Batman #114

Issue Details

Synopsis

THE SECRET OF MECHANICAL CITY A criminal named Harry "Lightfingers" Hale breaks into Science Hall in Gotham City, and steals a microfilm containing the blueprint of a secret formula compound from a criminal scientist named Professor Dodge. Dodge labors to recover the formula and runs across Batman. Initially, Batman suspects Dodge of stealing the microfilm, but soon learns the truth concerning Lightfingers. He pursues Lightfingers to a futuristic community known as Mechanical City – a town run by robots. Professor Dodge and his cronies take control of the city's automated command center but are unable to capture Harry Hale. Harry manages to hide the stolen microfilm inside one of the robots. Batman deduces the microfilm's secret location and manages to apprehend Harry, and the members Dodge's gang. THE MIRAGE MAKER A criminal known as the Mirage Maker plagues Gotham City by casting elaborate illusions to conceal his crimes. He raids a passenger ship off of the Gotham City Harbor, making off with a fortune in gold bullion. Batman and Robin discover the crime and give chase, but the Mirage Maker fools them into driving across an illusionary bridge. The Batmobile plummets into the sea and the villain escapes. Batman and Robin use radar technology to keep abreast of the Mirage Maker's future crimes. This also helps them to see around the criminal's illusions, and they ultimately capture him. THE BAT-APE Batman and Robin volunteer to perform for an acrobatics exhibition at the Gotham City Charity Circus. During their performance, an animal handler named Ralph Roder steals the box office receipts from the circus's cash box. While the crime is taking place, a trained ape named Mogo runs amok, and inadvertently distracts people away from Roder's crime. When everything calms down, the staff discovers that the money has been stolen and blames Mogo's trainer, Arthur Harris. They suspect that Harris deliberately incited Mogo into a frenzy in order to distract people from the crime. Batman and Robin investigate further, and discover that Mogo's training platform had been fitted with electrical wires, which caused the ape to run amok. Mogo befriends Batman and even follows him back to the Batcave. He dons a mask and cowl and becomes Batman's new partner – Bat-Ape! Working together, they track down the true thief, Ralph Roder to the Gotham Globe and apprehend him. Roder confesses to the crime, and he is taken to prison. Mogo is soon returned to the circus and Arthur Harris tells the heroes that he's going to set Mogo free back in Africa.