The Best of DC (Volume 1) with a cover date of November, 1982. It was published on August 5, 1982.
Synopsis for "The Stage is Set... for Murder!"
This story is reprinted from Detective Comics #425.
Batman is informed about a crime that would take place during a modern-dress production of Macbeth. Upon arriving, Batman prevents one of the actors from being shot and thus, he must discover which cast member is a would-be murderer. After following a masked man in a carriage, investigating as Bruce Wayne on the backstage, interrogating some of the performers and preventing a second murder attempt on stage, Batman finally deduces the identity of the killer and captures him before he could claim anybody's life.
Appearing in "The Stage is Set... for Murder!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Ezra Jimson (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Del Sartre (Single appearance)
- Barry Johnstone (Single appearance)
- Claire Foster (Single appearance)
- Tod Dunn (Single appearance)
- Claire Foster (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Gotham City
- Gotham Park
- Wayne Foundation
Items:
Synopsis for "The Assassin-Express Contract!"
This story is reprinted from Action Comics #419.
Christopher Chance practices his skills on a private sound-proofed shooting range inside his Boston apartment. His close friend Luigi brings in a Mr. Smithers who wants to hire the Human Target for a case. Smithers works for Horizon Chemical Corporation and has accidentally hired a killer to murder his boss T.C. Newman, although he only intended to engage in some industrial espionage. He is hiring the Human Target to get the murder off his conscience. Chance takes the executives place on a train to California where he knows the assassin will strike, and figures out that his assailant is posing as the conductor. After dealing with a bomb in his compartment, he gives chase to the man and they end up fighting on the top of the car. Chance activates the emergency break with a gadget in his cufflink, and the hitman goes flying off to his death. Later, Smithers is relieved that they were successful, but he also loses his job when his boss discovers what happened.
Appearing in "The Assassin-Express Contract!"
Featured Characters:
- Human Target (First appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Luigi (First appearance)
Antagonists:
- Professional Killer (Single appearance; dies)
Other Characters:
- Harry Cheever (Single appearance)
- Mister Smithers (Single appearance)
- T.C. Newman (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Earth-One
- Boston
- Beacon Hill
- California
- Boston
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Magical Mystery Mirror"
This story is reprinted from Detective Comics #444.
Appearing in "The Magical Mystery Mirror"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Dennis Fell (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Janice Fell (Single appearance)
- Amos Fell (Single appearance)
- Lt. Jacobs (Single appearance)
- Ron (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Earth-One
- Unnamed City
Items:
- A Gimmicked Mirror
Vehicles:
- None
Synopsis for "The Riddle of the Unseen Man!"
This story is reprinted from Detective Comics #201.
Appearing in "The Riddle of the Unseen Man!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Unnamed Scientist (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
Locations:
Synopsis for "A Burial for Batgirl!"
This story is reprinted from Detective Comics #400.
Driving to the library at Hudson University, Barbara Gordon hears a cry for help. Entering in the building as Batgirl, she is quickly subdued by an escaping young man. Getting to her feet she finds a body and quickly goes searching for the man who attacked her to find him being attacked by two students. Batgirl stops these students with the help of the timely arrival of Dick Grayson.
Going to the police station, she tells the chief of police that she came up from Gotham City with her friend Barbara Gordon who was delivering some rare books written by Edgar Alan Poe for an upcoming Poe festival. The police chief explains that the young man they captured Mark Osher is probably the killer of Amos Willard, who is the school business manager. This is based on the fact that Willard planned to have a nearby forest cut down so the university could build a new gym. This plan was opposed by Professor Huntington the schools biologist, and Osher who was an outspoken student. Osher threatened that he would kill Willard.
Interrogating Osher, Osher maintains his innocence and claims that he is was knocked out in the library and he had panicked when he came too and found Willard's body. Going back to the scene of the crime to investigate, Batgirl is cold-clocked from behind and soon finds herself bound and gagged and her attacker is sealing her into a room with bricks.
Appearing in "A Burial for Batgirl!"
Featured Characters:
Other Characters:
- Amos Willard (Single appearance; dies)
- Hank Osher (First appearance)
- Jack Markham (First appearance)
- Professor Huntington (Single appearance)
Locations:
Synopsis for "Midnight is the Dying Hour!"
This story is reprinted from Detective Comics #401.
Stumbling upon a murder plot at Hudson University, Batgirl soon finds herself the killers next victim after being bound, gagged and sealed in a room behind a brick wall.
Earlier in the evening, Dick Grayson had taken on his guise of Robin in order to conduct his own investigation of the murder. Finding that the body of Willard was pointing at a book of poetry (particularly the words "POE") and remembering the Poe festival, Robin finally realizes who the killer might be.
Rushing to the theater, Robin catches the killer just before he can apply the last brick that would seal Batgirl's tomb, but the murderer manages to get away. Robin then frees Batgirl, and the two heroes begin searching the theater for their assailant. After a chase through the theater, Robin and Batgirl manage to catch the killer who turns out to be none other than student Jack Markham.
Appearing in "Midnight is the Dying Hour!"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- Jack Markham (Final appearance)
Other Characters:
- Amos Willard (Appears only as a corpse)
- Hank Osher (Flashback only) (Final appearance)
- Professor Huntington
Locations:
Synopsis for "Three Feats of Peril!"
This story is reprinted from Detective Comics #209.
Appearing in "Three Feats of Peril!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Zambesi (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Marvelo (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Case of the Dead-On Target!"
This story is reprinted from Detective Comics #435.
Jason Bard investigates the in-air murder of a skydiver.
Appearing in "The Case of the Dead-On Target!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Donna (Single appearance)
- Flap (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Rip (Single appearance; dies)
- Ted Crane (Single appearance)
- Alli Crane (Single appearance)
- Silk Norbus (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
- Plane
Synopsis for "The Man With 20 Lives"
This story is reprinted from Detective Comics #227.
Monte Fisk, who is suspected of committing at least a dozen murders, covers his tracks too well for the police to prove his involvement. But John Jones uses his telepathic powers to learn that Fisk is indeed guilty. Then he uses his other powers to haunt Fisk, surviving the murderer's attempts to kill him over and over again. Finally, Fisk confesses to the killings, saying a "ghost detective" has been haunting him.
Appearing in "The Man With 20 Lives"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Lt. Saunders
Antagonists:
- Monte Fisk (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Ocean Pest!"
This story is reprinted from Detective Comics #222.
Appearing in "The Ocean Pest!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Mr. Walters (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Inspector Saunders (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Wanted for Murder One, the Batman"
This story is reprinted from Batman #225.
A talk-show host who insults Commissioner Gordon and the Batman on his show is found dead, and all clues seem to point to the Batman as the culprit. As the Gotham City Police Department seeks to capture the Caped Crusader, Batman starts investigating on his own, outside of the law. Using unconventional methods, Batman manages to get information from the possible suspects of the crime and they provide Batman with enough evidence to find the real killer.
Batman returns to the crime scene, where Commissioner Gordon and the GCPD are waiting for him. When Batman is finally cornered by the law, he makes no attempt to escape and instead, he allows Gordon and some of his officers to hear his deduction of the crime. After explaining what he believes happened the night of the murder, the Police find enough evidence to corroborate Batman's theory and the killer is finally revealed as the talk-show host. The man had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and he decided to kill himself and frame Batman for the crime, due to his extreme hatred towards the vigilante. After the case is closed, Batman's name is cleared and he starts working on the side of the law once again.
Appearing in "Wanted for Murder One, the Batman"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Jonah Jory (Single appearance; dies)
- Sy Semple (Single appearance)
- Squeaky Piper (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Gotham City Police Department
- Arthur Reeves
- Anderson P. Forsythe (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
See Also