Detective Comics #72

Issue Details

Synopsis

LICENSE FOR LARCENY J. Spencer Larson is a business financier, who promises his customers to increase any sum of money they invest. Bruce Wayne invests some of his money with the man, not knowing the real threat behind this scheme. Larson is in fact a crime lord known as "Larry the Judge" and he controls the criminal activities of the Gotham underworld. Using his power, he designs a procedure for any sort of criminal activity in which any criminal who wants to perform a crime, must first secure a license for that crime from him. In this way, Larry ensured that the crimes are strictly under his control. A crime spree starts in Gotham starting with the robbing of Commissioner Gordon's house. The criminals manage to break inside and subdue Gordon, unaware that Batman and Robin are soon to arrive for a meeting with Gordon. The dynamic duo disposes of the criminals without an effort, and they find the license to rob Gordon's house, signed by Larry the Judge. The next day, Bruce is called to Spencer Larson's place, where he receives twice the amount of money he invested. However, this is all a setup for Larry's thugs to steal it back from Bruce Wayne later. At Wayne Manor, the thugs strike and Bruce pretends to be defeated to avoid suspicion. After the criminals get away with the money, Bruce changes into Batman, then he and Robin take off in the Batplane in order to capture the criminals. Using a grapple cable, they pick up the getaway vehicle, and drop it into the river below. Batman and Robin descend to fight the thugs and recover their money, learning that these thugs also had a license to steal from Bruce Wayne. Learning of Batman's activities, Larry prepares a license to kill Batman and in order to achieve this, he tells his thugs to leave deliberate clues, to lure Batman into a trap. Batman and Robin follow the clues and they are ambushed by Larry's gang. Before they are captured, Batman manages to reach Larry's car and a few moments later, the dynamic duo are tied up and placed inside the car. However, as they're being taken away, a state trooper starts chasing the car, and taking the opportunity, Batman and Robin attack the criminals, stopping the car. When the vehicle stops, the officer arrests the entire gang including Larry the Judge, who Batman now realizes is Spencer Larson. It is also revealed that the state trooper followed the car because Batman left his cape attached to the license plate of the vehicle. In the end, the entire wealth of Larry the judge is going to charity. PETALS OF PERIL THE ADVENTURE OF THE WRONG NUMBERS THE TARGET MURDER LARRY JORDAN VS. AIR WAVE THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING MONKEY