Detective Comics #359

Issue Details

Synopsis

THE MILLION DOLLAR DEBUT OF BATGIRL! Barbara Gordon, daughter of Gotham City Police Commissioner, James Gordon, prepares to attend a policeman's charity masquerade ball. She designs a costume in the style of Batman and names herself, Batgirl. As she arrives at the country club, she finds a villain named Killer Moth and his Moth-Men attacking one of the guests, Bruce Wayne. Batgirl dives into them, giving Wayne a chance to escape. Bruce takes this opportunity to change into Batman, then returns to the spot to give Batgirl a hand. Killer Moth uses his silk gun to web Batgirl to the side of Bruce's car, and then escapes with his underlings. Batman pulls Batgirl free and introductions are made between the two. The following day, Bruce Wayne receives a letter in the mail. Killer Moth wants him to pay $100,000 or else he will murder him. Bruce consults with Dick Grayson and the two lay a trap for Killer Moth. That evening, Barbara Gordon leaves the library where she works. She has acquired a rare book that she intends on selling to Bruce Wayne. As she arrives at Wayne Manor, she finds Bruce lying dead in his study, with Killer Moth and his goons hovering above him. She hurriedly changes into Batgirl and leaps into the study. She fights off all three men at once, but once again, they succeed in escaping. Batman and Robin appear and tell her that the body of Bruce Wayne is actually just a dummy. They were laying a trap for Killer Moth in the hopes of tracking him back to his lair, but Batgirl spoiled their plans. Fortunately, Batgirl had planted a tracer on the Mothmobile so they can easily trail their foes back to Moth Mansion. Batman and Robin arrive at the mansion first and enter through the front foyer. They suddenly discover that the room is in fact a gravity-well and they begin floating towards the ceiling. Batgirl follows in behind them and uses magnetic boots to keep herself on the floor. She disables the gravity-well, setting the caped crusaders free. Batgirl manages to find the secret closet panel where Killer Moth is hiding. Batman and Robin each knock him out with one solid double punch. After taking the villain to prison, they say goodbye to Batgirl wondering when, or if, they will ever meet her again. RIDDLE OF THE SLEEPYTIME TAXI The Elongated Man and Sue Dibny dress up for a masquerade party in Chestnut City. Ralph enlarges his hand to hail a passing cab. The cabbie tries to blow them off in favor of a larger fare, but a passing police officer forces him to accept the two costumed customers. During the cab ride, Ralph and Sue suddenly fall asleep. When they wake up, they realize that the cross-town jaunt has taken them over an hour. Further, Ralph deduces that they are in a different cab than the one they first got into. Sensing a mystery, the Elongated Man pursues the taxi back to its garage. He finds that the Sleepytime Cab Company is run by a con man named Beejay. Beejay picks up important fares, knocks them out via sleeping gas from the trunk of the car, and steals whatever money or important documents they may find on their person. The Elongated Man bursts into the garage and scuffles with Beejay's men. He threads his body through a supply of tires and slams the crew against the wall. He then snakes Beejay and drops him into a washing unit.