Top Secret #1

In "The Fifteenth Step," a mysterious absence threatens to unravel a top-secret project: fifteen men have each contributed one step in designing the super guided missile "Operation Ladder," but with one key figure missing from the report meeting, the entire effort hangs in the balance. Written and illustrated by George Olesen, this 1952 thriller from Hillman spins a tense, suspenseful tale of hidden identities and urgent stakes, where every step forward depends on finding the one who’s gone silent. The cover by George Olesen captures the mystery with a stark, shadowed image of a lone figure in a corridor, evoking the unease beneath the surface.