DETECTIVE COMICS #497

"BAD NIGHT IN BAJA"
Writer Gerry Conway | Artists: Don Newton & Dan Adkins
Colorist: Adrienne Roy | Letterer: Ben Oda | Editor: Paul Levitz

The Plot: At a ramshackle hotel bar on a dark and stormy night in Baja California, several men go about their evening's business, including the establishment's owner, who plans to burn the place down for insurance money. Suddenly, an injured man staggers in. He drops a briefcase and goes for the telephone. The man is Bruce Wayne, and he calls his butler, Alfred, for help.

Flashbacks explain how Bruce wound up in this situation: the Batman was called to Baja by the FBI for help in catching "The Squid", a mobster from Gotham who is in town to meet a buyer for some top-secret defense documents. Bruce and Alfred checked into their hotel, then Batman confronted the Squid and his men at their estate. Batman procured the documents, but was shot in the process. He escaped and changed to Bruce Wayne in order to travel anonymously.

Now, the hotel barkeep finds the documents in the briefcase and stashes them. Meanwhile, a newlywed couple arges in one of the small hotel's dingy rooms. The wife leaves and finds Bruce, helping him to safety outside just as the Squid and his men show up. Bruce changes back to Batman and, with help from the barkeep's can of gasoline hidden behind the bar, rigs an explosion to blow up the villains' car before they can escape. The police arrive and arrest the Squid and his men, and Batman and Alfred go on their way.

BATMAN #330 & #331

"TARGET!" | "CLOSED CIRCUIT!"
Writer: Marv Wolfman | Dialogue: Michael Fleisher (issue 331)
Penciler: Irv Novick | Inkers: Vince Colletta (issue 330 & Frank McLaughlin (issue 331)
Letterer: Ben Oda | Colorist: Adrienne Roy | Editor: Paul Levitz

And now we rejoin our story, already in progress... or so it seems when one dives into this issue. Don't get me wrong -- the story begins cleanly, with a setup introduced on the first page (specifically, a crook Batman sent up the river years ago is scheduled to be executed the next day, so he puts out a bounty -- he will pay ten million dollars in gold to anyone who can off Batman before he dies). But in terms of sub-plots, something's a bit off. Robin arrives early on to assist Batman in avoiding the various assassins who are now gunning for him. So far, so good -- until suddenly, Batman gives his partner the cold shoulder, and Robin realizes it's because this is the first time they've interacted since he announced that he was dropping out of college.

Now, look -- we haven't been reading every Batman-related story that came out around this time. Yes, we've covered BATMAN consistently; every issue dating back nearly two years now. And we've looked at a lot of consecutive DETECTIVE COMICS issues as well... but only the main stories. Both these series ran backup features, off-and-on, usually starring Robin and Batgirl. And I have to assume that Robin dropped out in one of those -- which is fine! But what strikes me odd about this is that Wolfman's script mentions it casually, almost in passing, as if we're supposed to know about it. And to the reader of 1980/81, that may well have been the case -- but you can't assume that all readers have been picking up every issue of every comic.

THE NEW TEEN TITANS #2 & #3

"TODAY... THE TERMINATOR!" | "THE FEARSOME FIVE!"
Writer-Co-Creators-Layouts: Marv Wolfman & George Pérez
Finishes: Romeo Tanghal (#2) & Frank Chairmonte (#3)
Letterer: Ben Oda | Colorist: Adrienne Roy | Editor: Len Wein

The Plot: The H.I.V.E. (Hierarchy of International Vengeance and Eliminations) attempts to hire the mercenary Deathstroke to kill the new Teen Titans. Deathstroke refuses, but the H.I.V.E. scans him during their meeting and then grafts his power -- the ability to use the full capacity of his brain -- onto Grant Wilson. Calling himself the Ravager, Wilson attacks the Titans but overtaxes his abilities and dies.

Deathstroke, having followed Ravager to the Titans' temporary base, vows vengeance on them for their part in Ravager's death. Later, in his civilian guise, Deathstroke visits Grant Wilson's grave and reveals himself as Wilson's father. The H.I.V.E. members observe Deathstroke's mourning, pleased that they've acquired his services for no cost.

My Thoughts: There are several sub-plots in this issue too, as an attraction begins between Robin and Starfire, Cyborg spends more time hating his father, Kid Flash wonders if Raven did something to force him into rejoining the Titans, and Raven seeks forgiveness from... someone in a realm beyond our own before revealing to the Titans that the reason she gathered them together is about to become apparent.