Detective Comics No. 454
December 1975
Cover: Batman, cops, and murder victim //Ernie Chua (signed)
Story: “The Set-Up Caper” (12 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
Inker: Ernie Chua
Feature Character: Batman (last apparance in MAN-BAT #1; next appears
in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #234)
Supporting Character: Commissioner Gordon (between BATMAN #270 / 271)
Villains: Rex Giles, Kid Cobra, Jacques Sato (first and only appearance
for all)
Comment: Shortly after this story Batman teams with Superman in an
encounter with Krakon in World's Finest Comics #234.
Synopsis: A gang boss with a propensity for hand-to-hand combat uses
two professional fighters as stalking horses to figure out Batman’s fighting
moves, and how to counter them.
BATMAN #271
January 1976
Cover Credits
Artist: Dick Giordano
Letterer:
STORY
"The Corpse Came C.O.D." (18 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: Irv Novick
Inker: Dick Giordano
Letterer:
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in World's Finest Comics #234; next appears in Detective
Comics #455)
Supporting Characters
Alfred Pennyworth (last seen in Man-Bat #1; next appears in Detective
Comics #455)
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in Detective Comics #454; next appears
in Brave and the Bold #125)
Villains
A priest of Agni and Agni-worshippers (first and only appearance for
all to date)
An unnamed thief (first appearance; dies before this story opens)
Another thief (first and only appearance to date)
Other Characters
Carol Ames, Raoul Cambray, and Avakian (first and only appearance for
all to date)
Two delivery men (first appearance for both; both die in this story)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Synopsis
When Alfred buys an antique rug from the Chambray
Gallery for Bruce Wayne's birthday, the van delivering it is overtaken
by another van, shaken to pieces by a vibro-gun that kills the van's drivers,
and relieved of its rug, which is eventually delivered to Alfred with a
corpse inside. Shortly afterwards, the rug disintegrates into dust.
Bruce Wayne suspects foul play.
Batman and Commissioner Gordon begin investigating
the case, with Batman's steps dogged by Carol Ames. Ames is a photographer
from Newsday magazine, whom Gordon promised to allow to photograph one
of Batman's cases. Chambray himself confirms that the rug in question
was one of a pair bought at an auction, and Carol snaps a picture of its
mate. It proves to be a prayer rug of a Vedic sect, depicting Agni,
god of the altar fire. The rugs were stolen from a secret temple
of the Vedic worshippers, who consider the theft blasphemous. They
also consider taking photographs of the rugs a blasphemy. When the
cult makes another attack upon them, Batman captures one of the cultists,
confiscates his sonic weapon, and fashions an amulet to counter its effects.
In time, Batman, Carol Ames, and the second
of the two rug thieves are captured by the cult and sentenced to die by
sound-wave battering. But Batman's amulet wards off the sonic devices'
beams, and protects all of them by holding hands with Carol and the thief.
Batman fights his way out, pitches the highly-charged amulet over his shoulder,
and watches the temple go up in an explosion. Commissioner Gordon
and his men come to retrieve the cultists, who are hiding in the basement
of the temple.
Detective Comics No. 455
January 1976
Cover: Batman, Alfred, and Gustav Decobra //Mike Grell
Story: “Heart of a Vampire” (12 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Elliot S! Maggin
Artist: Mike Grell
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in BATMAN #271; next appears
in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #235)
Supporting Character: Alfred Pennyworth (last appearance in BATMAN
#271)
Villain: Gustav Decobra (first appearance; dies in this story)
Comment: Shortly after this story Batman teams with Superman to fight
Sagittarius in World's Finest Comics #235, and helps the Justice League
fight the Anarchist in Justice League of America #127. Synopsis:
Bruce Wayne’s car breaks down near an old mansion, and soon Batman and
Alfred are facing a vampire whose heart has been transplanted outside his
body, making it difficult to stake him to death.
Detective Comics No. 456
February 1976
Cover: Fallen Batman, Angie Larner, and bystanders //Ernie Chua (signed)
Story: “Death-Kiss” (12 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Elliot S! Maggin
Artist: Ernie Chua
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#127; next appears in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #125)
Supporting Character: Alfred Pennyworth (next appears in BATMAN FAMILY
#4)
Intro: Dr. Frank Demaree, Marie Demaree (only appearance for both)
Cameo appearance: Robin
Villains: Ulysses Vulcan and his gang, Angie Larner, Rake, Blackie
(first and only apperance for all)
Comment: Shortly after this story Batman teams with the Flash to fight
General Lin Chan in Brave and the Bold #125, then spends Christmas with
Dick Grayson and friends in Batman Family #4. ,
Synopsis: Bruce Wayne is dosed with poison through a woman’s lipstick
which, unless he can get the antidote within an hour, will kill the Batman.
Detective Comics No. 457
March 1976
Cover: Batman, young Bruce Wayne, Thomas Wayne, Martha Wayne, Joe Chill
//Dick Giordano
Story: “There Is No Hope In Crime Alley” (12 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Denny O’Neil
Artist: Dick Giordano
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in BATMAN FAMILY #4; next
appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #236; origin retold with added details
in flashback)
Supporting Characters: Alfred Pennyworth (last appearance in BATMAN
FAMILY #4), Leslie Thompkins (first appearance; next appears in issue #483)
Cameo appearances: Thomas Wayne, Martha Wayne, Joe Chill (in flashback)
Villains: Harry, Gooch, Alfie, other crooks (first and only appearance)
Comments: This story happens on the 21st anniversary of the murder
of Thomas and Martha Wayne. Since Bruce was 13 years old when it
occurred, that makes Batman 34 years old at the time of this story.
Shortly after this story Batman teams with Superman and the Atom
to battle a plague in World's Finest Comics #236, joins Aquaman to defeat
Baron Mannheim in Brave and the Bold #126, and helps the Justice League
reinduct Wonder Woman in WONDER WOMAN #221-222 and fight Nekron in Justice
League of America #128 and 129.
Synopsis: 21 years ago, the murders of Thomas and Martha Wayne caused
Bruce Wayne to become the Batman, and signalled the start of Park Row’s
degeneration into Crime Alley. But Bruce was helped by social worker Leslie
Thompkins on the night of the murders, and, in her memory, Batman returns
to Crime Alley once a year on the anniversary of that night, to visit Leslie
and to protect innocent people there from criminals.
Detective Comics No. 458
April 1976
Cover: Batman and Lt. Bucky Dunlop in Batman costume //Ernie Chua (signed)
Story: “The Real Batman Dies Next” (12 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Elliot S! Maggin
Penciller: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
Inker: Ernie Chua
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#129; next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #237)
Supporting Characters: Commissioner Gordon (between WORLD’S FINEST
COMICS #236 / 237), Alfred Pennyworth
Intro: Lt. Bucky Dunlop (dies in this story), Mrs. Dunlop and her son
and daughter, Charlie, Dr. Carlin, Slats Johnson (only appearance for all)
Villains: Charlie Fellman, various crooks (first and only appearance
for all)
Comment: Shortly after this story Batman teams with Superman to encounter
a creature from Krypton in World's Finest Comics #237.
Synopsis: Batman goes after a killer who leaves a cop’s corpse in a
Batman costume for him, Commissioner Gordon, and the police to find, with
a warning of Batman’s impending death tattooed on his forehead.
BATMAN #272
February 1976
Cover Credits
Artist: Ernie Chua
Letterer:
STORY
"The Underworld Olympics '76" (18 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
Inker: Ernie Chua
Letterer:
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in World's Finest Comics #237)
Supporting Characters
Alfred Pennyworth (last seen in Detective Comics #458)
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in World's Finest Comics #237)
Villains
Members of the First International Crime Olympics (first appearance
for all)
The Crime Olympics Leader (first appearance)
Pancho and other members of the South American Crime Olympics Team
(first and only appearance to date for all)
Other Characters
J. P. Vandermeer (first appearance; dies in this story)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comments
This is the first part of the "Underworld Olympics '76" story.
It continues in the next issue.
Synopsis
The members of the Underworld Crime Olympics
'76 convene in Gotham City for a competition of crime-making. Like
the real Olympics, the teams which compete come from all over the globe,
divided into South American, North American, European, and Afro-Asian teams,
and try to rack up points by completing an assigned crime. The first
ones up are the South American team, who have to murder J. P. Vandermeer,
chosen at random from the Gotham phone book, and make it look like an accident.
But Bruce Wayne is attending a party which
Vandermeer is called from. His suspicions aroused, Bruce changes
to his Batman garb and follows Vandermeer's car, which is wrecked shortly
afterwards, killing Vandermeer. Batman deduces that a second vehicle
rammed him. He locates the second car and battles the South American
crime team driving it, capturing two of them. Batman soon finds that
Vandermeer's body has been stolen from the morgue, but not before a transistorized
bug was found on it. He uses the bug's impulses to track down the
rest of the South Americans as they are attempting to bury Vandermeer within
a stone monument, and captures them.
At Underworld Olympics headquarters, the South
American team is awarded 20 points out of a possible 100. At police
headquarters, Batman and Commissioner Gordon puzzle over why Vandermeer's
body was not stolen when the car was wrecked, and why the whole gang of
crooks seems to be from South America.
BATMAN #273
March 1976
Cover Credits
Artist: Ernie Chua (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"The Bank-Shot That
Baffled Batman" (18 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: Ernie Chua
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Letterer:
Feature Character
Batman
Supporting Characters
Commissioner Gordon and Alfred Pennyworth
Villains
Members of the Underworld Olympics '76 and their Leader
The European team of the Underworld Olympics (including Cobb, Paolo
Corsini, Boris Chomsky, Helmut, Nikos, and Armand; first and only appearance
for all to date)
Speed Durkin and his gang (first and only appearance for all to date)
Simon Hakes (first and only appearance to date)
Other Characters
The Gotham Colonial Minute-Men Corps (first and only appearance for
all to date)
Mr. Haines (first and only appearance to date)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comments
This is part two of the "Underworld Olympics '76" story and continues
in the next issue.
Synopsis
The European team of the Underworld Olympics
crew begins their escapade with a symbolic gesture. They disrupt
the reenactment of a Revolutionary War battle by the Gotham Colonial Minute
Men Corps for the Bicentennial and, after wounding several "rebels," plant
the British Union Jack in place of the American flag. That done,
they get down to their real caper.
Two members of the team make deposits of sealed
packages to safety deposit boxes in a bank where Bruce Wayne is attending
to paperwork. But Speed Durkin and his gang pull a heist there and
grab a number of deposit boxes, including one holding a package of the
Europeans'. Batman does not manage to stop the thief holding that
box. Later, Batman tracks down Durkin at his hideout, but is bashed
from behind by Boris Chomsky, one of the Olympians, who takes back his
stolen box. Batman revives just in time to see Chomsky's shoe soles
as he escapes.
Later, at the bank, the manager informs Batman
and Commissioner Gordon that one of the deposit boxes is still missing.
Bruce Wayne makes a point of being in the bank the next day, and notes
depositor Boris Chomsky's heels as being the same as the thug's who slugged
him. Batman pays a visit to the vault after hoursand finds Chomsky's
deposit boxes contain the disassembled parts of the cannon which the Europeans
stole from the Bicentennial rehearsal, plus a hollow, armor-piercing artillery
shell. Hiding, he observes the European team break in, assemble the
cannon, hide loot in the shell, and fire it through the roof. The
shell makes a trajectory that sends it to the Minute Men's rehearsal field.
Batman captures both halves of the European team and recovers the loot.
The Olympics official awards the team 59 points. Batman and Commissioner
Gordon, knowing that South American crooks have followed on the heels of
a European gang, smell something wrong in the state of Gotham.
BATMAN #274
April 1976
Cover Credits
Artist: Ernie Chua (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"Gotham
City Treasure Hunt" (18 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Artist: Ernie Chua
Letterer:
Feature Character
Batman
Supporting Characters
Commissioner Gordon and Alfred Pennyworth
Villains
Members of the Underworld Olympics '76 and their Leader
The Afro-Asian Underworld Olympics team (including Amba Kadiri, K.
C. Hartley, Calaban, Quong, Pagai, and Taouz; first and only appearance
for all to date; last two die in this story)
Other Characters
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comments
This is the third part of the "Underworld Olympics '76" story and continues
in the next issue.
Synopsis
The Afro-Asian block of Underworld Olympians,
led by Amba Kadiri, a female thief from India, is assigned a treasure hunt.
A rhymed clue leads two of their members to the Gotham Central Library,
where they gain a second clue by burning the seal from a book cover.
But their break-in has sounded an alarm, and Batman arrives to capture
them. As they are led out, a TV camera crew tapes them, and the Algerian
member of the team uses Cameroon hand-talk to communicate the second clue
to his teammates who are watching on TV. Batman is also able to decipher
the clue, but Amba Kadiri places herself in his path, battles him with
steel claw-tipped fingernails, and allows herself to be captured so that
the rest of her team may proceed.
The third and last clue refers to an "idol
of a nation,"a dn mentions that the treasure found there "only shines at
night." By this time Batman has fathomed that the Afro-Asians are
on a treasure hunt, and the object of that hunt he also understands, as
do the crooks. Their goal is a movie marquee banner at a theater
featuring "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" at a Humphrey Bogart festival.
Two of the remaining three Afro-Asians die by accident while fighting Batman,
and Batman manages to capture the third.
The Underowlrd Olympics leader tallies up
36 2/3 points for the Afro-Asians. Batman and Commissioner
Gordon, who have finally realized that an Underworld Olympics is taking
place, deduce that the North American team will be the next to be heard
from.
BATMAN #275
May 1976
Cover Credits
Artist: Ernie Chua (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"The Ferry Blows at Midnight"
(18 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: Ernie Chua
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Letterer:
Feature Character
Batman (next appears in Detective Comics #459)
Supporting Characters
Alfred Pennyworth (next appears in Detective Comics #459)
Commissioner Gordon (next appears in Brave and the Bold #127)
Villains
Members of the Underworld Olympics '76 and their Leader (last appearance
for all to date)
The North American Underworld Olympics team (including Duke and Joey
One-Eye; first and only appearance for all to date)
Two safecrackers (first and only appearance for both to date)
Other characters
The mayor of Gotham City (last seen in issue #270; next appears in
issue #285)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comments
This is the fourth and final part of the "Underworld Olympics '76"
story.
Synopsis
The North American team of the Underworld
Olympics draws its assignment, but it has an unforeseen complication.
The caper is supposed to end up on the midnight ferry boat to Tompkinsville,
which has been cut off from late-night service for a month. To get
it back on track, the team heists a million dollars from Gotham's numbers
runners, and gives it anonymously to the city to start the ferry's late-night
run anew.
In days to come, Gotham is plagued by unusual
crimes: the theft of the key to the city, the robbery of a soccer
ball while the game is underway, and the stealing of a bronze insignia
plague from an antique fire engine. Batman encounters the crooks,
but he does not manage to halt their robberies. However, he does
see the gang members on the Tompkinville ferry, boards the boat, captures
them, and stops them from blowing up the ferry with a bomb buoy.
The Underworld Olympics leader awards the North Americans 50 points and
declares them the winner. The leader calls up Commissioner Gordon
to reveal the Olympics' existence and to boast. But Gordon takes
the call from his mobile phone in a police car outside the Olympians' headquarters,
just before he sends in the police to make a mass capture.
Later, Batman tells Gordon that the North
American team's task was to complete the bizarre thefts, put them in the
ferry, and then blow up the boat just after they jumped to safety and swam
to a rescue boat. Gordon points out that the only time the crooks
stole money was when they heisted a tainted million, and gave it to the
city. Batman, for his part, wonders who dreamed up the Underworld
Olympics '76.
Detective Comics No. 459
May 1976
Cover: Alfred Pennyworth, police, Batman unmasking, and Elliot Quinn’s
corpse //Ernie Chua (signed)
Story: “A Clue Before Dying” (12 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Marty Pasko
Artist: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in BATMAN #275; next appears
in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #127)
Supporting Character: Alfred Pennyworth (between BATMAN #275 / 276)
Intro: An architect (in flashback), Elliot Quinn, Mrs. Emma Rundle
(all die in this story), Lt. Dannay,. Walter Gaunt (only appearance for
both)
Villain: Walter Gaunt (first and only appearance)
Comments: Elliot Quinn is named after famed fictional detective and
writer-alias Ellery Queen, and Lt. Dannay is named for one of Queen’s creators,
Frederic Dannay.
Shortly after this story Batman teams with Wildcat to fight El
Zapatero in Brave and the Bold #127.
Synopsis: Batman tries to find the man who killed mystery writer Elliot
Quinn, and who may be the same man who killed an architect in Quinn’s home
years ago.
BATMAN #276
June 1976
Cover Credits
Artist: Ernie Chua (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"The Haunting of the
Spook" (18 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Artist: Ernie Chua
Letterer:
Feature Character
Batman (between BRAVE AND THE BOLD #127 / 128)
Supporting Characters
Alfred Pennyworth (last seen in Detective Comics #459)
Commissioner Gordon (between Brave and the Bold #127 and 128)
Villain
The Spook (last seen in issue #252; next appears in issue #291)
Other Characters
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comments
Shortly after this story, Batman teams with Mr. Miracle to fight Granny
Goodness in Brave and the Bold #128.
Synopsis
Batman encounters the Spook while crossing
the Kingsboro Bridge and battles him, but cannot catch his elusive enemy.
Nonetheless, the Spook gives him a clue to his next caper by flashing the
location and time with an electronic sign on his chest. The two enemies
have two more encounters, which proceed in much the same way, except that
Batman gets progressively more savage with each battle, and the Spook keeps
encouraging Batman to kill him. Batman realizes that the Spook's
sign conceals a subliminal message. In their next fight, he drops
in his tracks. The Spook, not knowing that Batman is using meditation
techniques to dull his pulse rate, finds no vital signs and assumes Batman
has died. He screams out that he himself was to have faked death,
using the same techniques, and Batman, who would have been unable to trust
himself not to kill again, would have hung up his cape. After Batman
is carries off by an ambulance, he revives himself, reports to Commissioner
Gordon, and tracks down and captures the Spook.
LIMITED COLLECTOR'S EDITION #C-44
June-July 1976
Cover Credits
Artist: Wally Fax
Letterer:
FIRST REPRINTED STORY
"Castle With Wall-to-Wall Danger" (from Detective
Comics #329)
SECOND REPRINTED STORY
"Trade Marks of Crime" (from Batman #31)
THIRD REPRINTED STORY
"The Deep-Sea
Diver Mystery" (from Batman #83)
FOURTH REPRINTED STORY
"Paint a Picture of Peril" (from
Detective Comics #397)
Comments
This issue also contains a two-page spread of the Wayne Foundation
Building and three Batman and Robin pin-ups, and is edited by E. Nelson
Bridwell.
BATMAN #277
July 1976
Cover Credits
Artist: Ernie Chua (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"The Riddle of the Man Who Walked
Backwards" (18 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: Ernie Chua
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Letterer:
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in Brave and the Bold #128; next appears in World's
Finest Comics #239)
Supporting Characters
Alfred Pennyworth
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in Brave and the Bold #128)
Villains
Michael and his gang of dope smugglers (first and only appearance for
all to date)
Other Characters
Sam Taggart (first appearance; dies in this story)
Susan (first and only appearance to date)
The sheriff and police of a Florida coastal town (first and only appearance
for all to date)
Comments
Shortly after this story Batman teams with Superman and Gold to encounter
the Ulgorians in World's Finest Comics #239.
Synopsis
Bruce Wayne, on vacation and romancing
a lady named Susan, has his plans interrupted by the sight of a sea monster
on the beach. He has a short fight with the beast, though the monster
escapes. Alfred informs Bruce that Susan is catching the next plane
to Gotham, and Bruce decides to take it out on the monster.
Batman observes the beach from in hiding,
and notes a backwards-walking man with one peg leg. The man, a local
fisherman named Sam Taggart, has a brief scuffle with Batman, who knocks
him out and is kayoed in turn by an unseen assailant. Batman awakens
to find himself dressed as Bruce Wayne and being arrested by the local
sheriff for the murder of Sam Taggart.
Alfred is responsible for dressing Bruce in
his civilian garb, after finding him unconscious, and, being unable to
revive him and noticing Taggart dead, calling the police. But Bruce,
left with his Batman boots, breaks out tools from a heel compartment and
escapes his jail cell. Later, as Batman, he investigates a print
in the cave of the sea monster, lined with oil. Eventually he collars
the "monster", who proves to be a man in a monster suit, and his gang of
dope smugglers who operate from a local oil rig. Sam Taggart, who
had discovered the operation, mistook Batman for one of the smugglers.
After jailing the lot of them, Batman becomes Bruce Wayne and starts all
over again with Susan, both of them back on their home turf in Gotham.
BATMAN #278
August 1976
Cover Credits
Artist: Ernie Chua (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"Stop Me Before I Kill" (18 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
WriterA: David V. Reed
Penciller: Ernie Chua
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Letterer:
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in World's Finest Comics #239; next appears in Detective
Comics #460)
Supporting Characters
Alfred Pennyworth and Commissioner Gordon (both next appear in Detective
Comics #460)
Villains
The Wringer (first and only appearance to date)
Other Characters
Inspector Clive Kittridge (first and only appearance to date)
Douglas Walker (first and only appearance to date)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Cameo appearances
Benjamin Franklin, Woodrow Wilson, Patrick Henry, and other historical
figures (as audio-animatronic robots)
Synopsis
Inspector Clive Kittridge of Scotland Yard,
visiting in America, is allowed to accompany Batman on patrol and, while
doing so, becomes involved in his latest case. A marionette with
a wrung neck is delivered to Batman byh Commissioner Gordon, shortly after
Batman and Kittridge have encountered a redheaded man who desperately tried
to tell them something but was unable to force any words from his mouth.
Days later, Batman encounters the Wringer, who proves to be the same man,
wringing the head of a marionette made of Douglas fir. Batman and
the Wringer fight, but the villain escapes. Later, on patrol near
the park, Batman beholds the Wringer twist the neck of a walking, talking
doll, and again fights him to no conclusion. Finally, while Bruce
Wayne and Kittredge are attending a Bicentennial exhibit featuring audio-animatrons
resembling historical American figures and reciting canned speeches, the
Wringer destroys "Patrick Henry" just as the robot is saying "Give me liberty
or give me--" The Wringer escapes again. But Batman has deduced
his real target, a stockbroker named Douglas Walker on Park Avenue, from
the Douglas fir marionette, the walking doll found near the park, and the
Wringer's destruction of the Patrick Henry robot just before it would have
said "death". The Wringer, who blames Walker for losing the money
he had invested with his borkerage, attempts to kill him, but Batman appears
to capture the villain. Later, Batman states that the Wringer was
caught in conflicting impulses, wanting to kill Walker and yet wanting
to be stopped from doing so.
Detective Comics No. 460
June 1976
Cover: Captain Stingaree vs. two Batmen //Ernie Chua (signed)
Story: “Slow Down and Die” (12 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writers: Bob Rozakis, Michael Uslan
Penciller: Ernie Chua
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in BATMAN #278)
Supporting Characters: Alfred Pennyworth, Commissioner Gordon (last
appearance for both in BATMAN #278)
Intro: Barbi Brendan (only appearance), Michael Courtney
Villain: Captain Stingaree (Karl Courtney; first appearance)
Comment: Story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Captain Stingaree, a sword-wielding villain, becomes convinced
Batman is really portrayed collectively by the Courtney triplets, a team
of private investigators, and captures one Batman, who proves to be Michael
Courtney.
Detective Comics No. 461
July 1976
Cover: Batman in sewer, covered by rats //Ernie Chua (signed)
Story: “Bruce Wayne--Bait In a Bat-Trap” (12 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writers: Bob Rozakis, Michael Uslan
Penciller: Ernie Chua
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Feature Character: Batman
Supporting Characters: Alfred Pennyworth, Commissioner Gordon
Other Character: Michael Courtney
Intro: Robert Courtney
Villains: Captain Stingaree, various crooks (first and only appearance)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Captain Stingaree kidnaps Bruce Wayne because he thinks he
is financing the Batman, then goes on to capture “Batman #2", Robert Courtney.
Detective Comics No. 462
August 1976
Cover: Captain Stingaree vs. three “Batmen”, one half-frozen in ice
//Ernie Chua (signed)
Story: “Kill Batman In Triplicate” (12 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writers: Bob Rozakis, Michael Uslan
Penciller: Ernie Chua
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Feature Characters: Batman (next appears in BATMAN #279), Robin (last
appearance in BATMAN FAMILY #6; next appears in BATMAN #279)
GS: The Flash (between THE FLASH #243 / 244)
Supporting Characters: Alfred Pennyworth (next appears in BATMAN #279),
Commissioner Gordon
(next appears in BATMAN POWER RECORDS COMIC #PR-27)
Other Characters: Michael Courtney, Robert Courtney (last appearance
for both)
Intro: Jerome Courtney (only appearance)
Villains: Captain Stingaree (next appears in SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER-VILLAINS
#6), Ralphie and his gang (first and only appearance for all)
Comment: Story continues from last issue.
Synopsis: Batman gets help from the Flash, Robin, and the three Courtney
brothers in capturing Captain Stingaree at last.
BATMAN #279
September 1976
Cover Credits
Artist: Ernie Chua (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"Riddler on the Rampage" (18 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: Ernie Chua
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Letterer:
Feature Characters
Batman and Robin (both last seen in Detective Comics #462; both next
appear in Batman Power Record Comics #PR-27)
Supporting Characters
Alfred Pennyworth (last seen in Detective Comics #462; next appears
in Batman Family #7)
Villains
The Riddler (between issues #263 / 291)
The Riddler's gang (first and only appearance for all to date)
Convicts at Gotham City Maximum Security Prison (first and only appearance
for all to date)
Other Characters
Warden of Gotham City Maximum Security Prison (first and only appearance
to date)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Synopsis
The Riddler breaks jail, leaving a message
for Batman in his bunk. His new tactic, he vows, will be to inundate
Batman in riddles. In this way he hopes to overload the hero's brain
and make Batman unable to effectively oppose him. But Dick Grayson
is down from college to do research, and lends a hand as Robin. Batman
and his partner battle two members of the Riddler's gang disguised as the
Riddler himself in a clock museum. But one of the Riddler's giommicks
draws them elsewhere so that his men can escape. Another clue leads
them to a yacht club party, where they stop the Riddler from stealing a
valuable ship model. The Riddler escapes, but the pair catch up to
him at the Egyptian pavillion of the Gotham Art Museum, where he is trying
to steal a solid gold model of the Sphinx. Robin remarks that the
Sphinx, one of the world's greatest riddles, seems quite appropriate for
the caper.
BATMAN POWER RECORDS COMIC #PR-27
1976
Cover Credits
Artist: Neal Adams
Letterer:
STORY
"Trumping the Joker" (20 pages)
Credits
Editor:
Writer: Len Wein
Artist: Neal Adams
Letterer:
Feature Characters
Batman and Robin (both last seen in Batman #279; both next appear in
Batman Power Records Comic #PR-30)
Supporting Character
Commissioner Gordon (between Detective Comics #462 and 463)
Villain
The Joker (last seen in The Joker #9; next appears in The Brave and
the Bold #129)
Other Characters
Inspector Mulligan and Huntington Waterbury (first and only appearance
for both to date)
Mr. Wilson and an unnamed guard (first appearance for both; both die
in this story)
Comments
This is Power Records #PR-27. It is accompanied by a record which
reproduces the story in aural form.
Synopsis
The Joker announces his escape from Arkham
Asylum to Commissioner Gordon and Inspector Mullican via a note tied to
a rack and thrown through Gordon's window. Gordon alerts Batman and
Robin. Seconds later, he puts through another call to tell them that
the Joker has served notice that he will steal Picasso's "The Clowns" from
the Gotham Museum. The two heroes go to the museum, meet curator
Huntinton Waterbury, and go with him to find a dead museum guard with a
grin on his face, lying below the copy of "The Clowns" which the Joker
has left after stealing the original.
After notifying Mullican, Batman and Robin
leave to check out an old Joker hideout in an abandoned greeting car company
at the wharves. The Joker is indeed in the darkened warehouse, and
has killed the night watchman. However, he misses Batman with every
shot in his revolver and engages the Masked Manhunter in hand-to-hand combat.
He loses. The Joker flees, torching the warehouse. He leaps
from the pier into what should be the water. But since it is low
tide, he winds up stuck in the mud. Mullican and the police arrive
to cart out the Joker, and Batman defies death to recover the Picasso painting
from the burning warehouse. After exchanging last words with the
Joker, Batman turns to Robin and opines that a frontal lobotomy might do
their old foe some good.
BATMAN POWER RECORD COMIC #PR-30
Cover Credits
Artist: Neal Adams
Letterer:
STORY
"Robin Meets Man-Bat" (20 pages)
Credits
Editor:
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Neal Adams
Inker: Dick Giordano (?)
Letterer:
Feature Characters
Batman (last seen in Batman Power Records Comic #PR-27; next appears
in Justice League of America #131)
Robin (last seen in Batman Power Records Comic #PR-27; next appears
in Batman Family #7)
Guest Stars
Man-Bat and She-Bat (both last seen in Detective Comics #459; both
next appear in Batman Family #11)
Villains
Mitch, Trench, and another crook (first and only appearance for all
to date)
Cameo appearances
The Blackout Gang (in flashback to Detective Comics #400)
Comments
This is Power Records Comic #PR-30. It is accompanied by a record
which reproduces the story in aural form.
Page 8, panel 3 through page 14, panel 2 reprint (with some altered
dialogue) page 2 panels 1, 2, page 5 panels 3, 4, page 6 panel 1, page
7 panel 5, page 8, page 9 panels 1-3, page 11 panel 5, page 13 panels 1,
2, and 4, page 14 panels 1 and 2, page 15 panels 1 and 3, and page 16 panels
1 and 3 of "The Challenge of the Man-Bat" from Detective Comics #400 with
some original panels added. The middle of panel 4, page 14 is reprinted
from the splash page of "Marriage: Impossible" from Detective Comics
#407.
Shortly after this story Batman joins the Justice League and Supergirl
to fight Sonar, the Queen Bee, and Despero in Justice League of America
#131-134. Then, as Bruce Wayne, he reviews Batgirl's and Robin's
battle with the Earth-One Sportsmaster and Huntress in Batman Family #7.
Then Batman teams with Superman against a Zirkonian cat in World's Finest
Comics #240 and joins the Atom and Green Arrow to fight the Joker and Two-Face
in Brave and the Bold #129 and 130.
Synopsis
Batman and Robin, combatting a bank-vault
robbing gang, are downed and almost killed by the crooks' sonic-disruptor
weapon. Man-Bat enters the fray, being immune to their sonics, and
kayoes all three of the villains before he flaps away. Robin, who
has never met Man-Bat, is told by Batman of the winged warrior's strange
origin. Afterwards, She-Bat arrives, picks up Batman, and accuses
him of taking "my Man-Bat away." She tries to carry Batman off, but
Robin stops her with a sneezing powder that causes her to drop him.
Man-Bat returns and tries to calm his berserk
mate. Batman lassoes them both, pinning their wings and sending them
to ground. He then takes two hypodermics full of antidote from Man-Bat's
hand and injects them both, restoring them to their normal identities of
Kirk Langstrom and his wife Francine. Francine apologizes for her
berserk state. Kirk explains that he was long overdue from a trip
to South America, and Francine accidentally turned herself into She-Bat
by mistaking the Bat-Extract serum for a drink. She was driven insane
by the potion and mistakenly blamed Batman for Kirk's plight, thinking
he had killed Kirk, and scrawling graffiti to that effect on their lab
walls. When Kirk finally returned, he saw the scrawls and became
Man-Bat to seek her and Batman out. Now that things are back to normal,
Batman introduces Kirk and Francine to Robin.
BATMAN #280
October 1976
Cover Credits
Artist: Ernie Chua (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"The Only Crime in Town" (18 pages)
Credits
Edtiro: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: Ernie Chua
Inker: Frank Giacoia
Letterer:
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in Brave and the Bold #130; next appears in Detective
Comics #463)
Supporting Characters
Alfred Pennyworth (last seen in Batman Family #7; next appears in Detective
Comics #463)
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in Batman Power Records Comic #PR-30;
next appears in Detective Comics #463)
Villains
Torch, Mike, Big Jake Hackett, Maxie Flack, Amos Goodwin, Daniel Fletcher,
and various other crooks (first and only appearance for all to date)
Other Characters
Prof. Nola Roberts and George Whitfleet (first and only appearance
for both to date)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Synopsis
When Batman fights a late-night battle against a
gang of safecrackers, all the bandits stop fighting back at 1 A.M. sharp
and give themselves up. From comments made during the fight, Batman
resons that they feared dying like Augie, a gangster who was shot for pulling
a job at 1:24 in the morning. For the past week, no crimes have been
committed in Gotham City between 1 and 2 A.M. Batman traces the killing
to Big Jake Hackett, another mobster, and attacks some of his gang when
they enter a warehouse. He finds out abruptly that Hackett owns the
warehouse and the men were not pulling a robbery.
Batman finds that he has been decoyed away
from the robbery of Amos Goodwin, a coin dealer who is in town for a convention.
Later, Batman is told by one of Hackett's gang, who turns stool pigeon,
that Hackett was offered a deal to pull two guaranteed thefts between 1
and 2 A.M. if he enforced a curfew on other crimes during that time, so
that the thefts would gain extra publicity. The gang member tips
off Batman that the other job will be stealing from the Daniel Fletcher
company at the coin convention. Eventually, Batman learns that the
thefts were put-up jobs in which Goodwin and Fletcher willingly sacrificed
part of their collection but, between them, retained 14 of 25 specially
minted coins, components of a set worth $1,000,000. Their cover set,
Fletcher and Goodwin attempt to rob George Whitfleet, who owns the rest
of the coins in the set, but Batman captures them both.
Detective Comics No. 463
September 1976
Cover: Black Spider vs. Batman //Ernie Chua (signed?)
Story: “Death-Web” (11 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Ernie Chua
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in BATMAN #280)
Supporting Characters: Alfred Pennyworth, Commissioner Gordon (last
appearance for both in BATMAN #280), Arthur Reeves (last appearance in
BATMAN #247)
Villains: The Black Spider (Eric Needham; first appearance; last chronological
appearance in flashback in next issue), Doc Sugarman, Blinky Hamilton
(first appearance for both; both die in this story), Hunk, Lonnie, Otto,
Jose (first and only appearance for all)
Comment: Story continues in next issue.
Synopsis: Batman encounters the Black Spider, a costumed vigilante
out to kill every drug pusher in Gotham, regardless of anyone who might
get in the way.
Detective Comics No. 464
October 1976
Cover: Batman vs. Black Spider //Ernie Chua (signed)
Story: “The Doomsday Express” (11 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Ernie Chua
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Feature Character: Batman (next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #241)
Supporting Characters: Alfred Pennyworth, Commissioner Gordon (both
next appear in BATMAN FAMILY #8), Arthur Reeves (next appears in BATMAN
#315)
Cameo appearances: Doc Sugarman, Otto, Jose (in flashback)
Intro: Jacob Needham (Black Spider’s father; in flashback; dies in
this story), Maria (only appearance)
Villains: The Black Spider (next appears in BATMAN #306; also appears
in flashback, his earliest chronological appearance, taking place before
last issue), a pusher (first appearance; dies in this story)
Comments: Story continues from last issue.
Shortly after this story Batman teams with Superman to join an
interplanetary expedition in World's Finest Comics #241, and teams with
Robin and the Joker's Daughter to fight Catwoman in Batman Family #8.
Synopsis: Batman continues his fight against the Black Spider and tries
to stop him from blowing up an elevated train containing one drug dealer
and a mass of innocent people.
Detective Comics No. 465
November 1976
Cover: Batman crashing through skylight to reach crooks holding Commissioner
Gordon captive; Elongated Man vignette //Ernie Chua (signed)
Story: “The Best-Kept Secret In Gotham City” (11 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: Ernie Chua
Inker: Frank Giacoia
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in BATMAN FAMILY #8; next
appears in ACTION COMICS #466)
Supporting Characters: Alfred Pennyworth, Commissioner Gordon (last
appearance for both in BATMAN FAMILY #8)
Villains: Little Dutch and his gang, Starkey Kell, various crooks (first
and only appearance for all)
Comment: Shortly after this story Batman teams with Superman and the
Flash to fight Lex Luthor in Action Comics #466, and joins the Justice
League, Robin, and other heroes to fight the Joker and other villains in
DC Super-Stars #10.
Synopsis: Commissioner Gordon is kidnapped by hoods who want him to divulge Batman’s secret identity, which he does not know. But a prearranged signal leads Batman to the place where he is being held, and to a confrontation with his captors.
Detective Comics No. 466
December 1976
Cover: Signalman vs. Batman //Ernie Chua / Vince Colletta (signed)
Story: “Signalman Steals the Spotlight” (11 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Ernie Chua
Inker: Vince Colletta
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in DC SUPER-STARS #10; next
appears in BATMAN #291)
Supporting Characters: Alfred Pennyworth (next appears in BATMAN #284),
Commissioner Gordon (next appears in BATMAN #281), Sgt. Harvey Hainer (between
BATMAN #265 / 317)
Villain: The Signalman (between BATMAN #139 / 291)
Synopsis: The Signalman returns to Gotham City to commit grand robberies,
battle Batman, and place his foe within a deathtrap--the Bat-Signal itself.
BATMAN #281
November 1976
Cover Credits
Artist: Ernie Chua
Letterer:
STORY
"Murder Comes in Black Boxes" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: Ernie Chua
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Letterer:
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in Detective Comics #466)
Supporting Character
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in Detective comics #466; next appears
in issue #283)
Villains
Pamela Drew and Omega (first appearance for all)
The Hungarian Special Police (first appearance for all)
Other Characters
Aldo Fondi, Jorga Zamora, and Nkuma Senghor (first appearance for all;
all die in this story)
Sgt. Brenner and Lt. Morehouse (first and only appearance to date for
both)
Janos, Mihaly, Erno, Ferenc, and Ilona (first appearance for all)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Citizens of Budapest
Comment
This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis
Three secret agents--Aldo Fondi of Italy,
Jorge Zamora of Panama, and Nkuma Senghor of Burundi, all strangers to
each other--meet on a Gotham City street corner and are all killed when
a car hits them. The car proves to be stolen and the driver is not
found. But alll were known to Batman through Interpol, and he judges
it a "murder--by appointment!" From a recording device on a walkie-talkie,
Batman getws the agents' last messages, all of which were attempts to contact
Batman.
A woman, Pamela Drew, claiming to be a stewardess
and the fiance of Fondi, at first accuses Batman to be responsible for
her intended husband's death. But Batman saves her from assassins
twice, and she confides in him, giving him Fondi's address book.
Batman has Gordon place her in protective custody. Then he pilots
a custom jet to an address in Budapest where, in disguise, he meets the
underground resistance cell at that location. Janos, the cell leader,
tells Batman that Fondi was in Budapest some months ago, when they were
all involved in helping nuclear physicist Dr. Lucas Nagy to attempt to
defect. But Nagy, he says, was seized just shot of the border, and
not by the government. Fondi, a day before his murder, was told who
had snatched him. Suddenly, the meeting is interrupted. Though
Batman gets his friends to safety, he soon finds himself facing the guns
of the Hungarian Special Police.
BATMAN #282
December 1976
Cover Credits
Artists: Ernie Chua and Vince Colletta (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"Four Doorways to Danger" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: Ernie Chua
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Letterer:
Feature Character
Batman
Villains
Pamela Drew and Omega (first appearance for some members)
The Hungarian Special Police (last appearance for all to date)
Three mercenaries and Pastor Goodwin (first and only appearance to
date for all)
Other Characters
Janos, Mihaly, Erno, Ferenc, and Ilona (last appearance for all to
date)
Col. Jafi (first and only appearance to date)
Citizens of Budapest
Citizens and police of Burundi
Cameo appearances
Aldo Fondi, Jorge Zamora, and Nkuma Senghor (in flashback)
Comment
This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis
Batman defeats the Special Police Unit in
battle, impersonates their major, and, after bidding the freedom fighters
goodbye, bluffs his way back onto his plane and heads out. His next
stop is Burundi, where he contacts Col. Kafi in the Bureau of Intelligence.
There he learns that Nkuma Senghor had spoken of an abandoned church in
the north country, used by white men for an unknown purpose. Batman
lands in the vincinity, disguises himself as a mapmaking monk, and learn
from one Pastor Goodwin of the church's location, near a spot where white
men are mining "shining black earth." Unknown to Batman, the pastor
is secretly an agent of Omega, the conspiracy he is fighting, and the hero
is kayoed by mercenaries and dumped in the church. Awakening, Batman
finds speciments of the "shining black earth" nearby--pitchblende, from
which uranium is derived. Batman changes into his costume and battles
his way out, discovering and destroying an apparatus for making a nuclear
bomb. He learns from Goodwin that Dr. Lucas Nagy had been at the
church, but that he and others sailed away on the ship Miramar. After
Batman departs, Goodwin contacts Omega, one of whose members is Pamela
Drew, and tells them what has taken place.
Aboard his skyborne jet, Batman radios Commissioner
Gordon and learns that the Miramar recently sailed to Panama. As
he changes course to go to that country, he is surprised by two terrorists
hidden within his plane, one of whom shoots him twice in the head.
BATMAN #283
January 1977
Cover Credits
Artists: Ernie Chua and Vince Colletta (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"Omega
Bomb Target: Gotham City" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Artist: Ernie Chua
Letterer:
Feature Character
Batman (next appears in Brave and the Bold #132)
Supporting Character
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in issue #281; next appears in Brave
and the Bold #132)
Villains
Pamela Drew and Omega (first appearance for some members; last appearance
for all to date)
Other Characters
Dr. Lucas Nagy (first and only appearance to date)
The Mayor of Gotham City (last seen in issue #275; last appearance
to date)
Five sicentists (first and only appearance for all to date)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Cameo appearance
Alfred Pennyworth
Comments
This story continues from last issue.
Shortly after this story Batman teams with Richard Dragon to fight
the Stylist in Brave and the Bold #132; joins the Justice League to battle
Kanjar Ro, Captain Cold, Minister Blizzard, the Icicle, and the Shadow-Thief
in Justice League of America #138 and 139, and teams with Superman and
Robin to battle the Immortals of Cy-Tor in World's Finest Comics #243.
Synopsis
Batman's life is saved by the magnesium crash-helmet
he is wearing under his cowl. He knocks out the terrorists and dumps
them out with open parachutes over Angola. Then he returns to Gotham,
where he is greeted by Commissioner Gordon, the mayor, an a team of scientists.
Omega has just delivered an ultimatum: provide a billion dollars
in gold to a radio-controlled plane at midnight, or a 20-megaton bomb in
the Miramar, anchored in Gotham Harbor, will go off. The scientists
admit that Dr. Lucas Nagy, in Omega's hands, could design such a bomb.
Batman seeks out Pamela Drew, discovers her
treachery, and captures her, her Omega cell, and Dr. Nagy who is in a semi-catatonic
state. The scientist mutters "nembomba" to Batman. Having heard
this, Batman boards the Miramar, defeats the rest of Omega, and takes them
in. Later, he tells Gordon and the others that Omega never had a
bomb. "Nembomba" is Hungarian for "no bomb", and signified that Dr.
Nagy had refused to design a bomb for them. But Omega was almost
able to pull off their bluff without it. Later, when the radio-plane
lands, the mayor declares it will be sold at auction.
BATMAN #284
February 1977
Cover Credits
Artist: Jim Aparo (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"If There Were No Batman, I Would Have to Invent Him" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: Romeo Tanghal
Inker: Frank Springer
Letterer:
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in World's Finest Comics #243)
Supporting Character
Alfred Pennyworth (last seen in Detective Comics #466)
Villains
Dr. Tzin-Tzin (last seen in Adventure Comics #418)
A gang of crooks (first and only appearance for all to date)
Other Characters
An unnamed woman (first appearance; dies in this story)
Inspector P. J. Maddox (first and only appearance)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Cameo appearances
Towos, Changchub, and Thas Yang (first and only appearance for all
to date)
Comments
This story continues in the next issue.
This story probably takes place on December 14-15, 1976.
Synopsis
Dr. Tzin-Tzin marshalls mystic power through
Tibetian rites in preparation for his third encounter with Batman.
He gains the ability to immobilize all of Gotham during a parade, but Bruce
Wayne, moderating the event, is spared because he exerted himself to save
an endangered child, thus psychically shielding himself. Tzin-Tzin
is able to manipulate the crowd into fighting Batman for a short time,
but his spell wears off. Batman chases Tzin-Tzin and fails to catch
him, but manages to grab the villain's scarf.
To combat his foe, Batman constructs a Tsam
Khang meditiation chamber, gathers mystical power unto himself, tracks
down Tzin-Tzin by using the traces of his aura on the scarf, and defeats
him in battle. He then turns Tzin-Tzin over to the police, but warns
them that the villain must be prevented from seeing anyone and thus manipulating
them into freeing him from confinement.
BATMAN #285
March 1977
Cover Credits
Artist: Jim Aparo (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"The Mystery of Christmas
Lost" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: Romeo Tanghal
Inker: Frank Springer
Letterer:
Feature Character
Batman (next appears in Detective Comics #467)
Supporting Characters
Alfred Pennyworth (next appears in Detective Comics #467)
Commissioner Gordon (between Brave and the Bold #132 and 133)
Guest Star
Dick Grayson (Robin; last seen in World's Finest Comics #243; next
appears in Batman Family #10)
Villain
Dr. Tzin-Tzin (next appears in issue #290)
Other Characters
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comment
This story takes place December 17-25, 1976.
Synopsis
Dr. Tzin-Tzin, confined in solitary, manages
to mentally control an ant and, through it, its entire nest, having the
insects chew him a path to freedom. Batman, Commissioner Gordon,
and the police enter the cell later to see the ants write "Merry Christmas"
to them with their bodies.
In his lair, Tzin-Tzin materializes a mystic
vessel, which is filled with the Elixir of Nepenthes. He then conjures
a bear-demon and then sends it to fight Batman. Then he dematerializes
it and informs Batman telepathically of his own involvement. He boasts
that he will rob Gotham of "something infinitely precious" which "exists
only in the mind," and stabs Batman in the shoulder with a mystic dagger,
which leaves him unhurt.
Later, Batman discovers that the visiting
Dick Grayson, Alfred, and all the citizens of Gotham are unable to concentrate
on anything, with their minds on permanent "channel switch". He diagnoses
this as psychataxia, and realizes that Tzin-Tzin means to rob Gotham of
its Christmas, which the populance will not realize has come until December
25th is already past.
Batman tracks down Tzin-Tzin, fakes psychataxia,
and thus learns that Tzin-Tzin has been dumping the Elixir of Nepenthes
into Gotham's water supply. He snatches the vessel of elixir away
and, severing a steam pipe, bathes Tzin-Tzin in a scalding blast.
Tzin-Tzin is not killed, but is badly burned. Gotham recovers in
time to celebrate Christmas, and Bruce Wayne tells Dick and Alfred that
Tzin-Tzin will be unable to concentrate for months.
Detective Comics No. 467
January-February 1977
Cover: Batman knocking “Batman” into third rail of subway //Rich Buckler
/ Vince Colletta (signed)
Story: “Pick-Up on Gotham 2-4-6" (10 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Bob Rozakis
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Vince Colletta
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in BATMAN #285; next appears
in Hawkman story in this issue)
GS: Hawkman (between flashback and present-day portions of Hawkman
story in this issue.
Supporting Character: Alfred Pennyworth (last appearance in BATMAN
#285; next appears in BATMAN FAMILY #11)
Villains: Sneaky Danton (first appearance; dies in this story), Benny
“the Rat” Ritzo, a motorman (first and only appearance for both)
Comment: This story continues in the Hawkman story in this issue and
then continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Hawkman drops by to trade stories with Batman and learns
of the Caped Crusader’s recent foray against a crook who tried to escape
from a subway car dressed as the Batman.
Detective Comics No. 468
March-April 1977
Cover: Calculator vs. Batman, Hawkman, Elongated Man, Green Arrow,
Atom, and Black Canary //Jim Aparo (signed)
Story: “Battle of the Thinking Machines” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Bob Rozakis
Penciller: Marshall Rogers
Inker: Terry Austin
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in Hawkman story in last
issue; next appears in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #133)
GS: Green Arrow, Black Canary (both between JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#139 / 140), Atom (between JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #139 / 142), Elongated
Man (last appearance in issue #466; next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#142), Hawkman (last appearance in Hawkman story in last issue; next appears
in SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER-VILLAINS #5; with Batman and Aquaman, all appear
as the Justice League of America)
GA: Aquaman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #139; next
appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #449)
Supporting Character: Morgan Edge (last appearance in SUPERMAN FAMILY
#182; next appears in ACTION COMICS #468 (2))
Villain: The Calculator (last appearance in Hawkman story in last issue;
next appears in ACTION COMICS #522)
Comment: Shortly after this story Batman teams with Deadman to fight
Achille Lazlo in Brave and the Bold #133.
Synopsis: The Calculator has immunized himself to six members of the
Justice League’s attempts to capture him, but Batman resolves to give it
another try.
BATMAN #286
April 1977
Cover Credits
Artist: Jim Aparo (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"The Joker's Playground
of Peril" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Denny O'Neil
Penciller: Irv Novick
Inker: Dick Giordano
Letterer:
Feature Characters
Batman (last seen in Brave and the Bold #133; next appears in World's
Finest Comics #244)
Robin (between Batman Family #10 / 11)
Supporting Character
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in Brave and the Bold #133; next appears
in World's Finest Comics #244)
Villains
The Joker (last seen in DC SUPER-STARS #10; next appears in issue #291)
Harrison Steakbury (first and only appearance to date)
Pierre Frage and his gang (first and only appearance to date for all)
Other Characters
Dr. Tugwell (first appearance; dies in this story)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Police of Gotham State (first and only appearance for all to date)
Comments
Shortly after this story Batman joins Superman to combat L. C. Barton
in World's Finest Comics #244, teams wtih Green Lantern to fight Miklos
Vakla in Brave and the Bold #134, joins the Justice League to fight the
Manhunters in Justice League of America #140-142, and celebrates his birthday
in Batman Family #11.
Synopsis
The Joker breaks out of Arkham Asylum again
and shrinks and kills his psychiatrist, or "shrink", with a strange liquid.
Robin, who has heard of the Joker's escape, convenes with Batman and Commissioner
Gordon beside the doll-sized corpse of Dr. Tugwell, who has written "RIP"
in the sand beside him. Batman guesses the letters stand for Revelry
In the Park, a costume charity carnival held in Paradise Playground, an
amusement park, which he believes will be the site of the Joker's next
crime.
Batman chases a "Joker" into the Tunnel of
Love at the park, but it proves to be the Joker's lawyer, Harrison Steakbury,
in disguise. Steakbury confesses he fears the Joker will kill him
for losing at his trial. Since Gordon has told Batman that Pierre
Frage, an international fence, is also reputed to be at the park, Batman
and Robin soon discover Frage and his gang trying to make off with some
of the loot from the Joker's last robbery. Steakbury had stolen the
loot himself from the Joker, and exchanged it for gems from Frage.
Batman is sure that the Joker will seek revenge on Steakbury, and sends
Robin to protect the lawyer. Robin finds Steakbury in time to save
him from drowning in a Joker deathtrap. Batman tracks down the real
Joker, disguised as one of the park attendants, and nabs him in the House
of Mirrors.
BATMAN #287
May 1977
Cover Credits
Artist: Mike Grell (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"Batman-Ex--As In Extinct" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: Mike Grell
Inker: Bob Wiacek
Letterer:
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in Batman Family #11)
Supporting Characters
Alfred Pennyworth (last seen in Batman Family #11)
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in Batman Family #11; next appears in
DC Special #28)
Villains
The Penguin (last seen in Justice League of America #135)
The Penguin's gang (first appearance for all)
Scorpio (first appearance)
Other characters
Renee Cantrell and Chester Cole (first appearance for both)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comments
This story is continued in the next issue.
Synopsis
The Penguin begins a new series of crimes
by using robots of extinct birds or ancestors of birds, starting with a
robot pterosaur. The robot cracks out of a Napoleon statue at Gotham's
La Galerie. Batman destroys the mechanical bird, but the Penguin
and his gang pull off a jewel robbery while he is doing so. The birdman
of banditry next sends an archeopteriz robot to panic the crowds at Gotham
City Music Hall where a movie about Machiavelli is playing. At the
same time, his gang robs a diner on 1805 Hamilton Street. Batman
captures the crooks, but soon learns of an attack on the schooner Nelson
by a robot Diatryma. Putting together some clues, Batman learns that
the diner stickup was connected with Lord Nelson, who died in 1805, and
whose great love was Lady Hamilton. The music hall and jewel robberies
were similarly connected with Machiavelli and Napoleon.
All three historical figures named were short,
and Batman discovers a volume named Little Men of History, detailing the
lives of all three men in the order of the Penguin's robberies. Forearmed,
Batman guesses the Penguin's next crime will be connected with King Alaric
of the Visigoths. Alaric conquered Rome, and Batman discovers the
Penguin robbing the Farmer's Market on 410 Coliseum Road. He manages
to capture some of the gang, but the Penguin escapes. Both make ready
for their next encounter, but Batman is certain that the Penguin will alter
his modus operandi for his next caper.
BATMAN #288
June 1977
Cover Credits
Artist: Mike Grell
Letterer:
STORY
"The Little Men's Hall of Fame" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: Mike Grell
Inker: Bob Wiacek
Letterer:
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character
Batman (next appears in Justice League of America #143)
Supporting Character
Alfred Pennyworth
Villains
The Penguin (next appears in Detective Comics #472)
The Penguin's gang (Mickey named in this story; last appearance for
all to date)
Scorpio (last appearance to date)
Other Characters
Chester Cole and Renee Cantrell (last appearance to date for both)
Citizens of Gotham City
Cameo appearances
Napoleon Bonaparte, Alaric, and Machiavelli (as statues)
Comment
Shortly after this story Batman joins the Justice League of America
to battle The Construct and the Injustice Gang in Justice League of America
#143.
Synopsis
The Penguin and his gang make a raid on Royce
chemicals' plant in honor of Charles Steinmetz, since the chemical plant
is located at Watt Street. Batman combats them and is about to overcome
the criminal crew when Chester Cole, who is looking for Bruce Wayne and
has been cued by a doodled "RC", appears, interrupts Batman, and causes
his defeat. The hero awakens with Cole in the bottom of an empty
chemical tank, into which the Penguin looses robot vultures. Batman
destroys the mechanical birds, then uses their wings and flight motors
to fly Cole and himself to the top of the tank. Batman next encounters
the Penguin at Apex Storage, whose location, Chalons Road, fits in with
the next "little man", Attila the Hun, whose greatest battle was at Chalons.
Batman captures the crooks and recovers hidden stolen bonds in the process.
Later, Chester Cole tells Bruce he had misinterpreted
the "RC" squiggle. Wayne's real "RC" was Renee Cantrell, whom he
treats to a night on the town. Meanwhile, the Penguin has a new roommate
in jail--his own marble statue.
DC SPECIAL #28
June-July 1977
FIRST STORY
"And the Town Came Tumbling Down" (10 pages)
Credits
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Bob Rozakis
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Letterer:
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in Justice League of America #143; next appears in
WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #245)
Supporting Character
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in Batman #287; next appears in Batman
#289)
Villains
Quakemaster (Robert Coleman; first appearance; next appears in Crisis
on Infinite Earths #9)
Other Characters
Police of Gotham City
Comments
Shortly after this story Batman teams with Superman and J'onn J'onzz
to fight R'es Eda in World's Finest Comics #245 and helps Superman battle
Faora Hu-Ul in Action Comics #473.
Synopsis
Batman has an inconclusive encounter with
Quakemaster, a costumed villain whose quake-weapon causes artificial earthquakes
which he uses to bring down several buildings in Gotham's financial district.
While he consults his files in the Batcave to try to determine Quakemaster's
true identity, Batman is almost trapped when Quakemaster uses his weapon
in the neighborhood. Finally, he determines that Quakemaster is really
Robert Coleman, a builder who was discredited when a hurricane tore apart
an apartment complex he erected, and who is out to "prove" that none of
his competitor's buildings are any better. In a second battle, Batman
points out that the only buildings to crumble in Quakemaster's assaults
were the ones he himself had designed. Having unsettled Quakemaster,
Batman defeats and captures him.
BATMAN #289
July 1977
Cover Credits
Artist: Mike Grell (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"Sign of the Skull" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: Mike Grell
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer:
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in Action Comics #473)
Supporting Characters
Alfred Pennyworth
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in DC Special #28)
Villains
Cosmo "Skull" Dugger (first appearance)
Joe Wiley (first appearance; dies in this story)
"Skull" Dugger's gang (first appearance for all)
Other Characters
Lance Layton, Michael Forrester, and Bernard Fisk (first appearance
for all; all die in this story)
The Gotham Goliaths baseball team (first and only appearance to date)
Actors at the Golden Masque awards, dcotors at Midtown General Hospital,
tax commissioner Magers, and Bruce Wayne's secretary (first and only appearance
to date for all)
Dr. Faye Sommers (first appearance)
Comments
This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis
Cosmo "Skull" Dugger suffers from anhedonia,
a psychologial condition that robs him of the ability to experience joy.
He builds an electronic device that allows him to steal the joy--and life--of
a person he points it at during their moment of greatest pleasure.
The process leaves a skull imprinted on the forehead of the victim.
After three victims are killed, Dr. Faye Sommers calls in Batman to examine
the last one, and he winds up battling some of Dugger's thugs at the hospital,
who are trying to steal the victim's body.
Batman picks out "Skull" Dugger's face on
videotapes of the events where each of the victims (a baseball player,
an actor, and a lottery winner) were killed. After discovering Dugger's
name and residence, he drops in while Dugger is out and learns--quite painfully--Dugger's
recent history from a mental recording device attached to a joy-making
device. He then tries and fails to stop Dugger from committing a
murder. Dugger returns to his lab, notices the recorder and joy-maker,
and realizes that since Batman has used it in playback, all his instinctive
responses to joy have become responses to pain, and vice versa. Soon,
Batman appears at police headquarters, babbles incoherently, and then sits
immobile in a chair, fearful to speak, act, or move at all.
BATMAN #290
August 1977
Cover Credits
Artist: Mike Grell (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"Skull Dugger's Killjoy Capers" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: Mike Grell
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer:
Feature Character
Batman (next appears in Brave and the Bold #135)
Supporting Characters
Alfred Pennyworth (next appears in Five-Star Super-Hero Spectacular
(DC Special Series #1))
Commissioner Gordon (next appears in Brave and the Bold #135)
Villains
"Skull" Dugger (dies in this story)
Dr. Tzin-Tzin (last seen in issue #285; last apppearance; the New Earth
Dr. Tzin-Tzin first appears in Peacemaker (DC Series) #1)
An unnamed mugger (first and only appearance to date)
Other Characters
Dr. Faye Somers (last appearance to date)
An unnamed gambler and Mark Rupert Landress (first appearance for both;
both die in this story)
The lawyer and heirs of John Pearsall Landress, and Peggy (first and
only appearance for all to date)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comments
This story continues from last issue.
Shortly after this story Batman teams with the Metal Men and Green
Arrow to battle Ruby Ryder and Jason Morgan in Brave and the Bold #135
and 136 and joins the Justice League to fight Count Crystal and the Construct
in Justice League of America #145 and 146.
Synopsis
Bruce Wayne, as himself and as Batman, valiantly
struggles against his reversed joy-pain responses, and learns from Dr.
Faye Somers that "Skull" Duggers victims were killed by an intensification
of their brains' electrical charge. He begins a survey of Dugger
and atracks him to a will-reading in which Dugger murders the heir, but
he is unable to prevent the killing or capture Dugger. Hitting on
a new plan, Batman disguises himself as a prison guard, arranges to be
let inside Dr. Tzin-Tzin's cell, and cons the evil genius into thinking
he will free him for a million dollars. The villain mystically immunizes
Batman to pain for an hour, supposedly so that he can endure the electrical
shocks which guard a vault door. Instead, Batman waits for Dugger
in the latter's home. The hour expires just as Dugger arrives.
But Dugger hits Batman with a double-barrelled electrical device, one beam
to cure his reverse-response condition, the other to kill him. Batman
not only survives, but is restored to normalcy. Dugger perishes in
an electrical accident. Later, Batman tells Commissioner Gordon that
the "killjoy" device only worked on someone experiencing joy--the opposite
of what Batman was experiencing at the time.
DC SPECIAL SERIES (5-STAR SUPER-SPECTACULAR) #1
1977
Cover Credits
Artist: Neal Adams (signed)
Letterer:
FIFTH STORY
"The Dead on Arrival Contract" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Martin Pasko
Penciller: Mike Nasser
Inker: Joe Rubinstein
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in Justice League of America #146; next appears in
Brave and the Bold #137)
Supporting Character
Alfred Pennyworth (last seen in Batman #290; next appears in BATMAN
FAMILY #13)
Guest Star
Jason Burr (last seen in Kobra #7; dies in this story)
Villains
Kobra (last seen in Kobra #7; next appears in Aquaman #58)
Cobra Cultists (Sentry 457 named in this story; last seen in Kobra
#7; next appear in Aquaman #60)
Melissa McNeil (last seen in Kobra #7; last appearance to date)
Comments
Shortly after this story Batman teams with the Demon to fight Shahn-Zi
in Brave and the Bold #137, does monitor duty in the JLA satellite in Secret
Society of Super-Villains #7, joins the Justice League to fight the Secret
Society of Super-Villains in DC Special Series (Secret Society of Super-Villains
Special) #6 and the Parasite in World's Finest Comics #246 and 247, teams
with Mr. Miracle to battle Cosimo in Brave and the Bold #138, and joins
the Justice League, the Justice Society, and the Legion of Super-Heroes
to fight Mordru, Abnegazar, Rath, and Ghast in Justice League of America
#147 and 148.
Synopsis
Batman thwarts an attempted theft of a letter
from a post office, but the two thieves escape via an anti-gravity ray.
The letter is addressed to Bruce Wayne and comes from Jason Burr, who asks
for the help of Wayne's friend, the Batman, and explains that the letter
will only reach Wayne in the event of Burr's death. Burr explains
the origin of his evil twin brother Kobra, who is the master of a cobra-worshipping
cult which seeks to rule the world. Kobra, who feels what his brother
feels (and vice versa) through "physical telepathy," has recently kidnapped
Burr's beloved, Melissa McNeil. The letter also mentions Kobra's
"raising the dead."
Accordingly, Batman and Alfred travel by Batjet
to the Swiss Alps, to investigate Ra's Al Ghul's Lazarus Pit, which may
be Kobra's tool. Once there, Batman fights his way past cobra-cultists,
but is finally snared and is handcuffed with Burr to a device which is
slowly lowering them into the Lazarus Pit. Kobra, who confronts them
with the zombie-like Melissa McNeil, reveals to them that he has modified
the Lazarus Pit so that it kills, but instantly restores its victims to
life as his slaves, as he has already done with Melissa. Through
the Pit, he hopes to convert the leaders of the world to his pawns.
A "neural neutralizer" temporarily is cancelling the physical telepathy
between him and Burr. Batman breaks himself and Burr free of the
device, captures Kobra, and uses him to have himself, Burr, and Melissa
freed from the cultists. But Kobra has Melissa stab Burr to death,
and escapes Batman via an anti-gravity beam. Batman vows that the
Justice League will smash Kobra's empire, and that he himself will bring
Kobra to justice.
LIMITED COLLECTOR'S EDITION #C-51
August 1977
Cover Credits
Artist: Neal Adams
Letterer:
FIRST REPRINTED STORY
"Daughter of the Demon" (from Batman #232)
SECOND REPRINTED STORY
"Bruce
Wayne--Rest In Peace" (from Batman #242)
THIRD REPRINTED STORY
"The Lazarus Pit" (from Batman #243)
FOURTH REPRINTED STORY
"The Demon Lives Again" (from Batman #244)
Comment
This issue is edited by Joe Orlando and features cover reproductions
of the reprinted issues and features on the creators.
BATMAN #291
September 1977
Cover Credits
Artist: Jim Aparo
Letterer:
STORY
"Where Were You On the Night Batman
Was Killed?" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Letterer:
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in Justice League of America #148; disguised as Two-Face
in this story)
Villains
The Catwoman (last seen in Batman Family #6; next appears in Detective
Comics #479)
The Cavalier and Killer Moth (both last seen in Batman Family #10)
The Joker (last seen in issue #286)
Lex Luthor (last seen in DC Special Series (Superman Spectacular #5)
Mad Hatter (last seen in issue #201)
Mr. Freeze (last seen in Detective Comics #373)
Poison Ivy (last seen in DC Special Series (Secret Society of Super-Villains
Special) #6)
Ra's Al Ghul (last seen in Detective Comics #448)
Riddler (last seen in issue #279)
Scarecrow (last seen in Justice League of America #143)
Signalman (last seen in Detective Comics #466)
Spook (last seen in issue #276)
Col. Jake "the Claw" Van Cleeve (first appearance)
Cody and the Catwoman's gang (in flashback; first and only appearance
to date for all)
Various mobsters (first appearance for all)
Other Characters
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comment
This story is continued in the next issue.
Synopsis
The report goes out from coast-to-coast in
the underworld that Batman has been killed. But scores of contradictory
versions spring up as to who did it, how it was done, or if it was done
at all. To settle the controversy, Col. Jake "the Claw" Van Cleeve,
a top Gotham mobster, provides his estate as a court of crime to determine
the truth or falsity of the reports from the top contenders, Catwoman,
Lex Luthor, the Riddler, and the Joker. The judge is Ra's Al Ghul,
the district attorney is "Two-Face", and the jury is composed of the Mad
Hatter, the Spook, Poison Ivy, the Scarecrow, Signalman, and Mr. Freeze.
The Catwoman, in widow's weeds, gives her
testimony. After Batman recently broke up one of her rackets, she
packed up her belongings and made an escape, but Batman blocked the road
with his Batmobile and forced them both off a bridge. She says that
she bobbed to the surface and clung to a floating jaguar cage for safety.
When Batman attempted to do the same, she made a tough decision, kicked
him off, and watched him drown.
"Two-Face" demolishes her testimony by demonstrating
that her jaguar cage, made of Brazilian pepper tree wood, is too heavy
to float and could not have supported her in the water. Her phony
testimony is an attempt to convince the underworld that she is capable
of killing, thus convincing top criminal talents, who have hitherto shunned
her, to flock to her banner. The jury declares Catwoman not guilty,
and Ra's Al Ghul dismisses her and adjourns the court till the next claimant
can be heard.
BATMAN #292
October 1977
Cover Credits
Artist: Jim Aparo (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"The Testimony of the Riddler" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character
Batman (disguised as "Two-Face" in this story)
Supporting Character
Commissioner Gordon (in flashback; last seen in World's Finest Comics
#246; next appears in issue #294)
Villains
The Riddler (next appears in issue #317)
The Riddler's gang (in flashback; first and only appearance for all
to date)
The Cavalier, the Joker, Killer Moth, Lex Luthor, the Mad Hatter, Mr.
Freeze, Poison Ivy, Ra's Al Ghul, the Scarecrow, the Signalman, the Spook,
Col. Jake "the Claw" Van Cleeve, and various mobsters
Other Characters
John Sholes (first appearance; in flashback; dies in this story)
Stefan and Elena Niros (in flashback; first and only appearance for
both to date)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comments
This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis
The court of Ra's Al Ghul reconvenes to hear
the next claimant to the title of Batman-killer, the Riddler. The
Prince of Puzzlers assures Two-Face that his psychological handicap of
having to send Batman a riddle-clue before committing a crime will henceforth
be satisfied by sending his riddles to Batman's gravesite.
The Riddler recounts how he, disguised as
Batman's friend Bruce Wayne, tried with his gang to steal a platinum-ivory
typewriter presented by wealthy Stefan Nikos to his wife at her birthday
party. Batman showed up to battle them, did a double-take at the
sight of "Bruce Wayne," and was clouted by one of the crooks. After
their escape, the Riddler set up a meeting between him and Batman at a
quarry via a riddle-clue. At the quarry, he says, he trapped Batman
beneath a falling lode of masonry, set up a burning lantern atop a box
of dynamite, and watched from safety as the fire set off the explosives
and blew Batman to bits.
"Two-Face" graphically debunks the Riddler's
claim, having the latter tied to a wooden stake with boxes of dynamite
around, setting the dynamite on fire, and waiting beside the Riddler while
the dynamite burns up. Dynamite, he says, does not explode in fire,
only from percussion or electrical shock. The Riddler's claim is
thrown out, and Ra's Al Ghul fines him $25,000 for damages to the estate
during the dynamite demonstration. Court is adjourned until the testimony
of the next claimant, Lex Luthor, can be heard.
BATMAN #293
November 1977
Cover Credits
Artist: Jim Aparo (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"The Testimony of Luthor" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character
Batman (disguised as "Two-Face" in this story)
Guest Star
Superman (last seen in the Lois Lane story in Superman Family #186;
next appears in Superman #318)
Villains
Lex Luthor (next appears in Superman Family #188)
The Cluemaster (last seen in issue #201)
The Joker (as an off-panel voice)
Sparky Grimes (first and only appearance to date)
Lex Luthor's gang (Sam Hoxie named in this story; first and only appearance
for all to date)
The Cavalier, Killer Moth, the Mad Hatter, Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy,
Ra's Al Ghul, the Scarecrow, the Signalman, the Spook, Col. Jake "the Claw"
Van Cleeve, and various mobsters
Other Characters
Citizens of Metropolis and Gotham City
Comment
This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis
The court of Ra's Al Ghul reconvenes and hears
the testimony of Lex Luthor, who says he killed Batman as a by-product
of killing Superman. He relates how he put in orbit a satellite of
his own creation, manipulated Batman and Superman into standing at just
the right spots, and hit each with maser beams from the satellite.
The beams wiped out Batman's mind and transferred Superman's mind into
Batman's body. Afterward, Luthor stepped in and killed Superman in
Batman's body. His next step, he assures them, is to transfer his
own mind into Superman's body and become ruler of the universe.
"Two-Face" proceeds to ruin Luthor's testimony.
Luthor, he says, was telling the truth as far as he knew it. But
he reveals that Batman, disguised as one of Luthor's gang, learned the
details of the plan. Superman himself crashes into the courtroom,
announcing that he has granted amnesty to the criminals assembled there
so that he may testify. The Man of Steel says that he shielded himself
from the maser beams, substituted for Batman in a spare costume, and pretended
to be killed by Luthor. Superman informs them that for Luthor, his
amnesty leaves once he walks out the door--and Superman will be waiting
for him.
Luthor, before he leaves, angrily demands
that "Two-Face" reveal his source of information. "Two-Face" replies
that he cannot do so if the trial is to proceed. Ra's Al Ghul rules
in his favor, "Two-Face" promising to tell all at a later date. The
court adjourns, to hear the Joker's testimony when it reconvenes.
BATMAN #294
December 1977
Cover Credits
Artist: Jim Aparo (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"Testimony of the Joker" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character
Batman (next appears in Action Comics #478)
Supporting Character
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in issue #292; next apears in BATMAN
FAMILY #15)
Villains
Captain Stingaree (last seen in Secret Society of Super-Villains #6;
next appears in Detective Comics #526)
Cavalier and Killer Moth (both next appear in Batman Family #15)
Cluemaster (next appears in issue #336)
Joker (next appears in Detective comics #472)
Mad Hatter (next appears in issue #297)
Mr. Freeze (next appears in issue #308)
Poison Ivy (next appears in Batman Family #17)
Ra's Al Ghul (next appears in DC Special Series (Batman Spectacular)
#15)
Roy Reynolds (last seen in issue #254; next appears in DETECTIVE COMICS
#526)
Scarecrow (next appears in issue #296)
Signalman (next appears in Justice League of America #195)
Spook (next appears in issue #304)
Two-Face (last seen in Teen Titans #48; next appears in Green Lantern
(second series) #117)
Col. Jake "the Claw" Van Cleeve and various mobsters (last appearance
for all to date)
An unnamed thief (in flashback; first and only appearance to date)
Other Characters
Jerry Randall (in flashback; first appearance; dies in this story)
Staff of Arkham Asylum (last seen in World's Finest Comics #247; next
appear in Detective Comics #477)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Cameo appearances
The Catwoman, the Riddler, Superman, and Lex Luthor (in flashbacks)
Comments
This story continues from the last issue.
Shortly after this story Batman helps disaster victims in Action Comics
#478, teams with Superman to fight the Dalsidi in World's Finest Comics
#248, encounters Marty Rail in issue #303, and joins Hawkman to combat
Vorgan in Brave and the Bold #139.
Synopsis
The court of Ra's Al Ghul reconvenes to hear the
testimony of the last "assassin" of Batman--the Joker. The clown
of crime reveals how, while casing a fur company for a robbery, he saw
Batman capture another thief there. Unarmed at the time, he renewed
his arsenal and went back, thinking himself free of Batman's interference,
but found a figure in a Batman costume there, as surprised as the Joker
himself. The Joker then doused him with a faceful of dissolving liquid,
stabbed him with a combat ring full of laughing toxin, and killed him.
He then eradicated his face and fingerprints and left him for the police
to find. When "Two-Face" asks for proof, the Joker asserts he has
photos of the dead Batman, unmasked, before he dissolved his face.
"Two-Face" calls for a recess while the Joker procures his evidence.
Once outside, "Two-Face" doffs his disguise
and stands revealed as Batman. He tracks down the Joker, defeats
him in combat, and sends him back to Arkham. There the Joker is driven
wild to see Two-Face, and hear that the "district attorney" was never at
the trial. Later, Batman tells Commissioner Gordon that the real
victim was Jerry Randall, a bookstore owner and Batman fan, who liked to
dress up as Batman and reenact Batman cases after reading about them in
the papers. Still later, a fireworks display proclaims to Gotham
that "Batman is alive and well--and living in Gotham City".
BATMAN #295
January 1978
Cover Credits
Artist: Jim Aparo (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"The Adventure
of the Houdini Whodunit" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Michael Golden
Letterer: Ben Oda
Inker: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in Brave and the Bold #139; next appears in Justice
League of America #149)
Supporting Characters
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in Brave and the Bold #139; next appears
in Detective Comics #469)
Kaye Daye (last seen in Superman #277; next appears in Superman Family
#205)
Martin Tellman (last seen in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #111; next
appears in Brave and the Bold #157)
Art Saddows (last seen in issue #225; last appearance to date)
Danton (last seen in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #111; last appearance
to date; with the above characters and Batman forms the Mystery Analysts
of Gotham City)
Villains
Martin Monroe (first and only appearance to date)
A band of thieves (first and only appearance for all to date)
Other Characters
June Gold (first appearance; dies in this story)
David Hamton, Glenn Falenstein, Lisa Morrow, and Winston Bennett (first
and only appearance to date for all)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comments
This is the final Mystery Analysts of Gotham City story. The
last such story appeared in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #111.
Shortly after this story Batman teams with the Justice League to fight
Dr. Light, the Star-Tsar, and the Key in Justice League of America #149
and 150.
Synopsis
Commissioner Gordon calls on Batman to attend
a special meeting of the long-inactive Mystery Analysts of Gotham City.
Former D.A. Danton, Art Saddows, and Kaye Daye have all individually been
confronted within the last 24 hours by a dead girl--the same girl.
From examining an ambulance stretcher that the girl is repeatedly snatched
from, Batman discovers a wire substructure that gives the impression of
a body when a cloth is draped over it, a trick used by magicians.
He advises the Analysts to investigate the scene at the Magic Palace night
club.
They do so after Batman has a run-in with
the figure he suspects of being the murderer, who escapes by blinding Batman
with flash powder--another magician's trick. At the Magic Palace,
the Analysts discover that the dead girl is June Gold, assistant to David
Hamton, their headline magician. Hamton's apprentice Martin Monroe
claims innocence, but provides motives for three others in the club:
Lisa Morrow, who was often insulted by June Gold when the latter was drunk;
her friend Glenn Falkenstein, whose act June threatened to botch up; and
Hamton, whom June was blackmailing. Later, Kaye Daye is found missing,
and Batman, trying to find her, is slugged unconscious from behind.
Batman awakens to find himself chained to
the bottom of a tank being filled with water, with Kaye tied beside the
tank. The unseen murderer promises to return after doing his act
and kill Kaye. Batman exerts enough pressure on the sides of the
tank to shatter them, and then frees Kaye. He goes on stage to capture
the murderer, Martin Monroe. Monroe admits that he hoped to become
the headliner at the club by killing June and framing Hamton for the murder.
Later, Hamton admits to pulling the body-snatching and flash-powder routines
in order to get Batman and his allies interested in the case. When
Kaye asks how Monroe did the killing while apparently sitting in the barroom
of the club, Batman replies that magicians never reveal their secrets,
even in prison.
Detective Comics No. 469
May 1977
Cover: Dr. Phosphorus vs. Batman //Jim Aparo (signed)
Story: “By Death’s Eerie Light” (11 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Walt Simonson
Inker: Al Milgrom
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#150)
Supporting Characters: Alfred Pennyworth (last appearance in WORLD’S
FINEST COMICS #248), Commissioner Gordon (last appearance in BATMAN #295)
Intro: Dr. Bell (next appears in next story)
Villain: Dr. Phosphorus (Dr. Alex Sartorius; first appearance; chronologically
between flashback in next story and next story)
Comment: Story continues in Dr. Phosphorus story in this issue.
Synopsis: Gotham City’s water supply is poisoned, and Batman tracks
down the cause of the problem, a villain named Dr. Phosphorus with an “X-ray
skeleton” appearance, but fails to capture him.
Story: “The Origin of Dr. Phosphorus” (6 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Walt Simonson
Inker: Al Milgrom
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Dr. Phosphorus (also appears in flashback, his earliest
chronological appearance, taking place before his appearance in Batman
story in this issue; origin revealed)
Other Character: Dr. Bell
Villains: Dr. Phosphorus, Rupert Thorne (first appearance)
Comment: Story continues in next issue.
Synopsis: Dr. Phosphorus breaks into the home of Gotham City Council
member Dr. Bell and reveals his origin to him. Phosphorus was once
Dr. Alex Sartorius, who was transformed by sand irradiated during a nuclear
plant’s meltdown, driven up one element on the chemical table, from silicon
to phosphorus. Now he has sworn to make Gotham pay, and demands that
Bell use the city council to stop Batman from interfering with him, or
die. Bell calls the Council’s head man, Boss Rupert Thorne.
Detective Comics No. 470
June 1977
Cover: Batman vs. Dr. Phosphorus //Jim Aparo
Story: “The Master Plan of Dr. Phosphorus” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Walt Simonson
Inker: Al Milgrom
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Batman
Supporting Characters: Alfred Pennyworth, Commissioner Gordon (next
appears in issue #474), Chief O’Hara (last appearance in WORLD’S FINEST
COMICS #159, as Sgt. O’Hara; next appears in issue #476), Silver St. Cloud
(first appearance)
Villains: Dr. Phosphorus (next appears in BATMAN #311), Smiley Royal
(first and only appearance), Dr. Bell, Rupert Thorne
Comment: Story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Batman continues his search for Dr. Phosphorus as the radioactive
villain terrorizes Gotham.
Detective Comics No. 471
August 1977
Cover: Dr. Hugo Strange unmasking before Batman //Marshall Rogers /
Terry Austin (signed)
Story: “The Dead Yet Live” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Marshall Rogers
Inker: Terry Austin
Letterer: John Workman
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Batman
Supporting Characters: Alfred Pennyworth, Silver St. Cloud
Cameo appearances: Dr. Phosphorus, Ra’s Al Ghul, Talia, Joe Chill,
Thomas Wayne, Martha Wayne
Villains: Dr. Hugo Strange (of Earth-One), Magda, Barney, Marko, Gotham
City Council, Strange’s monsters (first appearance for all), Rupert Thorne,
Dr. Bell
Comment: Story continues in next issue.
Synopsis: Bruce Wayne goes to the “sanitarium” of a Dr. Todhunter to
seek treatment from his radiation burns. Soon, the Batman discovers
that Dr. Todhunter is his old foe Dr. Hugo Strange, who manages to unmask
him and learn his secret identity.
Detective Comics No. 472
September 1977
Cover: Batman //Marshall Rogers / Terry Austin (signed)
Story: “I Am the Batman” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Marshall Rogers
Inker: Terry Austin
Letterer: John Workman
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Characters: Batman, Robin (last appearance in TEEN TITANS #52)
Supporting Characters: Alfred Pennyworth, Silver St. Clair
Villains: Hugo Strange (does not die in this story), Magda (last appearance),
Strange’s monsters (last appearance; some die in this story), the Joker
(last appearance in BATMAN #294), the Penguin (last appearance in BATMAN
#288), Rupert Thorne and his gang (first appearance)
Synopsis: Robin manages to rescue Alfred and Bruce Wayne from Hugo
Strange’s clutches. But Strange himself is captured by Rupert Thorne’s
men after he attempts to auction off the secret of Batman’s identity, and
when he refuses to divulge it, is apparently beaten to death.
Detective Comics No. 473
November 1977
Cover: Batman and Robin vs. crooks; shadow of the Penguin //Marshall
Rogers
Story: “The Malay Penguin” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Marshall Rogers
Inker: Terry Austin
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Characters: Batman, Robin
Supporting Characters: Alfred Pennyworth (next appears in issue #478),
Silver St. Cloud
Intro: Reed, Broome (only appearance for both)
Villains: Dr. Hugo Strange, the Penguin, Rupert Thorne, Murdock and
his partner (first and only appearance of both), the Joker (voice only;
next appears in issue #475), Dr. Bell, Barney, Gotham City Council (last
appearance for all), Marko (next appears in issue #475)
Comment: Story continues in next issue.
Synopsis: Batman and Robin are outlawed by the city council, but continue
to operate to foil a grand theft by the Penguin.
Detective Comics No. 474
December 1977
Cover: Batman reflected in Deadshot’s mask //Marshall Rogers / Terry
Austin (signed)
Story: “The Deadshot Ricochet” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Marshall Rogers
Inker: Terry Austin
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Characters: Batman (next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#151), Robin (next appears in TEEN TITANS #53)
GA: Wonder Girl (between TEEN TITANS #52 / 53)
Supporting Characters: Silver St. Cloud (next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE
OF AMERICA #151; learns Batman’s secret identity in this story), Commissioner
Gordon (last appearance in issue #470)
Intro: Bill (only appearance)
Cameo appearance: The Harlequin, the Joker
Villains: Deadshot (of Earth-One; Floyd Lawton; first appearance; next
appears in BATMAN #351), the Penguin (next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS
#261; real name, Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot, confirmed in this story),
Boss Thorne, Dr. Hugo Strange
Comment: Shortly after this story Batman helps the Justice League fight
Prof. Amos Fortune in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #151.
Synopsis: While Rupert Thorne is haunted by an apparition of Dr. Hugo
Strange, Batman’s old foe Deadshot escapes jail with a gimmick stolen from
the Penguin and confronts Batman with newer and deadlier weaponry.
Detective Comics No. 475
February 1978
Cover: Joker threatening Batman with fish //Marshall Rogers / Terry
Austin (signed)
Story: “The Laughing Fish” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Marshall Rogers
Inker: Terry Austin
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#151)
Supporting Characters: Silver St. Cloud (last appearance in JUSTICE
LEAGUE OF AMERICA #151), Commissioner Gordon
Intro: G. Carl Francis (dies in this story)
Villains: The Joker (last appearance in issue #473) and his gang (last
appearance in THE JOKER #9; last appearance), Blue-Eyes (first appearance;
dies in this story), Rupert Thorne, Marko (next appears in BATMAN #341)
Comment: Story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: The Joker causes fish to bear his likeness, but threatens
to kill a copyright official when he learns that he cannot lay claim to
them, and Batman fails to prevent the official’s death.
Detective Comics No. 476
March-April 1978
Cover: Batman, victims, and fish with Joker grins //Marshall Rogers
/ Terry Austin (signed)
Story: “Sign of the Joker” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Marshall Rogers
Inker: Terry Austin
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character: Batman
Supporting Characters: Commissioner Gordon, Chief O’Hara (last appearance
in issue #470; last appearance), Silver St. Cloud (last appearance)
Intro: Thomas Jackson (dies in this story)
Villains: The Joker (next appears in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #141), Dr.
Hugo Strange (next appears in issue #513), Rupert Thorne
Comment: Story continues in part in next issue.
Synopsis: The Joker has a showdown fight with Batman, Rupert Thorne
has a decisive encounter with the apparent ghost of Hugo Strange, and Silver
St. Cloud comes to a decision about her relationship with Bruce Wayne.
Detective Comics No. 477
May-June 1978
Cover: Batman menaced by bats, “Robin’s” hand holding gun //Marshall
Rogers / Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “The House That Haunted Batman” (3 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Marshall Rogers
Inker: Dick Giordano
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character: Batman
Supporting Character: Commissioner Gordon
Villains: Rupert Thorne (next appears in BATMAN #311), Clayface III
(Preston Payne; first appearance; last chronological appearance in flashback
in next issue)
Comments: This is a framing sequence around a reprint of “The House
That Haunted Batman” from issue #408.
Story continues in next issue.
Synopsis: Batman checks up on Rupert Thorne, who now occupies a padded
cell at the local asylum.
Detective Comics No. 478
July-August 1978
Cover: Batman with dissolving woman, hand of Clayface III //Marshall
Rogers / Terry Austin (signed)
Story: “The Coming of Clayface III” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Marshall Rogers
Inker: Dick Giordano
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character: Batman
Supporting Characters: Alfred Pennyworth (last appearance in issue #473),
Commissioner Gordon
Intro: Henry Matlock (dies in this story), Helena (a mannequin)
Cameo appearance: Silver St. Cloud, Thomas Wayne, Martha Wayne
Villains: Clayface III (also appears in flashback, his earliest chronological
appearance, before last issue), Whacko and his partner (first and only
appearance for both), Matt Hagen (Clayface II; in flashback; last appearance
in ACTION COMICS #443; next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #254)
Comment: Story continues in next issue.
Synopsis: The Batman faces a new Clayface, Preston Payne, who sought
to overcome his ugliness by taking an extract from Clayface II’s (Matt
Hagen’s) blood, only to learn it made his flesh run like clay and compelled
him to touch others at times and turn them into melting blobs of clay.
Detective Comics No. 479
September-October 1978
Cover: Clayface vs. Batman; Hawkman vignette //Marshall Rogers / Dick
Giordano (signed)
Story: “If a Man Be Made of Clay” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Marshall Rogers
Inker: Dick Giordano
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character: Batman (next appears in BATMAN #296)
GA: Selina Kyle (the Catwoman; last appearance in BATMAN #291; next
appears in BATMAN FAMILY #17)
Supporting Characters: Commissioner Gordon (next appears in BATMAN
#296), Gwen (first appearance; next appears in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #144)
Intro: Lester Burton (dies in this story), Sal Menkin (only appearance)
Other Character: Helena (next appears in SWAMP THING (second series)
#52)
Villain: Clayface III (next appears in SWAMP THING (second series)
#52)
Comment: Story continues from last issue.
Synopsis: Batman searches for Clayface III as the villain attempts
to make himself human once again.
BATMAN #296
February 1978
Cover Credits
Artists: Sal Amendola and Al Milgrom (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"The Sinister Straws of the Scarecrow" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Artist: Sal Amendola
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in Detective Comics #479; next appears in World's
Finest Comics #249)
Supporting Character
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in Detective Comics #479; next appears
in Batman Family #16)
Villains
The Scarecrow (last seen in issue #294; next appears in Justice League
of America #158)
The Strawmen (Otto and Raymond; first and only appearance for both
to date)
Jarvis Skibo and a gang of crooks (first and only appearance for all
to date)
Thurston Binns (no actual appearance; named and appears as a disguise
for Batman in this story; first and only appearance to date)
Other Characters
Baldwin and Schemer Leo (first and only appearance for both to date)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Cameo appearances
Mrs. Jarvis Skibo (as an illusion; first and only appearance to date)
Comment
Shortly after this story Batman teams with Superman and the Phantom
Stranger to fight Captain Kalamari in World's Finest Comics #249, and joins
Wonder Woman to fight Dmitrios in Brave and the Bold #140.
Synopsis
The Scarecrow, with the help of his two Strawmen,
Otto and Raymond, develops a chemical that produces phobophobia, the fear
of one's own fears, and then releases the most supreme dread in a specific
victim. His latest modus operandi is to have his men use the chemical
on persons suspected of unsolved crimes, force the victims to return the
loot at a specific place and time, and snatch the swag while they are delivering
it. Their first target is Jarvis Skibo, who fearfully returns $50,000
in stolen bonds to a bank. But Batman discovers Skibo's identity
through an informant, and has Commissioner Gordon leak the information
that the bonds returned were counterfeit. The Scarecrow attemtps
to terrorize Skibo again, but Batman appears to fight him and the Strawmen.
The villains manage an escape.
Batman pries the details of the Scarecrow's
operation from Skibo. He then disguises himself as Thurston Blaine,
who is suspected of stealing a Gutenberg Bible. When the Scarecrow
and his gang attempt to terrorize him, Batman reveals himself, resists
the fear chemical, and battles and captures them.
BATMAN #297
March 1978
Cover Credits
Artist: Jim Aparo (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"The Mad Hatter
Goes Straight" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: Rich Buckler
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in Brave and the Bold #140; next appears in Justice
League of America #152)
Supporting Characters
Alfred Pennyworth (last seen in Detective Comics #478; next appears
in Batman Family #17)
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in Batman Family #16; next appears in
Brave and the Bold #141)
Villains
The Mad Hatter (last seen in issue #294; last appearance; first appearance
of the New Earth Mad Hatter (Jervis Tetch) in Detective Comics #573; also
appears in flashback, his earliest chronological appearance, preceding
his appearance in Detective Comics #230)
The Mad Hatter's gang and two unnamed crooks (first and only appearance
to date for all)
Guest Star
Jason Bard (between Batgirl and Robin story and Man-Bat story in BATMAN
FAMILY #15)
Other Characters
Linda Sue and other employees of the Great Excursion Travel Agency
(first and only appearance to date for all)
Kim and Judge Harkness (first and only appearance to date for both)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comments
Shortly after this story Batman joins the Justice League to fight Major
Macabre in Justice League of America #152, teams with Aquaman and Green
Lantern to fight Kobra in Aquaman #61, and rejoins the Justice League to
combat Ultraa in Justice League of America #153.
Synopsis
The Mad Hatter, disappoined that crime isn't
giving him a kick anymore, reminesces about his youth, when he would fantasize
about being a white-hatted sheriff or a plume-hatted cavalier, or wearing
the hat of a Foreign Legionnaire. Since his fantasies were always
about fighting on the side of law and order, the Hatter decides to give
up crime and go straight.
He begins by mimicking a cowboy-hatted sheriff
on horseback, and stops two muggers from robbing Bruce Wayne and his date
in the park. But his evil impulses get the better of him, and he
robs the woman himself. Batman ties to capture him, but winds up
knocking him into a passing truck.
The Hatter reasons that choosing a hat too
closely connected with the law may have stympied him. He begins anew,
using more benign headwear. But in each case, his avaricious impulses
win over, and he commits more thefts. Finally, Batman hatches a trap
for the Mad Hatter, throwing a party at which Jason Bard announces his
candidacy for district attorney--"throwing his hat into the ring."
The Hatter crashes the party in a chef's hat, but Batman defeats and captures
him. Later, Bruce Wayne restores his date's stolen necklace to her,
pulling it out of a hansom cab driver's top hat like a magician.
Batman Family No. 17
April-May 1978
Cover: Robin, Batman, Batgirl, Huntress, Man-Bat //Mike Kaluta (signed)
Story: “Scars” (23 pages)
Editor: Al Milgrom
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist, letterer: Jim Aparo
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Characters: Batman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#153; next appears in Man-Bat story in this issue), Robin (last appearance
in Batgirl and Robin story in last issue; next appears in DC SPECIAL SERIES
#11)
GS: The Huntress (last appearance in ALL-STAR COMICS #71; origin retold
in flashback; next appears in Batgirl, Batwoman, and Huntress story in
this issue), Kathy Kane (Batwoman; last appearance in Batgirl and Robin
story in issue #14; next appears in Batgirl, Batwoman, and Huntress story
in this issue)
Supporting Character: Lori Elton (last appearance in Batgirl and Robin
story in last issue; also appears in flashback,her earliest chronological
appearance, preceding her appearance in DETECTIVE COMICS #450), Alfred
Pennyworth (last appearance in BATMAN #297; next appears in BRAVE AND THE
BOLD #141)
Intro: Margo Mulhare (only appearance)
Cameo appearance: Batman, Catwoman, Green Lantern, Flash, and Hawkman
of Earth-Two, Dr. Mid-Nite, Dr. Fate, Wildcat, Star-Spangled Kid
Villain: Scar (Desmond Mallard; first and only appearance)
Comments: Story continues in the Batgirl, Batwoman, and Huntress story
in this issue.
Shortly after this story Batman and Batgirl help the Huntress
return to Earth-Two in the Man-Bat story in this issue. Then Batman
teams with Superman, Green Arrow, Black Canary, and the Earth-Two Wonder
Woman to combat the Ravager and Agent Axis II in World's Finest Comics
#250, and teams with Black Canary again to fight the Joker in Brave and
the Bold #141.
Shortly after this story Robin and the Teen Titans attend the
high school graduation of Kid Flash in DC SPECIAL SERIES #11.
Synopsis: The Huntress comes to Earth-One to visit Batman, the counterpart
of her father on Earth-Two. Shortly afterward, Batman and Robin go
in search of Scar, a maniac who alters people into grotesqueries, and who
has kidnapped Lori Elton.
BATMAN #298
April 1978
Cover Credits
Artist: Jim Aparo
Letterer:
STORY
"The Case of the Crimson Coffin" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Dick Giordano
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in Brave and the Bold #141)
Supporting Characters
Commissioner Gordon and Alfred Pennyworth (both last seen in Brave
and the Bold #141)
Villains
A mamaloi priestess and a voodoo cult (Rico named in next issue; first
appearance for all)
Other Characters
Baxter Baines (first appearance; face and name revealed in next issue)
Three Carib natives (first and only appearance for all to date)
Schemer Leo (last seen in issue #?)
Evans Aldrich (first appearance)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comment
This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis
Batman foloows a suspicious boat to a pier
near a deserted hotel, below which he finds a gourp of cultists about to
sacrifice a human victim. Noting that the group of robed and
masked cultists are "Carib machete assassins," he battles them and defeats
them. Batman notes that their victim is drugged, and finds three
other drugging victims, illegal Carib immigrants, elsewhere in the subterranean
vaults. Finally, he discvoers a woman who lures him into a trap,
and barely escapes alive, finding the entire entourage gone when he awakens.
Next, checking with Commissioner Gordon, Batman
discovers that an unknown person is using a billboard to give vague clues
to Gotham City concerning Batman's secret identity, with messages such
as, "He is a well-known millionaire." Disregarding this for the moment,
Batman learn from an informant that the cultists who fought him were smuggling
in Caribbean natives to train as assassins. Gordon tells Batman that
the cultists' victim has been identified as Evans Aldrich, a naturalist,
but the story has been accidentally leaked to the press. Batman goes
to Aldrich's studio and once again encounters the woman and her cultists,
who take some of Aldrich's photos with them and escape.
Batman learns from Aldrich's notes that the
photos which were stolen were taken on an unidentified island. He
also sees another Batman-identity clue, on a sign towed behind a plane
whose owner he knows personally. He heads to the clue-master's penthouse
aparment and is greeted by his antagonist, standing obscured in a nimbus
of black light.
BATMAN #299
May 1978
Cover Credits
Artist: Jim Aparo (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"The Island of Purple Mist" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Dick Giordano
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist; Jerry Serpe
Feature Character
Batman (next appears in Justice League of America #154)
Supporting Characters
Alfred Pennyworth (next appears in Justice League of America #154)
Commissioner Gordon (next appears in Batman Family #18)
Villains
The mamaloi priestess and the voodoo cult (last appearance for all
to date)
Rico (dies in this story)
A gang of crooks (first and only appearance to date for all)
Other characters
Baxter Baines and Evans Aldrich (last appearance to date for both)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comments
Shortly after this story Batman joins the Justice League to fight Dr.
Destiny in Justice League of America #154 and to oversee Superman's battle
with Amazo in Action Comics #480-483, attends Kid Flash's graduation in
DC Special Series (Flash Spectacular) #11 (after which Robin and the Teen
Titans join the heroes of Earth in fighting an alien invader in SHOWCASE
#100), rejoins the Justice League to attack time monsters in Challengers
of the Unknown #87, advises Robin after the latter's battle with Blockbuster
in Secret Society of Super-Villains #12, and teams with the Justice League
again to fight the Regnans in Justice League of America #155.
Synopsis
Batman encounters a costumed Baxter Baines,
a wealthy Gothamite, and helps him put away a gang of hoods who have seen
Batman enter the building and who hoped to settle old scores with him.
Afterward, Baines admits that unmasking Batman is one of his main goals
in life. Batman points out that all of Baines's "clues" point towards
Baines as much as Batman, and Baines confesses that he would like to be
Batman's replacement if he should ever retire or be disabled. He
then tries to unmask Batman, but Batman unmasks Baines in the brawl, dumps
him in a gutter outside, and uses Baines's skywriting machine to write
out his own clue: "His initials are B.B." Fearful for his life,
Baines takes off for Capri.
Batman, knowing the cultists will search for
him at Baines's penthouse, uses Baines's gimmicks to put a trace radiation
on them when they search the place and, not finding him, leave. He
trails them to the cult's island hideout, where the Mamaloi priestess has
Rico dressed as Batman, bound alongside Evans Aldrich, and sacrifices him
to convince the cult of her power. Batman rescues Aldrich and defeats
the cultists in battle, discrediting the priestess. He later tells
Commissioner Gordon that the cult was dealing in suicide hit-men, and that
Aldrich had stumbled onto her operation--as had Batman.
BATMAN #300
June 1978
Cover Credits
Artists: Walt Simonson and Dick Giordano
Letterer:
STORY
"The Last Batman Story" (33 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: Walt Simonson
Inker: Dick Giordano
Letterer: Shelley Leferman
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Characters
Batman and Robin (see Comment below)
Supporting Characters
Commissioner Gordon and Alfred Pennyworth (see Comment below)
Villains
Spectrum (first and only appearance for all to date)
Blue Leader, Red Leader, Ultraviolet, and Infrared (first appearance
for all; all die in this story; Infrared is not to be confused with Infra-Red
from the Batgirl stories in Detective Comics #404 and 405)
Other Characters
Annie Morgan (first and only appearance to date)
Colonel Hodge and other staff of Columbia Space Hospital (first and
only appearance to date for all)
Citizens of Gotham City
Cameo appearances
Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos (the Three Fates)
Thomas and Martha Wayne, Joe Chill, the Joker, Two-Face, and The Penguin
Comments
The page count increases to 48 pages for this issue only.
This story features the Batman and Robin of an alternate future, which
has undoubtedly been altered or eradicated altogether by the Crisis on
Infinite Earths.
Synopsis
In Gotham City of the future, Batman and Robin
foil the attempted attack by a band of blue-costumed men on a mobile surgical
capsule being transferred to the Columbia Space Station surgery department.
The villains' leader is destroyed in a strange explosion. Robin later
tells Batman of how an unidentified man had demanded at a Chamber of Commerce
dinner that Dick Grayson sell him his 1902 Rambler and, when refused, tore
away a prism of a crystal sconce, threw it to Grayson with an implied threat,
and walked away. Since then there have been three acts of disastrous
sabotage to Wayne Foundation enterprises, and Annie Morgan, the woman in
the surgical capsule, was an intelligence operative he sent to explore
leads. Tracking down a clue left by Ms. Morgan, Batman and Robin
discover that their foes are a crime-cabal named Spectrum, divided into
seven sections to correspond with the colors of the light spectrum.
After battling the criminal band again, they trace Spectrum video transmissions
to the Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. There, after discovering
the group's secret hideout, they also find the hiding place of Spectrum's
two leaders, Infrared and Ultraviolet. Both are ringed with protective
air mines, and both are destroyed when Infrared nervously moves into his
own ring, setting off an explosive chain reaction. Robin calls for
a police helicopter to take away the rest of Spectrum.
Later, Bruce Wayne tells Dick Grayson that
a political reform group has asked him to run for governor, and that he
is considering asking the "woman he loves" to marry him. If he says
yes to either or both of these questions, he will have to put aside his
Batman identity. Bruce confides that he will tell Dick his final
decision tomorrow. Then he enters his private office to be alone
with his thoughts.
Batman Family No. 18
June-July 1978
Cover: Man-Bat, Batgirl, Robin, Batman, and demonic hands in sewer;
Huntress vignette //Jim Starlin (signed)
Story: “The Monstrosity Chase” (20 pages)
Editor: Al Milgrom
Writer: Denny O’Neil
Penciller: Michael Golden
Inker: Craig Russell
Letterer: Clem Robins
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#155; next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #251)
Supporting Characters: Commissioner Gordon (last appearance in BATMAN
#299), Alfred Pennyworth (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#154), Barry Dark (first appearance; next appears in DC SPECIAL SERIES
#15)
Intro: Harry Noah (dies in this story), Jami Lewin (only appearance)
Villains: Tabitha Blatant, the Gargoyle Gang (including Maxie, Snail,
and Joey), various crooks (first and only appearnace for all)
Comment: Shortly after this story Batman teams with Superman to fight
George “Boss” Dyke in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #251, then helps the Justice
League fight the gods of Oceania in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #156.
Synopsis: Batman must rescue a hostage the Gargoyle Gang holds in the
sewers of Gotham City and the gang themsevles before a flood can drown
them all.
BATMAN #301
July 1978
Cover Credits
Artist: Jim Aparo (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"The Only Man Batman Ever Killed"
(17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Letterer:
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in Justice League of America #156)
Supporting Characters
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in World's Finest Comics #251)
Alfred Pennyworth (last seen in Batman Family #18)
Villains
Malcolm Millbrook (first appearance; dies in this story)
Luke Brant and his gang (first and only appearance to date for all)
A gang of crooks (first and only appearance to date for all)
Commissioner Gordon's chauffeur (no appearance; behind the scenes;
first appearance)
Other Characters
Mrs. Malcolm Millbrook (first and only appearance to date)
Paisley, Inspector Graham, Roberts, and Bellamy (first and only appearance
for all to date)
Judson Price (first appearance; dies in this story)
Perry Travers (no appearance; name only mentioned; first and only appearance
to date)
Chief O'Hara (last seen in Detective Comics #476; last appearance to
date)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Cameo appearances
Thomas and Martha Wayne and Joe Chill (in flashback)
Comment
This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis
For some time, Gotham has been plagued by
the rumor of an "overlord" of crime-bosses in town, whose life is guarded
by a secret troop of "wire-heads." The "wire-heads" have platinum
ankh-symbols secretly placed at the base of their skulls, unknown to themselves,
which will program them to kill anyone remotely connected with the demise
of the "overlord," should he die an unnatural death.
The rumor is revealed as fact after a man
named Judson Phillips is cut down by gunfire when Batman stops a gang of
crooks from stealing charity money at an auction. During an autopsy,
a platinum ankh is found at the base of Phillips's skull. Batman
and Commissioner Gordon concoct a plan to expose a suspected mob connection
in the police when they hear of this. Batman, disguised as the mystic
Akeldema, claims to be able to kill by thought-impulses, after seeing the
image of a victim's face. He demonstrates this "talent" before Gordon
and his men, "killing" undercover police officers, and builds up his reputation.
Soon, criminals in the pay of underboss Luke
Brant bring "Akeldema" a picture of Malcolm Millbrook, a rich realtor and
the secret Gotham crime overlord, and "force" him to do his stuff.
Batman defeats the gang and goes to Millbrook's townhouse, preceded by
Brant, who is astonished to find Millbrook alive. Batman is unable
to stop Brant from killing Millbrook, but he takes Brant's gun and punches
him out afterward. Mrs. Millbrook enters, sees her slain husband,
Batman, and Brant, and accuses Batman of having allowed Brant to kill Millbrook.
Batman corrects her: he says that he himself shot Millbrook to death.
BATMAN #302
August 1978
Cover Credits
Artist: Jim Aparo
Letterer:
STORY
"The Attack of the Wire-Head Killers"
(17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Dcik Giordano
Letterer: Todd Klein
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Characters
Batman (next appears in Justice League of America #157)
Robin (between Batman Family #18 and 19)
Supporting Characters
Alfred Pennyworth (next appears in DC Special Series (Batman Spectacular)
#15)
Commissioner Gordon (next appears in Man-Bat story in BATMAN FAMILY
#18)
Villains
Karl Bronislau (first appearance; dies in this story)
The Human Dynamo, an acrobatic team, a magician, Senorita Nubia, and
Pyro the Torch (first and only appearance to date for all)
Commissioner Gordon's chauffeur (no appearance; behind the scenes;
last appearance to date)
Other Characters
Melanie and Mrs. Judson Price (first and only appearance to date for
both)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Cameo appearances
Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Millbrook, Luke Brant, and Judson Price (all in
flashbacks)
Comments
This story continues from last issue.
Shortly after this story Batman joins the Justice League and Supergirl
to fight the Siren in Justice League of America #157.
Synopsis
Batman, having "revealed" that he is the murderer
of Malcolm Millbrook and thus sparing Gotham from a gang war, has become
the target of Millbrook's "wire-head killers" and has been charged with
homicide by the police. Bruce Wayne declines Dick Grayson's offer
of help and visits Gordon later in secret as Batman. He reveals that
Gordon's chauffeur was the secret police / mob connection, since only the
chauffeur knew where Akeldema would be so that he could tip off Brant's
hoods. Batman vows to continue normal patrol to give the wire-heads
time to strike at him.
Soon, Batman is beset by a circus strongman
(who dies of overstrain in the battle), an acrobatic team, and a "human
dynamo." After apprehending the ones who survive, Batman pays a visit
to Mrs. Judson Price. She tells him that her late husband, who was
the first detected "wire-head", had invited carnival performers to entertain
guests at a large party. There was also a disturbance at 3 A.M. that
night which Price had investigated. He returned and said that nothing
had happened. Batman, obtaining a list and some photos of the performers,
reasons that Millbrook had performed wire-head surgery on the carny performers
that night, and gave Price the same treatment when he found them out.
After initiating a police dragnet for the
remaining circus performers, Batman changes to Bruce Wayne and keeps a
disco date with a girl named Melanie. However, a magician, a fire-breather,
and a female knife-thrower instinctively recognize Bruce Wayne as the Batman
and try to kill him. Wayne becomes Batman and, with the help of a
vigilant Robin, captures the threesome. Batman is cleared of the
murder rap soon afterwards.
LIMITED COLLECTOR'S EDITION #C-59
1978
Cover Credits
Artist: Dick Giordano
Letterer:
FIRST REPRINTED STORY
"Red Water, Crimson Death" (from Brave and the Bold
#93)
SECOND REPRINTED STORY
"Night of the
Bat" (from Swamp Thing #7)
THIRD REPRINTED STORY
"The Batman
Nobody Knows" (from Batman #250)
FOURTH REPRINTED STORY
"The Demon of Gothos
Manor" (from Batman #227)
FIFTH REPRINTED STORY
"A Vow From the Grave" (from
Detective Comics #410)
Comment
This issue is edited by Joe Orlando and features a text page by Mike
W. Barr.
Batman Family No. 19
August-September 1978
Cover: Batman, Robin, and Batgirl vignettes; White Bat attacking Jedediah
Hawkins //Mike Kaluta
Story: “The Tomb of the White Bat” (20 pages)
Editor: Al Milgrom
Writer: Denny O’Neil
Penciller: Michael Golden
Inker: Craig Russell
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#157; next appears in DC SPECIAL SERIES #15)
Intro: Jedidiah Hawkins (in flashback), Harrison, High (all die in
this story), Sarah Jimson (in flashback), Chaik, Sacci, the White Bat (only
appearance for all)
Villains: An assassin (first appearance; dies in this story), Granny
Bleach, Zeb Bleach, Lem Bleach (first appearance for all; all next appear
in GREEN LANTERN #113)
Synopsis: In trying to protect an ambassador from assassination during
a mountain trip, Batman encounters a mysterious white vampire bat that
may be over 100 years old.
DC SPECIAL SERIES (BATMAN SPECTACULAR) #15
Summer 1978
Cover Credits
Artist: Marshall Rogers (signed)
Letterer:
FIRST STORY
"Hang the Batman" (30 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: Mike Nasser
Inker: Joe Rubinstein
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Cory Adams
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in Batman Family #19)
Supporting Characters
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in Batman Family #19; next appears in
WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #252)
Alfred Pennyworth (last seen in Batman Family #19)
Villains
Bucky Somoza and his gang, Sweetback Goss, Johnny Gee, Fast Eddie,
an unnamed hood, and Drungo and his mob (Swifty named in this story) (first
and only appearance for all to date)
Other Characters
Horace Hobson (first and only appearance to date)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Cameo appearance
Archer Beaumont (in flashback; first appearance; dies before this story
opens)
Synopsis
After mystery writer Archer Beaumont reportedly
commits suicide, Commissioner Gordon receives a note warning Batman to
find Beaumont's murderer within six days, or Beaumont himself will emerge
from the grave and hang Batman till he is dead. The note is signed
"(the late) Archer Beaumont," and, after Batman reads it, the words vanish
from the paper in a chemical reaction and are replaced by a stick-drawing
of a gallows, as in the children's game of "Hang the Butcher."
More "Hang the Batman" images turn up during
the next five days, on the headlight of the Batmobile, on the Gotham Gazette
building, on a painting, and along the semi-blacked-out streetlights of
Gotham. Batman realizes the stunts smack of the gimmicks Archer Beaumont
used in his fiction, and heads for the writer's mansion. There he
meets Horace Hobson, Beaumont's personal secretary. Hobson tells
Batman that Beaumont was found dead in a locked room, apparently committing
suicide with his own gun. Batman demonstrates how the real killer
forced Beaumont to open a window by pumping in choking gas, then killed
him and escaped. The fingerprints on the ventilation system identify
the murderer as Bucky Somoza, a gangster sent to jail after Hobson wrote
a novel based on Somoza's crime and revealing how he did it. Batman
captures Somoza and then gets Hobson to admit to staging the "Hang the
Batman" tricks in order to get Batman to solve the mystery for him.
Hobson admits that he was Beaumont's uncredited writing partner.
Batman offers to help him write a new novel based on the murder of Archer
Beaumont.
SECOND STORY
"I Now Pronounce You Batman and Wife" (20 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Denny O'Neil
Penciller: Michael Golden
Inker: Dick Giordano
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Cory Adams
Feature Character
Batman
Supporting Character
Alfred Pennyworth
Villains
Ra's Al Ghul, Talia (both last seen in Batman #294; both next appear
in Detective Comics #485)
Brotherhood of the Demon (last seen in Detective Comics #448; next
appear in Brave and the Bold #159)
Lurk (first appearance; next appears in DETECTIVE COMICS #490)
Professor Vasco Markewitch (first appearance; next appears in Batman
Annual #9)
Snazzy Trope (first and only appearance to date)
Other Characters
Barry Dark (last seen in Batman Family #18; next appears in Detective
Comics #569)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Synopsis
Batman runs down small-time crook Snazzy Trope
changing bulbs on a streetlight, braces him, and learns that Trope has
been hired to do so by an unknown party. Returning to the Batcave,
Batman is felled by knockout gas planted in a punching bag. He awakens
to find himself on a tanker ship, with Ra's Al Ghul pronouncing him married
to his daughter Talia. After introducing Batman to his allies Lurk
and Prof. Vasco Markewitch, Ra's admits that the marriage is not legal
in the United States, but locks Batman and Talia in a stateroom so that,
hopefully, they will consummate the marriage. Regretfully, Batman
slugs Talia unconscious and picks his way to freedom with a dinner fork.
Batman steals a helicopter and escapes the
ship. Ra's puts his latest plan into motion, using the phony streetlights
to emit gas that anesthetizes Gotham's population and cuts off electronic
communication with the outside world. The Demon Brotherhood, in gas
masks, steal loads of diamonds from the gem district, to be used in Markewich's
matter / energy experiments. Batman, also gas-masked, intervenes
and knocks the diamonds away from Ra's as he is preparing to board the
tanker with his men. Batman gets shot in the arm. Talia grabs
the gun away and forces her father and Markewitch to board the ship, saving
Batman. She then follows her father, returning to their headquarters
and leaving the Batman's life again.
THIRD STORY
"Death Strikes at Midnight and Three"
(15 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Denny O'Neil
Artist: Marshall Rogers
Letterer: ? and mechanical
Colorist:
Feature Character
Batman (next appears in World's Finest Comics #252)
Supporting Character
Alfred Pennyworth (next appears in Brave and the Bold #142)
Villains
Milo Lewes (first and only appearance to date)
An unnamed murderer, Benny, Gimp Malone, and Boilerplate Thomas (first
and only appearance for all to date)
Other Characters
Bernie Sorrel (first appearance; dies in this story)
Anthony Toombs (first and only appearance to date)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Cameo appearances
Buster Keaton and Marian Mack (on a poster for The General)
Comments
This story is presented in text form with
illustrations.
Shortly after this story Batman teams with Superman to battle the Whisperer
in World's Finest Comics #252, then teams with Aquaman and the Creeper
to capture Monty Walcott in Brave and the Bold #142 and 143.
Synopsis
Special prosecutor Bernie Sorrel is poisoned
at a dinner he shares with Bruce Wayne, but manages to gasp out that he
would get evidence he needed to put away the Milo Lewes drug ring from
a blind man at midnight and three. Batman captures the phony
waiter who poisoned Sorrel, but only learns that he was paid by Lewes.
From his crime-computer files at the Batcave, Batman identifies the blind
man as Anthony Toombs, Lewes's accountant, a man with total recall.
Toombs has recently learned that Lewes himself accidentally blinded him,
and now he seeks revenge.
Visiting Lewes, Batman learns that the drug
czar has planted evidence on the murderer of Sorrel that will indicate
a rival mobster set up the kill. However, he hears from one of Lewes's
hoods that two hitmen have sighted Toombs and will kill him at midight
and three. Batman discovers Toombs and the gunsels at a movie theater
showing Buster Keaton's silent classic, The General. He rescues Toombs
and captures Lewes before the latter can escape in his private plane, brining
the drug kingpin to ground at last.
BATMAN #303
September 1978
Cover Credits
Artist: Jim Aparo (signed)
Letterer:
FIRST STORY
"Batman's Great Identity
Switch" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Dick Giordano
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in Brave and the Bold #143)
Supporting Characters
Alfred Pennyworth (last seen in Brave and the Bold #142; next appears
in second story of next issue)
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in Brave and the Bold #143; next appears
in Batman Family #20)
Villains
The Dodo Man (first and only appearance to date)
Big Max Wedge and various Gotham crooks (first and only appearance
for all to date)
Other Characters
An unnamed doctor (as a voice on the telephone; first and only appearance
to date)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comments
This story confirms Alfred's full name as Alfred Thaddeus Crane Pennyworth.
With this issue, the page count increases to 40 pages.
Synopsis
Batman is struck on the head by a rock while
fighting the Dodo Man, a crook with a psychotic urge to steal anything
related to dodos, in the Museum of Natural History. The blow reverses
his identity-switching impulse, so that he battles criminals as Bruce Wayne
and appears in civilian life as Batman. He cannot understand the
commotion he raises by doing so. Alfred consults his doctor and learns
that the cure may be placing Batman back where he was hit by the rock.
Thus, he places a bat-transmitter bug in the Natural History Museum under
a stuffed dodo's wing. When Bruce Wayne tracks it down, his reversed-identity
impulse is corrected and he dons his Batman uniform. As Batman, he
intercepts the Dodo Man trying to steal the stuffed dodo, and captures
him.
SECOND STORY
"If Justice Be Served" (8 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Denny O'Neil
Penciller: Michael Golden
Inker: Jack Abel
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Characters
Batman (also appears in flashback, which takes place between World's
Finest Comics #248 and Brave and the Bold #139)
Supporting Character
Commissioner Gordon (in flashback; last chronological appearance in
BATMAN FAMILY #15; next chronological appearance in Brave and the Bold
#139)
Villain
Marty Rail (in flashback; first appearance; dies in this story)
Other Characters
Angus and Buzzy McKame (in flashbakc; first appearance for both; both
die in this story)
Citizens and police of Gotham City (in flashback)
Comment
This is the first "Unsolved Cases of the Batman" story. The flashback
portion on pages 2-8 takes place in July, 1977.
Synopsis
Angus McKame dies of a heart attack while
playing tennis with Bruce Wayne. Bruce becomes the Batman to check
out the apartment where McKame was rumored to have stashed his riches in
a wall-safe, inexplicably in the worst part of town. Abruptly, he
has to save Marty Rail, a reporter for the yellow-journal Graphic, from
being caught by a seven-foot man. Only after he decks the giant does
Batman learn that he is Buzzy McKame, Angus's adopted son.
Batman learns from Angus McKame's maid that
Rail stole materials from McKame's wall safe, and a scrap of newspaper
which remains identifies McKame as a murderer from fifty years ago in Death
Valley, Arizona. Batman rushes to Rail's apartment to see Rail shoot
Buzzy, who was trying to recover the stolen papers. Buzzy, as a dying
act, pushes Rail out the window to his death. Batman notices that
Rail's briefcase has sprung open, and the papers incriminating Angus McKame
are wafting out to sea on the breeze. He resolves never to reveal
Angus McKame's crime, except in a file he commits to a time capsule.
BATMAN #304
October 1978
Cover Credits
Artist: Jim Aparo (signed)
Letterer:
FIRST STORY
"To Hell With
Batman--and Back" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Dick Giordano
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character
Batman
Villains
The Spook (last seen in issue #294; next appears in Detective Comics
#488)
The Spook's gang (Moke named in this story; first and only appearance
for all to date)
Diamond Jock Cafferty (first and only appearance to date)
Other Characters
Citizens of Gotham City
Synopsis
Diamond Jock Cafferty pays the Spook $50,000
to guarantee a safe setup of Batman for a murder attempt. The Spook
obligest by luring his nemesis into a trap, knocking him out, and dosing
his eyes with drops of a compound that distorts his vision and, melting,
releases a sedative drug into his bloodstream. Batman is then placed
in a special chamber filled with airholes, through which air pressure is
forced to keep him aloft on a cushion of air. Finally, the room is
filled with a pinkish mist, and illusions are projected onto it to make
Batman feel as though he had died and was reincarnated as a ghost.
Batman is then deposited on a pier in front of Cafferty, who shoots at
him. The hero gets hit in the shoulder and falls into Gotham Bay,
whose waters wipe the drug-lenses from his eyes. Batman is able to
reorient himself, overhearing from beneath the pier the Spook giving Cafferty
a documentary film of his shooting Batman and then slugging Cafferty, to
be found by the police. Batman trails the Spook back to his hideout,
defeats him and his gang, and learns what occurred to him from the Spook's
videotape of the event.
SECOND STORY
"The Amazing Secret of Doctor
Dundee" (8 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: Win Mortimer
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Clem Robins
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character
Batman (also appears in flashbacks, as noted in Comments section; next
appears in Green Lantern (second series) #107)
Supporting Characters
Dr. Douglas William Dundee (first appearance; also appears in flashbacks;
next appears in Detective Comics #480)
Alfred Pennyworth (last appearance in first story of last issue; next
appears in Batman Family #20)
Villains
Hotfoot Harry Gelsey and his partner (first and only appearance to
date for both)
Other Characters
Dr. Dundee's nurse (first and only appearance to date)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Cameo appearances
Thomas Wayne (in flashback; between flashbacks in Detective Comics
#481 and 235)
Martha Wayne (in flashback; first chronological appearance; next chronological
appearance in flashback in Detective Comics #235)
Comments
This story contains several flashbacks to hitherto unchronicled episodes
in the Batman's life. They are chronologized as follows:
The birth of Bruce Wayne: Batman's first chronological appearance;
next appears in flashback in World's Finest Comics #146)
Bruce Wayne plays college football: between flashbacks in Untold
Legend of the Batman #1 and issue #96.
Dr. Dundee counsels Bruce Wayne at his parents' gravesite: between
flashback in Untold Legend of the Batman #1 and flashback in Detective
Comics #235, et al.
Batman reveals his secret identity to Dr. Dundee: between Detective
Comics #327 and World's Finest Comics #141.
Dr. Dundee tends Batman's wound: between Superman's Pal, Jimmy
Olsen #92 and Detective Comics #350.
Dr. Dundee and Alfred Pennyworth tend Batman after a whirly-bat crash:
between Justice League of America #113 and World's Finest Comics #225.
This story confirms that Dr. Thomas Wayne assisted Dr. Dundee in helping
Martha Wayne give birth to Bruce Wayne.
Shortly after this story Batman and other Justice League members are
"copied" by Replikon in Green Lantern (second series) #107.
Synopsis
Dr. Douglas William Dundee was the surgeon
that, with Thomas Wayne's help, aided Martha Wayne in giving birth to Bruce.
He remained Bruce Wayne's friend throughout his life, even after the death
of Bruce's parents. One day, Bruce Wayne revealed his greatest secret
to Dr. Dundee, telling him of his Batman identity, and hired him as the
Batman's personal doctor.
Now, while Bruce is receiving a checkup, two
crooks break in to Dundee's office and, at gunpoint, force the doctor to
remove a bullet from the arm of one of the two, who has blue-stained fingertips.
The two hoods leave, taking some of Dundee's drugs to sell on the street.
Bruce realizes that the gangster's fingers were stained blue from pool
cue chalk. He tracks the hood to a local pool hall as Batman, discovers
his identity, and disguises himself as Dr. Dundee. Then, taking the
two crooks unawares, he kayoes them both and has them picked up by the
police. When Dundee protests to Batman that "his" heroic action has
brought him too much publicity, Batman replies that Dundee's new "reputation"
will keep other crooks from trying to rob him in the future.
Batman Family No. 20
October-November 1978
Cover: Man-Bat, Robin, Batgirl, Ragman, and Batman vs. crooks //Jim
Starlin (signed)
Story: “Enter the Ragman” (19 pages)
Editor: Al Milgrom
Writer: David V. Reed
Penciller: Michael Golden
Inker: Bob Smith
Letterer: Jean Simek
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in GREEN LANTERN (2nd series)
#107; next appears in Man-Bat story in this issue)
GS: Ragman (last appearance in RAGMAN #5; next appears in BRAVE AND
THE BOLD #196; origin retold in this story)
Supporting Characters: Commissioner Gordon (between BATMAN #303 / 305),
Alfred Pennyworth (between BATMAN #304 / 305), Bette Berg (last appearance
in RAGMAN #5; next appears in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #196)
Villains: The Gotham Associates Realty Corporation and their thugs
(including Willie and Blinky; only appearance for all)
Comment: Shortly after this story Batman teams with Man-Bat to fight
a gang of terrorists in the Man-Bat story in this issue, then teams with
Superman to combat General Lazlo in World's Finest Comics #253, then teams
with Green Arrow to fight the Gargoyle in Brave and the Bold #144.
Synopsis: Batman finds himself teamed with the Ragman to combat a gang
of blockbusting crooked realtors who threaten to dispossess everyone in
Rory Regan’s neighborhood.
BATMAN #305
November 1978
Cover Credits
Artist: Jim Aparo
Letterer:
FIRST STORY
"Death-Gamble of a Darknight Detective"
(17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Dave Hunt
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in Brave and the Bold #144; next appears in Justice
League of America #159)
Supporting Characters
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in BATMAN FAMILY #20; next appears in
Brave and the Bold #145)
Alfred Pennyworth (last seen in Batman Family #20; next appears in
Detective Comics #480)
Guest Star
Fireman Fred Farrell (last seen in Showcase #100; next appears in Crisis
on Infinite Earths #7)
Villains
Thanatos (Sophia Santos; first and only appearance to date)
The Death's-Head (first and only appearance for all to date)
Amos Fortune (last seen in Justice League of America #151; next appears
in Superman #346)
Other Characters
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comments
This story takes place two months after Justice League of America #154.
Shortly after this story Batman joins the Justice League and Justice
Society to deal with the Lord of Time and five time-lost heroes in Justice
League of America #159 and 160.
Synopsis
When the Death's-Head terrorist gang and Thanatos,
their masked and costumed leader, stage a downtown bombing in Gotham, Batman
attacks them but is defeated by a hurled grenade. Commissioner Gordon
tells Batman that the Death's-Head has staged ten bombings in ten weeks.
Lina Muller, a lady journalist, says the group seeks the destruction of
Batman and all other symbols of capitalist politicial order.
She also believes that the group will lie low for a while, to regroup and
plan.
Lina Muller is Bruce Wayne's guest as they
visit the Gotham Skyscraper on Gotham Isle, a former base for Dr. Destiny.
It has since been converted to a legal gamblin casino for a month with
the city the beneficiary. Bruce notes that six millionaires who have
recently visited the casino have made business blunders that cost them
their fortunes. While gambling, Bruce is subjected to a strange device,
the "Fortu-Tron," which causes him to lose his good judgement and gamble
away $1,000. Batman later captures Prof. Amos Fortune, who had designed
the Fortu-Tron and taken over the casino for his own ends. However,
Batman takes so many unnecessary risks that he is almost killed.
Fortune tells him that the Fortu-Tron treatment lasts a week.
Later, Batman issues a challenge to the Death's-Head,
daring them to meet him on Gotham Isle at midnight. He tells them
he will fight without weapons. They take him up on it, and he defeats
them all. Thanatos is unmasked as Sophia Santos, aka "Lina Muller".
When Gordon asks him how he got over his gambling fever, Batman replies
that he hasn't yet, he only "stacked the deck...in my favor!"
SECOND STORY
"With This Ring,
Find Me Dead" (8 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Bob Rozakis
Penciller: Don Newton
Inker: Dave Hunt
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in first story of next issue; next appears in second
story of next issue)
Supporting Characters
Alfred Pennyworth (last seen in first story of next issue; next appears
in second story of next issue)
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in first story of next issue; next appears
in issue #307)
Villain
Jeff Richter (first appearance; named and next appears in second story
of next issue)
Other Characters
"Jane Doe" (first appearance; dies before this story opens)
Jeremy Parkins, Dave and Martha Carter, and Tom and his friends (first
and only appearance for all to date)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comments
This is the second "Unsolved Case of the Batman" and is continued in
the second story of next issue.
Synopsis
Commissioner Gordon calls in Batman when a
wedding ring found on the finger of an unidentified female corpse on a
Gotham street bears the inscription, "To my darling wife. Love,
the Batman." No record of the woman's fingerprints turns up, but
Batman analyses the ring, and finds materials on it that pinpoint its origin
to a town on the coast of Maine. He goes there in disguise to inquire
about the ring from a local jeweler, but has to fight off locals who assume
the ring came from Martha Carter, a citizen of their town, and that he
killed her to get it. The fight ends when Martha Carter walks in
with her husband.
Batman returns home and switches to civilian
garb, briefing Alfred on what has happened. But an intruder enters,
having somehow breached the security system. He brandishes three
photos taken by an X-ray device, showing Bruce Wayne in his Batman costume
during the Maine brawl, and says that he has other evidence linking the
Batman to Wayne. He admits to murdering the woman, but declares that
if Batman brings him in, it will be the end of Batman's career.
Detective Comics No. 480
November-December 1978
Cover: Gork and beaten Batman; Hawkman vignette //Jim Aparo (signed)
Story: “The Perfect Fighting Machine” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Denny O’Neil
Penciller: Don Newton
Inker: Dave Hunt
Letterer: Karisha
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Batman (between JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #160 /
210)
Supporting Character: Alfred Pennyworth (between BATMAN #305 (1) /
306 (1), Dr. Douglas Dundee (between BATMAN #304 / 312)
Villains: The Gork (Tub), Ivan Angst (first appearance for both; both
die in this story), Mercenaries, Inc. (first and only appearance), Dr.
Moon (last appearance in RICHARD DRAGON, KUNG FU FIGHTER #7; next appears
in WONDER WOMAN #287)
Comment: Shortly after this story Batman helps the Justice League fight
the Treasurers and the War-Kohn in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #210-212,
then teams with the Phantom Stranger to battle Kaluu in Brave and the Bold
#145.
Synopsis: A criminal employs Dr. Moon to transform a flabby, unloved
man into a “perfect fighting machine” called the Gork, and sends him against
an ailing Batman.
BATMAN #306
December 1978
Cover Credits
Artist: Jim Aparo (signed)
Letterer:
FIRST STORY
"Night of Siege" (15 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Dave Hunt
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in Brave and the Bold #145; next appears in second
story of last issue)
Supporting Characters
Alfred Pennyworth (last seen in Detective comics #480; next appears
in second story of last issue)
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in Brave and the Bold #145; next appears
in second story of last issue)
Villains
Black Spider (last seen in Detective Comics #464; next appears in Detective
Comics #526)
Hannibal Hardwicke and his aide, and Bert and his gang of dope smugglers
(first and only appearance to date for all)
Other Characters
Gelman and Sgt. Finley (first and only appearance for both to date)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Cameo appearances
An unnamed doctor (in flashback; first and only appearance to date)
"Doc" Sugarman (in flashback)
Comment
The page count returns to 32 pages with this issue.
Synopsis
The Black Spider, an ex-junkie costumed vigilante
out to murder all pushers in Gotham, tries to kill big-time dope dealer
Hannibal Hardwicke. Batman intervenes to save Hardwicke for his trial.
After the Spider makes two tries and is beaten back, Batman takes Hardwicke
to Bruce Wayne's penthouse apartment for safekeeping and settles down as
the Black Spider lays siege.
The Black Spider battles past Batman into
the apartment, but Batman blocks him again, and learns that the Spider
survived the explosion during their last encounter by staggering to a free
clinic run by an old friend. The Spider is eventually felled by the
sleep-gas with which Batman has flooded the apartment, having protected
himself with nose-filters. Alfred reports that Hardwicke has admitted
to being the Black Spider's financier, hoping to eliminate competiton through
the vigilante, who turned upon his "creator" in the end.
SECOND STORY
"The Mystery Murderer of 'Mrs.
Batman'" (8 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Bob Rozakis
Penciller: Don Newton
Inker: Dave Hunt
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in second story of last issue; next appears in first
story of Detective Comics #481)
Supporting Character
Alfred Pennyworth (last seen in second story of last issue; next appears
in DETECTIVE COMICS #481 (1))
Villain
Jeff Richter (last seen in second story of last issue; dies in this
story)
Other characters
Citizens of Gotham City
Comments
This story continues from the second story of last issue.
Synopsis
Jeff Richter admits that the rest of his evidence
revealing that Bruce Wayne is Batman is "buried" elsewhere to stop Batman
interfering with his operations. Bruce switches to his Batman uniform
to try to stop his antagonist, but a freezing gas in Richter's suit immobilizes
Batman and Alfred, and Richter escapes. Batman later checks out Richter's
fingerprints, only to learn that each finger bears the print of a different
wanted criminal. But Richter's speaking voice betrays him as a professional
actor, and a search of Gotham media pinpoints him and reveals his identity.
Batman shadows richter and learns that he
assumes a different disguise every night to visit various slum areas.
Much later, he realizes that Richter is killing slum dwellers with a plague
he spreads from a sprayer in his cane, hoping to start a panic and extort
money from the city. Batman confronts Richter and accidentally damages
his cane, so that Richter looses the plague on himself and dies.
Afterward, Batman tells Alfred that Richter's
evidence of his double identity was buried in the grave of "Jane Doe."
But her true identity will remain unknown.
Detective Comics No. 481
December 1978 / January 1979
Cover: Batman, Robin and Raven, Batgirl in China, Man-Bat (six vignettes)
//Jim Starlin (signed)
Story: “Ticket To Tragedy” (17 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Denny O’Neil
Artist: Marshall Rogers
Letterer: Mike Stevens
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in BATMAN #306 (2); next
appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #254)
Supporting Character: Alfred Pennyworth (between BATMAN #306 (2) /
307)
Intro: Henry Frome (dies in this story), Sir Basil Smythe, Bart and
his partner (only appearance for all)
Villains: Milt Solo, Greeny Velvet (first and only appearance for both)
Comment: Shortly after this story Batman teams with Superman
to combat Sinestro and "Doc" Willard in World's Finest Comics #254.
Synopsis: Batman must race against time to discover the identity of
a murderer and capture him in order to convince a disillusioned surgeon
not to burn his notes for a new medical technique.
BATMAN #307
January 1979
Cover Credits
Artist: Jim Aparo (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"Dark
Messenger of Mercy" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Dick Giordano
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in World's Finest Comics #254; next appears in Brave
and the Bold #147)
Supporting Characters
Alfred Pennyworth (last appearance in DETECTIVE COMICS #481 (1); next
appears in Brave and the Bold #147)
Commissioner Gordon (last chronological appearance in second story
of issue #305; next appears in Brave and the Bold #147)
Lucius Fox (first appearance; last chronological appearance in flashback
in Untold Legend of the Batman #3)
Villains
Limehouse Jack (Quentin Conroy; first and only appearance to date)
Gregorian Falstaff (no appearance; name only mentioned; first appearance;
next appears, behind the scenes, in issue #310)
Other Characters
The Ballerina (first appearance; dies in this story)
Shamrock (first appearance; next appears in issue #322)
Slugger, Poet, and Good Queen Bess (first appearance for all; all next
appear in Untold Legend of the Batman #3)
Eager Edith, Squirrel Kominsky, and other Gotham street dwellers (first
and only appearance to date for all)
John Francis "Limehouse Jack" Conroy (no appearance; name only mentioned;
possibly dies before this story opens)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comments
Shortly after this story Batman teams with Supergirl to fight Dr. Light
in Brave and the Bold #147, battles Xavier Simon in Detective Comics #481
and 482, consults with Commissioner Gordon in Detective Comics #482,.
Synopsis
A bag lady in a subway is murdered by poisoned
gold coins laid on her eyes by a mysterious "benefactor" who kills her
to release her from her squalid existence. Batman learns from Quentin
Conroy, who files a complaint with Commissioner Gordon, that the coins
have been stolen from his late father's priceless collection. Batman
prowls the Gotham streets to look for the killer and finds a band of homeless
people, led by Shamrock, a friend of the murder victim. During the
visit he saves one of their number from being slain by the coin-killer,
whom they recognize as John Francis Conroy, aka "Limehouse Jack", but the
killer escapes. The street people tell Batman that Conroy disappeared
from their group fifteen years ago.
Batman confronts Quentin Conroy and learns
that Limehouse Jack was his father. The elder Conroy succumbed to
job pressure, left his family, and took to the streets. Though Conroy
claims his father is dead, Batman is not so sure. Later, masquerading
as a panhandler, Batman traps and battles Limehouse Jack with the help
of the street dwellers. Limehouse Jack proves to be Quentin Conroy,
whose motivation was to "give (the street dwellers) peace!" Later,
after Conroy is taken in, Batman tells Gordon that Conroy's shoe soles
gave him away. One heel was worn away more than the other, and, though
Conroy did not limp, "Limehouse Jack" certainly did.
Detective Comics No.481
December 1978 / January 1979
Story: “Murder In the Night” (16 pages)
Editor: Al Milgrom
Writer, penciller: Jim Starlin
Inker: P. Craig Russell
Letterer: Karisha
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #147;
also appears in flashback; see Comment under issue #81 for chronology;
origin details revealed)
Supporting Characters: Thomas Wayne (origin details revealed; in flashback;
see Comment under issue #81 for chronology), Commissioner Gordon (last
appearance in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #147)
Intro: Ronald Thursgood, Ramsey Larken, Bruno Clark, Prof. Zamier (all
die before this story begins)
Villain: Xavier Simon (first appearance; transfers his mind into the
body of an ape)
Comment: Story continues in next issue.
Synopsis: Xavier Simon, an old member of Thomas Wayne’s outfit in the
first World War, seeks revenge on Wayne and the other three men who testified
against him in a rape trial. By transferring his mind into the body
of an ape, he gains the strength to murder the three surviving ex-soldiers.
Then he seeks to destroy Wayne’s son, whom he has deduced to be the Batman.
Detective Comics No. 482
February-March 1979
Cover: Batman and Xavier Simon (in ape’s body); vignettes of Batgirl,
Robin, Demon, and Bat-Mite //Dick Giordano
Story: “Night of the Body Snatcher” (20 pages)
Editor: Al Milgrom
Writer, penciller: Jim Starlin
Inker: P. Craig Russell
Letterer: Karisha
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Batman (next appears in Batgirl story in this issue)
Supporting Character: Commissioner Gordon (next appears in Batgirl
story in this issue)
Cameo appearances: Thomas Wayne, Ronald Thursgood, Ramsey Larken, Bruno
Clark
Villain: Xavier Simon (dies in this story)
Comment: Story continues from last issue.
Shortly after this story Batman consults with Commissioner Gordon
in the Batgirl story in this issue, helps the Justice League induct Zatanna
and fight the Warlock of Ys in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #161, the Shark
in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #162, Anton Allegro and the Hidden Ones in
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #163-165, and the Secret Society of Super-Villains
in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #166-168, then teams with Superman to fight
Gitchka in World's Finest Comics #255.
Synopsis: Overpowered by the ape-body of Xavier Simon, Batman must
find a way to prevent Simon from transferring his mind into the Caped Crusader’s
body.
BATMAN #308
February 1979
Cover Credits
Artist: Jim Aparo
Letterer:
STORY
"There'll Be a Cold Time in the Old Town Tonight"
(23 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Dick Giordano
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #255; next appears in Brave
and the Bold #148)
Supporting Characters
Lucius Fox (next appears in issue #310)
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in Batgirl story in Detective Comics
#482; next appears in Brave and the Bold #148)
Tiffany Fox (Lucius Fox's daughter; first appearance; next appears
in issue #313)
Guest Star
Selina Kyle (Catwoman; last seen in Batman Family #17; next appears
in issue #310)
Villains
Mr. Freeze (last seen in issue #294; next appears in World's Finest
Comics #275)
Hildy (first and only appearance to date)
The Cold Pack (John McVee and two unnamed victims; first and only appearance
for all to date)
Blockbuster (revealed in next issue; last seen in Justice League of
America #168)
Other Characters
Jacob Riker (first and only appearance to date)
Frank and other workers at S.T.A.R. labs (last seen in ?; next appear
in ?)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comments
This story probably takes place in mid-to-late December, 1978, most
likely on the 18th through the 20th.
Shortly after this story Batman teams with Plastic Man to combat Big
Jack Doyle in Brave and the Bold #148.
Synopsis
Bruce Wayne meets with a reformed Selina Kyle,
the Catwoman, who wants to invest money in Wayne Enterprises, and with
Lucius Fox's daughter Tiffany, who runs Wayne Enterprises' ghetto drug-rehabilitation
program. Then, as Batman, he answers a bat-signal summons and is
shown the frozen body of financier Jacob Riker, iced for betraying Mr.
Freeze.
At the same time, another millionaire, John
McVee, undergoes one of Mr. Freeze's cryogenic treatments, hoping to have
his body temperature lowered, his aging processes slowed, and his lifespan
greatly increased. But, as with his other subjects, Freeze finds
the treatment does not quite work. McVee's body survives, but his
brain cells remain frozen. He has become a living zombie, and is
added to Freeze's servile "Cold Pack." Freeze promises his girlfriend
Hildy that, once the process is perfected, she will receive the treatment.
She secretly plans to kill him after he does so.
Batman tracks down Freeze in his headquarters,
but is overcome by the Cold Pack and given the freeze-treatment.
However, he has ripped out enough power cables beforehand to ensure that
he does not get the full-power treatment, and emerges unscathed.
Batman shatters Freeze's command-helmet and knocks him down, severing the
regulating cable of his cold-gun in the process. Hildy grabs the
gun and fires at them, but the weapon backfires and she is encased in solid
ice.
Elsewhere, S.T.A.R. scientists bury the Blockbuster,
thinking they have killed him with a radiation treatment intended to normalize
him. But after they leave, huge hands break the surface of the grave.
BATMAN #309
March 1979
Cover Credits
Artist: Jim Aparo (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas"
(17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Characters
Batman (last seen in Brave and the Bold #148; next appears in flashback
in Detective Comics #498)
Supporting Character
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in Brave and the Bold #148; next appers
in flashback in Detective Comics #498)
Villains
The Blockbuster (next appears in flashback in Detective Comics #498)
Joey and his gang of muggers (first and only appearance for all to
date)
Other Characters
Kathy Crawford (first and only appearance to date)
Sgt. Lansky, O'Brien, and a street-corner Santa Claus (first and only
appearance for all to date)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comments
This story takes place December 24-25, 1978, continues from Brave and
the Bold #148, and continues into a December 31, 1978 flashback in Detective
Comics #498.
Shortly after this story Batman teams with the Teen Titans to battle
the Runaways in Brave and the Bold #149, and consults with Superman in
DC Comics Presents #8.
This is Julius Schwartz's last-edited issue of Batman.
Synopsis
Kathy Crawford, a depressed, out-of-work woman
in Gotham City, is robbed of her purse by a street gang on Christmas Eve.
The gang is soon totally clobbered by Blockbuster, who grabs the purse
and lumbers off to find Kathy. Kathy herself, in a fit of suicidal
depression, overdoses on sleeping pills and calls the police to say goodbye.
Batman, delivering a gift to Commissioner
Gordon, learns of the suicide attempt by listening in on a desk sergeant's
conversation with Kathy. He fails to talk her out of her rash action
and she terminates the call. But a tracer has been put on the call,
and Batman heads out in search of Kathy Crawford.
Blockbuster bursts into Kathy's shabby apartment
with her purse just as she collapses. Unsure of what to do, he carries
her out into the snowy night. Batman arrives minutes later, trails
the Blockbuster's huge footprints in the snow, and confronts him, mistaking
his intentions towards Kathy. The Blockbuster knocks Batman out and
tries to give Kathy to a street-corner Santa, but is frightened off by
a police siren. Batman and Blockbuster have a final encounter on
the icebound Gotham River, but the impact of Blockbuster's huge fists hitting
the ice breaks off a floe containing Kathy and sends it downriver.
Blockbuster leaps to the floe and throws Kathy into Batman's arms just
as the ice breaks up beneath him, plunging him into the freezing waters.
Batman gives Kathy to ambulance attendance,
noting that she had not taken a fatal dose of pills. Kathy, touched
that Blockbuster thought her worth saving, vows not to try suicide again.
When she asks what his name was, Batman tells her to call him "the spirit
of Christmas Yet-to-be!"
BATMAN #310
April 1979
Cover Credits
Artist: Joe Kubert (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"The Ghost Who Haunted Batman" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Irv Novick
Inker: Dick Giordano
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character
Batman (last appearance as a voice in DC Comics Presents #8; next appears
in Detective Comics #483)
Supporting Characters
Lucius Fox (last seen in issue #308; next appears in issue #312)
Gwen (last seen in Brave and the Bold #144; next appears in issue #314)
Alfred Pennyworth (last seen in Brave and the Bold #147; next appears
in second Batman story in Detective Comics #483)
Guest Appearance
Selina Kyle (Catwoman; last seen in issue #308; next appears in issue
#313)
Villains
The Gentleman Ghost (last seen in Justice League of America #128; next
appears in issue #319)
The Gentleman Ghost's gang (Reggie named in this story; first and only
appearance for all to date)
Gregorian Falstaff (behind the scenes; last appearance in issue #307;
next appearance in issue #314)
Other Characters
Elwood (first and only appearance to date)
Citizens of Gotham City
Comments
In this story, Batman searches for Alfred while wearing a disguise
that resembles Alfred's original fat and mustacheless appearance.
Synopsis
Batman encounters the Gentleman Ghost and
his gang robbing the Riverside Museum, but cannot stop them from escaping
with two solid gold lanterns which once hung in front of Wayne Manor.
He returns to Bruce Wayne's penthouse and finds Alfred mysteriously gone.
The butler fails to turn up during the next day and cannot be found, so
Batman assumes a disguise and checks out Ye Pipe and Hearth, an English-style
pub frequented by Alfred. One of its denizens recalls seeing Alfred
leave with a "toff." When Batman returns to the penthouse, he finds
Alfred, the Ghost, and the gang stealing an antique chair. Alfred
refers to the Ghost as his "master" and clubs Batman unconscious with a
lamp.
Awakening some time later, Batman suddenly
realizes the reason for the Ghost's bizarre thefts. The Ghost is
currently living in Wayne Manor, and is restoring its old effects, having
heard Alfred bragging in the pub of its atmosphere and deserted condition.
Alfred himself is under the Ghost's mental domination. Batman confronts
the Ghost in the manor, and the villain tosses Alfred a flintlock pistol
and, as a test, tells him to shoot Batman. The butler is unable
to do so, and is freed from the Ghost's spell. Batman chases the
Ghost outside onto a horse-and-carriage, which is sent careening off a
cliff. Batman jumps before the coach falls. Investigating the
wreck, he finds only the Ghost's fallen hat in the debris, and hears ghostly
laughter mocking him from afar.
Detective Comics No. 483
April-May 1979
Cover: Joe Chill killing Thomas Wayne in front of Bruce Wayne and Martha
Wayne; Batman fighting crook in front of Leslie Thompkins //Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
(signed)
Story: “The Curse of Crime Alley” (16 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Denny O’Neil
Penciller: Don Newton
Inker: Dan Adkins
Letterer: Todd Klein
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in BATMAN #310; origin retold
in this story)
Supporting Character: Leslie Thompkins (last appearance in issue #457;
next appears in BATMAN SPECIAL #1)
Intro: Long John Logan (only appearance)
Cameo appearances: Martha Wayne, Thomas Wayne, Joe Chill (all in flashback)
Villains: Maxie Zeus (first appearance; next appears in issue #?) and
his gang, the Barsky twins, various crooks (first and only appearance for
all)
Synopsis: Batman returns to Crime Alley once again on the anniversary of his parents’ death, and ends up saving Leslie Thompkins and a gangland target from the wrath of Maxie Zeus.
Story: “Gotham’s Great Kangaroo Race” (8 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Denny O’Neil
Penciller: Dick Dillin
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Letterer: Mike Stevens
Colorist: Gene D’Angelo
Feature Character: Batman (next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #256)
Supporting Characters: Commissioner Gordon (between BRAVE AND THE BOLD
#149 / 150), Alfred Pennyworth (last appearance in BATMAN #310; next appearance
in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #150)
Intro: Juan, Marge (only appearance for both)
Villains: Swagman Ginty, Harrison Juke (first and only appearance for
both)
Comment: Shortly after this story, Batman teams with Superman
to fight Lar-On in World's Finest Comics #256 and the Battalion of Doom
in Brave and the Bold #150.
Synopsis: Bruce Wayne smokes out an illegal arms buyer with a kangaroo
race in Gotham, then captures the crook and his supplier as Batman.
BATMAN #311
May 1979
Cover Credits
Artist: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"Dr. Phosphorus Is Back" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Irv Novick
Inker: Dick Giordano
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character
Batman (between Brave and the Bold #150 and 151)
Supporting Character
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in Brave and the Bold #150; next appears
in the Batgirl story in Detective Comics #484)
Guest Star
Batgirl (between Detective Comics #483 and 484)
Villains
Dr. Phosphorus (last seen in Detective Comics #470; next appears in
Crisis on Infinite Earths #9)
Rupert "Boss" Thorne (last seen in Detective Comics #477; next appears
in Detective Comics #507)
Killer Moth (last seen in Secret Society of Super-Villains story in
Cancelled Comic Cavalcade #2; next appears in Batgirl story in Detective
Comics #486)
Other Characters
Peter Curtis, Teddy, James, other protestors, and a doctor at Arkham
Asylum (first and only appearance for all to date)
Norman, Richmond, Mr. Gardner, and other U.S. Congressmen (first and
only appearance for all to date)
Police of Washington, D.C.
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comment
Shortly after this story Batman teams with the Flash to battle Jack
Dawes in Brave and the Bold #151.
Synopsis
After the twice-rebuilt Gotham Nuclear Reactor
goes critical for ten minutes, Batman investigates, finds glowing footprints
at the site, and deduces that Dr. Phosphorus is back. A group of
protestors has gathered to demand that the plant be shut down as a safety
hazard. Phosphorus, who has made the plant his new home, thinks otherwise.
Meanwhile, Batgirl defeats Killer Moth in
Washington, D.C., and comes to Gotham as Congresswoman Barbara Gordon to
make a speech advocating the closing of the nuclear plant and the dismantlement
of the nuclear power industry. Batman meets with her after checking
on Rupert "Boss" Thorne at Arkham Asylum and failing to capture Dr. Phosphorus,
who threatens to "reign over all!" Batman abruptly realizes that
Phosphorus intends to seed clouds with irradiated material and rain fire
on Gotham City. He and Batgirl track down Phosphorus at the airport
where he is trying to commandeer a small plane. Batman smashes into
the plane with his Batmobile and halts it, but is dazed. Batgirl
is menaced by Phosphorus, but captures him by wrapping him up in Batman's
radiation-proof cape and tying it up with a Batrope. Batman revives
and finds the situation well in hand.
Detective Comics No. 484
June-July 1979
Cover: Batman, Robin, Batgirl, and Commissioner Gordon //Ross Andru
/ Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “Assault On Olympus” (16 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Denny O’Neil
Penciller: Don Newton
Inker: Dan Adkins
Letterer: Gaspar Saladino
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #151)
Villains: Maxie Zeus (next appears in issue #486) and his gang (first
and only appearance)
Synopsis: Batman runs a gauntlet of deathtraps in an effort to capture
gangboss Maxie Zeus.
Story: “The Galileo Solution” (8 pages)
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Writer: Denny O’Neil
Penciller: John Calnan
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Letterer: Todd Klein
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: Batman (next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #257)
Supporting Character: Alfred Pennyworth (between BRAVE AND THE BOLD
#151 / 152)
Intro: Mike (dies in this story)
Villain: Prof. Higley (first and only appearance; in flashback)
Comment: Shortly after this story Batman teams with Superman to deal
with Maudy and Fred in World's Finest Comics #257, teams with the Atom
to fight Howard Trask in Brave and the Bold #152, and teams with the Red
Tornado to combat Dr. Tarre in Brave and the Bold #153.
Synopsis: Batman recounts a recent case in which a professor discovered
a formula for the Universal Solvent, and accidentally killed a museum guard
with it.
BATMAN #312
June 1979
Cover Credits
Artists: Walt Simonson and Dick Giordano (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"A Caper a Day Keeps the Batman Away"
(17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Walt Simonson
Inker: Dick Giordano
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in Brave and the Bold #153)
Supporting Characters
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in Brave and the Bold #153)
Alfred Pennyworth (last seen in Brave and the Bold #153; next appears
in DETECTIVE COMICS #485)
Dr. Douglas Dundee (last seen in Detective Comics #480; next appears
in issue #322)
Lucius Fox (last seen in issue #310)
Villains
The Calendar Man (last seen in Detective Comics #259; next appears
in issue #384; first uses his standard red-and-white costume, as well as
other costumes, in this story)
Two-Face (last seen in Green Lantern (second series) #117)
Specs and Twain (first appearance for both; Twain named in next issue;
Twain's hair miscolored in this story)
Other Characters
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comment
This story is continued in the next issue.
Synopsis
The Calendar Man is back in Gotham and committing
one grand robbery a day for a week, with a new costume to symbolize what
mythical god or planet for which the particular day of the week was named.
On Monday, he dresses in a moonman outfit and steals handfuls of postage
stamps cancelled by astronauts on the moon. On Tuesday, as Tiw, god
of war, he robs Ulysses S. Grant's Civil War medals from a military museum.
On Wednesday he robs another museum as Woden (or Odin), riding an eight-wheeled
cycle to symbolize Woden's eight-legged steed Sleipnir, and uses a laser-blast
lens over one eye to blast Batman's Whirly-Bat out of the sky. On
Thursday, dressed as Thor, the Calendar Man steals a painting entitled
The Storm King and damages Batman's inner ear with a sonic "thunder" blast.
While Batman rests up, the Calendar Man spends Friday, named for the wedding-goddess
Frigga, robbing a wedding reception, and steals the money from an ecology
benefit on Saturday,dressed as Saturn, god of agriculture. On Sunday,
a day of rest, the Calendar Man plans to take the Sun Express and escape
with his loot. But Batman has anticipated his move, and captures
his foe at the railroad terminal.
However, on Thursday intruders broke into
a defense installation, gassed the on-duty personnel unconscious, and took
a binary code for America's new defense system from a computer. On
Sunday night, the gang demands $22,000,000 for its return, and sends a
similar offer to the Russian government. The double-cross is suited
to the nature of the gang's leader, Two-Face.
BATMAN #313
July 1979
Cover Credits
Artist: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"Two For the Money" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Irv Novick
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character
Batman
Supporting Characters
Commissioner Gordon (next appears in issue #315)
Lucius Fox
Tiffany Fox (last seen in issue #308)
Timothy Fox (Lucius Fox's son; first appearance; next appears in issue
#323)
Guest Stars
Selina Kyle (Catwoman; last seen in issue #310)
King Faraday (last seen in Showcase #100)
Villains
Two-Face
Specs (dies in this story)
Twain (last appearance to date)
Deuce (first and only appearance to date)
Other Characters
Larry Brent (first and only appearance to date)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comments
This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis
Specs, who stole the binary defense code for
Two-Face, calls the police to try to reveal its hiding place after discovering
that Two-Face has offered to sell it to the Soviets. But Two-Face
cuts off the call, flips his coin, sees the bad side has come up, and has
his men shoot Specs dead with a shot to his heart and a shot to his head.
Bruce Wayne, after squiring Selina Kyle to
the Second Annual Children's Telethon (where he makes a donation) and then
to dinner, is summoned as Batman by Commissioner Gordon to help investigate
Specs's murder. Batman pegs it as Two-Face's work and finds his foe
and his two-man gang lodged, logically enough, at Apartment 2-B, 222 Second
Street. He plows into the gang, but is interrupted by the arrival
of government agent King Faraday, who tries to arrest everyone. Two-Face
uses the opportunity to escape. Faraday warns Batman that he is prepared
to kill Two-Face and advises him to stay out of the case. But Batman
says that he owes it to Harvey Dent's memory to try and return him safely
to Arkham Asylum, and Faraday grudgingly accepts Batman's presence.
Two-Face, Batman, and Faraday all deduce that
Specs had hidden the code in an envelope inside the huge piggy bank at
the Second Children's Telethon. Two-Face steals the code envelope
and gets away, as Batman prevents Faraday from shooting the villain.
The two argue again over tactics. Faraday still vows to kill Two-Face
if necessary, and Batman comes along to make sure he does not.
BATMAN #314
August 1979
Cover Credits
Artist: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"Once Beaten, Twice Sly" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Irv Novick
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Letterer: Todd Klein
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character
Batman (next appears in DETECTIVE COMICS #485)
Supporting Characters
Lucius Fox
Gwen (last seen in issue #310; next appears in issue #316)
Tiffany Fox (last appearance to date)
Guest Star
King Faraday (next appears in THE FLASH #290)
Guest Appearance
Selina Kyle (Catwoman)
Villains
Two-Face (next appears in issue #328)
Gregorian Falstaff (behind the scenes; last appearance in issue #310)
Karlyle Krugerrand (first appearance; name revealed in next issue)
Weasel, Mr. Korsakoff, and Bracket (first and only appearance for all
to date)
Other Characters
A U.S. government employee (first and only appearance to date)
Citizens of New Orleans
Comment
This story takes place on Mardi Gras, 1979.
Synopsis
Batman and King Faraday trail Two-Face to
New Orleans during Mardi Gras. The double-faced dastard himself is
admitting two men, one American and one Russian, into his hideout aboard
a restored paddle-wheeler to negotiate for the binary defense code.
He tells them to return later, with $22,000,000 apiece, and then he will
decide who gets the code by flipping his coin. After the men leave,
Batman and Faraday break in, but are trapped by laser defenses as Two-Face
escapes. Batman makes a fire with a phosphorus capsule, and restaraunt
attendants break in to extinguish the blaze and free them.
Tipped off by Two-Face's doodle of a crown
on wheels, Batman deduces that their foe will hold court on a float in
the Mardi Gras parade. Two-Face does so, receiving his two bidders,
taking their $44,000,000, and flipping his coin--which he catches on edge.
He activates jets in his chair and escapes to a blimp advertising Double
Chew Gum. Batman and Faraday see him and manage to clamber aboard
the blimp. Two-Face is about to stamp Batman's hands while the hero
hangs from a hatch edge, but Batman insists he flip his coin first.
Two-Face complies just as Faraday enters through a service hatch, fires,
hits the spinning coin and knocks it through the hatch. Two-Face
leaps after the coin, falls out of the blimp, and is lost to sight.
Batman regrets Two-Face's loss, but tells Faraday that Two-Face took the
code to the bottom of the lake with him, so Faraday should be happy.
Faraday replies that he gave up the right to be happy when he took his
job.
Detective Comics No. 485
August-September 1979
Cover: Batman vs. Sensei, assassins, and Bronze Tiger //Dick Giordano
(signed)
Story: “The Vengeance Vow” (20 pages)
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Denny O’Neil
Penciller: Don Newton
Inker: Dan Adkins
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in BATMAN #314; next appears
in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #258)
GS: Kathy Kane (Batwoman; last appearance in FREEDOM FIGHTERS #15;
dies in this story)
Supporting Character: Alfred Pennyworth (between BATMAN #312 / 315)
Villains: Ra’s Al Ghul, Talia (last appearance for both in DC SPECIAL
SERIES #15; both next appear in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #159), the Bronze Tiger
(last appearance, as Ben Turner, in RICHARD DRAGON, KUNG FU FIGHTER #18;
next appears in issue #489), the Sensei (last appearance in PHANTOM STRANGER
#39; next appears in issue #487), the League of Assassins (last appearance
in RICHARD DRAGON, KUNG FU FIGHTER #13; next appear in issue #487), a spy
(first appearance; dies in this story)
Comment: Shortly after this story Batman teams with Superman
to aid Sandy Terry in World's Finest Comics #258, and teams with Metamorpho
to fight Achilles in Brave and the Bold #154.
Synopsis: Ra’s Al Ghul manipulates the Sensei and the League of Assassins
into killing Kathy Kane, the Batwoman. Batman seeks revenge, and
comes up against the Sensei’s aide, the Bronze Tiger.
BATMAN #315
September 1979
Cover Credits
Artist: Dick Giordano (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"Danger On the Wing" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Irv Novick
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Characters
Batman (last seen in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #154; next appears in THE FLASH
#276)
Supporting Characters
Alfred Pennyworth (last seen in DETECTIVE COMICS #485; next appears
in Brave and the Bold #155)
Lucius Fox
Arthur Reeves (last seen in Detective Comics #464; next appears
in Detective Comics #503)
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in issue #313; next appears in Brave
and the Bold #155)
Guest Appearance
Selina Kyle (Catwoman; next appears in issue #317)
Villains
The Kite-Man (last seen in issue #133; next appears in Hawkman (second
series) #4)
The Kite-Man's gang (Arnie named in this story; first and only appearance
for all to date)
Charlie, Nick, and Danny (first and only appearance to date for all)
Gregorian Falstaff (behind the scenes; next appears in issue #317)
Karlyle Krugerrand (next appears in issue #317)
Other Characters
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comments
Shortly after this story Batman joins the
Justice League to deal with the Flash in THE FLASH #276-277 and to fight
the Over-Complex in Justice League of America #169 and 170, then teams
with Green Lantern to capture Tri Vul in Brave and the Bold #155.
Synopsis
Batman captures a gang of crooks in Gotham
City Hall, but not before one of them makes a kite of some blueprints and
flies it to the waiting Kite-Man.
Lucius Fox is contacted by Karlyle Krugerrand,
right-hand man to the powerful Gregorian Falstaff, who wishes to make a
deal with Fox. Fox returns to work to find Bruce Wayne in conference
with City Commissioner Arthur Reeves and others, discussing the decision
of Trans-Atlantic Airways to leave Gotham. The decision, which is
final, will cost many Gothamites their jobs, and is the doing of majority
stockholder Falstaff. Fox keeps his counsel to himself. Later,
Bruce Wayne finds Selina Kyle less than happy with his earlier decision
to have a security check run on her.
At noon, three kites explode in a fireworks
display, enabling Kite-Man's gang to enter the Trans-Atlantic building
disguised as workmen. When a helicopter carrying the final payroll
of the airline lands on the building that night, several box-kites on the
roof spray the guards with knockout gas and the gang and Kite-Man emerge
to snatch the payroll. But Batman has deduced Kite-Man's plan, and
uses his own bat-glider to crash into Kite-Man's escape kite, landing them
both safely in the street with a parachute. He then delivers Kite-Man
to Commissioner Gordon and the police.
Detective Comics No. 486
October-November 1979
Cover: Batman holding crowds back from skeleton of Reuben Rice //Dick
Giordano (signed)
Story: “Murder By Thunderbolt” (17 pages)
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Denny O’Neil
Penciller: Don Newton
Inker: Dan Adkins
Letterer: John Workman
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #155;
next appears in Alfred story in this issue)
Supporting Character: Alfred Pennyworth (last appearance in BRAVE AND
THE BOLD #155)
Intro: Robby and his girlfriend (only appearance for both)
Villains: Reuben Rice, Plowboy (both die in this story), Maxie Zeus
(between issues #484 / 491), the Joker (last appearance in GREEN LANTERN
#117; next appears in ?), Iggy Zafuto, Calvin, various crooks (first and
only appearance for both)
Comment: Shortly after this story Batman briefly appears in the Alfred
story in this issue, then teams with Superman to stop a mass exodus from
Gotham to Metropolis in World's Finest Comics #259, and teams with Dr.
Fate to deal with Donald Sterling in Brave and the Bold #156.
Synopsis: Batman tries to stop some old cohorts of Maxie Zeus from
dying when they try to take over his mobs, while Zeus himself is in Arkham
Asylum.
BATMAN #316
October 1979
Cover Credits
Artist: Dick Giordano
Letterer:
STORY
"Color Me Deadly" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Irv Novick
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Characters
Batman (last seen in Brave and the Bold #156)
Robin (last seen in Detective Comics #486)
Supporting Characters
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in Brave and the Bold #156)
Lucius Fox
Gwen (last seen in issue #314; next appears in Brave and the Bold #160)
Villains
Crazy-Quilt of Earth-One (first appearance; also appears in flashback,
which takes place between Batman and Robin's first battle with Killer Moth
and flashback in World's Finest Comics #94; next appears in issue #368)
Crazy-Quilt's gang (Hughes named in this story; first and only appearance
for all to date)
Other Characters
Dr. Norman Dexter (first and only appearance to date)
Scientists at S.T.A.R. labs (last seen in ?; next appear in ?)
A prison doctor (first and only appearance to date)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comments
This story continues in part in the next issue. It takes place
during summer vacation, when Dick is home from Hudson University.
Synopsis
Crazy-Quilt, having finally been released
from prison, has learned a brutal truth: his sight, only useful at
recognizing bright, vivid colors, will fade away permanently in a matter
of months. Accordingly, he breaks into Gotham's S.T.A.R. labs, dazzling
the scientists with a light display and blinding Batman and Robin with
the rays from his color-helmet while he steals a laser-focusing element.
Then he kidnaps Dr. Norman Dexter, a surgeon who has pioneered revolutionary
techniques of optic surgery, and forces him to operate on his eyes at gunpoint,
using only a local anesthetic. Crazy-Quilt had earlier hired a firebug
to torch the tenth floor of the hospital, ensuring it would be deserted
for his operation. But Batman and Robin realize Crazy-Quilt's plan
after learning of Dexter's abduction, and fight their way to the top of
the hospital past Crazy-Quilt's defensive devices. The operation
is finished when they arrive, and Crazy-Quilt dons his helmet to fire brilliant
color-rays at them. Robin reflects the rays back into Crazy-Quilt's
eyes with a polished instrument tray. The impact proves too much
for his over-sensitized optic nerves. Crazy-Quilt has been rendered
totally blind.
BATMAN #317
November 1979
Cover Credits
Artist: Dick Giordano (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"The 1,001 Clue Caper" or, "Why Did the Riddler Cross the Road?"
(17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Irv Novick
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Characters
Batman (next appears in Justice League of America #171)
Robin (next appears in Detective Comics #487)
Supporting Characters
Commissioner Gordon (next appears in Brave and the Bold #157)
Sgt. Harvey Hainer (last seen in DETECTIVE COMICS #466; next appears
in ?)
Lucius Fox
Alfred Pennyworth (last seen in World's Finest Comics #259; next
appears in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #157)
Guest Appearance
Selina Kyle (Catwoman; last seen in issue #315)
Villains
The Riddler (last seen in issue #292; next appears in Detective Comics
#493)
Jake Hammer and an unnamed gun-runner(first and only appearance to
date for both)
Gregorian Falstaff (first actual appearance)
Karlyle Krugerrand
Other Characters
Warden of Gotham State Prison (first and only appearance to date)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comment
Shortly after this story Batman helps the Justice League and Justice
Society solve the murder of Mr. Terrific at the hands of the Spirit King
in Justice League of America #171 and 172, then teams with Kamandi to battle
Extortion, Inc. in Brave and the Bold #157.
Synopsis
Batman and Robin, visiting Commissioner Gordon,
are handed a book by Sgt. Harvey Hainer. The book is a volume of
1,001 riddles autographed by the Riddler, who is presently hijacking a
poultry truck.
Noting that the book came from the Gotham
State Prison Library, Batman and Robin learn from the warden that convict
Jake Hammer was wounded while trying to escape with the Riddler.
Though Hammer is semi-conscious, Robin gets him to mutter the riddle-clue,
"What's black and white and red all over? Answer is a killer!"
At about the same time, the Riddler takes a garbage truck, loads it with
the stolen chickens, looses the birds at the dock workers of a magazine
distributor's warehouse, and loads the truck with a skid of magazines.
After making up with Selina Kyle for having
her investigated, Bruce Wayne becomes Batman again and consults with Robin.
Robin tells Batman that the magazines the Riddler stole were intended for
foreign distribution. The police, drawn by gunfire to the warehouse,
found that it was a front for gun-runners. Batman, noting that Jake
Hammer was convicted of gun-running, figures out the Riddler's latest scheme.
The two heroes go to Gotham Harbor, where the Riddler is loading guns concealed
in the magazines aboard a ship to receive payment from a foreign agent.
They stop the operation and capture the Riddler and the gun-runners.
Meanwhile, Lucius Fox keeps a date to meet
with Bruce Wayne's financial rival, the gluttonous Gregorian Falstaff.
Detective Comics No. 487
December 1979 / January 1980
Cover: Batman, Robin, and Batgirl //Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (signed)
Story: “The Perils of Sergius” (17 pages)
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Denny O’Neil
Penciller: Don Newton
Inker: Dan Adkins
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #157;
next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #260)
Supporting Character: Alfred Pennyworth (last appearance in BRAVE AND
THE BOLD #157; next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #260)
Intro: Sergius (only appearance)
Villains: The Sensei (between issues #485 / 489), the League of Assassins
(last appearance in issue #485; next appear in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #159),
Ma Murder (Mabel Mhurder; first appearance), Twitchy, Ape, Chuckles (first
and only appearance for all)
Comment: Shortly after this story Batman teams with Superman to fight
aliens from Smadan in World's Finest Comics #260, and teams with Wonder
Woman to combat Flashback in Brave and the Bold #158.
The character Sergius is based on Denny O’Neil.
Synopsis: The Sensei marks a writer named Sergius for death when he
thinks Sergius has stumbled onto his plan, and contracts the work out to
one Ma Murder. But Batman takes an interest in the writer, and protects
him from Ma’s murder attempts.
BATMAN #318
December 1979
Cover Credits
Artist: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
Letterer:
STORY
"My City Burns At Both Ends--It Will Not Last the Night" (17
pages)
Credits
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Irv Novick
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in Brave and the Bold #158)
Supporting Characters
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in Batgirl story in Detective Comics
#487; next appears in Detective Comics #488)
Lucius Fox
Guest Appearance
Selina Kyle (Catwoman)
Villains
The Firebug (Joey Rigger; first appearance; dies in this story)
The Gentleman Ghost (last seen in issue #310)
Alfie and Reggie (first appearance for both)
Gregorian Falstaff and Karlyle Krugerrand (both next appear in issue
#322)
Other Characters
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Cameo appearance
Mr. and Mrs. Rigger and their daughter (in flashback; first appearance
for all; all die in this story)
Comment
This story continues in part in the next issue.
Synopsis
Batman rescues a girl from a burning tenement and
notices a costumed figure atop the building. He swings back up to
make contact with the villain, who introduces himself as the Firebug and
shoots napalm from his fingertips to keep Batman at a distance. The
Firebug thanks Batman for saving the girl and says, "That damned building
has done enough killing!" By the time Batman can staunch the fire
with a foam pellet, the Firebug is gone.
Later, while Bruce Wayne is dancing with Selina
Kyle, who suffers a strange headache, the Firebug, in his civilian identity
of Joey Rigger, reviews the fate of his father, mother, and sister.
All had been killed by defects in the tenement buildings they lived in.
Joey himself went to Vietnam, where he was trained as a demolitions expert.
He thus gained the know-how to fashion the weaponry of the Firebug, which
he uses to burn down the buildings which took his family's lives.
Checking with Commissioner Gordon, Batman
runs down correlations on the two buildings the Firebug has torched, guesses
that he is Joey Rigger, and finds from a magazine page in his deserted
apartment that his next target will be the Gotham State Building.
Batman confronts the Firebug there, disarming a bomb and fending off his
napalm with a fireproofed costume. The battle carries them up to
the observation deck, where the Firebug, in a suicidal frenzy, deactivates
his costume's safety devices and lunges at Batman. The caped hero
sidesteps, and the Firebug burns through the observation deck restraining
fence, falling off the building. His napalm tanks explode seconds
before he would have hit the pavement.
Elsewhere, Lucius Fox considers Gregorian
Falstaff's offer of employment, and two English crooks break into a rich
man's tomb in Gotham's Eternal Gate Cemetery, looking for a buried treasure
and finding the Gentleman Ghost.
BATMAN #319
January 1980
Cover Credits
Artists: Joe Kubert and Dick Giordano (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"Never Give Up the Ghost" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Irv Novick
Inker: Bob Smith
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character
Batman (next appears in Justice League of America #174)
Supporting Characters
Alfred Pennyworth (last seen in Detective Comics #487)
Lucius Fox (next appears in Detective Comics #488)
Guest Appearance
Selina Kyle (the Catwoman; next appears in Detective Comics #488)
Villains
The Gentleman Ghost (next appears in Detective Comics #526)
Alfie and Reggie (last appearance for both to date)
Southpaw (first appearance; next appears in issue #321)
Two members of the Joker's gang (first appearance for both; both next
appear in issue #321)
Other Characters
Two policemen (first appearance for both; both next appear in issue
#321)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comments
Shortly after this story Batman joins the Justice League to fight the
Regulator in Justice League of America #174 and teams with Ra's Al Ghul
to thwart Professor Hatter in Brave and the Bold #159.
Synopsis
Batman interrupts the Gentleman Ghost and
his two-man gang in the process to stealing industrial diamonds inside
a darkened factory. The theft is thwarted, but the villains
escape and the Ghost tells his men they will try to steal the jewels another
time.
Batman resumes his Bruce Wayne identity, reopens
Wayne Manor, and hosts a costume ball with the attendees dressed as famous
persons from the past. (Selina Kyle comes dressed as Catherine of
Aragon.) Alfred notifies Bruce that an alarm Batman had left at the
factory has gone off. Bruce becomes Batman to investigate.
At the factory, Batman is tricked and knocked
out by the Ghost. He awakens to find himself manacled to a chain
by his wrists and suspended by a winch-and-pulley system over a cauldron
of sulphuric acid. The Ghost activates the winch and leaves, telling
Batman he has a date at a party in a mansion. Batman frees himself
by using slack in the chain to swing himself away from the acid vat and
breaking open the manacles on the gears of the winch. He then returns
to Wayne Manor, where he captures both of the Ghost's hirelings but not
the Ghost himself. The Gentleman Ghost fades into the fog, promising
to return and "make Gotham City mine." Batman assures him that he'll
be waiting.
BATMAN #320
February 1980
Cover Credits
Artist: Berni Wrightson (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"The Curse of the Inquisitor" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Denny O'Neil
Penciller: Irv Novick
Inker: Bob Smith
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in Brave and the Bold #159; next appears in
Detective Comics #488)
Supporting Character
Alfred Pennyworth (next appears in the Robin story in Detective Comics
#488)
Villains
The Inquisitor (Lt. Hector Sanchez; first appearance; dies in this
story)
Gorko (first and only appearance to date)
Other Characters
Father Guedes and Cardinal Ramirez (first and only appearance for both
to date)
Two unnamed priests (first appearance; both die before this story opens)
Citizens of a small Spanish town (first and only appearance for all
to date)
Citizens of Gotham City
Synopsis
From a clipping service, Batman learns of
two unusual crimes in a small town in Spain. Two priests were murdered,
one being covered in bronze, the other frozen to death in a meat locker.
Things being quiet in Gotham, he goes to Spain to check out the mystery.
Bruce Wayne finds the aged Cardinal Ramirez
haranguing his congregation to leave the sinful elements brought to them
by the mass media. But the young Father Pinto opposes Ramirez, contending
that the old ways are gone past recalling. That night, while watching
over Pinto's residence, Batman encounters police lieutenant Hector Sanchez,
who says that he is watching over Pinto since he is the same age as the
two dead priests. Cardinal Ramirez appears and denounces the masked
Batman as a "tool of the devil." Batman leaves, Sanchez warning him
not to "fall prey to the capital sins!"
Pinto is murdered by a crossbow bolt soon
afterwards. Batman trails the assassin to a supposedly-deserted chapel.
There he encounters the killer, Gorko (a hunchback), and his master, the
robed Inquisitor. Batman almost falls prey to a deathtrap, but escapes
and kayoes Gorko, though the Inquisitor escapes.
Later, Batman stops the Inquisitor as he is
about to seal another priest inside a bank vault. He unmasks the
Inquisitor as Lt. Sanchez, who tipped his hand by mentioning the "capital
sins." Each of the priests was murdered in a manner suggesting the
seven capital sins (for example, one dying in a food locker symbolized
gluttony). While Sanchez and Batman battle, Gorko appears and accidentally
kills Sanchez with a crossbow bolt. Sanchez, who hoped to destroy
modernist clerics, gives his last confession to the priest he sought to
murder.
Finally, Batman meets Ramirez in the confessional
booth, and tells him what he has learned from local records. Before
he became a priest, Ramirez sired a son, one Hector Sanchez. Batman
leaves Ramirez with the quote: "Let he who is without sin cast the
first stone."
Detective Comics No. 488
February-March 1980
Cover: Spook and hoods manhandling Batman towards electric chair; vignettes
of Robin and Batgirl //Dick Giordano (signed)
Story: “The Spook’s Death Sentence For Batman” (17 pages)
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Cary Burkett
Penciller: Don Newton
Inker: Dan Adkins
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in BATMAN #320; next appears
in Robin story in this issue)
GA: Selina Kyle (Catwoman; between BATMAN #319 / 321)
Supporting Characters: Lucius Fox (between BATMAN #319 / 321), Commissioner
Gordon (last appearance in BATMAN #318; next appears in Batgirl story in
this issue)
Villains: The Spook (last appearance in BATMAN #304; next appears in
issue #526), Simon Thatcher and his gang, Jeff Laird, Desmond Foster, Wilton
(first and only appearance for all)
Comment: Shortly after this story Batman receives a letter from Dick
Grayson in the Robin story in this issue, teams with Superman to combat
Terra-Man and the Penguin in World's Finest Comics #261, and teams with
Supergirl to fight Col. Sulphur in Brave and the Bold #160.
Synopsis: Batman finds himself headed for the electric chair when the
Spook’s illusion gimmick makes him appear to be a convicted murderer, and
the Spook to be Batman.
BATMAN #321
March 1980
Cover Credits
Artist: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
Letterer:
STORY
"Dreadful Birthday, Dear Joker" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Walt Simonson
Inker: Dick Giordano
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Characters
Batman (last seen in Brave and the Bold #160; next appears in Justice
League of America #175)
Robin (between Detective Comics #488 and 489)
Supporting Characters
Alfred Pennyworth (between Detective Comics #488 and 489)
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in Detective Comics #488; next appears
in Brave and the Bold #161)
Lucius Fox (last seen in Detective Comics #488; next appears in issue
#323)
Guest Appearance
Selina Kyle (Catwoman; last seen in Detective Comics #488)
Villains
The Joker (last seen in Green Lantern (second series) #117; next appears
in Detective Comics #504)
Southpaw (last seen in issue #319; last appearance to date)
The Joker's gang (two of whom last appeared in issue #319; last appearance
for all to date)
Sidney (first appearance; dies in this story)
Other Characters
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comments
Shortly after this story Batman joins the Justice League to fight Dr.
Destiny in Justice League of America #175.
Synopsis
The Joker, seconds after issuing an invitation for
Commissioner Gordon to come to his birthday party, abducts him from police
headquarters and incapacitates the officers on duty with laughing gas.
Batman, in a gas mask, breaks in and combats the Joker's gang, but the
comedic crimesmith himself escapes with Gordon. The police tell Batman
that the Joker has also captured Robin.
At the Wayne Foundation, the Joker next kidnaps
Alfred, despite Selina Kyle's best efforts to resist him (she gets a boxing
glove in the mouth). Alfred, Robin, Gordon, and several others who
have crossed the Joker in the past are bound to a "victim-go-round" in
the Joker's Ha-Hacienda, and he promises to kill them all tomorrow on his
birthday while the whole city watches.
The city itself is invited to a wares-sampling
party of the nonexistent Harlequin Bakery Company at the Seaside Coliseum.
The crowd who fill the Coliseum are paralyzed by a special gas as the Joker
unveils his gigantic "birthday cake," complete with candle-bombs to which
are tied Robin, Gordon, Alfred and the Joker's other foes. Batman
appears, and the Joker offers to free his friends if he surrenders.
Batman complies, is roped to the "guest of honor" candle-bomb, and has
it set off, but Batman had arrived earlier and gimmicked the "candle",
turning it into a rocket. He soars upwards, freeing himself.
He then severs the wicks of the other candles with a batarang to prevent
the Joker from blowing them up and pursues his foe. The Joker tries
to escape in a boat, but it crashes into shoals and explodes. Batman
doubts that the Joker has suffered the fate of the boat.
DC SPECIAL SERIES (SUPER-STAR HOLIDAY SPECIAL) #21
Spring 1980
Cover Credits
Artist: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
Letterer:
SECOND STORY
"Wanted: Santa Claus--Dead
or Alive" (10 pages)
Credits
Editor: Len Wein
Writer: Denny O'Neil
Penciller: Frank Miller
Inker: Steve Mitchell
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in Justice League of America #175; next appears in
Brave and the Bold #161)
Villains
Matty Lasko and his bodyguards, Fats Morgan, Al and Louie (first and
only appearance for all to date)
Other Characters
Boomer Katz, Mr. Jackson, Lou and another policeman, and Junie and
her mother (first and only appearance for all to date)
Citizens of Gotham City
Comment
This story takes place December 24-25, 1979.
Synopsis
Batman crashes a Christmas party in a gangland
hideout and forces gang-boss Matty Lasko to tell him that he has a boat
waiting in Gotham Harbor for his old cellmate, Boomer Katz. After
learning from a derelict that Boomer has taken a job as a Santa Claus at
Lee's Department Store, Batman realizes Boomer has got the job to help
somebody knock over the store.
But Boomer Katz has succumbed to the Christmas
spirit, especially after receiving the accolades of store manager Jackson
on his role as Santa. Thus, he cannot bring himself to disable the
store's alarm system, and tells gangster Fats Morgan so. Fats forces
Katz to get them admitted, and, when Boomer runs for it, has him shot in
the arm.
Batman is drawn by the gunfire and captures
Morgan and most of his men in the store. Unknown to him and to two
policemen who arrive, Boomer Katz is being held prisoner by one of Morgan's
men under a Nativity display. But a brilliant star's light pours
through the hole where a stolen Star of Bethlehem had been, and clearly
outlines Boomer and his captor. Batman takes out the crook.
By the time he and Boomer can look up again, the brilliant star is gone.
Detective Comics No. 489
April 1980
Story: “Creatures of the Night” (8 pages)
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: J. Marc DeMatteis
Penciller: Irv Novick
Inker: Vince Colletta
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #161)
Intro: Cornelia (dies in this story)
Villains: Ivorn (first appearance; dies in this story), Moon the Mystic
(first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Batman and a vampire hunter named Moon the Mystic separately
stalk a vampire who may be Moon himself.
Story: “Where Strike the Assassins” (10 pages)
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Denny O’Neil
Penciller: Don Newton
Inker: Dan Adkins
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Batman (next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #262)
GS: The Bronze Tiger (last appearance in issue #485; next appears in
DC COMICS PRESENTS #39)
Intro: Barton McManus (only appearance)
Villains: The Sensei (last appearance in issue #487), Hakim (first
and only appearance), League of Assassins (last appearance in BRAVE AND
THE BOLD #159)
Comment: Shortly after this story Batman teams with Superman to fight
the Pi-Meson Man in World's Finest Comics #262, then joins the Justice
League to fight Despero in Justice League of America #177 and 178.
Synopsis: Batman rescues the Bronze Tiger, who has recovered from the
Sensei’s brainwashing, and another intended victim from the League of Assassins.
Detective Comics No. 490
May 1980
Cover: Batman vs. Sensei, Ra’s Al Ghul, and Talia //Ross Andru / Dick
Giordano (signed)
Story: “Requiem For a Martyr” (22 pages)
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Denny O’Neil
Penciller: Don Newton
Inker: Dan Adkins
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#178; next appears in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #163)
Supporting Character: Commissioner Gordon (last appearance in
Batgirl and Robin story in last issue; next appears in Batgirl story in
this issue)
Intro: Rev. Renney and other churchmen (only appearance for all)
Villains: Ra’s Al Ghul (last appearance in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #159;
next appears in BATMAN #332), Talia (last appearance for both in BRAVE
AND THE BOLD #159; next appears in BATMAN #330), the Sensei (last appearance;
possibly dies in this story), the League of Assassins (next appear in BATMAN
#400), Lurk (last appearance in DC SPECIAL SERIES #15; last appearance)
Comment: Shortly after this story Batman teams with Black Lightning
to fight Senator Hargreave in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #163.
Synopsis: Batman must find a way to stop the Sensei and his assassins
from killing a group of churchmen at a peace conference through an artificial
earthquake, and Ra’s Al Ghul takes a hand in the matter as well.
BATMAN #322
April 1980
Cover Credits
Artists: Ross Andru and Dick Giordano
Letterer:
STORY
"Chaos--Coming
and Going" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Irv Novick
Inker: Dick Giordano
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in Brave and the Bold #163)
Supporting Characters
Alfred Pennyworth (last seen in second Batman story in Detective Comics
#489)
Dr. Douglas Dundee (last seen in issue #312; next appears in issue
#324)
Shamrock (last seen in issue #307; next appears in Untold Legend of
the Batman #3)
Guest Star
Selina Kyle (also appears as Catwoman in old photos; last seen in Detective
Comics #388)
Villains
Captain Boomerang (last seen in RICHARD DRAGON, KUNG FU FIGHTER #18;
next appears in THE FLASH #275)
Cat-Man (revealed in next issue; last seen in Freedom Fighters #10)
Gregorian Falstaff (last seen in issue #318; next appears, behind the
scenes, in issue #330)
Karlyle Krugerrand (last seen in issue #318; next appears in issue
#330)
Other Characters
Matty and Jake (first and only appearance for both to date)
Citizens of Gotham City
Cameo appearances
Commissioner Gordon and Robin (in old photos)
Comment
This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis
Selina Kyle learns from Dr. Dundee that she is infected
with a rare and fatal disease. The only cure for the malady was known
to the ancient Egyptians, an herbal antidote. Selina attends an Egyptian
museum exhibit and can barely restrain herself from theft when she sees
urns full of ancient herbs along with cat-idols.
In the meantime, Captain Boomerang has hit Gotham,
and has made hits on the delivery trucks of the Gotham Guardian.
His path crosses that of Batman, but Boomerang manages an escape.
Batman has Lucius Fox investigate the Guardian's ownership, and finds it
is owned by one of Gregorian Falstaff's front organizations. Captain
Boomerang is busy attacking Falstaff in his penthouse, demanding Falstaff
pay up. Boomerang had invested his retirement fund money in a stock
which Falstaff had controlled and sold short, wiping out Boomerang's savings.
But Batman arrives, and Captain Boomerang is forced to give battle, though
he kayoes the hero with one of his weapons. Batman awakens to find
himself tied to one of the giant boomerangs which had been used on the
Flash, one equipped with rockets. The boomerang is sent aloft, but
without Batman, who has burned off his bonds on the rockets' after-burners.
When Boomerang tosses one of his boomerangs, he knocks it down with his
own Batarang and wallops Boomerang himself.
Back at the museum, a guard is assaulted by
a cat-clawed person who carries off the urns from the Egyptian exhibit.
The guard concludes that the Catwoman is on the prowl again.
BATMAN #323
May 1980
Cover Credits
Artist: Dick Giordano (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"Shadow of the Cat" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Irv Novick
Inker: Bob Smith
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character
Batman
Supporting Characters
Lucius Fox (last seen in issue #321; next appears in issue #325)
Timothy Fox (last seen in issue #313; next appears in issue #330)
Alfred Pennyworth (next appears in issue #325)
Guest Star
Catwoman
Villains
The Cat-Man
Pinch (first and only appearance to date)
Caroline Crown (first appearance; next appears in issue #326)
Other Characters
Citizens of Gotham City
Cameo appearance
The Joker (on a playing card)
Comment
This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis
Batman attempts to arrest Selina Kyle on suspicion
of robbing Riverside Museum's Egyptian urns, as the guard has been assualted
by a cat-clawed crook. But Selina knows she might die in prison from
her disease, and, tossing her pet cat at Batman, uses the diversion to
escape. When Bruce Wayne steps into his office the next morning past
his new secretary Caroline Crown, he is met by Catwoman, who asks his aid
and denies that she pulled the museum robbery. Bruce asks her to
turn herself in, and tries to grab her. She sprays Bruce with catnip
treated to produce a sneezing fit, and Bruce finds her gone when he recovers.
That night, Batman goes to the scene of the
robbery and recovers a thread from the display case of the urns.
The dust on the thread leads Batman to the Ajax Import and Export Warehouse,
which locale Catwoman has already pried from a thug. The two meet
and clash, but Catwoman accidentally trips off a poison-gas booby trap.
Batman, donning a gas mask, takes them both to safety. He and Catwoman
agree to stop fighting, but find themselves standing on a huge trap door
which gives way to land them both on a web of adhesive-coated cables.
Trapped, they finally meet the real museum thief--the Cat-Man.
BATMAN #324
June 1980
Cover Credits
Artist: Jim Aparo (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"The Cat
Who Would Be King" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Irv Novick
Inker: Bob Smith
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character
Batman (next appears in Detective Comics #491)
Supporting Characters
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in Brave and the Bold #163)
Dr. Douglas Dundee (last seen in issue #322; next appears in Brave
and the Bold #165)
Guest Star
Catwoman (next appears in issue #326)
Villains
The Cat-Man (next appears in Detective Comics #509)
Miklos and Mr. Akropolous and his men (first and only appearance to
date for all)
"Kid Gloves" McConnell (no appearance; name only mentioned; first appearance;
probably appears next in issue #327)
Other Characters
Citizens and police of Gotham City
A watchman (first appearance; dies before this story opens)
Comment
In Detective Comics #325, it was declared that the "nine lives" the
mystic cloth of Cat-Man's costume bestowed upon him had all been used up.
Evidently the properties become recharged after a suitable length of time,
as they are back in full force in this story.
Synopsis
Cat-Man activates a mechanism that begins
pulling the cables to and fro, threatening to tear Batman and Catwoman
limb from limb, and departs. Batman cuts through his clothing and
rescues himself and Catwoman, finding a bit of Cat-Man's boot heel left
behind. From analysis, he learns it comes from the Ionian Islands
near Greece. Catwoman assists on accompanying him, since the Egyptian
herbs will have to be administered at once to save her life. He agrees,
and they take off in the Batplane.
In Greece, Cat-Man is presenting the urns
and statuary to Andros Akropolis, a shipping magnate and Egyptian artifact
collector who owns the Ionian islands. The loot is hidden in a geyser
which erupts at timed intervals, Cat-Man hoping to be awarded the island
they stand on so that he may make it a hideout for wanted crooks.
Batman and Catwoman, having learned of Cat-Man's whereabouts through an
informant, arrive and fight off Arkopolous and his men. The magnate
shoots Cat-Man six times, but the mystic cloth in his costume saves his
life. Akropolous leaves, telling Batman he was only trying to recover
the artifacts for the United States and that he will return in an hour
with an army to see whether or not they are still trespassing on his island.
Cat-Man grabs Catwoman and threatens to cut
her throat unless Batman gives him the boat they used to come to the island.
Catwoman fights back and inadvertently pushes him to the mouth of the geyser.
Still holding the urns, Cat-Man is engulfed in the steaming waters.
Catwoman holds part of his cape in her hand. When the steam clears,
both Cat-Man and the urns are gone. Catwoman, in pain, faints.
Back in Gotham City some hours later, Dr.
Dundee examines Catwoman and informs Bruce Wayne that her disease is in
remission. Selina informs Bruce that she owes her life to the magical
"nine-lives" property of the Cat-Man's cape. Bruce scoffs, but wonders
if it could be true.
Detective Comics No. 491
June 1980
Cover: Mannequin of Batgirl being destroyed; Batman wrapped in golden
fleece; Robin and Dick Grayson (three vignettes) //Ross Andru / Dick Giordano
(signed)
Story: “The Riddle of the Golden Fleece” (17 pages)
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Denny O’Neil
Penciller: Don Newton
Inker: Dan Adkins
Letterer: Milton Snapinn
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in BATMAN #324; next appears
in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #263)
Intro: Prof. Price (only appearance), Medea Zeus (next appears in BATMAN
AND THE OUTSIDERS #15)
Villains: Maxie Zeus (last appearance in issue #486; next appears in
BATMAN #327) and his gang, Barney O’Hara (first and only appearance for
all), Fred Britt (first appearance; dies in this story)
Comment: Shortly after this story Batman teams with Superman to deal
with the Super-Sons in World's Finest Comics #263, and teams with Hawkman
to battle an entity from Ma-Prusha in Brave and the Bold #164.
Synopsis: Batman must retrieve a scientist’s “golden fleece” experiment,
capture an escaped Maxie Zeus, and learn the identity of a murderer.
BATMAN #325
July 1980
Cover Credits
Artist: Jim Aparo (signed)
Letterer:
STORY
"Death--Twenty Stories High"
(17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Paul Levitz
Plottr, scripter: Roger McKenzie
Penciller: Irv Novick
Inker: Steve Mitchell
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in Brave and the Bold #164; next appears in Justice
League of America #179)
Supporting Characters
Alfred Pennyworth (last seen in issue #323; next appears in Detective
Comics #492)
Commissioner Gordon (next appears in Detective Comics #491)
Lucius Fox (last seen in issue #323; next appears in Robin story
in Detective Comics #493)
Villains
Tom Hamilton (first appearance; dies in this story)
Lou "Candyman" Milligan and his gang (first and only appearance for
all to date)
Various Gotham criminals (first and only appearance for all to date)
Other Characters
Parker (first and only appearance to date)
Bob Brand (first appearance; dies in this story)
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comments
Shortly after this story Batman joins the Justice League to induct
Firestorm and fight the Satin Satan in Justice League of America #179 and
180, teams with Batgirl to fight General Scarr in Detective Comics #492,
and teams with Man-Bat to battle lawrence Lucerne in Brave and the Bold
#165.
Synopsis
Batman is summoned to the roof of police headquarters
by Commissioner Gordon to receive a death threat sent through the mails
to him, which almost comes true when a sniper shoots at him. Batman
avoids the shot and captures the would-be assassin, who says he has been
hired by the Candyman, Sweet Lou Milligan.
The next morning, Batman has to save Gordon
and his rival for the post of police commissioner, Robert Brand, from being
killed by two gunmen. He later contacts Lou Milligan himself and
finds that the contract on him was financed by Bob Brand. But when
he goes to Brand's office, Batman finds Brand's corpse seated in his chair.
Tom Hamilton, Brand's campaign manager, enters with a gun trained on Batman,
and confesses he is behind Gotham's recent crime wave which recently discredited
Gordon. He hoped to be able to control the city through Brand, but
the candidate proved too honest, and Hamilton had to kill him. Batman
disarms Hamilton, who trips over Brand's outstretched legs, falls out of
a window, and dies.
Batman has to duck gunfire coming through
the window and, shortly afterwards, saves Gordon from being blown to bits
by a bomb placed in the Bat-Signal. A week later, Gordon is once
again elected police commissioner.
Detective Comics No. 493
August 1980
Cover: Batman, Batgirl, Robin, Human Target, Red Tornado //Jim Aparo
(signed)
Story: “Riddles In the Dark” (17 pages)
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Cary Burkett
Penciller: Don Newton
Inker: Dan Adkins
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Batman (last appearance in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #165;
next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #263)
Intro and origin: The Swashbuckler (Michael Carter; only appearance)
Supporting Characters: Commissioner Gordon (last appearance in BRAVE
AND THE BOLD #165; next appears in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #164), Alfred
Pennyworth (last appearance in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #165; next appears in
BATMAN #326)
Cameo: The Vigilante (Greg Sanders)
Villains: The Riddler (last appearance in BATMAN #317; next appears
in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #183) and his gang (first and only appearance for
all)
Comment: Shortly after this story Batman teams with Superman to deal
with the Super-Sons in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #263 and to battle Clayface
II in World's Finest Comics #264, then teams with Black Canary to capture
the Penguin in Brave and the Bold #166.
Synopsis: The Riddler tries to begin his crime career anew in Houston,
Texas, but Batman trails him there and teams with Swashbuckler, a hero
based in that city, to nab him.
BATMAN #326
August 1980
Cover Credits
Artist: Jim Aparo
Letterer:
STORY
"This Way Lies Madness" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Irv Novick
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in Brave and the Bold #166)
Supporting Characters
Alfred Pennyworth (last seen in Detective Comics #493)
Commissioner Gordon (last seen in Brave and the Bold #166; next appears
in Untold Legend of the Batman #3)
Lucius Fox (last seen in Robin story in Detective Comics #493; next
appears in Untold Legend of the Batman #3)
Guest Star
Selina Kyle (Catwoman; last seen in issue #324; next appears in issue
#332)
Villains
Professor Milo (last seen in issue #255)
George, Bruno, and "Mad Dog" Markham (first appearance for all)
Caroline Crown (last seen in Robin story in Detective Comics #493;
next appears in Untold Legend of the Batman #3)
Shank Taylor (no actual appearance; name and likeness used as a disguise
for Batman; first actual appearance in next issue)
Other Characters
Citizens and police of Gotham City
Comment
This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis
Selina Kyle leaves Gotham City in order to
sort things out, telling Bruce Wayne she is disappointed with him for not
trusting her when Cat-Man framed her for the museum robbery. Later,
Batman encounters a motorcycle-riding hood who proves to be "Mad Dog" Markham,
a crook he once sent to Arkham Asylum, and does not manage to capture him.
Batman consults with Commissioner Gordon and learns that a recent robbery
was apparently committed by "Kid Gloves" McConnell, who is also supposed
to be incarcerated at Arkham, A call to the asylum confirms
(or seems to) that Markham is still in custody.
Not satisfied, Batman disguises himself as
Shank Taylor, a paranoic hood who is transferred from Gotham's maximum
security prison to Arkham. In the asylum, he is taken to meet the
director, who has his guards inject the raving "Taylor" with a sedative.
As he is being led out, Batman asks why he is being treated this way.
The "director", Professor Milo, replies that it is for his own good.
BATMAN #327
September 1980
Cover Credits
Artist: Joe Kubert (signed)
Letterer:
FIRST STORY
"Asylum Sinister" (17 pages)
Credits
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Irv Novick
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character
Batman
Supporting Character
Alfred Pennyworth (next appears in Untold Legend of the Batman #1)
Villains
Professor Milo (last appearance to date)
George, Bruno, and "Mad Dog" Markham (last appearance for all to date)
Shank Taylor (first and only actual appearance to date)
Maxie Zeus (between Detective Comics #491 / 514)
"Kid Gloves" McConnell (last seen, behind the scenes, in issue #324;
probably appears here as an unidentified inmate; last appearance to date)
Other Characters
"Joan of Arc", "Napoleon", and other inmates of Arkham Asylum (first
and only appearance for all to date)
Cameo appearances
The Joker, Two-Face, Commissioner Gordon, and the unnamed watchman
(in flashbacks or as mental images)
Synopsis
Batman records from the sedative, frees
himself from his strait-jacket, picks the lock of his cell door, and prowls
about the halls of Arkham Asylum. He can find no clue as to who is
responsible for the prisoner-escaping racket, not knowing that Milo is
a criminal and an old foe of his. He returns to his cell, having
been monitored on closed-circuit television by Milo, who now knows him
to be the Batman in disguise.
Milo later has Batman, disguised as Shank
Taylor, brought to him and explains that the real director is now in a
padded cell. Milo's current scheme is to release certain Arkham inmates,
have them rob for him using their specialized talents, and readmit them
to the asylum after the jobs are done. When he offers "Taylor" the
chance to commit jewel robberies for him, Batman refuses, but collapses
later from a secretly-administered drug.
Batman awakens to find himself in costume
and confined in a new strait-jacket from which he cannot escape.
Milo and the other inmates surround him and try to convince him he is a
madman who thinks he is really Batman. The ploy almost works until
Batman notices in a mirror that his pupils are dialated, and deduces that
he is still drugged. Batman takes out two of Milo's guards even while
bound, convinces "Joan of Arc", another inmate, to cut him free, and goes
after Milo. The villain emerges from his office in a protective suit
and helmet, and smashes a vial of insanity-producing gas. Batman
backs off. The other inmates surround and beat Milo, breaking his
helmet. When the gas dissipates, Batman finds that Milo is a victim
of his own formula, now hopelessly insane.
SECOND STORY
"Express to Nowhere" (8 pages)
Credits
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Mike W. Barr
Penciller: Dick Giordano
Inker: Steve Mitchell
Letterer: Todd Klein
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Characters
Batman (next appears in Untold Legend of the Batman #1)
Robin (last seen in Detective Comics #493; next appears in Untold Legend
of the Batman #2)
Villains
John Taggart, "Frankie" Franconi, "Shark" Armstrong, and other crooks
(first and only appearance for all to date)
Other Characters
Joe "the Canary" Carson (first and only appearance to date)
Citizens of Gotham City
Synopsis
Bruce Wayne meets Dick Grayson, home for a
college break, at Gotham's train depot, and both are offered a drink or
two by John Taggart, vice-president of Taggart Train Lines, which is suffering
from the economic recession. Bruce declines, seeing two crooks, "Shark"
Armstrong and "Frankie" Franconi, boarding another train. He and
Dick become Batman and Robin, hitching a ride on the train. They
note the train is pulling out a half-hour early, which is unlikely, since
the trains are routed by computer. Batman tells Robin the computer
must have been tampered with.
The thugs are in search of Joe "the Canary"
Carson, a stool pigeon scheduled to testify before a Gotham grand jury
on the next day. Batman and Robin rescue Carson and defeat the hoods,
and Batman manages to slow the train to a stop by puncturing its fuel tank.
They later confront John Taggart at Gotham Depot, accuse him of selling
out to hoods who wanted Carson silenced and of tampering with the computer
himself, and capture him.
THE UNTOLD LEGEND OF THE BATMAN #1
July 1980
Cover Credits
Artists: John Byrne and Jim Aparo
Letterer:
STORY
"In the Beginning" (21 pages)
Credits
Editor: Paul Levitz
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: John Byrne
Inker: Jim Aparo
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Feature Character
Batman (last seen in second story of Batman #327)
Supporting Character
Alfred Pennyworth (last seen in first story of Batman #327)
Other Characters
Professor Amos Rexford (in flashback; first and only appearance to
date)
Students at Gotham College (in flashback; first and only appearance
to date for all)
Cameo appearances
Thomas and Martha Wayne, Lew Moxon and his gang, Joe Chill and his
gang, Commissioner Gordon, Philip Wayne, Mrs. Chilton, Leslie Thompkins,
Harvey Harris, Stanton (named in this story), Arthur Mellen, Clayface III,
Crazy-Quilt, Ra's Al Ghul, the Scarecrow, Killer Moth, Two-Face, the Riddler,
the Penguin, Dr. Phosphorus, the Signalman, the Sensei, the Gentleman Ghost,
Mirror-Man, the Mad Hatter II, Catwoman, the Spook, Hugo Strange, Mr. Freeze,
the Calendar Man, Poison Ivy, Clayface II, and Robin (all in flashback)
Tweedledum and Tweedledee of Earth-One (Dumfree and Deever Tweed; in
flashback; first appearance; both next appear in Detective Comics #526)
"Feets" Borgham of Earth-One (in flashback; first appearance; dies
in this story)
Origins and flashbacks
Dr. Thomas Wayne first encounters Lew Moxon (page 4, panel 1 through
page 5, panel 2; in flashback to Detective Comics #235)
Joe Chill kills Thomas and Martha Wayne (page 5, panel 3 through page
5, panel 7; in flashback to Detective Comics #235, Batman #208, et al)
Bruce Wayne meets Leslie Thompkins (page 6, panel 1; in flashback to
Detective Comics #457)
Bruce Wayne attends his parents' funeral with Philip Wayne and Mrs.
Chilton (page 6, panels 2 and 3; in flashback to Batman #208)
Bruce Wayne begins training and allies himself with Harvey Harris as
the first Robin (page 7, panel 1 to page 9, panel 2; in flashback to Detective
Comics #226)
Bruce Wayne attends college and meets Professor Rexford (page 10, panel
2 to page 11, panel 5; in flashback; between Superboy Spectacular #1 and
flashback in Batman #304)
Bruce Wayne sees a bat and is inspired to become the Batman (page 12,
panels 1-5; in flashback to Detective Comics #235, Batman #200, et al)
Batman combats Joe Chill (page 14, panel 2 to page 15, panel 4, and
page 16, panel 2 to page 17, panel 5; in flashback to Detective Comics
#235)
Batman and Robin fight Lew Moxon (page 18, panel 1 to page 21, panel
1; in flashback to Detective Comics #235)
Comment
The chronological placement of the various flashbacks in this issue
can be found in the Batman's Earth-One chronology in this index.
This story asserts that Joe Chill of Earth-one shot and killed Martha
Wayne of Earth-one as well as her husband Thomas. Alfred is also
revealed to have knowledge that Mrs. Chilton, Philip Wayne's housekeeper,
is the mother of Joe and Max Chill.
This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis
In the Batcave, Batman opens a package that
came in his mail and finds within it the shredded remains of the "Bat-Man"
costume worn by his father, Thomas Wayne, to the party that ended in his
encounter with gangster Lew Moxon. Batman rushes to the display case
where the costume had hung and finds only a note taped to the inside of
the glass. It warns him that this is only the beginning, and that
he will be destroyed before it ends.
Grimly, Batman recalls to Alfred and to himself
the night that his father went to the costume party dressed as a "Bat-Man",
was abducted by thugs to treat the wounded Lew Moxon, and wound up capturing
them all. He goes on to remember Moxon's emergence from jail ten
years later, and, soon after, the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne by
Joe Chill; Bruce Wayne's determination to fight crime and bring his parents'
killer to justice; his becoming the first "Robin" and teaming up with detective
Harvey Harris; his attending Gotham College, where he learned the difference
between law and justice from Prof. Amos Rexford; the bat that flew in through
the open window of Wayne Manor and inspired him to become the Batman; the
many battles he and Robin waged against an army of criminals; and the deaths
of Joe Chill and Lew Moxon. Batman learns little from analyzing the
shredded costume. He heads out on patrol of Gotham City in the Batmobile,
on a mission of vengeance.