Detective Comics #326

Issue Details

Synopsis

CAPTIVES OF THE ALIEN ZOO Batman and Robin are mistaken for two-legged animals by alien hunters, and are captured to be placed on display in an alien zoo. The Dynamic Duo manage to escape the alien zoo, locate the authorities of the alien planet, and inform them that the hunters that captured them are in fact criminals who use exotic animals for their crimes. Batman and Robin help the alien authorities capture the criminals and later they are sent back to Earth on a special spaceship. THE DEATH OF JOHN JONES, DETECTIVE Vince Durskin, a criminal, steals the ancient Idol-Head of Diabolu from the collection of John R. Collins, having already stolen the key that will open it. John Jones is called in on the case and learns from one of Collins's books on magic that the head reputedly had all the evils of mankind locked within it, and that once it was activated by the key, one evil will emerge from its head every full moon. When Durskin opens the Idol-Head, it emits a flash that gives Durskin the power of emitting destructive rays from his eyes. Before the head closes again, a giant, glowing, snake-like creature which devours matter emerges from it. J'onn J'onzz is hard-pressed to cope with both menaces. While in his John Jones identity, he and the car he is in are apparently devoured by the glowing creature. Jones assumes his J'onn J'onzz identity and barely escapes, but Chief Harding, who has seen the incident, is aghast and assumes that John Jones is dead. J'onzz manages to get Durskin to blast the creature with his eye-rays, thus destroying it and canceling out his power. The Idol-Head of Diabolu has fallen into a canal and been swept away. A memorial service is held for John Jones, and the Martian Manhunter vows to Diane, Captain Harding, other police, and Zook that he will avenge Jones's "death" by finding and destroying the Idol-Head.