Detective Comics #444

Issue Details

Synopsis

BAT-MURDERER! The Gotham City Police Department is on the lookout for Scrag Donovan, a dangerous criminal who poses a threat to society. Commissioner Gordon gives Batman the task to investigate the case and find the criminal's whereabouts. Batman proceeds to interrogate members of the underworld of Gotham City and he is given a clue about Donovan's possible location. Batman goes to the place and finds that Donovan has joined a mysterious gang lead by a woman, who is planning a big crime in Gotham. Batman infiltrates the gang by posing as one of the crooks and he joins them the night of the crime.  During the gala premier of a movie, the criminals strike in order to steal valuable jewels from a famous actress. In that moment, Batman reveals himself and tries to stop the gang, only to be stopped when he learns that their leader is none other than Talia, the daughter of the criminal mastermind Ra's al Ghul. For a brief moment, both of them stare at each other, without knowing what to do and they are startled at the sound of the police sirens. Talia explains that she must escape for her father's sake and she tosses her gun to Batman, who catches the firearm in mid-air. Unfortunately, as Talia starts running away, Batman fires the gun in his hand and the bullet hits Talia, ending her life. By the time Commissioner Gordon and the GCPD arrive at the scene, they find Batman holding the dead body of his troubled love.   Back at the GCPD Headquarters, Gordon examines the evidence and comes to the conclusion that Batman killed Talia on purpose and he gives orders to arrest Batman on the charge of murder on the first degree. Batman manages to escape from the police and he leaves the building with the promise to find the culprit responsible for this unexpected framing.   Afterwards, Commissioner Gordon commands that the Bat-Signal is never to be turned on again, but right then, Batman delivers Scrag Donovan to the police, true to his last promise. DICK GRAYSON, DETECTIVE! An aptitude test indicates Dick Grayson is meant to be a detective, but he must throw off the attention to keep his identity as Robin safe. THE CASE OF THE MARTIAN WITNESS! Down on his luck Private Investigator of the future, Star Hawkins is looking for work, hopefully to earn enough to get his robot secretary Ilda back from the pawn shop. He applies to a classified ad for a big paycheck on a job in the asteroid belt. After being hired Hawkins hops an astro-bus to the planetoid Vesta.   Some checking on the local area indicates only one place the kind of person Hawkins is looking for would hide out; the Red Jungle, full of weird, monstrous plants. Eventually Hawkins finds his quarry, the Martian Qar-Miq. He was a worker at a goldmine on the other side of Vesta that was robbed from its owner. Hawkins knocks him out and brings him back to testify for the crime. Having succeeded in his job, Hawkins buys Ilda back, but she suspects he might have to pawn her again the next time their money's tight. THE INTERNATIONAL SKY POLICE! THE MAN CALLED UNKNOWN THE GOOD-LUCK PROPHET THE CASE OF HAUNTED HORSE! CIRCUS BEAT THE MAGICAL MYSTERY MIRROR