Batman #331

Issue Details

Synopsis

CLOSED CIRCUIT The Electrocutioner, a self-appointed executioner of criminals who slip through the hands of the law, begins a series of crook-killings in Gotham City with his electrically-charged suit. A touch from one of his hands delivers a severe shock, but when both his hands touch a victim the circuit is completed and the victim dies.   On his quest to stop the executioner, Batman has three encounters with the Electrocutioner. In the first, killer Mike Caine dies; in the second, Batman rescues Dane Whitney; in the third, the Electrocutioner falls through a window, grips a metal railing, and shocks himself, so that he lets go and plunges off a cliff into the river below. Batman assumes the villain has died, but a hand holding to a rock in the river indicates the opposite.   Despite the growing rift between him and Batman due to his decision to drop out of college, Robin traces Ronald Watkins to Gregorian Falstaff's headquarters. He also learns that six months back, Wayne Enterprises acquired a dozen of the seediest tenements in Gotham, and the fact has made the headlines of the Daily Star. Bruce, noting the paper is published by Falstaff, says that he will have to have it out with his corpulent competitor.  Later, Talia arrives at the Wayne Foundation Penthouse, seeking sanctuary in the wake of Ra's al Ghul's apparent death. Robin is vehemently opposed to the idea, but Batman agrees to it, saying Robin needs to learn more about "people, and about relationships!" Robin snaps that Batman is the one who has a lot to learn, and stomps out.