Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Batman #192

Batman #192 (On Sale: April 18, 1967) has a nice cover by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson.

Inside we have the cover story "The Crystal Ball That Betrayed Batman" by Gardner Fox, Sheldon Moldoff and Joe Giella. Batman and Robin stumble across a robbery committed by the Fearsome Foursome, henchmen for a crook known as the Swami. So far, the Swami has allegedly foreseen dangers that would befall his gang and planned his crimes to avoid the law. Batman manages to apprehend one member of the gang, Silent Stan, but the others escape.

Batman disguises himself as Stan, then visits the crook's apartment. He finds the rest of the gang there including the Swami. However, the Swami uses his crystal ball and discovers that Stan is Batman in disguise. Batman is then trapped, as is Robin who was waiting outside.

The back-up story "Dick Grayson's Secret Guardian" and is also by Gardner Fox, Sheldon Moldoff and Joe Giella. Dick Grayson tries to recruit other students for the Gotham High basketball team. Frank Reynolds, a tall boy gladly agrees to join, but Toughy Loomis laughs at Dick's suggestion. Later, Toughy and his friends attack Dick and try to beat him up. Dick is unable to use his skills as Robin to defend himself, for fear of giving away his secret identity.

A masked man surprises Toughy during the fight by coming to Dick's aid. The bullies are scared off, and the masked man disappears too.

Edited by Julius Schwartz

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