Batman #164

Issue Details

Synopsis

TWO-WAY GEM CAPER! Bruce Wayne finds his ward Dick Grayson singing strange music to practice for an upcoming concert by the Hootenany Hotshots, a musical group that often uses local talent in their shows. Bruce stops Dick for a moment to show him the latest version of the Batmobile and some other improvements to the Batcave before they go on their routine patrol. Meanwhile, the crooked Mr. Dabblo is plotting a crime which involves detouring the Hootenany Hotshots from their route to Gotham City as their planned parade through town would impede his heist of the Gotham museum. Tricking them into driving on tire spikes, Dabblo is also spotted by Batman and Robin who happen down the detour as well and try to stop him, but he manages to make his escape. Bringing a fake golden pyramid to the museum to put on display, it is really a fake that launches into the air like a rocket and distracts the guards long enough for Dabblo to steal a $1,000,000 pearl from the orient, and makes his escape. Batman and Robin are alerted of the theft by Commissioner Gordon, and manage to track Dabblo to a rooftop where he attacks them with a strange TV antenna-like device that fires electrical bolts. Thinking they're dead, Dabblo goes to make his transaction of the jewels inside the building. Batman and Robin however manage to escape his electrical trap and bust up the illegal sale and round up Dabblo and his buyer. Afterward, changing back to their civilian identities, Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson get to see the Hootenany Hotshots perform. BATMAN’S GREAT FACE-SAVING FEAT! As the Mystery Analysts of Gotham City gather for another meeting, the member Hugh Rankin arrives with what he says is proof of Batman's real identity, to the shock of everybody. Unmasking a dummy of Batman that he made, it is revealed to be a bald man who does not resemble Bruce Wayne. When Batman unmasks before them the face under the mask matches that of the statue. Later back home in his civilian guise of Bruce Wayne, he tells Robin the events that led up to this supposed "discovery", recounting back to the case where they were trying to stop the Trapeze Ten Gang and Robin had broken his ankle one night and had to sit out. Batman suddenly was constantly aided by fellow Mystery Analyst Hugh Rankin who seemed to bungle up each attempt Batman made to capture the crooks. Batman eventually caught the crooks. However, early on he deduced that Rankin was attempting to figure out Batman's true identity when in one instance where Rankin "accidentally" touched Batman's face, he left behind some sculpting wax. Batman then went on the rest of his missions with a fake face on underneath his mask. After Batman finishes his story he and Robin laugh about how they managed to fool the Mystery Analysts once again.