Biggles in Japan is issue #30 of the Adventures of Biggles comic series published by Action Comics of Sydney, Australia. The issue was probably published in Jan 1956. There is no byline for the artist but it was probably Arthur de Vine. The comic comprises 24 pages. The next issue if #51. The reason for the gap in numbers is not known.
Synopsis[]
Biggles and Ginger are sent the Tokyo to investigate the disappearance of RAF Squadron Leader Portman.
Plot[]
(Click on expand to read)
Raymond sends Biggles and Ginger to Tokyo to investigate the mysterious disappearance of an RAF officer Squadron Leader Portman. To begin with, Biggles and Ginger book themselves into the Tanabe Hotel in the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo. This was Portman's hotel and they hope to pick up some leads.
Soon after checking into their room, Biggles and Ginger spot a pigeon on their window sill. It has a capsule on its leg! They attract the bird with breadcrumbs and then capture it and remove the capsule before releasing it. The capsule contains a grey powder which Biggles guesses is opium. Out of the window, they see more pigeons heading for the hotel roof. It looks like there is a smuggling operation here!
Biggles decides to head for the local American base to borrow a helicopter. Ginger will call him when he sees pigeons taking off. Biggles hopes to follow them to their destination.
In the hotel, members of the smuggling gang have noticed that one of their pigeons is missing a capsule. They suspect that they British guests are behind it. They must be watched! They see Biggles leaving the hotel and they send thugs to waylay him but Biggles is prepared and he knocks them out after a brief fight. Biggles is now convinced that he is on the right track.
At the American airbase, Biggles meets an old friend, Tex Bauman. Tex agrees to get Biggles a helicopter. He will also come along to help.
Ginger calls Biggles from the hotel lobby to report that pigeons have taken off and are heading east. Biggles and Tex take off and follow the pigeons. At the hotel, Ginger has been overhead talking about pigeons. The smuggling gang decides to dispose of him. But Ginger isn't simply waiting. Biggles told him to snoop around so he climbs out through the window onto the hotel roof where he confirms that there are pigeon lofts. One of the gang members, the boss, enters Ginger's room but finds it empty--but not for long. Ginger swings in from the window and knocks him out with his feet.
Biggles and Tex follow the pigeons to an island in the Inland Sea. The pigeons seem to be landing on some e palace-like building so Biggles puts the helicopter down and they get out to investigate.
At the hotel, the gang members are puzzled because their boss seems to be taking a long time with Ginger. One of them goes up to investigate but finds an empty room. Then he hears his boss calling for help from inside a closet and he goes to release him. Ginger has been hiding under the bed and now he springs out, dashes out of the room and locks the two gang members in. He rushes to a police station to make his report.
Over on the island, Biggles and Tex are captured by gang members and led towards the palace-like building. As they approach the doorway, an oil lamp drops from a window and hits one of the gang members. Biggles and Tex spring into action and knock the remaining gang member out. But the oil lamp has started a fire, cutting off their retreat. They must go inside!
The gang members flee as they see fire engulfing their building. The oil lamp gives Biggles a hint that Portman might still be alive and where he might be. They find him in a cell and the three of them then break down a door to escape the burning building. From their helicopter, they call the police by radio to mop up.
The gang members at the hotel also believe that the game is up and try to escape but the police summoned by Ginger are already there. The gang boss climbs out of a window but falls on an awning into the hands of the police.
Characters[]
The Special Air Police[]
- Air Commodore Raymond
- Biggles
- Ginger Hebblethwaite
Others[]
- Kamatsu
- Tex Bauman
- Saijo
- Squadron Leader Portman
Aircraft[]
- Bristol Sycamore - this appears to be the helicopter Biggles borrowed, but the USAF did not use Sycamores!
- Airlinee which takes Biggles and Ginger to Haneda. A Lockheed Constellation?
Places[]
Visited[]
- Haneda Airport
- Hotel Tanabe, Nihonbashi district, Tokyo
- USAF airbase neat Tokyo
- Island in the Inland Sea
Mentioned[]
Research notes[]
Gallery[]
