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in: Joe Orlando/Executive Editor, Ross Andru/Cover Artist, Dick Giordano/Cover Artist,
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Changes: Detective Comics Vol 1 491

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Line 10: Line 10:
 
| CoverArtist1 = Ross Andru
  
| CoverArtist1 = Ross Andru
 
| CoverArtist2 = Dick Giordano
  
| CoverArtist2 = Dick Giordano
  +
| CoverArtist3 = Tatjana Wood
   
 
| Editor1_1 = Paul Levitz
  
| Editor1_1 = Paul Levitz
Line 46: Line 47:
 
| Letterer5_1 = Ben Oda
  
| Letterer5_1 = Ben Oda
   
−
| Quotation =
+
| Quotation = The trick to avoiding bullets-- is not to be where they're going!
−
| Speaker =
+
| Speaker = [[Bruce Wayne (Earth-One)|Batman]]
   
−
| StoryTitle1 = The Riddle Of The Golden Fleece
 +
| StoryTitle1 = Batman: "The Riddle of the Golden Fleece"
  +
| Synopsis1 = One night at the [[Wayne Foundation]], [[Bruce Wayne (Earth-One)|Bruce Wayne]] examines a golden cloth experiment with the creator until a group of masked criminals break into the building and steal the object. When they leave, Bruce gives chase and on his way down, he switches into Batman and confronts the criminals at ground floor. Batman defeats the thugs and he recognizes one of them as a member of [[Maximillian Zeus (New Earth)|Maxie Zeus]]'s gang. When he tries to interrogate the thug, he is shot and murdered by someone who doesn't reveal himself.
−
| Synopsis1 = Batman must retrieve a scientist’s “golden fleece” experiment, capture an escaped Maxie Zeus, and learn the identity of a murderer.
 
   
  +
In order to learn the reason why Zeus wants the cloth, Batman disguises himself as the deceased thug and pays a visit to Maxie Zeus at [[Arkham Asylum]]. Batman pretends to be the thug, but Zeus realizes the trick and attacks Batman before escaping Arkham. When Batman recovers, he picks up the trail of Zeus and follows the madman to his house. After avoiding a couple of thugs, Batman finds Zeus as he is about to give a present to his daughter, Medea. Zeus seems hopeless and Batman arrives in time to give Medea a doll as his father's present.
−
| StoryTitle2 = Fragrance Of Death!
  
−
| Synopsis2 = When a cemetary caretaker asks why Jason Bard is putting a bouquet of roses on a “nobody’s” grave, Bard tells him the story of how the “nobody”, his father, killed his mother, and how Bard tracked him down.
 
   
  +
After the deed is done, Zeus walks out of the home with Batman and he thanks the Dark Knight for his kind gesture. Batman had deduced that Zeus wanted the "golden fleece" to give it to his daughter and when his henchmen failed to deliver, he would have to face his daughter's disappointment. Batman spared Zeus the shame and for that reason alone, Zeus is willing to return to Arkham without giving trouble.
⚫
| StoryTitle3 = The Target Of The Death-Dealer
  
⚫
| Synopsis3 = Robin learns that a Hudson basketball star is being forced by a gambler to throw a game or see his sister hurt, and goes after the blackmailer.
 
   
  +
However, there is still the mystery of the man who murdered Zeus' henchman and after doing some investigation, Batman finds that the killer is the very same police officer that was assigned to protect the golden cloth. The man wanted to steal it from Zeus' henchmen and make it seem like the criminals got away, but when Batman stopped them, he tried to shoot Batman and killed the thug instead. When Batman confronts the officer, the man tries to escape, but Batman captures him without much effort.
⚫
| StoryTitle4 = Short-Circuit
  
−
| Synopsis4 = A subway train whose passengers include Francine and Rebecca Langstrom is diverted by a gang of punks, so Man-Bat goes looking for it.
 
   
−
| StoryTitle5 = The Assassination Of Batgirl!
 +
| StoryTitle2 = Jason Bard: "Fragrance of Death!"
  +
| Synopsis2 = When a cemetery caretaker asks why [[Jason Bard (New Earth)|Jason Bard]] is putting a bouquet of roses on a "nobody's" grave, Bard tells him the story of his life. As a kid, Jason Bard was raised by a kind mother and an abusive father. Eventually, Bard and his mother left home and they lived happy for a few years until his father found them and he killed Bard's mother while looking for money.
⚫
| Synopsis5 = Max Scarr, a criminal with a military passion, lures Batgirl into a trap with a “booby-trapped” Batgirl dummy, and has Cormorant, an assassin, wound her with gunfire.
 
   
  +
Bard grew up with a thirst for revenge against his father and after the [[Vietnam War]], he got a degree in criminology, which he used to become a private detective. His first mission was to locate his father and make him pay for killing his mother.
⚫
| Appearing1 =
 
  +
  +
Using underworld connections, Bard found a thug called Scratch, who is the man buried in the cemetery, and he helped Bard locate his elder criminal father. Bard created an elaborate trap for his father, which included several hints to the murder he had committed, including a bouquet of roses. Bard's father realized the truth and attacked his own son, taking advantage of the injured leg. Scratch appeared and restrained Bard's father long enough for Bard to recover, but he payed the intrusion with his life. After Scratch's body collapsed, Bard's father also dropped as he had touched the bouquet during the struggle and his allergy affected him with lethal results. Watching the man who caused him so much pain in his life die, Bard couldn't help but cry when he heard the man's last word: rose.
  +
  +
When Bard ends the story, the caretaker is curious about why such a feeble remark would break a tough man as Bard and the private detective responds that Rose was his mother's name.
  +
  ⚫
| StoryTitle3 = Robin: "The Target of the Death-Dealer"
  ⚫
| Synopsis3 = [[Richard Grayson (New Earth)|Robin]] learns that a Hudson basketball star is being forced by a gambler to throw a game or see his sister hurt, and goes after the blackmailer.
  +
  ⚫
| StoryTitle4 = Black Lightning: "Short-Circuit"
  +
| Synopsis4 =
  +
  +
| StoryTitle5 = Batgirl: "The Assassination of Batgirl!"
  ⚫
| Synopsis5 = [[Anthony Scarano (Earth-One)|General Scarr]], a criminal with a military passion, prepares a trap to lure [[Barbara Gordon (Earth-One)|Batgirl]] and has [[Edward Wells (New Earth)|Cormorant]], an assassin ready to eliminate Batgirl for good.
  +
  +
On her civilian identity, Barbara Gordon finds a new job at the Humanities Research and Development Center as head of the Social Services Department, but her new co-workers are not too fond of a former politician making her way on their enterprise.
  +
  +
At night, [[James Gordon (Earth-One)|Commissioner Gordon]] informs Batgirl about a Batgirl dummy which is said would explode if anyone other than Batgirl tries to remove it from the flagpole it is hung from. Batgirl climbs up the side of the building, but before she could reach the dummy, she is attacked by Cormorant, who shoots at her and watches as Batgirl falls down to the street.
  +
  ⚫
| Appearing1 =
 
'''Featured Characters:'''
  
'''Featured Characters:'''
−
* [[Bruce Wayne (Earth-One)|Batman]]
 +
* {{apn|[[Bruce Wayne (Earth-One)|Batman]]|Batman #324|World's Finest #263}}
−
'''Supporting Characters:'''
 +
'''Antagonists:'''
  ⚫
* {{apn|[[Maximillian Zeus (New Earth)|Maxie Zeus]]|Detective Comics #486|Batman #327}}
−
* <br/>
  
  +
** Fred Britt {{Only Dies}}
−
'''Villains:'''
  
⚫
* [[Maximillian Zeus (New Earth)|Maxie Zeus]]
  
−
** Fred Britt <small>([[Glossary:Henchman|Henchman]])</small> {{Only Dies}}
  
 
* Bernard O'Hara {{Only}}
  
* Bernard O'Hara {{Only}}
 
'''Other Characters:'''
  
'''Other Characters:'''
 
* Professor Price {{Only}}
  
* Professor Price {{Only}}
−
* [[Medea Zeus (New Earth)|Medea]] {{1st}}
 +
* {{a|[[Medea Zeus (New Earth)|Medea]]}} {{1st}}
 
'''Locations:'''
  
'''Locations:'''
−
* [[Gotham City]]
 +
* {{a|[[Gotham City]]}}
−
** [[Wayne Foundation]]
 +
** {{a|[[Wayne Foundation]]}}
−
** [[Arkham Asylum]]
 +
** {{a|[[Arkham Asylum]]}}
 
'''Items:'''
  
'''Items:'''
−
* [[Batrope]]
 +
* {{a|[[Batrope]]}}
−
'''Vehicles:'''
  
−
* None
  
   
−
| Appearing2 =
+
| Appearing2 =
 
'''Featured Characters:'''
  
'''Featured Characters:'''
−
* [[Jason Bard (New Earth)|Jason Bard]]
 +
* {{a|[[Jason Bard (New Earth)|Jason Bard]]}} {{Origin}}
 
'''Supporting Characters:'''
  
'''Supporting Characters:'''
 
* Rose Bard {{Flashback Dies}}
  
* Rose Bard {{Flashback Dies}}
−
'''Villains:'''
 +
'''Antagonists:'''
 
* Jason's Father {{Flashback Dies}}
  
* Jason's Father {{Flashback Dies}}
 
* Mark Kelson {{Only}}
  
* Mark Kelson {{Only}}
 
'''Other Characters:'''
  
'''Other Characters:'''
−
* Cemetary Caretaker {{Only}}
 +
* Cemetery Caretaker {{Only}}
 
* Scratch {{Flashback Dies}}
  
* Scratch {{Flashback Dies}}
 
'''Locations:'''
  
'''Locations:'''
−
* [[Gotham City]]
 +
* {{a|[[Gotham City]]}}
−
** [[Gotham City Locales#Gotham Cemetary|Gotham Cemetary]]
 +
** {{a|[[Gotham Cemetery]]}}
 
* Northmont {{Flashback}}
  
* Northmont {{Flashback}}
−
'''Items:'''
  
−
* None
  
−
'''Vehicles:'''
  
−
* None
  
   
−
| Appearing3 =
+
| Appearing3 =
 
'''Featured Characters:'''
  
'''Featured Characters:'''
−
* [[Richard Grayson (Earth-One)|Robin]]
 +
* {{a|[[Richard Grayson (Earth-One)|Robin]]}}
 
'''Supporting Characters:'''
  
'''Supporting Characters:'''
 
* Jennifer Ann
  
* Jennifer Ann
−
'''Villains:'''
 +
'''Antagonists:'''
 
* Unnamed Gambler {{Only}}
  
* Unnamed Gambler {{Only}}
 
'''Other Characters:'''
  
'''Other Characters:'''
−
* Doris Dexter {{Only}}
 +
* Doris Dexter {{1st}}
−
* Kenny {{Only}}
 +
* Kenny
−
* Ben Dexter {{Only}}
 +
* Ben Dexter {{1st}}
 
* Mr. Washington {{Only}}
  
* Mr. Washington {{Only}}
 
* "Man in Black"
  
* "Man in Black"
 
'''Locations:'''
  
'''Locations:'''
−
* [[New Carthage]]
 +
* {{a|[[New Carthage]]}}
−
** [[Hudson University]]
 +
** {{a|[[Hudson University]]}}
 
'''Items:'''
  
'''Items:'''
−
* [[Batrope]]
 +
* {{a|[[Batrope]]}}
−
* [[Batarang]]
 +
* {{a|[[Batarang]]}}
 
'''Vehicles:'''
  
'''Vehicles:'''
−
* [[Robin's Motorcycle]]
 +
* {{a|[[Robin's Motorcycle]]}}
   
−
| Appearing4 =
+
| Appearing4 =
 
'''Featured Characters:'''
  
'''Featured Characters:'''
−
* [[Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)|Black Lightning]]
 +
* {{apn|[[Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)|Black Lightning]]||Detective Comics #494}}
 
'''Supporting Characters:'''
  
'''Supporting Characters:'''
 
* Lincoln Trask
  
* Lincoln Trask
−
'''Villains:'''
 +
'''Antagonists:'''
 
* random Haitians
  
* random Haitians
 
** Jacques Cravin {{Final}}
  
** Jacques Cravin {{Final}}
Line 139: Line 148:
 
* Mama Mambu {{Final}}
  
* Mama Mambu {{Final}}
 
'''Locations:'''
  
'''Locations:'''
−
* [[Metropolis]]
 +
* {{a|[[Metropolis]]}}
−
** [[Suicide Slum]]
 +
** {{a|[[Suicide Slum]]}}
−
*** [[Garfield High School]]
 +
*** {{a|[[Garfield High School]]}}
−
'''Items:'''
  
−
* None
  
−
'''Vehicles:'''
  
−
* None
  
   
−
| Appearing5 =
+
| Appearing5 =
 
'''Featured Characters:'''
  
'''Featured Characters:'''
−
* [[Barbara Gordan (New Earth)|Batgirl]]
 +
* {{a|[[Barbara Gordon (Earth-One)|Batgirl]]}}
 
'''Supporting Characters:'''
  
'''Supporting Characters:'''
−
* [[James Gordon (New Earth)|Commissioner Gordon]]
 +
* {{a|[[James Gordon (Earth-One)|Commissioner Gordon]]}}
−
'''Villains:'''
 +
'''Antagonists:'''
−
* General Scarr {{1st}}
 +
* {{a|[[Anthony Scarano (Earth-One)|General Scarr]]}}{{1st}}
−
* Cormorant {{1st}}
 +
* {{a|[[Edward Wells (New Earth)|Cormorant]]}} {{1st}}
 
'''Other Characters:'''
  
'''Other Characters:'''
 
* James Stein {{1st}}
  
* James Stein {{1st}}
 
* Richard Bender {{1st}}
  
* Richard Bender {{1st}}
 
* Robert Barton {{1st}}
  
* Robert Barton {{1st}}
  +
* Tracy Dover {{1stUnnamed}}
 
'''Locations:'''
  
'''Locations:'''
−
* [[Gotham City]]
 +
* {{a|[[Gotham City]]}}
  +
** {{a|[[GCPD Headquarters]]}}
−
** [[Gotham City Locales|Humanities Research and Development Center]]
 +
** Humanities Research and Development Center
−
** [[Gotham City Locales#Barbara Gordon's Apartment|Barbara's Apartment]]
  
  +
** Barbara's Apartment
 
'''Items:'''
  
'''Items:'''
−
* [[Batrope]]
 +
* {{a|[[Batrope]]}}
 
'''Vehicles:'''
  
'''Vehicles:'''
−
* [[Batcycle]]
 +
* {{a|[[Batcycle]]}}
   
 
| Notes =
 
| Notes =
  +
* "The Assassination of Batgirl!" is referenced on the {{c|[[Batgirl Special #1]]}}, which also includes a reference to the conclusion of this story in the next issue of Detective Comics.
  +
* This is the last issue written by [[Dennis O'Neil]] before his departure to work as an Editor at [[Marvel Comics]]. He would return six years later to Batman, but as Editor of the books.
  +
* This issue contains a [[:File:Batman Earth-One 033.jpg|special pin-up poster]] by [[Dick Dillin]] and [[Bob Smith]].
  +
 
| Trivia =
 
| Trivia =
−
| Recommended =
+
| Recommended = {{Batman RR}}{{Black Lightning RR}}{{Batgirl RR}}{{Robin RR}}
 
| Links =
 
| Links =
 
}}
  
}}

Revision as of 00:16, 26 March 2020

"Batman: "The Riddle of the Golden Fleece"": One night at the Wayne Foundation, Bruce Wayne examines a golden cloth experiment with the creator until a group of masked criminals break into the building and steal the object. When they leave, Bruce gives chase and o

Quote1 The trick to avoiding bullets-- is not to be where they're going! Quote2
— Batman

Detective Comics #491 is an issue of the series Detective Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of June, 1980.

Synopsis for Batman: "The Riddle of the Golden Fleece"

One night at the Wayne Foundation, Bruce Wayne examines a golden cloth experiment with the creator until a group of masked criminals break into the building and steal the object. When they leave, Bruce gives chase and on his way down, he switches into Batman and confronts the criminals at ground floor. Batman defeats the thugs and he recognizes one of them as a member of Maxie Zeus's gang. When he tries to interrogate the thug, he is shot and murdered by someone who doesn't reveal himself.

In order to learn the reason why Zeus wants the cloth, Batman disguises himself as the deceased thug and pays a visit to Maxie Zeus at Arkham Asylum. Batman pretends to be the thug, but Zeus realizes the trick and attacks Batman before escaping Arkham. When Batman recovers, he picks up the trail of Zeus and follows the madman to his house. After avoiding a couple of thugs, Batman finds Zeus as he is about to give a present to his daughter, Medea. Zeus seems hopeless and Batman arrives in time to give Medea a doll as his father's present.

After the deed is done, Zeus walks out of the home with Batman and he thanks the Dark Knight for his kind gesture. Batman had deduced that Zeus wanted the "golden fleece" to give it to his daughter and when his henchmen failed to deliver, he would have to face his daughter's disappointment. Batman spared Zeus the shame and for that reason alone, Zeus is willing to return to Arkham without giving trouble.

However, there is still the mystery of the man who murdered Zeus' henchman and after doing some investigation, Batman finds that the killer is the very same police officer that was assigned to protect the golden cloth. The man wanted to steal it from Zeus' henchmen and make it seem like the criminals got away, but when Batman stopped them, he tried to shoot Batman and killed the thug instead. When Batman confronts the officer, the man tries to escape, but Batman captures him without much effort.

Appearing in Batman: "The Riddle of the Golden Fleece"

Featured Characters:

  • Template:Apn

Antagonists:

  • Template:Apn
    • Fred Britt (Single appearance; dies)
  • Bernard O'Hara (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Professor Price (Single appearance)
  • Medea (First appearance)

Locations:

Items:


Synopsis for Jason Bard: "Fragrance of Death!"

When a cemetery caretaker asks why Jason Bard is putting a bouquet of roses on a "nobody's" grave, Bard tells him the story of his life. As a kid, Jason Bard was raised by a kind mother and an abusive father. Eventually, Bard and his mother left home and they lived happy for a few years until his father found them and he killed Bard's mother while looking for money.

Bard grew up with a thirst for revenge against his father and after the Vietnam War, he got a degree in criminology, which he used to become a private detective. His first mission was to locate his father and make him pay for killing his mother.

Using underworld connections, Bard found a thug called Scratch, who is the man buried in the cemetery, and he helped Bard locate his elder criminal father. Bard created an elaborate trap for his father, which included several hints to the murder he had committed, including a bouquet of roses. Bard's father realized the truth and attacked his own son, taking advantage of the injured leg. Scratch appeared and restrained Bard's father long enough for Bard to recover, but he payed the intrusion with his life. After Scratch's body collapsed, Bard's father also dropped as he had touched the bouquet during the struggle and his allergy affected him with lethal results. Watching the man who caused him so much pain in his life die, Bard couldn't help but cry when he heard the man's last word: rose.

When Bard ends the story, the caretaker is curious about why such a feeble remark would break a tough man as Bard and the private detective responds that Rose was his mother's name.

Appearing in Jason Bard: "Fragrance of Death!"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Rose Bard (Dies in flashback)

Antagonists:

  • Jason's Father (Dies in flashback)
  • Mark Kelson (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Cemetery Caretaker (Single appearance)
  • Scratch (Dies in flashback)

Locations:

Synopsis for Robin: "The Target of the Death-Dealer"

Robin learns that a Hudson basketball star is being forced by a gambler to throw a game or see his sister hurt, and goes after the blackmailer.

Appearing in Robin: "The Target of the Death-Dealer"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Jennifer Ann

Antagonists:

  • Unnamed Gambler (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Doris Dexter (First appearance)
  • Kenny
  • Ben Dexter (First appearance)
  • Mr. Washington (Single appearance)
  • "Man in Black"

Locations:

Items:

Vehicles:

Synopsis for Black Lightning: "Short-Circuit"


Appearing in Black Lightning: "Short-Circuit"

Featured Characters:

  • Template:Apn

Supporting Characters:

  • Lincoln Trask

Antagonists:

  • random Haitians
    • Jacques Cravin (Final appearance)
    • Leon (Final appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Mama Mambu (Final appearance)

Locations:

Synopsis for Batgirl: "The Assassination of Batgirl!"

General Scarr, a criminal with a military passion, prepares a trap to lure Batgirl and has Cormorant, an assassin ready to eliminate Batgirl for good.

On her civilian identity, Barbara Gordon finds a new job at the Humanities Research and Development Center as head of the Social Services Department, but her new co-workers are not too fond of a former politician making her way on their enterprise.

At night, Commissioner Gordon informs Batgirl about a Batgirl dummy which is said would explode if anyone other than Batgirl tries to remove it from the flagpole it is hung from. Batgirl climbs up the side of the building, but before she could reach the dummy, she is attacked by Cormorant, who shoots at her and watches as Batgirl falls down to the street.

Appearing in Batgirl: "The Assassination of Batgirl!"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

  • James Stein (First appearance)
  • Richard Bender (First appearance)
  • Robert Barton (First appearance)
  • Tracy Dover (First appearance; unnamed)

Locations:

Items:

Vehicles:

Notes

  • "The Assassination of Batgirl!" is referenced on the Batgirl Special #1, which also includes a reference to the conclusion of this story in the next issue of Detective Comics.
  • This is the last issue written by Dennis O'Neil before his departure to work as an Editor at Marvel Comics. He would return six years later to Batman, but as Editor of the books.
  • This issue contains a special pin-up poster by Dick Dillin and Bob Smith.



See Also

Recommended Reading

  1. 491

Links and References

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