Batman #346

Issue Details

Synopsis

HALF A HERO... In Arkham Asylum, a couple of guards keep a close eye on Two-Face, when suddenly the madman disappears leaving only his trademark coin behind. After an extensive search of the grounds the guards conclude that Two-Face has performed an amazing feat and they summon Commissioner Gordon and Batman to investigate. While Gordon and the Police are equally stumped, Batman retrieves the coin from Two-Face's cell and learns that it is not his real coin, but a hypnotizing device he used against the guards to escape.   After a fruitless investigation, Batman gives Commissioner Gordon a ride home and Batman notices Gordon's true concern about his future now that Hamilton Hill is the Mayor of Gotham. Once home, Gordon is glad to see his daughter Barbara preparing him a home meal, but his worries don't disappear. Meanwhile, Batman returns home, and as he goes to the penthouse of Wayne Foundation, he is told by Alfred that Lucius Fox is waiting for him. When Bruce learns that Fox wants a bit of advice from him, he acts uncharacteristically rude towards him, but the attitude is meant to teach Lucius to take matters into his own hands. Despite the reasoning behind his actions, Bruce doesn't feel any better.  The next day, Dick Grayson starts having troubles with his new girlfriend, Dala, who acts as if nothing ever happened between them. Concerned, Dick starts following her, much to Dala's delight. In the evening, Bruce goes on a date with Vicki Vale, but he has to ditch her as he recalls the most possible location of Two-Face's hideout. The sudden change makes Vicki even more suspicious that Bruce Wayne is in fact Batman.   Batman finds Two-Face's lair in Gotham's Lower East Side, on the "halfway" house on Easth 4th Street. However, Two-Face has been waiting for Batman and all traps are precisely activated. When Batman enters the place, he deduces that everything is part of a well constructed trap and true to his deduction, he soon finds himself confronting several thugs and avoiding death traps. Meanwhile, Two-Face and his new consort arrange the last stage of their plan.   Batman has managed to overcome all the traps and he goes to the main room of the building, where "Two-Face" is waiting for him. Batman easily arrests the villain, but the madman soon takes off his mask, revealing Margo, Two-Face's new companion behind the disguise. Two-Face and his men show up on the other side of the room, protected by a glass wall and the madman activates knockout gas into the room. After a few minutes, Batman falls unconscious and Two-Face has the perfect plan for his nemesis.   Meanwhile at Gotham City Hall, James Gordon is forced to give his resignation under the orders of Mayor Hill. When Gordon leaves the building, Hill confers with his boss, Rupert Thorne and the crimelord soon appoints a new police commissioner: Peter Pauling. With Hill and Pauling under his control, Rupert Thorne's control over Gotham is secured. IN THE LAND OF THE DEAD Catwoman recovers from the "ghost attack" and finds that the detective who hired her is an ex-Nazi searching for a hydrogen bomb formula hidden on the train, and that he seeks revenge on her because her father killed his father.   The former Nazi ties Catwoman to the railroad tracks and he explains that he managed to make the trains disappear with an underground tunnel and made everyone believe in ghosts with holographic images. When the crook tries to get away, Catwoman breaks free and, using the same holograms, she defeats and captures a wanted war criminal, following in her father's steps.