Synopsis / Summary / Plot
In the Michigan wilderness, fur trapper Bruno Hen is killed by an unseen monster; his friend Carl MacBride arrives to hear Bruno’s dying request that he hire Doc Savage to avenge him. On the flight east, Carl hears about Doc Savage from a fellow passenger, Jean Morris, but another passenger takes an interest as well. This stranger follows Carl to Doc’s office and guns down the poor trapper in front of the Man of Bronze, who is protected by his glass shield. Doc deduces Carl’s mission from the contents of his pockets and goes to meet Monk and Ham, who have followed the killer to a walled estate. Surmounting the wall, the heroes find the extensive grounds of the estate are enclosed by an electric fence. Carefully entering the enclosure, they are greeted by gunfire; the assailant turns out to be a frightened Jean Morris, hired as an animal trainer for a mysterious engagement. They are then interrupted by a grotesque giant head smashing through the floor and vanishing again. Doc pursues, only to see the monster being taken away in a truck. Exploring, he finds a prisoner: the home’s owner, railroad magnate Griswold Rock, who says he was forced to finance an insane scheme by his former employee Pere Teston. Doc phones his other aides to find the fleeing truck. Renny finds it but is taken prisoner. When Doc catches up to him, he has time only to rescue his aide before an explosion destroys the truck and its contents. Next move: go to Michigan.