Detective Comics #523

Issue Details

Synopsis

INFERNO When a designer clothes' department is wrecked and several furs are missing, the Gotham City Police Department assume that this is the work of a personal vendetta against the designer. However, when Batman investigates, he comes to the conclusion that this is the work of a madman or several of them. Taking a piece of evidence, Batman leaves towards the Batcave.  Meanwhile, the gang of criminals responsible for the theft are hiding inside and abandoned warehouse, where they are also holding their main weapon, Solomon Grundy. Their main associate and leader only known as "Croc" is not satisfied with the inclusion of Grundy in the gang and he decides to leave the gang so that they deal with the monster.   In the meantime, Dick Grayson visits his friend Waldo the Clown in the passing circus near Gotham City.   Afterwards, Alfred has noticed that Bruce is somewhat more driven in his Batman activities and true to this, he finds Batman investigating the evidence from the crime scene. Batman has found traces of mold that are connected to Solomon Grundy and soon, another robbery is notified and Batman goes to the place.   Upon arriving, Batman finds a collector's store destroyed and many of the valuable relics in pieces. Inside, the criminals who organized the crime have been killed, all of them with broken necks. At the end of the store, Batman finds Grundy and the monster beats Batman to a pulp with ease. Batman has to pretend to be dead in order to have the monster leave him.   As Grundy returns to the warehouse hideout, Batman follows and a new confrontation starts in the place. Batman lures Grundy near the furnace, which he has previously activated. With a reflected image, Batman forces Grundy to go inside the furnace and he closes the door, hoping to kill the monster for good. Batman leaves the warehouse and he takes one last look at the smoke coming from the furnace, but he still has doubts of Grundy's fate. MOB RULE! After stopping a riot at the site of a strike, Green Arrow notices two men who had fought each other acting chummy and tails one of them. He discovers that the man is part of a group that intends to throw Star City into chaos and then usurp leadership, with a plot created by their adviser, Lord Machiavelli. GA reveals his presence, whereupon Machiavelli calls upon his partner, the Executrix, to battle him with twin laser-torches.