![](\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjXtL-eY_-TmwY0beDrgiNLQkEFRNSHEnayLnDyFOe4UrUwSMizFMpNTmFRZ2lsoO4NPDEFsiX8z7g4uNKGTtGEUQlY92hGJ4jvDqshJGs-gBaDC8voQlYYDkDUYTSjo22zXiezL2CPTLs4uXGqh8ylvW06AzoHLdj5FbpW9YPdwUeBr-l5345N3yzu1PaG\/w640-h210\/895a1%20ghost%20of%20the%20deep%20america's%20greatest%20001%201941.jpg\" "\\"the")
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<\/a><\/div>\nThe Ghost of the Deep, a dastardly fellow indeed. As the comic opens, a captive scientist named Hugo has just completed a mysterious formula for him, only to be rewarded with murder.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nIn the following days, the Ghost attacks US West Coast shipping, each time leaving behind a calling card in the form of a message in a bottle.<\/p>\n
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<\/a><\/div>\nThe Ghost even tries to silence Billy Batson’s fairly routine reporting on the attacks (but why leave a calling card if you don’t want everyone to know you’re responsible?) by taking Billy and his boss Sterling Morris for a proverbial ride. When this is predictably foiled by Captain Marvel, the Ghost of the Deep shows up long enough to demonstrate that he is also a classic comic book Bad Boss by drowning his hapless Teutonic minions.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nThere is a bit of radio-based taunting, since Billy is a radio guy. Again, this kind of thing brings into question just why<\/i> the Ghost of the Deep wants to shut Billy up.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So just what is the Ghost of the Deep’s plan? And what is this mysterious formula that poor Hugo died for? Why, it’s the recipe for making a transparent, invulnerable alloy called Z-Metal, and using a fleet of tank-submarines composed of the stuff, the Ghost intends on conquering the United States. First stop: blowing up the Panama Canal.<\/p>\n As for the Ghost’s real identity, well, it’s not revealed until later, but any cagey comics reader will immediately peg this smarmy rival radio man named Spriggins as the top suspect the instant that he walks on-panel. Presumably his cover serves the same purpose as Billy Batson’s: as a way of gathering information and justifying a lot of globetrotting as being in pursuit of a story.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ultimately, Spriggins’ plan has one fatal flaw: it fails to account for the presence of a magically super-strong fellow like Captain Marvel, who succeeds where the might of the US Navy cannot and smashes the Z-Metal fleet to smithereens. And then does the same to the Ghost of the Deep’s cool Z-Metal chainmail.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n