Comic Title: Detective Comics #249
Publisher: DC (National Comics Publications, Inc.)
Address: 480 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: November 1957
Approx. On Sale Date: September 24, 1957 Copyright Date September 22, 1957
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1957
Until 1958 DC did not report actual on sale dates to the copyright office
The publication dates listed in LoC records are NOT release dates.

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.10
Page Count: 32
Editor: Jack Schiff

Title: "Target for a Day"
Pages: 6

Feature(s):
Martian Manhunter (of Earth-1)

Artist: Joe Certa

Reprinted In:
Showcase Presents:Martian Manhunter Vol. 1 TPB (2007)

Feature Character(s)

• Martian Manhunter (last appearance in Detective Comics #248; next appearance in Detective Comics #250)

Villain(s)

• The Carlson Gang (Reagan, Maegland, and Farley named; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• John and Ann (the governor and his wife; no further appearances)
• A police captain (no further appearances)

Synopsis:
The leader of the Carlson gang is scheduled to be executed. The members of his gang threaten the governor’s life unless he grants a stay of execution. The governor refuses to give in, and the execution occurs as scheduled.

The police fear for the governor’s safety. He refuses protective custody, but detective John Jones uses his martian powers to disguise himself as the governor. Claiming it to be make-up, he replaces the governor for the days agenda.

The Carlson Gang targets the faux governor at a parade. Jones spots them and defeats them invisibly with his martian breath. Later, two mor gang members attack him by plane. Jones uses his powers to cause lightning to strike down the aircraft. The last member of the gang plants a bomb near the governor. Jones takes out the crook behind a smoke screen created by a boiler. With the gang in custody, Jones gives up the masquerade, and the governor is safe.