A doctor convinces a group of mobsters that it is possible to change a person's fingerprints. Once one of the crooks "proves" this is possible, the doctor is willing to do this for all the guys, "for a price." For some reason, all these guys wear lead mask on their heads. I never figured out why (Lois explains it's because of Superman's inability to see through lead with his x-ray vision). If someone can change fingerprints, it would cause considerable problems for law enforcement. Henderson shows Clark something that makes him realize that something is amiss. This is a pretty decent episode, but why the lead head masks? There is a funny sight gag at the end dealing with Jimmy Olsen.
2 Reviews
Conning the Cons
redryan645 January 2015
Warning: Spoilers
DEMONSTRATING THE DEPTH in both quality and variety displayed by the second season of the ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN, this installment of the Man of Steel's saga hits the gangster story from a fresh angle. This very neatly complements the varying other stories that centered on science fiction (Panic in the Sky), mystery (A Ghost for Scotland Yard, The Face and the Voice) and loneliness (Superman in Exile, The Dog who knew Superman*).
THE STORY UNFOLDS very neatly and without née a wasted line of dialog. A bizarre armed robbery of a Post Office branch nets only a wanted poster of Marty Mitchell. The perpetrator is a lone gunman, whose true identity was concealed by his wearing of a full head covering lead mask; which is designed in similar fashion of a diving helmet.
SOON WORD GETS out that a renegade surgeon has managed to change both Mitchell's facial features, as well as the supposedly impossible to alter fingerprints.
IN WHAT MUST be categorized as a most perfectly coordinated effort between the Metropolis Police and the entire staff of the Daily Planet join forces. The pooling of all expertise and skill is applied in solving the perplexing and catastrophic threat of surgically altered fingerprints.
WHEN THE MAN of Steel joins in, the balance of power tips in favour of the Law Abiding. Mitchell, the defrocked MD and the whole gang are brought to Justice.
ONE OTHER OUTSTANDING feature of this episode is the guest cast that it sports. The Frank Scannell, John Crawford, Louis Jean Heydt, John Merton, Paul Bryar and Joey Ray (veteran character actors all) join young & blonde starlet, Lyn Thomas (waitress), in a fine group effort.
NOTE * Just being Superman is, by its very nature, a very lonely existence. The theme was very neatly exploited in what have proved to be some of the top episodes in the series.
THE STORY UNFOLDS very neatly and without née a wasted line of dialog. A bizarre armed robbery of a Post Office branch nets only a wanted poster of Marty Mitchell. The perpetrator is a lone gunman, whose true identity was concealed by his wearing of a full head covering lead mask; which is designed in similar fashion of a diving helmet.
SOON WORD GETS out that a renegade surgeon has managed to change both Mitchell's facial features, as well as the supposedly impossible to alter fingerprints.
IN WHAT MUST be categorized as a most perfectly coordinated effort between the Metropolis Police and the entire staff of the Daily Planet join forces. The pooling of all expertise and skill is applied in solving the perplexing and catastrophic threat of surgically altered fingerprints.
WHEN THE MAN of Steel joins in, the balance of power tips in favour of the Law Abiding. Mitchell, the defrocked MD and the whole gang are brought to Justice.
ONE OTHER OUTSTANDING feature of this episode is the guest cast that it sports. The Frank Scannell, John Crawford, Louis Jean Heydt, John Merton, Paul Bryar and Joey Ray (veteran character actors all) join young & blonde starlet, Lyn Thomas (waitress), in a fine group effort.
NOTE * Just being Superman is, by its very nature, a very lonely existence. The theme was very neatly exploited in what have proved to be some of the top episodes in the series.
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