DETECTIVE COMICS #524

"DEATHGRIP"
Writer Gerry Conway | Artists: Don Newton & Dick Giordano
Letters: Todd Klein | Colors: Adrienne Roy | Editor: Len Wein

The Plot: Batman is dumped in the Squid's squid tank, but manages to escape by kicking the squid and sending it into a frenzy that distracts the Squid and his assembled mobsters. Upon realizing Batman has escaped, Squid sends his men to find the Caped Crusader. But one man refuses -- Killer Croc, who leaves instead, but not before the Squid sees his face and threatens him. Outside, Croc notices the wounded Batman lurking by a chimney up above, but walks away rather than raise the alarm.

Later that night, the Squid gives a speech to his assembled men, while Croc walks up to a nearyby rooftop and assembles a sniper rifle. As the Squid talks, Croc aims and fires. The bullet pierces the squid tank and wings the Squid, then Batman bursts into the room. The Squid challenges the Dark Knight one-on-one and beats him, then draws a revolver and kills him. Then, suddenly, the Squid realizes his fight with Batman was a hallucination, and that he is actually lying on the floor, dying from Croc's bullet. Croc packs up his rifle and departs. The next morning, Batman and Commissioner Gordon watch as the Squid's corpse is taken away, and Batman presents Gordon with the bullet that killed the criminal, telling the commissioner that when they find the high-powered rifle that fired it, they will find the Squid's killer.

Continuity Notes: Croc's face is revealed for the first time here when his fedora falls off as the Squid manhandles him. He has reptile-like scales all over his skin.

Dick Grayson throws a soiree at Wayne Manor in honor of his new friends, the Flying Todds. In attendance are Commissioner Gordon, Barbara Gordon, Jason Bard, and Vicki Vale, plus Dick's friend Waldo the Clown (in full clown makeup with his suit!).

During the party, Vicki speaks with one of her reporters at the Picture News, then laments to Alfred that perhaps she shouldn't have taken her job as the magazine's editor. A moment later, Gordon nearly drinks a glass of wine until he remembers his doctor's orders to quit drinking and smoking.

Bruce shows up at the party, wounded from his encounter with the Squid, and summons Dick and Alfred to the parlor, where Alfred performs first aid. Trina Todd of the Flying Todds wanders into the room just then, and sees Bruce's bandages and Batman costume, and Dick quickly ushers her out. (Why Bruce didn't have Alfred treat his injuries in the Batcave or even upstairs in his bedroom, rather than in a public part of the mansion during a party with several guests in attendance, remains a mystery to all but Gerry Conway.)

My Thoughts: This issue is short but very, very sweet. Batman himself is almost a nonentity after he escapes in the opening pages. In reality, Bruce never suits up for action again; the only subsequent "Batman" appearance, aside from his brief conversation with Gordon on the final page, is the Squid's hallucination as he dies. And in between those two Squiddy bookends, we get some sub-plot material -- a reminder about Gordon's health, a check-in with the overworked Vicki, and biggest of all, Trina Todd apparently discovering that Bruce Wayne is actually Batman.

Speaking of the Todds, we're getting a fairly slow-burn introduction to them in these pages. They were mentioned two issues back, then glimpsed last issue, and now in this installment we actually see them speak! Or at least, one of them does. Dick introduces "Joseph and Trina Todd, and their son Jason," but only Trina has anything to say. Jason, the boy who is destined to become the most important Todd, is a nonentity at this point -- but that won't remain the case for too much longer.

So -- back to the main story. As I wrote my summary above, I was surprised to find just how short this story actually is. Excise the sub-plot scene at Wayne Manor, and you're left with essentially two scenes, both set in the same location, the Squid's hideout. And between those things, aside from Batman's escape from the squid tank, the only things of note to occur are the Squid harassing Croc, and then Croc killing the Squid.

Yet in spite of the apparent simplicity of the plot, this is a really, really good issue, revealing Croc's face at last, and showing just what a menace he is. It's hard to believe this cunning, intelligent fellow would inspire the Croc I know best, the dim-witted goon from BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES. But we'll save that comparision for next week, when our next issue turns the focus on him at last!