Batman #182

Issue Details

Synopsis

THE VILLAIN OF 100 ELEMENTS Professor Higgins has designed an element-converter, but his assistant, John Dolan, is accidentally exposed to it. The exposure causes his body to change unpredictably into different elements. The professor makes a control belt for him, but the power warps Dolan's mind causing him to become a criminal. While the professor works on a cure, Batman and Robin try to stop Dolan and his newly recruited gang. They lure Dolan to a location where the professor has built a machine to cure him. It doesn't work, and Batman is exposed to the machine as well. Fearing Batman will become a criminal as well, he is locked up. As he continues to transform, Batman's body eventually changes into liquid mercury, which allows him to escape prison. Once outside, he teams up with Dolan, but then leads his partner into a trap which removes the powers from both of them. Without the power, Dolan's mind is restored to normal and the criminals who assisted him on his crimes are captured. BATMAN, JUNIOR AND ROBIN, SENIOR! Wilton Winders, a criminal ex-scientist, attacks Dr. Richard Marsten, and steals his two newly invented gas compunds. The gases cause people to become older or younger depending on which gas is applied. When Batman and Robin try to capture Winders, they are exposed to the gases. Robin becomes an adult, and Batman becomes a child with no memory of the last 10 years. Hindered by their new age changes, the Dynamic Duo tracks Winders as he sells the gas to wealthy older men to restore their youth. When Robin and Batman catch up to Winders, the crook tries using the gas on himself as a disguise. The Caped Crusaders are not fooled and are able to catch him. Then using the remaining gas, restore everyone to their rightful ages. BATMAN, ROBOT Batman prevents a crime by the Night Owl Gang and learns the identities of its two leaders, Wedge Dixon and Eddie Chill. The gang gets away, but Wedge Dixon is later found by police. Batman's testimony is the only evidence against Dixon, so the gang plans a trap for him, and Batman is apparently killed in an old mine. Later, Batman appears to still be alive as he and Robin capture some other crooks. Dixon and the gang realize, though, that Batman has been replaced by a robot. When Dixon comes to trial, Batman is exposed as a robot, as a result Dixon is set free. Dixon meets up with Chill, who was in hiding, to recover their loot from a previous crime. The real Batman who has escaped the death trap is able to catch both men, the rest of the gang, and recover the loot. THE EXPERIMENT OF PROFESSOR ZERO Using a reducing ray Professor Zero shrinks wealthy businessmen and extorts them for money. When Batman and Robin begin investigating, Professor Zero shrinks them and imprisons the Dynamic Duo in a bird cage. They escape and try to rescue the captured businessmen. Professor Zero tries to kill them, but he accidentally kills himself. The shrunk men then seek Zero's antidote to restore themselves to normal. Batman discovers that the antidote is fake. The effects of the ray wear off automatically after three days. Batman then finds the reducing ray which Zero had hidden inside the Bat-Signal and destroys it, closing the case for good. THE RAINBOW BATMAN Dick Grayson saves a girl's life by pushing her out of the way of the getaway car escaping the scene of a robbery, and injures his arm in the process. He sees the crooks' faces, and begins searching for them as Robin. Meanwhile, Batman wears several different colored costumes. Eventually, Robin spots the thieves, allowing Batman to apprehend them. Afterwards, Batman goes back to his old costume. He explains that he wore the special ones to draw attention to himself and away from Robin, as people might realize Robin had an injured arm like Dick Grayson's. THE JOKER BATMAN When the Joker is paroled from prison, Batman keeps an eye on him, suspecting that the Clown Prince intends to return to crime. Batman follows his foe into a laboratory. By accident both Batman and the Joker are exposed to epsilon rays which cause them to exchange personalities.   While Robin scours the country for the necessary isotopes to reverse Batman's predicament, the Joker contacts the underworld. Since he has Batman's body he offers to expose the secret identity of the Caped Crusader for a million dollars. Batman, stuck in the Joker's own body, works to stop his foe. He befuddles police by catching crooks, then prevents the Joker from giving away his secret. Fortunately, Robin comes through with a cure. Then the two foes are restored to their own bodies without memory of the events.