Detective Comics #495

Issue Details

Synopsis

MURDER IN QUICKSILVER During the confrontation between The Crime Doctor and Batman, the criminals who have stolen the chemicals trap them in the laboratory and set a bomb to explode. Batman takes the Crime Doctor out of the place, saving their lives from the blast. Having newfound gratitude for Batman, the Crime Doctor chooses to escape and Batman is unable to locate him.   Afterwards, the thugs that escaped with the chemical go to their boss, who is none other than Sterling Silversmith. When they inform him that the Crime Doctor knows Batman's secret identity, Silvermith goes on a manhunt to find the Doctor, who has gone into hiding. Batman also gets on the trail of the Doctor, but the criminals manage to find him first, bringing him to Silversmith's place.  Batman is stumped, until he finds evidence that connects the robbery to Silversmith, who at that moment is trying to learn Batman's secret identity from Thorne. The Crime Doctor refuses to give away the information, as it would go against his moral code and Silversmith uses a strong poison to make him talk. At that moment, Batman breaks into the place, defeating Silversmith and his thugs. When he realizes the critical condition of Thorne, Batman takes him to the hospital to have the poison removed and after the procedure, the doctors inform him that Thorne will remain in a comatose state, with little chance of recovery and that if that ever comes to happen, his memory could probably never return. With one small comfort, Batman walks away, wondering if the Crime Doctor ever shared his secret with somebody else. INTO THE FIRE! A runner for the mob braves a fire in his building to save his mattress stuffed full of money. BOSSMAN'S BANE! Having taken down one crimelord in Gotham City, Batgirl works tirelessly to capture the second gang boss, who is now free from competition. James Gordon warns Batgirl to slow down and take a rest, but Batgirl is driven to stop crime as she feels responsible for the recent increase in organized crime.   When dawn comes, Batgirl goes to work as Barbara Gordon at the R&D Department, but she can't take off her mind of the crime business and she also starts failing at her job due to lack of sleep. After a failed work day, Batgirl goes out at night and does some investigation that could give the GCPD the information required to apprehend the crimelord.   When Batgirl gives the information to her father, he organizes a warrant search of the gangster's home, but they are unable to find evidence against him. Batgirl intervenes and finds the evidence needed to arrest the thug and put him behind bars, which gives Batgirl and Barbara Gordon, peace of mind. ANIMALS A street gang takes six girls hostage during a Suicide Slum Olympics, and Black Lightning has to free them before Inspector Henderson and the police can move in. THE GOTHAM CONNECTION! Dick Grayson is informed that he is about to flunk a college course due to absences, and the only way to save the year, is to present a large work in record time. Dick asks his girlfriend, Jennifer to help him, but as soon as there is problem in New Carthage, he goes out as Robin and learns from Chief McDonald that the heavy waves of crimes, are connected to Gotham City. Robin, finally coming to terms with his fate, gets going on his way to return to Gotham, the city he calls home.