Twenty convicts vanished without a trace from maximum security cells, and top businessmen suddenly disappeared. The tabloids trumpeted the reign of a small, deformed man -- or woman -- spotted at the scenes. Strangely, Doc Savage was framed for the disappearances -- and then the murders ... But the Horrible Hunchback hadn't counted on the wrath of the mighty Man of Bronze!

I loved the spectral overtones of the opening chapters. The cover is superb and this has always been a favorite. Some dropped plot threads and bungled science but what the heck--a rousing adventure all the same!

This is one of the best science fiction-based Docs and one of the last REALLY great Doc novels. after this point, in 1937, they start to lag (though a few good ones are yet to come). I liked the pulp cover and the Bama cover . . . except for the stick in the bad guy's hand has a creepy phallic shape to it. (Was this intentional or am I just being a bit Freudian?) Great story, though.

Late in the series, just when you think Dent is officially out of ideas, he offers up a Doc classic like "The Vanisher." The author is running on all pistons here with a crisp plot, lots of great action, a totally unforgettable villain and bad-guy device that is more fun than any other gadget in the whole canon.
If they ever make a second Doc movie, this would be the perfect story to base it on.