Batman Vol 1 319

"Never Give Up the Ghost!"

Cover

Never Give Up the Ghost!

Editors

Paul Levitz

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I realize this is rather melodramatic-- but it's that very fact that appeals to me so! Murder has become so unimaginative of late... don't you agree?

— Gentleman Ghost

Batman #319 is an issue of the series Batman (Volume 1) with a cover date of January, 1980. It was published on October 11, 1979.

Synopsis for "Never Give Up the Ghost!"

Batman interrupts the Gentleman Ghost and his two-man gang in the process of stealing industrial diamonds inside a darkened factory. The theft is thwarted, but the villains escape and the Ghost tells his men they will try to steal the jewels another time.

During these events, one of Joker's henchmen is taken from the police by an elaborate scheme by the Clown Prince of Crime.

Later, Batman resumes his Bruce Wayne identity, reopens Wayne Manor, and hosts a costume ball with the attendees dressed as famous persons from the past. Selina Kyle is Bruce's date for the party and she comes dressed as Catherine of Aragon (to match Bruce's Henry VIII costume), insisting on being called "Cat". During the ball, Alfred notifies Bruce that an alarm Batman had left at the factory has gone off. Bruce is forced to leave the ball and become Batman to investigate.

At the factory, Batman is tricked and knocked out by the Ghost. He awakens to find himself manacled to a chain by his wrists and suspended by a winch-and-pulley system over a cauldron of sulfuric acid. The Ghost activates the winch and leaves, telling Batman he has a date at a party in a mansion. Batman frees himself by using slack in the chain to swing himself away from the acid vat and breaking open the manacles on the gears of the winch. He then returns to Wayne Manor, where he captures both of the Ghost's hirelings but not the Ghost himself. The Gentleman Ghost fades into the fog, promising to return and to take Gotham, but Batman insists that he'd be waiting.