BATMAN #370, DETECTIVE COMICS #537 APRIL 1984 BY DOUG MOENCH, DON NEWTON, ALFREDO ALCALA, GENE COLAN, BOB SMITH AND ADRIENNE ROY
SYNOPSIS (FROM DC DATABASE)
With Batman out of town, Jason Todd goes out on patrol on his own and stops a couple of hoods from destroying an arcade store. When the crooks find themselves defeated, they run away and Robin follows them to their hideout, where they meet with their leader, Doctor Fang. After learning the location of the criminal mastermind, Robin returns to the Batcave to wait for Batman's return.
In the meantime, Harvey Bullock has a meeting with Doctor Fang and he pretends to join the criminal's gang in order to stop their ring from the core. However, during his first meeting, Bullock learns about a large larceny plot against the Wayne Foundation and he knows exactly what to do. The next day, Bruce has returned home, but Jason is not able to tell him about his previous night as Bruce is busy preparing everything for the arrival of Alfred and his daughter, Julia.
In the evening, Bruce has prepared a special meal for Alfred and he gives special attention to Julia, ignoring Jason. During their meal, Harvey Bullock arrives at Wayne Manor and informs Bruce about Doctor Fang's plan in order to convince the millionaire to let the GCPD use his company to capture the criminal. Bruce agrees, but after dinner, he and Jason have other plans for Doctor Fang.
When Batman and Robin arrive at Doctor Fang's place, they are confronted by several crooks but they manage to defeat them all. Knowing that his gang has been jeopardized, Doctor Fang flees from the place, even after Robin tried to stop him. Harvey Bullock arrives just to find Fang's entire gang under control and finally, Robin is able to explain Batman that he discovered Fang's scheme and he tried to inform Batman, but he wouldn't listen.
At the GCPD Headquarters, Robin and Commissioner Gordon interrogate one of the crooks working for Doctor Fang, but the information provided is not enough to help them locate the criminal. Even Harvey Bullock's investigation about Fang's hideout turns up to be a dead end.
Meanwhile, Batman patrols the streets, looking for any clue that might lead them to Fang, but instead, he comes across an under-dweller, who is seeking help. The man takes Batman to the sewers, where he has been living for quite a while. After helping the man get rid of a human corpse, Batman learns the background of this person and he decides to help him go to the outside world. Before leaving, the man shows Batman a small replica of his hometown in Mexico, which he has built in the sewers and shortly afterwards, Batman and the man work together to capture a group of hoods, responsible for the dead body found earlier.
Having helped a man in need, Batman returns home with Robin, where Alfred has been trying to tell his daughter, Julia, that he is more than satisfied with his life and he has also been trying to prevent her from finding the secret of Batman.
REVIEW
The second part of this story is much more interesting than anything related to Dr. Fang. But if you are a fan of pre-crisis Jason... then the first issue may be more of your thing.
On the other hand, the second story doesn’t really solve anything for the poor man living in the sewers... it was a slice of life kind of thing.
I give this story a score of 7
