“THE REAL BATMAN DIES NEXT!” At a costume-party fundraiser, a man dressed as Batman dies in Bruce Wayne’s arms. His cowl is removed, and he is identified as Lt. Bucky Dunlop. The words “The Real Batman Dies Next!” appear to have been tattooed on his forehead. Gordon is there, and orders all in attendance, including Bruce, to remain behind.
When a guest at a fancy dress party attended by Bruce Wayne is murdered, (and happens to be wearing a Batman costume), Bruce reveals his cowl to find a threat on the man's forehead, "The real Batman dies next!" While Batman goes in search of the real killer, Gordon arrests the wrong man. Thinking he has made a link between a man who has lettered his own arm and the writing on the dead man's forehead, it seems the police commissioner has jumped to the wrong conclusion. However, before Gordon has time to take the suspect into custody, the Caped Crusader arrives and brings the real culprit - complete with evidence - at Gordon's feet.
The back up story in this issue features Man-Bat in "Peal of the devil-bell!" Kirk Langstrom is racked with guilt over the fact that his wife Francine has become a She-Bat after taking some of his Man-Bat serum. So frightened is he that he has tried to physically restrain her while he goes on patrol. When Langstrom's sister releases Fran she gets the shock of her life as first her sister in law and then her brother turn into monsters before her very eyes. Hearing the toll of a mystical church bell, the Bats encounter Doctor Thanatogenos, who turns them into a pair of stone Gargoyles! Needless to say, continued next issue...
Note: The last issue where the cover is free of the UPC bar-code.
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