Batman #261

Issue Details

Synopsis

THE MYSTERY THAT NEVER WAS! When the plans for a new reactor are stolen by a bunch of thugs, Batman assumes the identity of a criminal to find out who's the mastermind behind the crime. He's able to infiltrate into the same gang who stole the plans earlier, but they quickly discover he's a sham and plan to kill him. The thugs place Batman on a balloon that would drop him to his death, but when they notice Batman is breaking out of the trap, they try to shoot him. In order to save Batman, a security guard who was a close friend of Bruce Wayne sacrifices his life and gives Batman the time he needed to break free.  In honor of his fallen friend, Batman captures the criminals and goes after the man who hired the thugs in the first place: the security guard's employer. CRIME'S MAN-HUNT A trio of criminals is captured by Batman and Robin and they spend one entire year at the Gotham State Penitentiary. After their release, the thugs start a bounty hunter ring, but after they've captured almost all wanted criminals, they start a plan to release some of the most wanted convicts from prison in order to claim the reward later. Batman and Robin intervene and they put an end to the criminal racket. THE 1,001 INVENTIONS OF BATMAN Using their Flying Eye spy-device, Batman and Robin are able to pick up two crooks' conversation that reveals the thieves' boss is planning a big heist using one of Batman's own inventions. The two bring back the Flying Eye before it can be spotted, and begin to review their collection of crime-fighting inventions, wondering which can be the one which has been copied for crime use. Their jet-powered units, which allow humans to fly for short distances, was used to grab pigeons which jewel thieves had banded their loot to; their Sleuth Machine, a mobile device which fastens a radar beam upon a given subject and follows it, emitting a radio signal, was used to trail a mobster. A detonator ray was once used to set off high explosives that drifted away from a deserted ship. But none of the devices have ever been close enough to mobsters for them to discern their inner workings. However, Batman recalls the Flying Eye creation, and when they used it to locate criminal scientist Curt Mathis. Robin recalls that the tube of Mathis's X-ray machine was warm when they arrived to take him in, and Batman deduces that Mathis must have used it to take a picture of the inner workings of the Flying Eye. Mathis proves to have made a Flying-Eye for himself, but Batman and Robin, using their jet-units, are able to close upon the Eye in mid-air, destroy its sight-equipment, and force Mathis to bring it back to his hideout for repairs, where they confront and capture him and his mobsters. The duplicate Flying Eye and Mathis's X-ray film of the real Eye are confiscated and taken back to the Batcave. A CHRISTMAS PERIL! Batman and Robin learn of a criminal racket during Christmas Eve and they find the man behind the crimes: a rich and spoiled brat. After making him realize the error of his ways, the young man reveals that the idea for the crimes came from his lawyers and they are eventually captured by the Dynamic Duo.   Using his wealth for good, the young boy makes good actions towards the people he harmed during his criminal spree. THE GREATEST BATMAN CONTEST Batman holds a contest with a scholarship award to any high school student who can invent the most useful "bat-weapon." To pick the winner, he uses the four finalists' inventions while fighting crime. The first three inventions have different drawbacks and are discarded by the Dynamic Duo. When the time comes to use the fourth invention, Batman and Robin are pleased with the "Bat-Kite", as it helps them on surveillance and can also be used to distract crooks during a fight, and gain the advantage. Jeff Keating, the inventor of the Bat-Kite, is awarded with the scholarship to study criminology and the Dynamic Duo have a new Bat-Weapon for their arsenal. THE BLOCKBUSTER INVASION OF GOTHAM CITY! One night while piloting his boat out at sea, Bruce Wayne is forced to abandon ship when it hits a rock and starts to sink. Swimming to a nearby island, Bruce saves Mark Desmond and returns him to his brother Roland.   Months later, Batman and Robin begin investigating a giant creature dubbed "The Blockbuster" that has been terrorizing and robbing various locations in Gotham City.   Following the massive creature back to the island that Batman recognizes that the one the Desmonds live on, Batman deduces that Blockbuster is really Mark Desmond. While appealing to the beasts human side by changing to Bruce Wayne and calling for help, Robin captures Roland.   Taking Roland to shore to answer for his crimes, it is learned that Mark had taken a serum to become the Blockbuster in order to be strong, and that Roland exploited the monster's strength. Going back to the island to collect Blockbuster, while disguised as Roland, Batman finds that the monster has walked off into the ocean.