Batman 255

Batman 255

Apr 1974

Moon of the Wolf

by Len Wein, Neal Adams, Dick Giordano

Batman fights off a werewolf that attacks a woman. The werewolf escapes while Batman is forced to abandon the fight after the werewolf throws the woman out a window. Batman goes to see commissioner Gordon, after rescuing the woman.

The werewolf goes to see Doctor Milo, after the fight with Batman. He changes back into a man, Anthony Lupus. Milo helped Lupus overcome debilitating headaches by accelerating his proclivity for lycanthropy. Milo now demands that Lupus kill Batman before he cures Lupus of lycanthropy. 

Detective Comics 408

Detective Comics 408

Feb 1971

The House that Haunted Batman!

by Marv Wolfman, Len Wein, Neal Adams, Dick Giordano, John Costanza

15 pages

Batman goes looking for Robin, who disappeared 24 hours ago. His search leads him to an old mansion. He finds Robin but then he isn't sure if he really found him at all as the person he found crumbles into dust. Someone who looks just like Robin starts shooting at Batman.

Detective Comics 448

Detective Comics 448

May 1975

Bedlam Beneath the Big Top!

by Len Wein, Ernie Chan, Dick Giordano, Julius Schwartz

Batman follows some information that Jack Ryder (aka the Creeper) dug up for him and goes to see Gaston St. Lucifer’s Circus Extraordinaire. He sneaks around, finds some answers, and gets into fights with several of the circus performers. He locates Ra’s Al Ghul and Talia, both very much alive and learns how and why he was framed for murder. 

Detective Comics 447

Detective Comics 447

May 1975

Enter: The Creeper

by Len Wein, Ernie Chan, Dick Giordano, Julius Schwartz

Batman digs up the coffin of Ra’s Al Ghul but finds it empty. He is about to do the same for Talia’s coffin when a couple police officers show up. He tries to show them that the coffin is empty but when he does it is no longer empty. They try to arrest him. He runs.

Alfred performed some forensic work on the gun that killed Ra’s and Talia. It was handmade and there was a hair from a lion on it. Batman takes Alfred’s discoveries into account and heads to the Gotham Zoo. The Creeper, convinced that Batman is a murderer, tries to apprehend the Dark Knight. They both find themselves in danger when someone frees the zoo’s lions from their cage.

Detective Comics 446

Detective Comics 446

May 1975

Slaughter in Silver

by Len Wein, Jim Aparo, Julius Schwartz

Batman goes back undercover to investigate a skeleton that was found inside  one of Bruce Wayne’s statues. He sneaks into Gotham City Police HQ disguised as a janitor. His detective work is interrupted by three men who want to take the skeleton from the morgue.

He follows the thugs after his fight with them gets broken up by a couple police officers. The thugs inadvertently lead him to Sterling Silversmith, their boss. Another fight breaks out but this time Batman gets knocked unconscious. He wakes up just as Silversmith is getting ready to kill him.

Detective Comics 445

Detective Comics 445

Mar 1975

Break-In at the Big House

by Len Wein, Jim Aparo, Julius Schwartz

Commissioner Gordon asks Bruce Wayne to help him convince Batman to turn himself in. Bruce instead gets dressed up as Batman and breaks in to Gotham City's prison. He wants to have a talk with Ra’s Al Ghul. The mastermind criminal confounds Batman by shooting himself in the chest. The guards assume that Batman shot Ra's. The guards try to apprehend Batman but the Dark Knight Detective escapes through a tunnel created by the Spook. 

Detective Comics 444

Detective Comics 444

Jan 1975

Bat-Murderer!

by Len Wein, Jim Aparo, Julius Schwartz

Commissioner Gordon recounts to one of his men of how he sent Batman on a mission that resulted in the Dark Knight murdering Talia Al-Ghul. Commissioner Gordon tried to have Batman arrested but Batman insisted he was innocent. Batman fled into the night, determined to find the evidence that would clear his name. 

Thoughts

This is the first chapter of a five-part story. This installment is just 12 pages long. I am reading it in Tales of the Batman: Len Wein via Hoopla. The individual issues would probably cost me at least $15 to $25 a piece in fine condition.

Detective Comics 479

Detective Comics 479
Oct 1978

If a Man Be Made of Clay...!
by Len Wein, Marshall Rogers, Dick Giordano

- Batman evades Clayface's touch but Clayface escapes, disables the Batmobile; takes the devices

- Clayface heads back to Gotham gets into an accident; passing motorists stop; Clayface kills one; takes their car

- Batman arrives on the scene; whirlybird; comforts woman; another flashback to Silver

- Clayface encounters police (including Commissioner Gordon) when he tries to cross the Gotham Narrows Bridge into Gotham; Batman is also on the bridge; Clayface escapes by driving off the bridge (into the river?)

Detective Comics 478

Detective Comics 478
Aug 1978

The Coming of... Clayface III!
by Len Wein, Marshall Rogers, Dick Giordano

- Batman breaks up a robbery at the Gotham Aquarium
- still getting over the breakup with Silver St. Cloud (flashbacks)
- takes some of his frustration out on the thieves
- Clayface III at STAR Labs; the fever; security guard, stealing machinery
- Batman/Bruce Wayne brooding over Silver
- Clayface's lair, wax museum; origin story
- next night Clayface breaks into Starhaven Labs (division of STAR Labs); unsuccessful previous night, night watchman
- Cliffhanger ending; fever strikes; Clayface and Batman; strength comes from his exoskeleton