Batman '66 #7 is an issue of the series Batman '66 (Volume 1) with a cover date of March, 2014. It was published on January 22, 2014.
Synopsis for "The Fiend Is False!"
False False begins a crime spree under his most prominent impersonation yet: millionaire Bruce Wayne. Batman and Robin quickly catch onto this deception, but find themselves stymied when the police charge "Bruce Wayne" for the crimes and put out a bulletin for his arrest.
While Batman and Robin work to clear Bruce's name, False Face and his gang steal their biggest prize yet: the famed Tiger Topaz. By the time the Dynamic Duo arrive on the scene, the thieves have already fled the city, their only leave-behind a gloating note:
So long, Gotham. I can't top this job... so I'm out of here. For once I'm going to slow down and do less. And enjoy my dead presidents!
Recalling False Face's modus operandi, Batman concludes the note is a false clue, and its bolded words should be reversed into rush and more. In other words, False Face and his gang have fled to Mount Rushmore, home to the largest faces in the United States - all dead presidents.
The Dynamic Duo waste no time flying to the famed monument, spurring the thieves into the nearby woods. There, False Face's underlings are picked off one at a time; still defiant, False Face threatens to dynamite all of Mount Rushmore, but Batman distracts him with an edifying speech, allowing Robin to snip the detonating cord. Now totally defenseless, False Face falls to Batman, who soon recovers his loot and clears Bruce Wayne's name.
Appearing in "The Fiend Is False!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- False Face (Impersonates Bruce Wayne, Dr. Chan, President Johnson, Blaze and President Lincoln)
- Blaze
- Hugh (Single appearance)
- Little Tom (Single appearance)
- Riddler
- Rebus (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Dr. Chan
- Mike (Single appearance)
- Mr. Pourtin (First appearance)
- Miss Esther (First appearance; unnamed)
- Rangers
- Batman Rogues Gallery (Mentioned only)
- Catwoman (Mentioned only)
- Mr. Freeze (Mentioned only)
- Dr. Thomas Wayne (Mentioned only)
- Harriet Cooper (Mentioned only)
- President Abraham Lincoln (Sculpture only; likeness also used by False Face)
- President George Washington (Sculpture only)
- President Lyndon B. Johnson (Mentioned only; likeness also used by False Face)
- President Theodore Roosevelt (Sculpture only)
- President Thomas Jefferson (Sculpture only)
Locations:
- Gotham City
- Fiendish Flophouse
- Gotham City International Airport
- Gotham City Police Headquarters
- Gotham Museum of Science
- Gotham National Bank (Mentioned only)
- Pourtin's Jewelers
- Stately Wayne Manor
- Star City (Mentioned only)
- Star City Science Museum (Mentioned only)
- South Dakota
- Washington, D.C. (Mentioned only)
- White House (Mentioned only)
Items:
- Batcomputer (Cameo)
- Batman's Utility Belt
- Bat-Freeze
- Batrope
- Bat-Tracer (Mentioned only)
- Cold Bat-Compress
- Batphone
- Batpoles
- Compressed Steam Batpole Lift
- Fake Diamond Necklace
- Shakespeare Bust
- Tiger Topaz
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Joker's Layoff Riot!"
The Joker successfully robs a popular game-show's jackpot, but bitterly notes only one of his men had actually helped in the getaway. After an evening watching business news, the Clown Prince of Crime is inspired to fire his whole gang except that one henchman. This "downsizing" not only leaves him a bigger share of loot, but also lets him evade Batman and Robin (who have grown used to picking him out of large retinues) at his next heist.
While troubled by the Joker's new efficiency, Batman correctly judges it unsustainable. Indeed, the Joker quickly overworks his one lackey to the point of exhaustion, and their following heist fails miserably against the Dynamic Duo. To add insult to injury, Batman reminds the apprehended Joker that his henchman's condition violates many labor laws - a charge which will surely compound his sentence.
Appearing in "The Joker's Layoff Riot!"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- Joker
- Cackles (Single appearance)
- Chortles (Single appearance)
- Chuckles (Single appearance)
- Giggles (Single appearance)
- Tee-Hee (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Professor C. Emerson Winterdale (Single appearance)
- Gotham City Police Department (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Gotham City
- Gotham Books
- Joker's Hideout
- What's My Punchline? Quiz Show Studio
Items:
- Confetti Bazookas
- Trick Streamers
- Confetti Bombs
- Joker's Lapel Flower (Cameo)
- Utility Belts
- Bat-Cuffs
- Batropes
- Winterdale Compendium of Jokes
Notes
- The contents of this issue were originally released digitally as Batman '66 Chapters Nineteen-Twenty-One on November 6, November 13 and November 20, 2013, respectively. Chapters Nineteen and Twenty comprise "The Fiend Is False!" (with Twenty originally titled "Chase to the Face") and Chapter Twenty-One is "The Joker's Layoff Riot!".
- This issue is reprinted in Batman '66 Vol. 2.
- Blaze has inexplicably returned to False Face's gang, even though her last appearance on the original series saw her reforming and retiring to New Zealand. However, it is possible that "The Fiend is False!" takes place beforehand, as False Face, like most of the series' villains, has no real chronology to his appearances.
See Also