DETECTIVE COMICS #511

"THE 'I' OF THE BEHOLDER"
Writer Gerry Conway | Artists: Don Newton & Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: John Costanza | Colorist: Adrienne Roy | Editor: Dick Giordano

The Plot: Batman, Robin, and Alfred watch a news broadcast of newly-elected mayor Hamilton Hill's victory party. Meanwhile, in New Jersey, a masked man named Mirage uses an illusion-casting gem to rob the Raytona Raceway's box office. Vicki Vale, present to photograph the race, gets some pictures of Mirage's illusions before he escapes. But the next morning, she finds that the pictures show nothing but the raceway.

That night, Batman responds to the bat-signal, and Commissioner Gordon tells him about Mirage's recent crime spree. Word comes in that Mirage has been spotted on Long Island, and Batman leaves to find him. Meanwhile, Dick Grayson is already there as a spectator at a fashion event/jewelry show, and when Mirage appears, Dick changes to Robin -- but is quickly waylaid by Mirage's illusions. Batman arrives a moment later as is quickly defeated as well, allowing Mirage and his henchmen to escape.

Back in the Batcave, Batman devises an earpiece to counteract Mirage's illusions, then he and Robin canvas the city for the villain. Robin eventually returns to the Batcave empty-handed, but Batman finds Mirage robbing an armored car. He attacks and his earpiece works, until one of Mirage's men slugs him and breaks it. But Batman still overcomes Mirage's illusions and easily defeats him.

Continuity Notes: The above summary only accounts for about half this issue's content. There are also sub-plots galore! But before we get to them, there are a few footnotes: first, Batman recalls Arthuer Reeves' campaign was undone by the sham photos he tried to use to unmask Batman in BATMAN #344. That same issue is invoked a few pages later when Bruce recalls Vicki Vale showing up at the Wayne Buidling "day before last." Later, Dick recalls dropping out of Hudson University in DETECTIVE COMICS #495, and then notes that he spent six months with the Hill circus, with a note pointing to BATMAN issues 337 - 341 (specifically the backup stories). Again, still no mention made of the Teen Titans, which just feels really weird. A couple pages later, Bruce talks to Lucius Fox about "the mess Poison Ivy made of [the Wayne Foundation's] books," with yet another note pointing to BATMAN 344.

BATMAN #344

"MONSTER, MY SWEET!"
Writer Gerry Conway | Artists: Gene Colan & Klaus Janson
Letterer: Ben Oda | Colorist: Adrienne Roy | Editor: Dick Giordano

The Plot: At Dawn the day before Gotham's mayoral election, Batman arrives in the Batcave and discusses with Alfred Arthur Reeves' plan to expose his identity. Meanwhile, Poison Ivy meets with mob boss "Big Jack" Johnson and tells him that she's now in charge of his gang. Later that morning, Reeves announced that he will reveal Batman's identity at a press conference that night. And later still, Poison Ivy meets the Wayne Foundation board of directors at Gotham National Bank, and collects her check for the full sum of the Foundation's assets. Subsequently, Batman begins stalking Posion Ivy, appearing everywhere she goes throughout the afternoon until she returns to her hideout.

That night, Batman meets Commissioner Gordon at City Hall for Reeves' press conference. The city councilman reveals photos which appear to show that Batman is actually "Big Jack" Johnson. Meanwhile, Dick Grayson returns to the Wayne penthouse. Later, Batman arrives at Poison Ivy's rooftop greenhouse and smashes in, to find Ivy waiting for him. She reveals that she has mutated her valet, Ivor, into a plant-man, and orders the creature to kill Batman. Their fight carries them outside and Batman is injured during the battle. Meanwhile, ace TV reporter Olivia Ortega receives an envelope from a mystery source and opens it in shock. Back at the greenhouse, Robin arrives and takes out Poison Ivy, while Batman defeats Ivor. In the aftermath, Ivor reveals Ivy's plan to loot the Wayne Foundation, as Commissioner Gordon listens.

Later, the Dynamic Duo return to the Batcave in time to view a special news report with Alfred, in which Olivia Ortega reveals that Reeve's photos were doctored fakes, thus sealing the councilman's fate the night before the election.

THE NEW TEEN TITANS #16

"STARFIRE UNLEASHED!"
Co-Creators: Marv Wolfman & George Pérez | Embellisher: Romeo Tanghal
Letterer: John Costanza | Colorist: Adrienne Roy | Editor: Len Wein

The Plot: A month has passed since the Titans' return from Zandia. Changeling is on vacation with his stepfather and Robotman, while Starfire has begun dating a young man named Franklin Crandall. On Raven's first day of school at Manhattan University, while Cyborg pines over Sarah Simms, Crandall tells Starfire that he loves her. Meanwhile, a model, working for the advertising agency that employs photographer Donna Troy, is kidnapped. Some sleuthing by Robin locates the missing model and the Titans rescue her.

Later, Crandall, who has been hired by a H.I.V.E. agent to get close to Starfire, refuses to spring the H.I.V.E.'s trap, and is shot for his betrayal. The Titans find Crandall mortally wounded in his apartment, and with his dying breath he reveals the location of the H.I.V.E. operative. Starfire goes to kill him, but Wonder Girl stops her. In the chaos, the H.I.V.E. agent escapes.

Later, the H.I.V.E. council lectures their rogue agent against working alone, then executes him. Robin and Wonder Girl deduce that Crandall was working for the H.I.V.E., but choose not to tell Starfire.