Comic Title: Adventure Comics #428
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 909 Third Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: Jul/Aug 1973
On Sale Date: April 26, 1973 Newsstand Date April 26, 1973
Source: Comic Reader, #95

Copyright Date April 26, 1973
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1973

Frequency: Bi-monthly
Cover Price: $0.20
Page Count: 32
Editor: Joe Orlando

Title: (Black Orchid)
Pages: 16

Feature(s):
Black Orchid (of Earth-1)

Writer: Sheldon Mayer
Artist: Tony DeZuniga

Feature Character(s)

• Black Orchid (disguised as Adele; next appearance in Adventure Comics #429)

Villain(s)

• A group of corrupt businessmen (Mr. Canard and Snerff named; no further appearances)
• Gladys Vincent (a businesswoman; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Jim Crocker (a corrupt police commissioner; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Ken Ransom and Myra (a young district attorney and his sister-in-law; no further appearances)

Synopsis:
Young district attorney Ken Ransom infiltrates a group of corrupt business leaders by disguising himself as one of their members, Mr. Canard. Ransom gathers evidence which proves the group killed the former D.A., Ken's brother Tom.

The real Canard arrives late to the meeting and exposes Ransom. The group then plans to kill the attorney, but a mysterious costumed female possessing super strength rescues him. The costumed girl takes Ransom back to his house, then disappears. She leaves behind a calling card, a scented black orchid.

While Ransom recuperates, the businessmen plan their next move. Gladys Vincent, one of the members, decides to turn against her partners and offers evidence to Ransom. The businessmen learn about her betrayal and kill her. They then plan to frame Ransom, but the Black Orchid comes to his rescue again.

Ransom now has enough evidence to indict the conspirators. Black Orchid disappears again, after which Ransom discovers that she had been posing as his maid Adele. However, the real identity of the Black Orchid remains a mystery.