| Type | Detective Agency |
| Location | Manhattan, NYC |
| Owner(s) | Van Manhattan |
| Featured in | International Comics (1947) |
- “The rulers of the underworld speak with dread of the secret files kept by Van Manhattan, America's newest supersleuth.”
- ―Van Manhattan's reputation
Van Manhattan, Private Investigator was a detective agency featured in the 1947 anthology comic book series International Comics, the first incarnation of Tales from the Crypt by EC Comics, with the agency having first appeared in the story "Manhattan's Files" from issue #1 of the comics, serving as the very first business in the Tales from the Crypt franchise.
Overview[]
The supresleuth, Van Manhattan
The Van Manhattan, Private Investigator detective agency is one that the criminal underworld dreads, for they fear the secret files kept by ace detective, Van Manhattan.
The "coffin"
Manhattan's carefully documented archive of crime is known to criminals as the "coffin," for in Manhattan's files, the sordid and brutal deeds of the world's pickpockets and safecrackers, hijackers and gunmen are neatly recorded on little ID cards. No petty thief is too obscure to have his history recorded in the files of the young supersleuth, and no public enemy is without his own neat little 'passport' to prison.
Van Manhattan's faithful secretary, Faye Roberts
Van Manhattan is not only a dedicated detective in his own hometown but also a seasoned international crime solver. There is nowhere that Van Manhattan isn't willing to go to get his man. It was through his travels that he also maintained an alliance with three other influential foreign sleuths known as Igor the Archer, the Chessmen, and Madelon, together becoming part of the International Patrol. Also aiding him in his investigations is his faithful secretary, Faye Roberts who not only files Manhattan's cases but ends up becoming a part of them, either by helping Manhattan or finding herself in the clutches of vengeful criminals.
Overall, Manhattan's achievements have made him something of a celebrity, and the newshounds of the Globe Herald are always looking to get a scoop on Manhattan's latest cases.
Trivia[]
- Van Manhattan was originally meant to serve as the poster boy for International Comics and its Crime Patrol rebranding, but following the comic's shift in focus towards horror stories as it became Tales from the Crypt, Manhattan was phased out.
- Alongside Manhattan were three other detective heroes: Igor the Archer, the Chessmen, and Madelon. Together all four represented different nations of the world, with Van Manhattan representing America, Igor the Archer representing Russia, the Chessmen representing England and Madelon representing France to fit the titular theme of International Comics. Like Manhattan, these characters would also be phased out as the comic shifted further towards horror.