Detective Comics #9

In "Case of the Hobo Hero," a 1937 Detective Comics issue, Speed investigates a wave of street derelicts and follows one named Gloomy Jake to a racketeer's mansion, where he uncovers a conspiracy involving stolen tax reports and a corrupt official. With a clever disguise and sharp instincts, he infiltrates a high-stakes meeting—only to be shot and nearly caught before the police arrive. Written and illustrated by Creig Flessel, this early tale blends noir intrigue with a twist that redefines the hobo's role in the city's underbelly. The cover, also by Flessel, captures the mood with a stark, shadowed figure in a tattered coat.