Detective Comics #368

Issue Details

Synopsis

THE 7 WONDER CRIMES OF GOTHAM CITY! The ice hockey game between the Gotham City Giants and the Quebec Royals is the scene of a spectacular robbery, when the hockey puck in play suddenly shatters filling the arena with sleeping gas and all the patrons are robbed. When Batman and Robin are called in, they find a giant inflatable balloon in the form of Gotham City symbol Father Knicker-Bocker, they note that the number 7 is painted on the back of the balloon. The next night Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson attend the architectural fair where there is a special display on called "Gotham City: Yesterday, Today -- and Tomorrow!" featuring the history of homes in Gotham City, and a glimpse at homes of the future. Bruce surprises Dick when they see that the house of the future is modeled after Wayne Manor on the outside, but has a futuristic setup inside. Testing the lighting, Bruce and Dick are suddenly blinded by the lights. Deciding to investigate, they change into Batman and Robin and put on goggles made for snow blindness. Exploring around the exhibit, they find a group of crooks stealing the paintings on display, original Modiglians purchased by Bruce's father and on loan to the exhibit. While Batman and Robin manage to round up the crooks, they learn from the police later that they were but one group of crooks robbing the exhibit. The mastermind behind these spectacular crimes puzzles Batman and the captured crooks refuse to talk. While driving through Gotham City, Batman and Robin notice that the city has a complete blackout followed by a giant inflatable statue of Batman being erected over the city. When the Dynamic Duo comes across a gang of crooks, they shoot out the headlights on the Batmobile to operate in complete darkness. Putting in infra-red lenses Batman and Robin notice that the giant balloon is emitting infra-red rays so that the crooks can commit their robberies in pitch black and still see tanks to special infra-red goggles. They once more easily round up the crooks and turn them over to the police. Returning to the Batcave, Batman and Robin go over the clues and realize that the criminals are creating a bizarre series of crimes inspired by the seven wonders of the world. The properly deduce that the next crime is an attempt to steal the Juggernaut diamond on display at the Jewelry Temple of Artemis. There they manage to prevent them from robbing people and stealing the jewel with a device that roots peoples feet to the floor. Batman and Robin smash the operation, and capture the gangs mastermind, a simple crook who vows to continue trying to commit his "Seven Wonder Crimes of the Modern World" once he's out of prison. Returning to the Batcave, Batman and Robin relate the story to Alfred, he quips that these Seven Crime Wonders will never gain any notoriety so long as Batman and Robin, the greatest crime fighters in the world are around to stop them. THE TREACHEROUS TIME-TRAP!