Detective Comics Vol 1 450

Batman: "The Cape and Cowl Deathtrap"

Cover

Batman: "The Cape and Cowl Deathtrap"

Robin: "The Parking Lot Bandit"

Editors

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Detective Comics # 449	Detective Comics # 451

True, the police can't interrogate you without counsel... that's one reason I'm not a policeman!

— Batman

Detective Comics #450 is an issue of the series Detective Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of August, 1975.

Synopsis for Batman: "The Cape and Cowl Deathtrap"

Batman terrorizes Harcourt, a criminal mastermind who admits to bribing a judge (Arnell) and the grand jury but he swears he doesn't know the identity of the person who killed Senator Locksley. Batman believes he knows the assassin, though not the one who hired him.

Later, assassin Jeremy Wormwood is invited to Bruce Wayne's office where he finds Harcourt who hires him to steal Batman's cape and cowl. Commissioner Gordon calls Batman having received a bizarre phone message - a poem referencing famous historical and/or literary people. Batman deduces the poem refers to a wax museum and enters only to have all entrances sealed and locked. A 10,000 watt light comes on threatening to cook Batman alive unless he removes and leaves his cape and cowl after which, he may leave. Batman complies and Wormwood takes them back to Wayne's office.

Wormwood asks why Harcourt wanted them and Harcourt offers a deal - he'll tell his reasons if Wormwood tells him who hired him to kill the Senator. Wormwood reveals who hired him (Mike Carley - the party boss), then asks Harcourt what he's going to do with the cape and cowl. Harcourt replies "I'm going to wear them." Wormwood turns to find Batman attacking. After a short struggle, Batman defeats Wormwood and ushers in the awaiting police. Batman had been impersonating Harcourt all along.

Appearing in Batman: "The Cape and Cowl Deathtrap"

Featured Characters:

Batman

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Jeremy Wormwood (Single appearance)
Harcourt (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

Miss Barton (Single appearance)
Judge Arnell (Single appearance)

Locations:

Gotham City
- Wayne Foundation
- Father Knickerbocker's Wax Museum

Items:

Synopsis for Robin: "The Parking Lot Bandit"

Dick Grayson and Lori Elton are shopping on their first date when a man, later called the "Parking Lot Bandit," steals a woman's purse. Dick tries to stop him, but is unsuccessful.

After the two return to Hudson University, Dick spots Chief McDonald calling for backup. Dick slips away and changes to Robin and the two men enter the University Treasurer's Office which is being robbed. Robin fights in the dark with the Bandit and pulls off his wig as he is kicked in the head. Robin tackles the man who turns out to be Treasurer Shuster. Shuster says he was also investigating, saw a young man race by him and then was tackled by Robin. Robin realizes he may have blacked out for a moment and tackled the wrong man, allowing the Bandit to escape.

The police discover that Mrs. Roberts, the purse-snatch victim, was sent a gift card for a store with a note that it had to be used during a set time. It is also revealed that she works at the University Treasurer's Office and had the keys in her purse. That night Robin visits Chief McDonald who shows him a note, comprised of cut newspaper/magazine words, claiming to be the Parking Lot Bandit and claiming to have been framed.

Appearing in Robin: "The Parking Lot Bandit"