Detective Comics #415

Detective Comics #415 (On Sale: July 29, 1971), has a nice Batman cover by Neal Adams.

We begin with Batman in "Challenge of the Consumer Crusader" by Frank Robbins, Bob Brown, and Dick Giordano. Batman saves a consumer advocate from murder and discovers the extortionist who is shielding herself behind his front by tricking one of his criminal allies into revealing the truth. Batman uses make-up to resemble the man that was marked for murder and he pretends to be his ghost in order to force a confession out of the thug.

After listening to the plan and learning about the master criminal behind it, Batman confronts the woman and his large gang before finally capturing her. Reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batman Vol. 6 TPB (2016).

The backup is Batgirl in "Death Shares the Spotlight" by Frank Robbins and Don Heck. When taken out on a date by Jason Bard to see the play "Invitation to Murder", the couple soon finds themselves entangled in an attempted murder of Hollywood's "Royal Couple" Robbie and Tiz Marlow. Leaving Jason behind to guard the starlets, Barbara goes off to call the police.

After the crime is reported, both Jason and Barbara begin their own investigations. This leads Batgirl to Gotham Arena, which is currently putting on a western exhibition that features Big Chuck Walla, who is responsible for the attempt on the Marlows lives.

Battling Walla, Batgirl and Jason learn that Tiz was secretly going to marry Walla, but left him instead for Barlow and that it was out of jealousy that he attempted to murder the couple. After learning the truth, and that Walla's exhibition gun is loaded with blanks, Jason knocks Walla out with one punch and he and Batgirl turn Walla over to the police. Reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batgirl Vol. 1 TPB (2007) and Batgirl: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC (2018).

Our first reprint features Mysto, Magician Detective in "The Forbidden Trick" by William Woolfolk and Leonard Starr and reprinted from Detective Comics #211 (1954).

We end with "The Case of the Finders Keepers" drawn by John Prentice and reprinted from Gangbusters #54 (1956).

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Detective Comics #414

Detective Comics #414 (On Sale: June 29, 1971), has a stunning Batman cover by Neal Adams.

We begin this issue with Batman in "Legend of the Key Hook Lighthouse" by Denny O'Neil, Irv Novick, and Dick Giordano. Batman has followed a mob of gun-runners, who are providing weapons for a dictator, but one of the members of the gang decides to help Batman capture the war criminal in exchange for protection. Batman agrees and he is taken to a nearby lighthouse, where the exchange is supposed to take place. 

When General Ruizo and his men arrive, Batman takes them by surprise and finds a way to round up Ruizo's henchmen, but the General manages to escape. Batman is able to follow the General on his boat and witnesses how the army man is struck by the light coming from the lighthouse and driven mad by a supernatural presence. 

When Batman investigates the lighthouse, he is unable to find any evidence of anybody activating the light and he suspects that he has been helped by a powerful entity. Reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batman Vol. 6 TPB (2016).

The backup is Batgirl in "Invitation to Murder" by Frank Robbins and Don Heck. On the night of the anniversary of their first meeting, Jason Bard takes Barbara Gordon to go see the play "Invitation to Murder." The two are shocked to find that they are the only two people in the audience. When spotting a rifle set to shoot one of the actors, Jason stops the gunman but is knocked out. Changing into Batgirl in the darkness, Barbara tries to stop the shooter but the gunman still manages to get away. Changing back into her civilian guise, Babs checks on Jason and finds that he is all right.

Realizing that the wild shot must have hit somebody, they find that it winged Robbie Marlow who was viewing the play with his wife Tiz (both are referred to as the "Royal Couple" of Hollywood.) After questioning the couple they find out that they were given the tickets to a sold-out showing of the play by an anonymous admirer, and the only reason why Jason and Barbara happened to be there is because of a mix-up with the date they were going to see the show. Finding it all suspicious, Babs tells Jason to keep an eye on the couple while she goes to "call the police". This story continues next issue and was reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batgirl Vol. 1 TPB (2007) and Batgirl: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC (2018).

The reprints begin with  "The Australian Code Mystery" by David V. Reed, Alex Toth, and Sy Barry and reprinted from World's Finest Comics #66 (1953).

We end with "Private Eye of Venus" by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino and reprinted from Strange Adventures #83 (1957).

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Detective Comics #413

Detective Comics #413 (On Sale: May 27, 1971), has a beautiful Batman cover by Neal Adams. 

This issue begins with Batman in "Freak-Out at Phantom Hollow" by Frank Robbins,  Bob Brown, and Dick Giordano. Batman is called to the small town of Phantom Hollow after a series of incidents. A legend claims the town is haunted by the ghost of a woman who was tried as a witch. Now the old bell in the tower outside of town has been rung and the jailhouse has exploded.

Batman questions some of the townspeople and investigates the bell tower. He catches two boys in a cave outside of town. They are hippies who were harassed by bullies from town who shaved their heads. To get even the boys used a recording to sound the bell and fireworks at the jail. But they did not destroy it.

While Batman questions the kids, the bell rings again and another explosion occurs in town. Batman leaves the kids in the cave with their teacher Clare Antrim. While Batman heads back into town, the real culprit Big Lanny appears. He traps the kids in the cave. Batman's return to town was a feint to draw out Lanny. Batman defeats him and deduces that Lanny was the descendant of Nell Cabot, the suspected witch. He wanted revenge against the town and set the boys up to take the fall. Reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batman Vol. 6 TPB (2016).

Our backup is Batgirl in "Squeeze-Play" by Frank Robbins and Don Heck. Continuign from last issue, Batgirl confronts the killer wig-maker, Vazly, and his assistant, Wanda. The villains try to kill her using a wig, but she escapes. Although Batgirl apprehends Vazly, Wanda escapes. Batgirl deduces Wanda's next target, the widow Mrs. Sanders. Batgirl arrives after Wanda has gotten Sanders to pay an extortion demand to release her from the killer wig. This time Batgirl stops Wanda and puts a stop to the killer's schemes. this tale was reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batgirl Vol. 1 TPB (2007) and Batgirl: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC (2018).

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Detective Comics #412

Detective Comics #412 (On Sale: April 29, 1971), has an amazing Batman cover by Neal Adams in the service of an otherwise forgettable issue.

We begin with Batman in "Legacy of Hate" by Frank Robbins, Bob Brown, and Dick Giordano. Bruce Wayne is called to the ancestral home of the Wayne family in England by his uncle Lord Elwood Wayne. Elwood has also summoned three of Bruce's other distant relatives to his deathbed. Elwood plans to leave equal shares of his estate to the four relatives. In the event that they should die first, the estate transfers to his doctor Merrin.

That night Wilhemina Wayne is attacked by the ghost of Lord Harold, a former knight of the Crusades. The ghost claims that his brother Lorin took what was rightfully his. He seeks vengeance on the rest of the Wayne family. He stages another attack on Jeremy Wayne a short time later.

Bruce dons his Batman costume and investigates. He chases the ghostly knight in and out of the castle. He eventually unmasks the spectre as Asquith the butler, who really does appear to be possessed by the ghost. In a secret chamber, Batman finds a note written by Lord Harold. Lorin had him locked away inside the castle. Asquith dies, but the spirit carries on swearing vengeance. Reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batman Vol. 6 TPB (2016).

Our Batgirl backup is "The Head-Splitters" by Frank Robbins and Don Heck. Barbara Gordon learns the details of a strange murder in which a socialite had her head crushed. While discussing the case with her father, she mentions the popularity of wigs. Commissioner Gordon offers to buy her one for her birthday.

Barbara goes to the wig shop of Vazly and is fitted for a wig. Socialite Tina Lansbury is also fitted for one. Vazly has invented a device to use the wigs to crush skulls. He uses them to extort money from his victims. He intends to target the wealthy socialite, but her wig is mixed up with Barbara's.

That night the wig nearly kills Barbara. She rushes to Vazly's studio, where the crook tries to convince her she dreamed the entire thing. As she exits, she spots a clue. She returns to the studio as Batgirl to confront the killer. Vazly's assistant, Wanda tries to smother Batgirl with a wig. The story continues next issue. It has been reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batgirl Vol. 1 TPB (2007) and Batgirl: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC (2018).

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Detective Comics #411

Detective Comics #411 (On Sale: March 30, 1971), has a Batman cover by Neal Adams.

We begin with Batman in "Into the Den of the Death-Dealers" by Denny O'Neil, Bob Brown, and Dick Giordano. Batman meets an informant atop the Statue of Liberty, who offers Batman information on Dr. Darrk in exchange for protection. That protection is short-lived as members of the League of Assassins strike and kill the man. Before dying he gives Batman the location of Dr. Darrk.

Batman travels to the orient where he finds Dr. Darrk on the Soom Express. Darrk has prepared a trap and captures Batman. The Caped Crusader is taken to a temple where he and we are introduced to Talia, the daughter of Ra's Al Ghul, a business associate of Darrk's. She is also a prisoner. Batman rescues Talia and captures Darrk. However, when Darrk tries to escape, Talia shoots and kills him. This story has been reprinted in Saga of Ra's Al Ghul #1 (1988), Batman: Tales of the Demon TPB (1991), Showcase Presents: Batman Vol. 6 TPB (2016), and Batman: Tales of the Demon HC (2020).

The backup Batgirl story, "Cut... and Run" continues from the previous issue and is by Frank Robbins, Don Heck, and Dick Giordano. Batgirl is caught by crooks plotting to murder Mamie Acheson. She escapes the trap and follows the crooks to the Riviera where the murder is to take place. Batgirl saves Mamie who then develops a line of fashion based on Batgirl's costume. Reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batgirl Vol. 1 TPB (2007) and Batgirl: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC (2018).

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Detective Comics #410

Detective Comics #410 (On Sale: February 25, 1971), has a Batman cover by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano.

We begin this issue with Batman in  "A Vow from the Grave" by Denny O'Neil, Neal Adams, and Dick Giordano. Batman is on the trail of an escaped killer on the outskirts of Gotham when he manages to corner the criminal in a rocky area, but he is attacked by a big man, who allows the killer to escape. Forced to confront the big man, Batman manages to knock him unconscious. Batman meets three more people, all of whom are physically different. Their leader explains that they used to be circus freaks and that they retired to live in seclusion. They also inform Batman that the big man, whose name is Goliath, didn't intend to attack him.  

The killer still on the loose, Batman continues his search and stumbles upon an abandoned town hall, which is being used as the freaks' home. When he hears the fat lady scream, Batman investigates and learns that the thin man had been hanged a few moments prior. Batman notices that the escaped killer is just outside the building and he captures the criminal, taking him inside. Batman has deduced that the killer did not murder the thin man, but rather, that the crime was committed by Goliath, seeking to eliminate his competitor for the fat lady's affections.

Batman follows Goliath to the bell tower, where he threatens to drop the seal-boy unless Batman jumps down first. Batman complies, but Goliath tosses "Flippy" anyway. However, he is rescued by Batman, who was still hanging from the tower with help from his Batrope. Afterward, Batman confronts Goliath and the killer, both of whom started to work together against a common enemy, and Batman gets help from the fat lady and Flippy. With their help, Batman manages to capture two killers and as dawn breaks, he takes them back to meet their justice. This story has been reprinted in Limited Collectors' Edition C-59 (1978), Saga of Ra's Al Ghul #4 (1988), Batman in the Seventies TPB (2000), Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams Vol. 2 HC (2004), Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams Vol. 2 TPB (2013), Showcase Presents: Batman Vol. 6 TPB (2016), and Batman by Neal Adams Vol. 2 TPB (2019).

This issue's backup story is Batgirl in  "Battle of the Three M's" by Frank Robbins, Don Heck, and Dick Giordano. When a popular fashion model, Mamie Acheson, is injured and has to select one of three models (Maxi, Midi, or Midi) to act as her replacement while her leg heals, it causes quite a stir in the fashion world. Batgirl soon finds herself involved after a suspicious visit from a member of a fashion company to her library seeking to get certain books.

Learning that they were last taken out by J. Thayer, Mamie Acheson's fashion designer, a curious Barbara decides to check things out as Batgirl. Arriving at the fashion studio, Batgirl finds a man there attempting to take pictures of the fashion from a skylight. Batgirl fights him off and follows him back to another garment manufacturer, where it turns out that they are indebted to a crook named Serpy who threatens to kill them if they don't square up an I.O.U.

Batgirl tries to intervene, however, is easily knocked out and soon finds herself strapped into a fabric cutter, with Serpy getting ready to slice her in two. This story is continued next issue and has been reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batgirl Vol. 1 TPB (2007) and Batgirl: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC (2018).

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Detective Comics #409

Detective Comics #409 (On Sale: January 28, 1971), has a Batman cover by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano.

We begin with Batman in "Man in the Eternal Mask" by Frank Robbins, Bob Brown, and Frank Giacoia. Batman is called in to investigate after a portrait of late philanthropist Hiram Cronin is vandalized in the Gotham Museum. Batman visits the artist Rene Leclerq who is completing a portrait of the Caped Crusader. This portrait has also been vandalized.

Batman has Rene fix the painting, which they then unveil at the museum. That night, the vandal returns and Batman is waiting. However, Batman is knocked out. When he recovers, he tracks down Leclerq who is being confronted by Tracy Calhoun, a former portrait subject. 

Calhoun was disfigured in a car crash after Leclerq made him late for an appointment. The former athlete blames the artist and has been destroying his work. Batman arrives in time to save Leclerq. Calhoun is killed when his own portrait falls on top of him. Reprinted in Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams (2004), Showcase Presents: Batman Vol. 6 TPB (2016), Batman by Neal Adams Omnibus (2016), and Batman by Neal Adams #2 (2019).

Continuing from the last issue, our Batgirl Backup is "Night of the Sharp Horns" by Frank Robbins, Don Heck, and Dick Giordano. On the ranch of Don Alvarado, Batgirl waits for the return of a mysterious man who killed a bull the previous night. This time she witnesses the man practice fighting a bull. She interrupts the fight and unmasks him as Paco, an aspiring bullfighter. Paco claims not to have been responsible for the death of the other bull.

In interrupting the fight, Batgirl puts herself in the way of the bull. She flees and takes refuge in Alvarado's arena. There, another masked man directs a bull to attack her. She subdues the bull using rodeo skills. She then unmasks this man as Manolo, the mentor of bullfighter El Granados. Manolo explains that he wanted to kill the bulls to protect El Granados who is past his prime. El Granados agrees to retire from the sport. Reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batgirl Vol. 1 TPB (2007) and Batgirl: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC (2018).

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Detective Comics #408

Detective Comics #408 (On Sale: December 31, 1970), has a classic Batman cover by Neal Adams.

We begin with the classic tale, "The House That Haunted Batman" written by Len Wein and Marv Wolfman and drawn by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano. Robin has gone missing and Batman sets out to find him in a decrepit old house; a place which appeared on the outskirts of Gotham City as sudden as Robin's disappearance.

As Batman enters deeper into the place, he shouts Robin's name, hoping that his young sidekick would answer his call. A few moments later, Batman is startled by the standing figure of Robin at the end of a long hallway. Batman runs to his young partner and once he is within reach, Robin collapses, forcing Batman to stop his fall with his arms. Batman takes a closer look at his partner and he is extremely shocked to see Robin aging at an inhuman speed until he becomes ashes in Batman's hands.

Suddenly, a raging scream breaks the silence of the abandoned house and Batman follows the source of the appalling sound, spawned from the darkest confines of the mansion. Opening a door on the upper floor, Batman is swarmed by a cloud of bats, but he continues his search despite the harrowing scenario until he finds the room from which the shrieks are coming. Once inside, Batman finds that it is all coming from a gramophone and just as he stops the record, he is attacked by an unknown assailant, who instantly runs away. Batman gives chase to the attacker, who is armed with a gun and is shooting backward as he escapes, aiming at Batman. Dodging the bullets, Batman finally manages to corner the attacker in one of the mansion's hallways, but he is paralyzed when he realizes that the attacker is none other than Robin.

As Batman is being attacked by his partner, he is forced to step back until he falls into a dark room and a door is closed in front of him. Surrounded by absolute darkness, Batman lights a match and is able to see members of the Justice League and Batman's personal friends, gathered together around a macabre open coffin. When Batman gets closer, he realizes that the body inside the casket is his own. Soon, the members attending Batman's funeral start giving their own eulogies about the Dark Knight. Unfortunately, they all speak dreadful thins, as Commissioner Gordon calls him a hypocrite and Superman resents him for stealing the glory on their past missions together. Finally, Batman realizes that everything is just a strange illusion, almost at the same time as Robin steps up and expresses his contempt for his late mentor and plans to reveal his secret identity to the world. At that moment, the light from the match fades out and the darkness returns. Lighting a second match, Batman realizes that everyone is gone and that it was in fact, all part of an illusion. However, he soon notices that the dark walls start closing in until they leave a very narrow space for Batman to move.

It is then that Batman's mind returns to reality and he realizes that he is locked in a special tube that makes him bounce up and down, with a monitor counting the number of times Batman has repeated the cycle. Besides Batman is an unconscious Robin, who is also locked in a similar tube, with the counter higher than Batman's. Finally, the mastermind behind it all reveals himself to the hero, and Batman is shocked to see Dr. Tzin-Tzin on a large monitor, controlling every movement.

Wanting to know how Tzin managed to escape prison, Tzin explains that it was easy for him to breach out and after he escaped, he tried to rejoin his old gang, but they scorned him after his defeat at the hands of Batman. Wanting revenge against the Dark Knight, Tzin was promptly contacted by the League of Assassins, whose plans had been thwarted twice by Batman and they provided the money and equipment to create this elaborate death trap. Tzin then proceeds to explain that the monitor counting Batman and Robin's movements on the tubes are actually triggers that would set explosions once the number reaches 100. Knowing that Robin's counter is far ahead of his own, Batman starts moving inside the tube in order to accelerate the counter so his tube would explode first. Tzin tries to get Batman to plead for Robin's life, but Batman manages to get the counter to 100 before Robin is killed.

Tzin believes that he has succeeded, but Batman appears again and breaks Robin out of the deadly tube. Batman explains that he used his Utility Belt to trigger the bomb and avoided being hurt by the explosion. Frustrated, but prepared for such eventuality, Tzin releases a dozen of highly trained killers to attack Batman. The Dark Knight uses his honed fighting skills to take down ten of his attackers, but the last couple of them manage to hold him, long enough for Tzin to reach him and end his vendetta. Batman is unable to break free and his hour of doom seems to finally have arrived when Robin appears out of nowhere and tackles Tzin-Tzin, giving Batman the chance to defeat the last two killers.

Finally, Batman and Robin take Tzin-Tzin out of the abandoned mansion and they take him towards the Batmobile waiting outside. However, as they reach their vehicle, the duo hear laughter coming from the house and when they turn around, they see Tzin-Tzin mocking them from one of the upper windows. Turning their attention back to the car, they realize that Tzin is not their prisoner any longer and seconds after this realization, the abandoned house explodes and the whole place comes crumbling down in ashes and fire.

As dawn breaks, the Batmobile silently retires from the ghastly scenario and disappears in the first mists of dawn that cover Gotham City. This classic tale has been reprinted in Detective Comics #477 (1978), Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams Vol. 2 HC (2004), Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams Vol. 2 TPB (2013), Tales of the Batman: Len Wein HC (2015), Showcase Presents: Batman Vol. 6 TPB (2016), Batman by Neal Adams Vol. 2 TPB (2019), and Tales of the Batman: Marv Wolfman Vol. 1 HC (2020).

Our backup Batgirl story is  "The Phantom Bullfighter" by Frank Robbins, Don Heck, and Dick Giordano. Barbara Gordon visits Spain to meet Don Alvarado who is donating an original manuscript by a prize-winning novelist to the library. During her stay, Babs attends a bullfight with Alvarado. The champion bullfighter El Granados is nearly killed, but a young fighter named Paco intervenes. Both the bullfighter and his mentor Manolo El Viejo are displeased that the boy has stolen their honor.

Later Babs visits Alvarado's ranch. During the night a cloaked man steals El Granados's sword and uses it to kill a prize bull. Batgirl tried to stop him, but she failed. The next day another sword is stolen, leading Babs to conclude that the man will strike again. This story continues next issue. This was Don Heck's first shot and Batgirl and he would draw her off and on for the next ten years. Reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batgirl Vol. 1 TPB (2007) and Batgirl: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC (2018).

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Detective Comics #407

Detective Comics #407 (On Sale: November 25, 1970), has another cool cover by Neal Adams.

Man-Bat is back in "Marriage: Impossible" by Frank Robbins, Neal Adams, and Dick Giordano. When Batman learns about the pending marriage between Kirk Langstrom and Francine Lee, he races down to the cathedral to stop the wedding. Interrupting the ceremony, he pulls a mask off Langstrom's head, revealing the face of the Man-Bat. Man-Bat flies off through the window leaving guests horrified and Francine in tears. Batman grabs her, demanding to understand how she could marry Kirk after everything that has happened.

He recalls how he tried to cure Kirk after their last battle against one another and even brought Francine to the Batcave, hoping she could convince Kirk to accept the antidote. This tactic failed and Kirk had escaped the cave the same way he got in. Francine then tells Batman how she pledged to show how committed she was to Kirk by taking the bat gland extract herself. She pulls off her veil and a mask revealing that she is now a She-Bat.

Francine flies off into the rafters and Batman chases after her. The Man-Bat peers down from above and tries to crush Batman with a chandelier. Batman evades the oncoming missile and sprints up the cathedral staircase. Batman rings the cathedral bell, which causes the Man-Bats intense pain. Taking advantage of the situation, Batman knocks them both out and administers the antidote, turning them back to normal. This story has been reprinted in Man-Bat #1 (1984), Batman in the Seventies TPB (2000), Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams Vol. 2 HC (2004), Showcase Presents: Batman Vol. 5 TPB (2012), Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams Vol. 2 TPB (2013), Batman Arkham: Man-Bat TPB (2017), and Batman by Neal Adams Vol. 2 TPB (2019).

Our backup is Batgirl in "One of Our Landmarks Is Missing" by Frank Robbins, Gil Kane, and Vince Colletta. Continuing from the last issue, Batgirl had stumbled upon the fact that the leader of the group Peaceful Protest has begun resorting to bombings to get the group's message across.  However, this revelation has gotten her trapped in a room where if she steps off a circle in the middle of the room the entire place will explode.

While Batgirl is utilizing her cape and a boot to try and turn off the switch that activates the explosives, Mal, Shelley, and the Peaceful Protest group pay a visit to a man named Slavin, who had hired Mal to bomb the building in question. The building in question was protected as a heritage building, which prevented Salvin from building a new high rise apartment building.

Batgirl arrives and with the help of Shelly, captures everybody involved, however, Shelly is shot attempting to stop Mal from escaping. Shelly is taken to a hospital where is expected to recover and testify against Salvin. This was reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batgirl Vol. 1 TPB (2007) and Batgirl: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC (2018).

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Detective Comics #406

Detective Comics #406 (On Sale: October 29, 1970), has a Batman cover by Neal Adams.

We begin with Batman in "Your Servant of Death -- Dr. Darrk" by Denny O'Neil, Bob Brown and Frank Giacoia. When shipping magnate Count Orsoni is attacked and almost killed, Bruce Wayne decides to visit the man, who is an old friend. Upon arriving at the Count's castle in the foreign country he resides, Bruce is welcomed by Mara Thursday, the Count's cousin and Dr. Darrk, one of Orsoni's friends. However, Bruce is not allowed to see the Count, although he is invited to stay in the place.

Having previously stopped the League of Assassins from murdering another shipping magnate, Bruce decides to investigate the case as Batman and he starts prowling the castle, looking for the Count. He is distracted when Mara Thursday screams in her room and when Batman enters, she makes up a story about an attacker that left without harming her. Batman deduces that this was all a distraction and he rushes to the Count's chambers, but he finds nothing but an empty room.

Batman deduces that the Count was kidnapped recently and he starts looking in the castle, when he is suddenly attacked by another member of the League of Assassins. Batman manages to defeat the assassin and he proceeds to look on the hidden places of the castle. Batman finally reaches the cellar, where he finds the Count but falls for a trap and is forced to lay on top of an execution altar. Batman deduces the identity of the killer as Dr. Darrk and he reveals himself as the president of the League of Assassins and prepares Batman for his execution.

Batman is shackled to the altar and forced to hold a rope that keeps an axe from beheading him. Dr. Darrk leaves with the certainty that Batman's grip will surely fail and he forgets about the Count. As Batman in fact starts losing his strength, the Count recovers and, crawling aimlessly, he pushes the statue of a saint on top of the altar, which falls near Batman's head at the same time as he lets go of the rope. The axe falls on the statue, saving Batman's life and the shackles are broken by the impact.

Batman takes the Count to safety, but by the time he goes to the main rooms of the castle, he finds only the assassin he previously defeated and Mara Thursday. Darrk has left the place long ago and Batman arrests Mara and the assassin, who confess all they know about the League, which is not much. This story was reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batman Vol. 5 TPB (2012).

The backup story is Batgirl in "The Explosive Circle" by Frank Robbins, Gil Kane and Vince Colletta. When a residential building is blown up, the sole clue is a book taken out from Gotham Public Library. Finding the book is popular among young hippies/protesters, Barbara Gordon decides to investigate further as Batgirl. Tracing the address of the last person to take out the book in question, Batgirl finds that it belongs to a girl who is a member of the youth group Peaceful Protest. However, when Batgirl informs her the book was found at the site of a bombing, the girl freaks out and slams the door on Batgirl.

Tailing the young woman to a theater known as "Up Against the Wall Baby", Batgirl soon stumbles upon the groups leader Mal who has decided peaceful protesting no longer works and wants to begin using more violent methods. Finding Batgirl at their latest rally, she is knocked out during a performance and when she comes too, she finds that Mal has placed her in a room rigged to explode should she step out of the circle she is standing on. Obviously, continued next issue. This story was reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batgirl Vol. 1 TPB (2007) and Batgirl: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC (2018).

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Detective Comics #405

Detective Comics #405 (On Sale: September 29, 1970) has another moody Batman cover by Neal Adams.

We begin with Batman in "The First of the Assassins!" by Denny O'Neil, Bob Brown and Frank Giacoia. Answering the Bat-Signal, Batman is informed by Commissioner Gordon that a number of murders that have taken place in Europe and, according to information by the Interpol, the next target is a shipping magnate, K.C. Agonistes, whose boat is currently in Gotham Harbor. Since the man has refused police protection, Gordon is tied and can't do anything officially and hopes that Batman can act unofficially on his behalf.

That night, Batman infiltrates the ship, but is immediately detected by extra security measures incorporated into the ship. The magnate, his fiancée, and his employees greet Batman with pleasure and they welcome him to be part of their journey. After taking a closer look at other security measures on the ship, Batman starts patrolling the deck at night. When Batman notices a disturbance in the waters, he tells the crew to evacuate the ship in the lifeboats. Batman then being shooting at at a pod of dolphins, but he is unable to prevent the destruction of the ship as one of the animals carrying a plastic explosive gets past his onslaught..

Batman reaches the only lifeboat that made it free in time where he joins a sailor, Agonistes and his fiancée. They sail to a nearby island, which seems abandoned at first sight, but they swoon realize is littered with boobytraps. After saving the three people from lethal traps, Batman goes into the island to find the killer. Shortly after, Batman realizes that he has been lured away from his companions and he rushes back, but falls for a trap in the midst of the jungle. From the shadows comes a nimble man, the same responsible for trying to kill the magnate. The man tells Batman that he has a mission to accomplish and that after he's finished, he will come back to kill him as well.

Batman breaks free from the trap and he heads to the camping site where Agonistes and the others are waiting for his return. He arrives in time to prevent the assassin from killing them and a fight ensues. The assassin reveals that he is part of a larger faction known as the League of Assassins, which cannot be bribed or stopped. The killer gets the upper hand in the fight and he gets ready to eliminate Batman, when he is suddenly blinded by some flares that explode on Batman's cape, which was burning in the fire. Batman takes the chance to defeat the assassin, but he knows that he is just a pawn in a larger scheme, orchestrated by a master criminal mind. This story was reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batman Vol. 5 TPB.

Next is Batgirl in "The Living Statue" by Frank Robbins, Gil Kane and Frank Giacoia. Continuing from last issue, Batgirl has been investigating the murder of X-rated film director Billy Warlock, whom her friend, Jason Bard, has been framed for. Her search brought her to Warlock's studio where she was captured by one of Warlock's actresses Veda who masterminded the whole scheme and is now preparing to trap Batgirl in plaster.

As she slowly covers Batgirl in the plaster, she destroys the evidence that would clear Bard's name while boasting to Batgirl that she got away with murder. To added rich irony she screams this at a giant lit up face of Warlock that was set in the studio. As the fire from the burning evidence spreads, Veda prepares to apply the last of the plaster that will cover Batgirl's head when another of Warlock's actresses: Infra-Red charges in the room to stop Veda.

While the two girls fight, Batgirl gets free and eventually has to save them from the flames. After when the fire department shows up, Veda boasts how they'll never be able to prove that she murdered Billy Warlock, but then Infra-Red informs her that in the giant portrait of Billy's face was a camera that filmed her whole confession. With it turned over as evidence, --as Barbara Gordon -- Batgirl gets to witness Bard being cleared of all charges and set free. This story has been reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batgirl Vol. 1 TPB and Batgirl: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC.

We end with a filler reprint, "The Sleuth in the Iron Mask" drawn by Bob Brown and reprinted from Gangbusters #62 (1958).

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

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.

Detective Comics #400

Detective Comics #400 (On Sale: April 30, 1970) has yet another beautiful Batman cover by Neal Adams, this one introducing the Man-Bat on this the 400th issue of the company's namesake title.

Sometimes DC did anniversary issues right, and this is one of those instances. You could tell just by looking at the cover, that the Man-Bat was something new and different.

We begin with "Challenge of the Man-Bat!" by Frank Robbin, Neal Adams and Dick Giordano. Zoologist Kirk Langstrom is working late at the Gotham Natural History Museum putting together a bat habitat. When the Curator finally leaves Langstrom alone he can pursue his true interest: working on a serum that can give him enhanced auditory abilities through a bat gland extract.

At the same time, a group of thieves, known as the Blackout Gang, break into a vault. They equip themselves with black body stockings, "light-intensifier" goggles and ultra-sonic cutting tools that enable them to work in total darkness. However, Batman still manages to find them and a fight ensues. The gang's momentary advantage dissipates once Batman makes physical contact. Realizing their heist has gone south, the Blackout Gang escapes from the building in a hurry, leaving behind an ultra-sonic cutter. Realizing their mistake, the gang hatches z plan to use the tool's frequency to lure Batman into a trap.

Back at the museum, Kirk Langstrom tests his new formula upon himself in his darkened lab. The dripping of a faucet is suddenly blasting in his ears and his eyes are blinded by the single lightbulb.. He runs across the blacked pout lab and retrieves a pair of sunglasses, realizing that he was able to avoid all obstacles in the dark. He surmises that his vocal cords are now emitting super-sonic signals, like a bat. He uses was to plug his hearing.

Meanwhile, at the Wayne Foundation, Bruce works on some stereo-locater ear plugs to increase his hearing and test them out on Alfred, locating him by listening to his heartbeat.  He develops a sonar detector calibrated to the cutter's unique frequency.

Back at the museum, Langstrom notices that his hands are growing hairy and claw-like. He uses his coat and hat to hind his mutating body, but when his hat is knocked off his head he rushes blindly across the room till he sees himself in a reflective surface. It is then that he realizes he is mutating into something inhuman; he wanted to be like Batman, but has instead turned into a Man-Bat! Realizing he has turned into some sort of freak, he decides to go into hiding till he can find an antidote.

The next morning the curator receives a telegram informing him that Kirk has flown to Chicago to sit with his ill mother. What the curator does not know is that Langstrom is sleeping on the ceiling of the bat exbibit, clutching to a stalactite. That night Langstrom awakes, ravenous with hunger and runs toward the cafeteria, which takes him through the gem collection.

As luck, or plot would have it, the Blackout Gang has decided to rob the Gotham Natural History Museum gem collection and use their sonic tool to lure Batman there. Note: this page introduces us to a new Adams' designed Batmobile, built, so it says, by an advanced-thinking car company for Batman to use. Batman arrives and is able to seek out each gang member by his heartbeat. However, figuring that Batman might try to use some sort of sonar, the gang throws pi9ng pong balls into the room, causing Batman to become disoriented, unable to track the members.

They pile onto him and are about to crush his skull when they hear a strange Skreee! sound. The Man-Bat lays into the gang and gives Batman the time he needs to regain his senses and rejoin the fray. Fighting side-by-side the Batman and the Man-Bat make easy work of the gang. The gang defeated, Batman wants to thank his new friend and casts a flashlight upon Langstrom. Batman congratulates him on his amazing disguise, Langstrom replies, "Disguise? I only wish it were!"

The Man-Bat runs away, declaring, "I've succeeded, only too well!" leaving Batman to wonders if he just made a formidable friend... or a foe. It does not get much better than this! This classic origin story has been reprinted in Batman Family #1, Man-Bat #1, Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams Vol. 2 HC, Showcase Presents: Batman Vol. 5 TPB, Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams Vol. 2 TPB, Batman Arkham Man-Bat TPB and Batman by Neal Adams Vol. 2 TPB.

This classic is followed by the first team-up of Batgirl and Robin in "A Burial for Batgirl" by Denny O'Neil, Gil Kane and Vinnie Colletta. Driving to the library at Hudson University, Barbara Gordon hears a cry for help. She enters the building as Batgirl, and runs into an escaping young man. She is momentarily distracted by a strange odor and the man gets away. She retraces his steps and, finding a dead body, heads out after the man. She finds him being attacked by two students. She stops these students with the help of the nick-of-time arrival of Dick Grayson.

Later, at the police station, she tells the chief of police that she came up from Gotham City with her friend Barbara Gordon who was delivering some rare books written by Edgar Alan Poe for an upcoming Poe festival. The police chief explains that the young man they captured, Mark Osher, is a known "radical" and probably the killer of the murdered man, Amos Willard, who is the school business manager. The chief goes on to recount that Willard planned to have a nearby forest cut down so the university could build a new gym and that the plan was opposed by Professor Huntington, the schools biologist, and Osher. At a rally the previous night, Osher had threatened to kill Willard. 

Batgirl goes to speak to Osher, who maintains his innocence and claims that he is was knocked out in the library and he had panicked when he came too and found Willard's body. In search of clues, Batgirl seems to put something together when she remembers the odd smell she first encountered. She sees Robin leaving the Library as she head to a different location, where she is knocked unconscious. Batgirl regains consciousness to find herself bound and gagged and her unknown attacker sealing her into a room with bricks. This story was continued in the next issue and was 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.

Detective Comics #397

Detective Comics #397 (On Sale: January 29, 1970) has a beautiful Batman cover by Neal Adams.

There is a real difference between the Batman in "Paint a Picture of Peril" by Denny O'Neil, Neal Adams and Dick Giordano, and the Batman DC has been publishing for decades. I think Denny O'Neil understood where to take the character better than any writer at DC and of course, Neal Adams really "got" who Batman was.

The opening sequence of this story could be used as a crib sheet for writers and artists for years to come on how to portray "the Batman." Sure, he has his "toys," his batarang and in this story a pretty cool undersea sled, but for the most part, his major tools of the trade are that he is a fairly good fighter and he scares the hell out of people.

Great stuff by both Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams. As you can see the story opens with Batman attempting to foil a nighttime robbery of an art exhibit. By the way, there was nothing special going on during Batman's eerie stand against the robbers; he simply tried to dodge the spears by moving his body under his cape. Yeah, tried to dodge; he almost pulled it off, but got hit in the nerve of his right arm, making it all but useless and him unable to follow the underwater robbers. Up top he finds that they took a painting called "The Startled Mermaid," the least valuable item in the exhibit.

Changing back to Bruce Wayne he heads to his mid-town penthouse where he finds his cleaning lady has left the TV on. There is a special documentary on the life of wealthy Orson Payne, a Charles Foster Kane type, who bears a striking resemblance to Orson Welles. He was engaged to opera star Caterina Valance 25 years earlier when she mysteriously vanished and Payne became a recluse in his huge castle home. This is playing in the background while Bruce tends to his wounds and does yoga to "restore circulation."

As he finishes up, his cleaning woman, Cathy, comes back for her forgotten handbag and turns off the TV calling it a "vile thing." As she leaves Bruce remembers that while under water he noticed that the algae was glowing and surmises that the glow came from a submarine with low-yield nuclear engines. So come midnight we find Batman at a deserted pier launching a new underwater bat-sled and following the lingering radiation trail. The trail leads to a small nuclear sub at one of the island estates. Batman recognizes the place, it is Orson Payne's.

Sneaking past Payne's personal guards, Batman finds the man talking to an empty room of statues and paintings. Batman confronts Payne and points out the stolen painting. Payne says that he must have every likeness of Caterina, the woman who spurned him and when owners will not sell, he still acquires the piece. Since he cannot have Caterina, he now consoles himself with images of her.

Batman chases the crazed Payne through his estate, where he is lured into a trap, falling through a trap door into a small cell. Payne pulls a lever that slowly lowers a two-ton deathfall into the cell. Using a batarang on a rope Batman pulls down a chandelier, wedging it between the top of the cell and the lowering deathfall. As he comes for Payne, Payne's grip on sanity finally snaps and he sees his beloved Caterina floating in the air outside his balcony. He reaches for her, stumbling through the crumbling railing and over the edge of the balcony. Swinging out an a bat-rope Batman catches Payne who thinks he is in the arms of his beloved.

The following morning a healing Bruce is watching the coverage of the story on the news when his cleaning woman Cathy comes in and turnes off the TV saying, "You shouldn't be watching such trash." Bruce realizes it is not the TV she hates, but rather Orson Payne, and asks her if she was ever an opera singer. She says that, yes, she was, but she gave it all up to gain her freedom. Bruce says her secret is safe with him, that he sympathizes with people who want to keep secrets. Reprinted in Limited Collectors' Edition C-44 and Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams Vol. 2 HC.

The back-up story is "The Hollow Man," the conclusion of last issue's Batgirl story, by Frank Robbins, Gil Kane and Murphy Anderson. Remember, Batgirl is trying to catch the Orchid Killer, who has been preying on redheads, and is using Barbara Gordon as bait, joining the same computer-dating service as the victims. Mousy Max Tournov brought her an orchid and she tossed him over her shoulder. He crushed the orchid and ran off and she gave chase as Batgirl, only to lose him and be pulled into a dark alley by someone who says, "A red-headed Batgirl will do for now!" So much for the recap!

She tosses this guy and is surprised that he is not Max, but instead is a rather handsome guy. Startled she lets the mystery man get the best of her, knocking her out cold. When she wakes up she is being comforted by Max Tournov, who she thanks before leaving.

Two nights later as Barbara she is back in the computer-dating scene, saddled with a really homely guy named John Milman who meets her at the door with an orchid. When the uneventful date is over, Barbara says she hopes they can see each other again and when Milman presses her on it, he becomes angry. John says he knows she doesn't mean it, that he is ugly and repulsive, "Liars! All of you! You're all fragile blossoms--too precious to touch! Well--I dare to touch! And crush you all!" As Barbara gets ready to attack back, John is accosted by Jason Bard, who with his "darned trick knee" fouls everything up and lets John escape. Jason says he saw them coming out a movie and followed them out of jealousy.

Ditching Jason, Batgirl crashes John Milman's apartment, only to find him packing for a quick exit from town. Only, he isn't John Milman, he is the handsome mugger from the alley and in his possession Batgirl finds rubber masks of John Milman and Max Tournov. When he comes to the man explains that women have always fawned over him for being so handsome, but that he felt his beauty was a barrier to finding the inner beauty of women. So he used a mask to hide his own beauty and dated homely women in order to release their inner beauty. But he found them all hollow and so he needed to crush them. Batgirl says that the hollowness was not within the women but within him, that he is "the hollow man--finding ugliness in everything!"

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Detective Comics #396

Detective Comics #396 (On Sale: December 23, 1969) has a cover by Neal Adams.

This issue begins with Batman in "The Brain-Pickers" by Frank Robbins, Bob Brown and Joe Giella. Wall Street wiz-kid Rory Bell makes the cover of Now! Magazine and the notice of Bruce Wayne and three thugs led by a guy named Sharf. Bell rides around on his motorcycle and radio-phones in his orders to his broker and girl friend, Nan Owens.

Sharf has a buddy who works at the garage where Bell keeps his bike and has had his helmet bugged, so that when he places an order Sharf and his buddies will be able to "share in the wealth." Their plan goes south when they find out Bell phones in his orders in code.

As it ends up Nan is Bruce's broker as well and Bruce calls in to see how "the street" is reacting to Wayne Enterprises proposed merger with Seven-Star Pictures. Nan mentions how Bell has bought in for a "big slice" and how others are following his lead. Meantime, Sharf and his buddies waylay Bell on his bike and say they are going to hold him up in a motel room for a few days and make all the same trades as he does to get rich quick.

Bell tells them it doesn't work that way, that if he can't ride his bike he can't figure out what to trade, so the thugs agree to just follow him by car. Bell's first order is to sell Wayne Enterprises which forces Nan to Call Bruce to try and soften the blow on "the street." Eventually Bruce figures out that Bell's orders are really a code for where he located and as Batman Bruce goes to intercept him.

At a gas station Batman confronts the thugs and has to use the remote-control features of the new Batmobile to foil the thug's plans. All in all a pretty stupid story. I remember liking Robbins' run on Batman, so either it gets a lot better or I didn't have very good taste in writing back then.

Much better written by Frank Robbins is the back-up Batgirl story, "The Orchid-Crusher," drawn by Gil Kane and Murphy Anderson. The Orchid-Killer is murdering one redhead after another and Barbara Gordon is even dreaming that as Batgirl she is a victim of the killer. She learns that the last victim had registered at a computer dating service when she finds a book with the woman's dating card used as a bookmark. She tracks down the last borrower of the book, but he has moved out of his apartment. Barbara immediately rents the apartment and also joins the computer dating service. She has to brush off Jason Bard's advances as she waits for the trap she is setting to be sprung.

She does get a date through the service, a mousy looking man named Max Tournov, but he seems harmless, till he buys her an orchid and then tries to kiss her. She sends him over her shoulder and he responds by crushing he orchid and running off. As Batgirl Barbara gives chase, but loses him. As she frantically searches, she is pulled into a dark alley by an unseen figure who says, "A red-headed Batgirl will do for now!"

The filler story is "The Master of Mind Over Matter" from Strange Adventures #26 by Jack Miller, Gil Kane and John Giunta. This is a tight little story about a psychiatrist and amateur magician named Blake, whom the police asked to report on the sudden death of a magician named Elmo the Great, since the man had been investigating Elmo for a while. It seemed Elmo could do miraculous things: levitate people, turn water into wine, etc. Blake was present when Elmo suddenly died. In his report he tells the police that he believes an alien creature had entered Elmo's body and was the source of his amazing powers. The police scoff at such nonsense and leave. Blake then reveals that he knows what he says to be true because when Elmo died the creature entered his own body.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Detective Comics #393 (On Sale: September 30, 1969) has just a really ineffective cover by Irv Novick. The Batman figure seems squeezed in under the massive logo and it is hard to tell exactly how old Novick thinks Robin is. Ugh, I just don't like this one.

"The Combo Caper" is by Frank Robbins, Bob Brown and Joe Giella and although the cover scene does sort of happen in this issue, it is basically the last panel, so in that way this cover is sort of a cheap "come on." as the captioned question, "Why?," is never addressed. We begin with Batman and Robin noticing while on patrol a light on at the Winslow mansion. They knew very well that the Winslows are vacationing at their beach front estate next to Bruce's in Ocean Point so they enter and surprise an thief in mid caper. Before the thief escapes in the Batmobile no less, Robin lands a right jab to his covered face. The thief didn't have enough time to crack the Winslow's safe, but left behind a clue, an aluminum pop-top with the two sets of safe combinations scratched into its surface, the Winslow's and one other.

The next morning, after retrieving the abandoned Batmobile, Bruce, Dick and Alfred head out for Ocean Point for a little R & R. On the way they pick up Skeet Callum, an under-privileged teen in crisis that Bruce is attempting to mentor for the Civic Conscience Council. Skeet has an attitude the rub Dick the wrong way, and he also has a shiner and an addiction to Kool-Up soda, in the aluminum pop-top cans.

Once at the beach, Dick and Skeet run into Deena Winslow, who is also sporting a shiner and a Kool-Up addiction. That night Bruce, Dick and Skeet attend a big bash at the Winslow estate where they are introduced to world-traveler and yacht-owner Aristide Naxos. The teens all head out for a party on the beach where Skeet and Deena have an argument and Skeet takes off alone.

As the night wears on, Aristide makes his exit to his yacht and Mrs. Winslow tries to hit on Bruce, resulting in Bruce going upstairs to fetch her wrap, only to discover that the Winslow's safe here has been robbed. Looking around Bruce finds another pop-top with this safe's combination. Bruce remembers that Skeet is always drinking Kool-Up and tells him that if he robbed the place he can still give the jewels back, no questions asked. Skeet runs off and later Bruce laments that he may have pushed Skeet towards crime by accusing him. This sends Dick out to find him, which he does lying unconscious on the beach. Skeet says that he found Deena digging in the sand and that she was being signaled from Naxos's yacht and when he tried to ask her what was going on she decked him with her surfboard.

Later Dick rides out on a surfboard toward the yacht, gathering the attention of the guards on board. What they don;t see is Batman tagging along with the board underwater. using a rebreather. While Dick catches a few waves at night, Batman sneaks on to the yacht where he confronts Naxos and Deena. When Naxos pulls a gun Deena disarms him. Inside her can of Kool-Up are the jewels, which she stole to punish her parents for only buying her things instead of loving her. Later Skeet finds out that Batman came to his aid and that if Batman thinks he is worth something, then maybe he should too.

The final panel is a close-up of Batman thinking, "The case is over...the team-up is finished! This is good-bye for Batman and Robin!"

The Batgirl back-up is "Downfall of a Goliath!" by Frank Robbins, Gil Kane and Murphy Anderson. Reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batgirl Vol. 1 TPB.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

World's Finest Comics #189

World's Finest Comics #189 (On Sale: September 11, 1969) has a cover by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson.

We begin with Superman and Batman in "The Man With Superman's Heart" by Cary Bates, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito. The back-up is Roy Raymond in "The City That Time Forgot" by Jack Miller and Ruben Moreira and reprinted from Detective Comics #270.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Detective Comics #392

Detective Comics #392 (On Sale: August 28, 1969) has a cover by Neal Adams. It is kind of cool that at least one side of this cover is based on the Bob Brown panel on the inside.

Inside we have Batman in "I Died... a Thousand Deaths" by Frank Robbins, Bob Brown and Joe Giella. Angles Moore lets Batman know that he is read to turn on mob-boss Scap Scarpelli. Batman does not trust Angles, and, as expected, Angles tries to kill Batman, their fight ending with them both underwater and the scene on the cover occurring. Angles is a hero to the mob, but he keeps finding evidence of Batman still being alive.

Eventually Scap decides that Angles must have botched killing Batman, so he is going to bump him off instead when it is revealed that, of course, Angles has been Batman since the two went underwater. Batman explains it all as he takes Scap in for booking. This was reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batman Vol. 5 TPB.

The back-up Batgirl story is "A Clue... Seven-Foot Tall" by Frank Robbins, Gil Kane and Murphy Anderson. and introduces Jason Bard. On her way to work, Barbara notices a man with a cane looking over the  site of a recent murder in Central Park. When the same man comes into the library later on, Barbara and a co-worker, Stella, try to guess what kind of book he will be looking for. As he checks out a book on botany, Barbara tells of seeing him at the murder site. He, Jason bard, explains that he is an armature criminologist and asks her out for lunch. He explains that while the police say the killer hid in the bushes, Jason notes that the leaves on the ground are not from the bushes, but the tree and surmises that it was hit by someone around seven feet tall. They head off to that night's basketball game and notice that one player, Topper, has a bandage on his forehead, as if he whacked it on a tall tree.

During the game, Jason sneaks off to check out Topper's locker while he is on the court, only to run into two of Topper's "friends" who rough him up a bit. Just as one is about to smack him with a blackjack, Batgirl shows up and saves the day. They both meet back at their seats and bot are wondering how to ditch the other so they can continue crime-fighting. This story is continued next issue and was reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batgirl Vol. 1 TPB.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Batman #214

Batman #214 (On Sale: June 5, 1969) has one of those covers where DC was trying so hard to be hip and failing so hugely that it made you want to cry. Well, in retrospect it does; I think I thought it was kind of hip when I was 12. Cover by Irv Novick.

The feature-length Batman story "Batman's Marriage Trap" is by Frank Robbins, Irv Novick and Joe Giella. The winner of the Queen of Gotham beauty contest wins a night on the town with Gotham's most "coveted male," Batman. A gang leader named Strack figures since the whole night will be televised, and they will know Batman's every move, this is the perfect night to go on a crime spree. It works just as Strack planned and the next morning finds Bruce and Dick lamenting that they can never get a night off and Strack working on a scheme to make this kind of night a regular occurrence.

The beautiful Cleo is brought in and shows up the next morning at a posh Madison Avenue ad agency with a million-dollar budget for promoting W.E.B., Women to the End of Bachelorhood, a group dedicated to removing Batman's bachelorhood, the "one barrier to happy marriage in Gotham, the symbol of all single male eligibles." The city is soon flooded with wave after wave of Batman, "Wanted for Marriage" signs, fliers, and posters. Barbara Gordon smells something fishy in this supposed "grass-roots" movement to snare Batman and goes to check out the local W.E.B. chapter. Women begin picketing City Hall and when Batman and Robin show up they find Batgirl among those picketing "Batman Unfair to Gotham Gals!"

Trying to get away from the mob Batman and Robin are thwarted by the mass of women until they are saved by Cleo, whose car puts out a smoke screen, letting the dynamic duo escape. But Cleo is playing "hard to get" and pretends she is uninterested in Batman. Later Cleo passes out police-band radios to the women, so they can track Batman's every move. The women show up when Batman and Robin intercept a gang of fur thieves. The only thing that saves them from the mob is Cleo, who once again brushes Batman off.

Back at Strack's hideout he informs Cleo that the plan to keep Batman distracted is working great and that the gang is making more money than ever. Meanwhile, Batman is finding it hard to get Cleo off his mind, but soon the duo finds themselves on the trail of a gang of luxury car thieves. When they see the gang trying to steal Cleo's sports car they intercept them only to find it is a trap. However, once again they are saved by Cleo who confesses that she has fallen for Batman, but the gang get the drop on her and are about to execute all of them when Batgirl shows up and the ass-kicking begins.

Batgirl relates how she joined W.E.B. to get to the bottom of the campaign and then started following Cleo. Cleo admits she was part of the gang and is tearfully put into handcuffs. Batman however, gives her a chance to make things right and, using her information and her car, Batman and a disguised Batgirl are able to capture Strack and end the gang's crime spree. Because of her help Cleo has been promised clemency and without the W.E.B. campaign stirring things up, Batman's life goes back to normal. Well, as normal a life as you can have when you dress up as a giant bat and fight crime. This story, guest-starring Batgirl has been reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batgirl Vol. 1 TPB.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Detective Comics #389

Detective Comics #389 (On Sale: May 29, 1969) has a nice cover by Neal Adams.

We begin with "Batman's Evil Eye" by Frank Robbins, Bob Brown and Joe Giella. This is not one of Frank Robbins' better efforts. When a story begins with Professor Crane, AKA the Scarecrow being released from prison and Batman begins striking fear into the hearts of criminals again, it shouldn't take Batman so many pages to figure out who is behind it. This story is so simplistic and half-assedly written that I'm not even going to bother repeating the plot. Suffice to say, Batman scares people and by looking in the mirror he scares himself and in the end the Scarecrow loses.

That is followed by our back-up Batgirl story "Batgirl's Bag of Tricks" by Frank Robbins, Gil Kane and Murphy Anderson. Continuing from last issue, Barbara in a Batgirl costume not her own has followed "Batman" to an airline costume party where her new roommate, whom she is impersonating, is the guest of honor. Seeing "Batman" hook up with others dressed as the Flash, Superman and Green Lantern she has eavesdropped and found out that her new roommate is in a jewel smuggling ring with the other "heroes." She now finds herself taking on the other "heroes," minus Batgirl's weapons-bag.

The gang subdue her, but the fight has brought the police. This gives Barbara the edge and she knocks out both the Flash, Green Lantern and Batman, but Superman gets away. Thinking Barbara is her roommate, Darlene Dawson, she is given the award for Air-Hostess With the Mostest" then beats a hasty retreat. Remembering that Darlene said she was going to visit her Grandfather on this, his birthday, Barbara cycles out to Cosby Corners in search of the Dawsons, not knowing that "Superman" is tailing her, thinking she is Darlene and heading for the jewels she stole from them.

When she finds the Dawsons she learns that Grandpa is actually the brains behind Darlene's crimes. Deciding to take them down Barbara fights Darlene while Gramps pulls out an old Tommy Gun. At the same time "Superman" shows up sees that there are two Darlenes and decides to kill them both. However, it's been a long time since Grandpa's bootlegging days and the Thompson is a little too much gun for him. Bullets fly haphazardly around the room, killing "Superman." Barbara stops Grandpa cold with a two-tiered birthday cake in the chops. This has been reprinted in Batman in the Sixties TPB and Showcase Presents: Batgirl Vol. 1 TPB.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.