hovering invisibly over him, remarks that Cleve would be surprised...but that he still has not located the Hook.
Appearing in "How Close to Me My Killer"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Cleveland Brand (Deadman's brother) (First appearance)
Antagonists:
- Alf Jackson (Single appearance)
- Orry Kane
Other Characters:
- Lita Brand (Deadman's niece) (First appearance)
Locations:
- El Campo, Mexico
- Rio Grande
- Texas
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Above And Beyond The Call Of Duty"
This story is reprinted from The Witching Hour #8.
An old man fantasizes about being young again so he may re-live his past glories and marry his young maid, Maria. Overhearing his wishful mumblings, the butler offers the old man his body in exchange for his soul. Initially the old man dismisses the butler's offer as a cruel joke but when his urge to be young again becomes too great he agrees to accept the butler's strange offer. Sure enough, the old man is indeed transformed into the youthful body of his butler and while delighting in his new vigor, cruelly kicks the "useless old husk" of his old body down the stairs. Suddenly, the devil appears and makes a phone call to the local police department reporting that the old man was just pushed down the stairs by his butler, killing him. As the devil and Maria walk off together the "butler" is dragged off to jail by the police.
Appearing in "Above And Beyond The Call Of Duty"
Narrators:
- The Hecatae (Host)
Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Fatal Call Of Vengeance"
This story is reprinted from Strange Adventures #212.
After helping bring Alf Jackson's gang to justice, Cleveland Brand decides to help smoke out his brother's murderer by impersonating him at Hill's Circus, much to Deadman's unseen consternation. The Hook, learning that Boston Brand is somehow "alive", returns to the scene of the crime to try and kill him "again". First, he bribes Varna, the female aide to the lion tamer, into drugging a lion into a frenzy and trapping Cleveland Brand in its cage. Deadman enters Cleveland's body and barely saves his life. Varna also tried to rescue Cleveland, but was badly wounded by the lion. Later, she reveals her part in the plot to kill Cleveland. The Hook's next bribe, is to pay the lion tamer to wear a false hook on the stump of his own arm, and masquerade as the Hook. Unbeknown to anyone, Tiny, the strongman, wears Deadman's costume and sees the "false Hook" (the disguised lion tamer) in the crowd. He grabs him, and beats the truth out of him. Suddenly, the real Hook appears and shoots at the disguised lion tamer and Tiny (still in Deadman's costume), and then makes a getaway. Seconds later, Lorna, Cleveland, and other circus members (and an unseen Deadman) unmask the "Deadman" figure, to find it is really Tiny, and he has been critically wounded by the Hook's bullet.
Appearing in "The Fatal Call Of Vengeance"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Cleveland Brand (Deadman's brother)
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Lita Brand (Deadman's niece)
- Hill's Circus Performers
- Lorna Hill (owner)
- Tiny (strongman)
- Vashnu (Hindu Fakir)
- Kleigman (lion tamer)
- Varna (lion tamers assistant)
- Toby (clown) (Cameo)
Locations:
Vehicles:
See Also