Limited Collectors' Edition #C-25 is an issue of the series Limited Collectors' Edition (Volume 1) with a cover date of January, 1974.
Synopsis for "The Case of the Joker's Crime Circus!"
This story is reprinted from Batman #4.
The crew of a passing yacht spots The Joker hanging on to a piece of driftwood in the ocean. They take him ashore not knowing his identity, he then makes his way up to his hideout which is an Old gloomy mansion nicknamed The Haunted. The Joker then celebrates as Batman thinks he's dead which gives him an advantage. Meanwhile elsewhere the Dynamic duo attempts to stop a group of acrobatic thieves they catch stealing from a house. While they are in the progress of beating them a huge man with incredible strength comes out from the car parked nearby and beats the two crime fighters easily. Later at Wayne Manor, Bruce Wayne is sent an invitation to a ball which he decides to attend. After a while the host of the party, Darcey announces that a miniature circus will be performing in the ball room.
Three days later and Dick Grayson reports that The Darceys , who hosted the party have been robbed. Wayne estimates that it makes 6 rich families robbed this month. Bruce investigates and announces to Dick at the end of the day, that every family that has been robbed has had the circus play at their house. They then remember the robbers who they attempted to stop days ago who were acrobatic and the strong man that defeated them. Dick reads in the newspaper that the Morganbilts are having the miniature circus perform for them, Bruce decides that they'll intervene as Batman and Robin! The night of the performance the Joker and his Crime Circus are getting prepared at the Haunted House, Joker introduces a new member to the rest of the group telling them that he is the surprise guest of the night.
Once the performance starts , Joker steps forward stating that he has a surprise for the crowd but before he can finish The Dynamic Duo leap into the room through the window. Robin beats all of the acrobats, while Batman defeats the strong man. At this time the Joker escapes to the Haunted House with Batman and Robin following behind. They make it into the mansion only to mislead by several different traps, Batman is eventually trapped in a room alone with illusions of the Joker's face and it laughing. Batman finds out it's a recording and stops it. Gas then starts to come into the room, Batman mixes some vials from his utility belt into one another and throws the pellet at the wall making it explode. He finds the Joker about to push Robin down a trap door that goes all the way down to beneath the mansion. The two fight and the Joker knocks Batman down only to be sent down the trap door himself as he tries to lung forward at Batman who sent him sailing over his head with his feet.
Appearing in "The Case of the Joker's Crime Circus!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- The Joker
- Ajax (Single appearance)
- Tino (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Darcey (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Gotham City (1st time named)
- Wayne Manor
- The Haunted House (First appearance)
Items:
- Gotham City Gazette (First appearance)
Vehicles:
- Joker's car (Not yet the Jokermobile)
Synopsis for "The Case Batman Failed to Solve!"
This story is reprinted from Batman #14.
Batman and four other famed detectives are invited to a conference by the greatest detective of all time Dana Drye, who is mysteriously murdered in front of their very eyes and they must work together to solve the mystery by midnight.
Following a trail of clues found by the other detectives, Batman is finally able to discover that Dana Drye planned his own death in a way that it would remain a mystery to some of the greatest detectives. Batman also learns that Dana Drye had discovered the secret identities of Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson as Batman and Robin three years ago, but never shared the secret with anyone. Out of respect for the late detective, Batman informs the other detectives that he couldn't solve the case and neither of them could either. Later that night, Batman takes the diary of Dana Drye to his Hall of Trophies in Wayne Manor.
Appearing in "The Case Batman Failed to Solve!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Commisioner Gordon (Cameo)
- Dana Drye (Single appearance; dies)
Antagonists:
- Red Rip (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Gotham City Police Department
- Sheriff Ezra Plunkett (Single appearance)
- Grace Seers (Single appearance)
- Dr. Tsu (Single appearance)
- Sir John Bart (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
- Dana Drye's Diary (placed in Batman's Hall of Trophies)
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Mayors of Yonville!"
This story is reprinted from Batman #24.
Tweedledum and Tweedledee are running for mayor of Yonvile and they attract the attention of Batman and Robin, who travel to the town to make sure everything is in order. The Tweeds are apparently law abiding citizens now, but as soon as there's trouble, they use the law of Yonville to arrest Batman and Robin.
With Batman out of the way, the Tweeds stage a fake gold mine discovery to rob the money from the townsfolk with the promise of gold. Batman and Robin learn of this foul play and they escape prison and confront the Tweeds, who try to escape but ultimately fall in a real golden mine and are finally captured by the dynamic duo.
The people of the town learn of the Tweed's crimes and they appoint Batman as temporary Mayor of Yonville. This time it's Batman who arrests the Tweeds and after setting things right in town, Batman and Robin return to Gotham City.
Appearing in "The Mayors of Yonville!"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
Locations:
- Gotham City (Cameo)
- Yonville
Items:
Synopsis for "Hate of the Hooded Hangman!"
This story is reprinted from Detective Comics #355.
The wrestler known as the Hooded Hangman has called out to Batman for a challenge to be the most popular masked man in Gotham City. After an initial fight which Batman manages to escape, Batman deduces that newscaster Telman Davies is the Hooded Hangman.
Arranging an official fight on the roof of the wrestling arena, the loser to be unmasked, Batman and the Hooded Hangman duke it out. When the Hangman manages to defeat Batman, he unmasks the Caped Crusader to reveal the face of Telman Davies. As the Hangman is confused, Batman knocks the Hangman out and reveals him to be the real Hangman. After the fight, Telman's attempt at being the most celebrated masked fighter is ruined and he leaves Gotham City for South America.
Appearing in "Hate of the Hooded Hangman!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Hooded Hangman (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- The Arizona Apache (wrestler) (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Hot Time in Gotham Town Tonight!"
This story is reprinted from Batman #221.
The Gotham City Fire Department have been dealing with fake alarms in the past days and some of the members are very angry at the pranksters. When one of these prank alarms gets in the way of a real fire, the GCFD get on the scene too late and they are unable to save some of the people who are still inside the burning building. However, from inside comes Batman, carrying a small kid with him and taking him to safety.
When the GCFD have managed to get the situation under control, they enter the runied building, where they find a man beholding an ancient Vietnamese idol, the same that caused the fire in the building. Unable to break the spell of the statue, the GCFD are forced to remain still while the fire keeps burning the building. Once again, Batman appears and he is the only man capable of resisting the spell of the idol, he takes it to a nearby window, where he drops the idol and breaks the spell for good.
Appearing in "Hot Time in Gotham Town Tonight!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Gotham City Fire Department
- Harry (Single appearance)
- Frank (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Cleve (Single appearance)
- Joey (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
- Batrope
- Spellbinder Idol
Synopsis for "Ghost of the Killer Skies!"
This story is reprinted from Detective Comics #404.
When murder breaks out on a World War I movie set devoted to the story of Rittmeister Hans Von Hammer, the Enemy Ace, Batman investigates and finds a modern-day "Von Hammer" devoted to keeping the original's memory untarnished in his own eyes.
The movie, which had been funded by Bruce Wayne, is forced to cancel after their lead actor and director are killed. Batman soon learns that someone has hired goons to sabotage the film and that same person murdered the three time Academy Award winner, director Anson. After following the clues left by the thugs, Batman confronts Heinrich Franz, the man behind the attacks and a descendant of Von Hammer.
In order to settle the dispute, Franz challenges Batman to a duel in the sky and Batman has no option but to agree. During the aereal combat, Batman's plane is damaged beyond repair and he takes the chance of jumping across the sky to Franz's plane, taking the fight directly to the criminal. In the struggle, Franz's scarf gets tangled with the rotor blades and he is thrown out of the plane as he plunges to a gruesome death. After the case is closed, Batman admits that he had some sort of help during the fligt and the spirit of Von Hammer shines upon the Dark Knight.
Appearing in "Ghost of the Killer Skies!"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- Heinrich Franz (Single appearance; dies)
- Martinez (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Enemy Ace (In a photograph only)
- Mr. Anson (Single appearance; dies)
- Gavin (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
- Luger
Vehicles:
- Nieuport 17
- Fokker Dr.I
See Also