Batman #48

Issue Details

Synopsis

THE FOWLS OF FATE! Upset with his recent failures in crime, the Penguin breaks out of prison again and vows to no longer use birds in his crimes. However, his most recent crime spree is marred when he is ironically tripped up by different birds each time. In one of his most humiliating defeats, the Penguin captured a bunch of chicks that had swallowed a fortune in diamonds and their own peeps gave him away, allowing Batman and Robin to easily capture him. THE 1,000 SECRETS OF THE BATCAVE Wolf Brando has escaped from jail and makes his way to Wayne Manor. He breaks inside and knocks Dick Grayson unconscious, but the blow causes his to stumble upon an old grandfather clock. This reveals a secret entrance behind the clock which leads to a large, downwards staircase. Brando descends through the stairs and he finds the ultimate secret: the Batcave. When Bruce Wayne is informed that a dangerous criminal has broken into his house, he joins the Gotham City Police Department as Batman to capture the criminal. However, after a quick examination the police can't find anybody inside the house and Batman deduces that the criminal must have found the Batcave. Batman uses the secret entrance at the abandoned barn to get inside the Batcave, where he is confronted by Brando. The criminal has deduced Batman and Robin's secret identities and he demands to be allowed to escape in exchange for keeping their secrets. Dick manages to distract Brando long enough for Batman to untie him and once free, Dick puts on his Robin costume, probably for the last time. In the meantime, Brando tries to escape using the Batmobile, but Batman stops him and Brando is forced to run into the Trophy Room, where Robin is waiting for him. The Dynamic Duo fight Brando among their trophies, but the criminal manages to get the upper hand using one of Penguin's Umbrellas and destroying the mechanical dinosaur and the Giant Penny. However, as he tries to escape, Brando disturbs some of the sleeping Bats of the cave and when he is attacked by them, he is pushed over a water current that drags his body underneath the cave all the way to a river, far away. The police soon find the body and Batman's secret is safe thanks to the Batcave. CRIME FROM TOMORROW! A gang of "men from the future" has started committing crimes across Gotham and the Dynamic Duo suspect that the people responsible might be connected to the "World of the Future" Fair. As Batman and Robin investigate the case, they have to find a way to overcome many obstacles placed by the criminals, who are using modern technology. After a lengthy chase and a final confrontation, Batman and Robin capture the leader of the gang, who is in fact the secretary at the Fair.