Good afternoon,
Today's focus will be on the thirty-second issue of The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones. The cover depicted Indy clinging to the tail of one airplane while being pursued by a second. The story was called "Double Play!" The issue had a cover date of November 1985.
The tale began at Marshall College in Connecticut. Professor Jones was wrapping up a lecture when Alec Sutherland caught Indy's attention. The recent transfer student had been going through Jones' former teacher Arthur Hecht's notebooks and came across something that he thought Indiana should be privy to. Marcus Brody intervened, informing Indy that board trustee Tavistock was looking for him.
Tavistock appeared moments later with his guest, Victoria Keith. The beautiful blonde captured the professor's interest, and the two set out together, leaving the rest of the party behind. Jones gave Keith a special tour of the National Museum's exhibits. She was particularly interested in the flying exhibition.
Afterward, they talked about what they'd just seen over dinner. Jones saw Keith to her hotel and was in great spirits until he ran into Alec again. The youth said he had proof that Professor Hecht had indeed discovered seven towers that contained magicians. He'd located a passage in one of the late teacher's notebooks that indicated a Sumerian tablet, but Alec couldn't translate the language.
Jones then realized that his keys were missing. Thinking that Victoria might have them, he ran back to her hotel. However, the front desk clerk informed him that there was no one by the name of Victoria Keith staying there. He then called Tavistock to clue him in to the ruse.
Indiana made a beeline for the museum after calling the authorities. He found a guard who had been knocked out, which wasn't a good sign. The sound of breaking glass gave Indy a good clue as to the intruder's whereabouts. He rushed in and saw that the urn he'd brought back from Crete was gone.
Jones then narrowly evaded being crushed by a falling Mayan calendar stone, the first of several traps that the thief had set up. He then saw "Victoria," with the urn in her hand. Jones ran through projectiles fired in the next room before being asked where the Sumerian tablet was. He had no idea, but the saboteur wasn't convinced.
The sight of police officers made her flee, but she wasn't caught. It was assumed that she used glider wings to escape after crashing through a window. Jones knew where she was heading and drove to the local airport. Sure enough, his dinner guest was about to steal a plane. Indy drove next to the craft, trying to prevent it from taking off.
He was unsuccessful in that venture, but Jones managed to convince a crop duster to follow her. Indiana eventually started walking across the plane wing and jumped, catching a wing strut after a short fall. Jones climbed into the rear seat and was forced to choose between the urn and his pilot.
Jones opted to save the urn, and "Victoria" jumped ship. Indy had to take the plane out of a barrel roll, and he caught up with the crop duster. He noticed his foe landing on an ocean liner before he jumped back to the rented plane and returned to the museum.
The next morning, Jones caught up with Brody and learned that the only item missing from the museum's inventory was an amulet from the Sumerian exhibit. It was listed on a tablet in the storeroom. Indiana assumed that it must have been the tablet that "Victoria" had referenced. The duo then entered the room where Alec had been working. Indiana took the tablet and started reading the Sumerian language.
He spoke aloud, referencing the seven sorcerers, adding that the sun god had opted to break the sorcerers' abilities by throwing down his eye, which was made into an amulet. The amulet's creator, El-Al, then used the bauble to destroy the wizards. One wizard escaped and planned to resurrect his brothers at some point. It seemed that all the sorcerers had to be eliminated if their threat was truly to be at an end.
Tavistock entered the room and informed the group that "Victoria Keith" was actually Amanda Knight, a professional thief for hire. She'd been paid to obtain the amulet. After a brief argument, Indiana decided to pursue her, knowing the potential dangers that could occur if he didn't.
This was the first of the series' final three-part storyline. Apparently, more stories had been planned, including the return of Marion Ravenwood to these pages, but the title was cancelled before they could be produced. I didn't really care that much for Tavistock as a character. I felt he was rather unnecessary. Alec was pushed to a very minor supporting role, and I thought that Marvel wasted an opportunity there. It was an okay issue, but the villain's background could have been expanded upon a bit more, as I've said before, quite a bit recently.
That's all I have for you today. Tomorrow I'll discuss the thirty-third issue of The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones. The middle part of this tale tells us if Indiana caught up with Amanda, and we're introduced to a new character who has an association with someone we met back in issue #28. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.
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