Detective Comics #401

Detective Comics #401 (On Sale: May 28, 1970) has a cover by Neal Adams. A nice cover, but otherwise this issue is such a step down form #400.

We begin with Batman in "Target for Tonight" by Frank Robbins, Bob Brown and Joe Giella. In a visit with Commissioner Gordon, Batman is given a message delivered by a hunting falcon, claiming that Batman is the next target of someone calling themselves the Stalker. Suddenly he is shot at and heads to his Wayne Foundation penthouse to figure out his next move. 

There he and Alfred watch a TV interview with big game hunter Carton Yeager, who shows off trained hunting falcon, his filled trophy room and the one empty plaque there, saying that is for the head of his most dangerous challenge. Just then, an arrow shatters the TV, an arrow with a message explaining that Yeager knows his secret identity, but will not reveal it. Rather, he is now hunting Batman. 

Batman heads out for Carlton's lair, the Safari Club, where he is shot at by a crossbow and hears a taped message from Yeager telling him to come to the New Urbia Island Project, as the hunt is on. Batman sneaks onto the island, but soon falls into a net trap. Yeager shows up and boasts that he knew exactly what Batman would try to get on the island and that though he could just kill him right now, that that would not be much of a hunt.

Batman frees himself, swings over the muddy ground and finds Alfred tied up in an underground garage. Rather than free him, Batman attacks him, pulling off his mask to reveal Alfred is actually Carlton. He manages to get away from Batman, but in his haste to leave, falls through a trap door meant for Batman and is impaled to death. The real Alfred shows up and is stuck in the thick mud. Batman explains that the lack of mud on the tied up Alfred's shoes was the clue that he was actually Yeager. This story ws reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batman Vol. 5 TPB.

Next is the letters page and it contains letters by Doug Moench, Martin Pasko and Alan Brennert, all three soon to be DC writers of much note.

We end with  "Midnight Is the Dying Hour" starring Robin and Batgirl and continuing from last issue.  The creative team is still Denny O'Neil, Gil Kane and the horrible inks of Vinnie Colletta. After last issue stumbling upon a murder at Hudson University, Batgirl soon finds herself the killers next victim, awakening to find herself bound, gagged and being sealed in a room behind a brick wall.

Earlier in the evening, Robin conducted his own investigation of the murder, finding that the body of Willard was pointing at a book of poetry (particularly the words "POE") and remembering the Poe festival, Robin finally realizes who the killer might be.

Rushing to the theater, Robin catches the killer just before he can set the last brick, sealing Batgirl's tomb, but the murderer manages to get away. Robin frees Batgirl, and the two begin searching the theater for their assailant. After a chase through the theater, Robin and Batgirl manage to catch the killer who turns out to be none other than student Jack Markham. This story has been reprinted in Best of DC #30, Showcase Presents: Batgirl Vol. 1 TPB and Showcase Presents: Robin the Boy Wonder Vol. 1 TPB.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.