DETECTIVE COMICS #498 & #499

"NIGHT OF THE SAVAGE | ALLIES IN THE SHADOWS"
Writer Gerry Conway | Artists: Don Newton & Dan Adkins
Letterer: Ben Oda | Colorist: Adrienne Roy | Editor: Paul Levitz

The Plot: (Issue 498) The brute called Blockbuster emerges from Gotham Bay and makes his way ashore. Meanwhile, Batman and the police search the bay for Blockbuster, but find no sign of his body. Blockbuster makes his way to Bleak Rock, a mining town in West Virginia, where he saves a local worker, Willie Macon, from the henchman of a corrupt union boss named Dooley. Macon invites Blockbuster into his home to live with his family.

Months later, Batman suspects Blockbuster is still alive, staging a series of "smash and grab" robberies. The Darknight Detective heads out to stop one such robbery in progress, but finds he is mistaken -- the perpetrator is an ex circus strongman named Ajax. But after defeating Ajax, Batman catches sight of a news report from Bleak Rock, where he sees Blockbuster alive. Batman heads for Bleak Rock and learns Blockbuster has been working with the miners. He enters the mine, but is observed by Dooley. Believing Batman is here to investigate him, Dooley has his men knock Batman out and throw him down into the mine, where he is found by Blockbuster.

(Issue 499) Blockbuster prepares to kill Batman, but is interrupted when Dooley has the mine caved in. While the locals try to dig their friends free, Batman comes to and finds Macon injured and trapped under a beam. Blockbuster helps him lift the beam, but Batman realizes Macon must be taken up to safety immediately. Meanwhile, Dooley and his henchmen discuss the situation at Dooley's office, where Macon's daughter is spying on them. The men find and grab her. Back in the mine, Batman blows a path upward with plastic explosive, then begins climbing, with Blockbuster right behind. They emerge on the surface and get Macon and the remaining miners free.

But Dooley has arrived to observe the whole thing, and Macon's daughter is with him. When she cries out for help, Batman and Blockbuster team up to rescue her and take down Dooley and his men. Batman departs Bleak Rock, leaving Blockbuster behind to live in peace.

BATMAN #332

"THE LAZARUS AFFAIR: FALLOUT!"
Writer: Marv Wolfman | Artists: Irv Novick & Frank McLaughlin
Colorist: Adrienne Roy | Letterer: Ben Oda | Editor: Paul Levitz

After a brief prologue that we'll look at in a moment, this week's BATMAN installments begin where last week's ended -- with Robin storming out of the Batcave after Batman has agreed to allow Talia to stay there. But Batman soon leaves his love behind to go investigate Gregorian Falstaff, and we learn some tidbits I don't think Len Wein intended when he created the character: specifically, that Falstaff was virtually unknown before three years ago, when he made all his money, and that he is operating as a front for someone else. This is confirmed a scene or two later, when Falstaff himself refers to a mysterious "master" while chatting with his lieutenant, Karlyle Krugerrand.

Batman deduces that Falstaff has been getting intel on Wayne Enterprises from Bruce Wayne's secretary, Caroline Crowne. The Caped Crusader payes Crowne a visit and saves her from being roughed up by a "mutate" on Falstaff's payroll. Crowne admits that she's only been spying on Bruce because Falstaff is holding her daughter hostage. Batman changes to Bruce and visits Falstaff, where he learns that the villain is seizing Wayne properties left and right. Later, back at the Batcave, Talia sedates Batman, but as she leaves to carry out a mysterious errand, she fails to realize he's still conscious.

THE NEW TEEN TITANS #4 & #5

"AGAINST ALL FRIENDS!" | "TRIGON LIVES!"
Co-Creators: Marv Wolfman & George Pérez | Inker: Romeo Tanghal
Guest Penciler: Curt Swan (#5) | Letterer: Ben Oda | Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Editor: Len Wein

The Plot: The Justice League attempts to stop a trio of sorcerers from releasing something evil, but Raven appears and tries to break up the fight. The sorcerers drive the JLA back, then Raven teleports to the Temple of Azarath, her birthplace, where she fails to procure her mother's aid in saving the Earth from Trigon.

Raven returns to Titans' Tower, where she finds the Titans, released by the Fearsome Five and in the thrall of Psimon. The Titans head to the Justice League satellite to attack their elders, and Raven follows. She frees the Titans from Psimon's control by making them believe they've killed the JLA. Meanwhile, Dr. Light convinces the rest of the Fearsome Five that they should turn on Psimon.

Raven teleports the Titans to the three wizards, but the Justice League is right behind. Another fight breaks out and the sorcerers fail in their task. Trigon gains a foothold on Earth and promises that his first demonic follower, Goronn, will soon arrive. Then Zatanna reveals to the Titans that Raven is crawling with evil, but Raven protests that this is her heritage, not her personality. Nonetheless, when the Titans realize that Raven tricked them into forming a team, even going so far as to magically seduce Kid Flash, they give her the cold shoulder and depart.