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"Batman Meets Bat-Mite": This story is reprinted from Detective Comics #267.

Batman Annual #7 is an issue of the series Batman Annual (Volume 1) with a cover date of May, 1964.

Synopsis for "Batman Meets Bat-Mite"

This story is reprinted from Detective Comics #267.

Bat-Mite, a hero-worshiping magical elf-being from another dimension, comes to Earth in hopes of helping Batman and Robin fight crime. The Dynamic Duo are reluctant, especially when he uses his magic to make their battles more "exciting". For instance, Bat-Mite bends a steel bridge like rubber and causes a giant disc to float in the air for several moments. Batman succeeds in capturing the crooks in each of these instances, but he has to come up with some sort of explanation for the incredible situations created by Bat-Mite.

Despite being asked to leave his crime fighting efforts, Bat-Mite keeps nosing on Batman's missions, until his constant meddling allows some crooks to escape. Filled with regret, Bat-Mite apologizes to Batman, who in turn gives Bat-Mite the exact instructions to capture the crooks using a giant statue of Batman. Bat-Mite suceeds in capturing the criminals and he finally decides to leave the Dynamic Duo alone. However, before leaving, Bat-Mite implies that he intends to return - news poorly received by Batman and Robin.

Appearing in "Batman Meets Bat-Mite"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Tipper Neely (Single appearance)
  • Unnamed Thieves (Single appearance)
  • The Yellow-Gloves Gang (Single appearance)

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Synopsis for "The Secret Life of Bat-Hound"

This story is reprinted from Batman #125.

When John Wilker takes a job which will keep him traveling constantly, he asks Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson to keep his dog Ace permanently, not knowing his dog is secretly the Bat-Hound. Soon after, Batman and Robin go on a mission against Mr. Midas, a masked criminal whose gang specializes in gold robberies. When he steals a solid gold car at an exhibition and scatters gold coins in his wake, pedestrians rush into the street and obstruct the Batmobile. Detective work leads Batman and Robin to Midas's hideout, an abandoned gold mine, but the villain traps them there with a cave-in after telling them he is about to "pull the Jason job!"

Batman is able to signal Bat-Hound back at Wayne Manor via radio signal from Batman's boot to a receiver in Ace's collar. Ace, as trained, puts his head through a harness holding the Bat-Hound mask, summons Kathy Kane as Batwoman, and leads her to the source of the signal, where Batwoman digs out the heroes with a steam shovel. Batman and Batwoman deduce that "the Jason job" refers to a movie nearby being made of "Jason and the Golden Fleece," with a fleece made of real gold. When the four crime-fighters arrive, Batman, Batwoman and Robin defeat the gang, while Midas makes a break for it in his car. Bat-Hound gives chase, corners Midas at an airport, keeps him from reaching a plane, and holds him until Batman can arrive and kayo the master thief. Later, Bat-Hound receives a hug from Batwoman as his two masters look on, grinning.

Appearing in "The Secret Life of Bat-Hound"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Mr. Midas (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • John Wilker

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Synopsis for "Bat-Girl!"

This story is reprinted from Batman #139.

Batman, Robin, and Batwoman battle the Cobra Gang at a scientific equipment exhibit and are captured by a member of the gang using the Electronic-Ring device. Suddenly, a new heroine calling herself Bat-Girl enters through a window and switches off the device, allowing the heroes to capture the gang, and leaves as swiftly as she entered.

When Batwoman returns to her lair, she finds Bat-Girl waiting and aware of her secret identity. A few days before, Betty Kane visits her aunt, Kathy Kane. Suspicious of her aunt's whereabouts as she goes out most every night, Betty deduces that her aunt is actually the crimefighting Batwoman. Although Batwoman is impressed and flattered, she begs her niece not to become Bat-Girl again. Batwoman later seeks the advice of Batman and Robin, who tell her to stall the girl with training in hopes that she'll give up.

Tired of being stalled, Betty finds a shoe left behind by a member of the Cobra Gang in Batwoman's crimefighting sanctuary and analyzes it. Her analysis reveals the presence of cellulose acetate leading her to the Cobra Gang's hideout in an abandoned rayon plant. The Cobra Gang captures the young heroine and imprisons her in an unused office. Bat-Girl uses the carbon paper in the office to make a number of bat shapes and releases them into an exhaust vent. Picking up on the signal, Batman, Robin, and Batwoman storm the plant and free Bat-Girl, who helps capture the Cobra Gang.

Appearing in "Bat-Girl!"

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Synopsis for "The Dynamic Trio"

This story is reprinted from Detective Comics #245.

Batman and Robin join with a new costumed partner, Mysteryman, to take down a ring of smugglers in Gotham City, and Vicki Vale vows to discover their new partner's identity.

Wanted criminals are being smuggled out of Gotham city to foreign ports. The mayor demands action and instructs commissioner Gordon turn over the case to Batman and Robin. The dynamic duo then announces that they will need help capturing the responsible criminals, someone with better experience. This captures the attention of news reporter Vicki Vale. Who could possibly be a better lawmen than Batman and Robin? The duo is soon spotted in the company of a masked figure known as Mystery Man. As the Dynamic Trio capture the criminals across Gotham, Vicki follows closely and starts making guesses as to who Mysteryman could be. At first she thinks he is a robot and later she deduces that Mysteryman is Superman. After a long investigation, Vicki finally learns that Mysteryman is Commissioner Gordon, who was forced to act in disguise following orders from the Mayor to turn over the case to Batman and Robin. When the truth is revealed, the Mayor apologizes for not letting Gordon act freely and Vicki is very grateful to Batman for allowing her to get the scoop.

Appearing in "The Dynamic Trio"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • A Gang of Smugglers (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • The Mayor of Gotham City
  • Editor of Vue Magazine

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Synopsis for "The Secret of Batman's Butler"

This story is reprinted from Batman #110.

While Batman and Robin are out on a mission, Alfred sits down and begins composing a farewell letter. He writes to his employers about how shortly after he began work for them he was approached by a man named Noyes, who tried to get information about Bruce Wayne from him, even at the point of bribery. Alfred refused, and threatened to call the police. Some months later, Alfred heard the voice of Dick Grayson calling to him from a secret passageway behind the grandfather clock, and discovered his employers were really Batman and Robin. He tended a wounded Batman, who was glad to take him into his confidence. He mentioned Noyes, but Batman said to pay him no heed. Alfred goes on to write of how he helped Batman and Robin in various ways, many times protecting their secret identities. But, recently, he saw Noyes himself emerging from the Batcave. Thus, Alfred writes, the secret has been disclosed somehow through his own blundering, and he must now say goodbye as a result.

Finishing his letter, Alfred hits upon a plan to save Batman's secret, and dresses up as Batman when Noyes returns to the Batcave. Alfred reveals to Noyes that he is actually the Caped Crusader, but Noyes removes a facial disguise, and is revealed to be Bruce Wayne. Bruce explains that he had first worn the "Noyes" disguise to test Alfred's loyalty, and the butler passed with flying colors. Recently he revived the Noyes disguise to help in his search for Dan Marly, public enemy no. 1. Alfred replies that he is relieved that he can return to being a butler, and Batman counters that to he and Robin, Alfred is the greatest gentleman's gentleman in the world.

Appearing in "The Secret of Batman's Butler"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Batman (Flashback and main story)
  • Robin (Flashback and main story)

Other Characters:

Antagonists

  • Dan Marly(Mentioned only)

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Synopsis for "Superman Batman and Robin!"

This story is reprinted from World's Finest #75.

When Commissioner Gordon turns on the Bat-Signal to call Batman and Robin, he's surprised that Superman and Robin are the ones who answer the call. The night before, Batman and Robin answered a call to the Gotham Research Laboratory where the Purple Mask Mob was attempting to steal platinum being used for research. During the fight, Batman is doused in the face with a chemical as the criminals flee the scene. Attempting to go out after them, Batman jumped out of a window onto a fire escape and lose his balance falling to the ground below. Upon regaining consciousness, he found Superman and Robin standing over him, telling him that he has broken his leg.

While Batman is down with a cast on his leg, Superman (who is on reporter exchange in his civilian guise of Clark Kent at the Gotham Gazette) tells the Caped Crusader that he will cover for him while he's on the mend. Working as a team, Superman and Robin easily capture some of the Purple Mask Mob as they are making an escape with a stolen armored car. However, when they are turned over to the Gotham police, they refuse to talk. In the meantime, Batman begins clearing a place in the Batcave for trophies from Superman and Robin's exploits together and begins to worry that Robin will leave him to be Superman's sidekick.

Despite this, he asks them to collect for them a wristwatch the next time they smash up another one of the Purple Mask Mob's operations. He next asks them to collect a shoe from the next attempted robbery. When Superman and Robin comply, Batman deduces that the crooks are hiding out at the south bank of Pine Hill. He explains that by examining dust on the wristwatch and mud on the shoes, he was able to pinpoint the unique location of the crooks hideout. Batman's theory proves correct, and Superman and Robin smash up the Purple Mask Mob and turn them over to the police. After the caper is over, Superman breaks open Batman's cast and they explain that he never really had a broken leg. They explain that when Batman and Robin were at the research laboratory, Batman was doused with a slow acting poison that would have killed him had he as abnormally active and that the only way for his body to fight off the poison would be to remain inactive. Superman would go on to explain that the broken leg ruse was to ensure that Batman did not go into action as they knew that nothing would have stopped Batman from his tireless war on crime unless he was laid up.

With the case over and Batman safe, Superman says goodbye to the Dynamic Duo and departs. Later, Robin confides in Batman that while working with Superman was fun, he much prefers working with Batman any day.

Appearing in "Superman Batman and Robin!"

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Antagonists:

  • The Purple Mask Mob

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Synopsis for "Batwoman's Publicity Agent"

This story is reprinted from Batman #133.

After helping Batwoman stop a band of crooks at the Gotham Railroad Terminal, Bat-Mite becomes the heroine's crimefighting partner to the chagrin of Batman and Robin.

As the caped crusaders capture a pair of burglars at the Ace Camera Company, Batwoman and Bat-Mite capture two escaped convicts. When Bat-Mite realizes he's in love with his partner, he decides to use his powers to make Batwoman "the most sensational crimefighter of all time." Upon learning of a recent bank robbery, Bat-Mite enlists the aid of Ace the Bat-Hound to track down the robbers to a warehouse. Batwoman arrives shortly before Batman and Robin and all three raid the warehouse. Disappointed that his former heroes have arrived, Bat-Mite shrinks everyone down to about two inches tall and accidentally subdues all three heroes. Ace blocks off the robbers' escape route, allowing Batman to capture them.

When the imp restores everything to normal, he quickly decides it's time to return home before the angry heroes can get to him.

Appearing in "Batwoman's Publicity Agent"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Various Unnamed Thugs (Single appearance)

Locations:

  • Gotham City
    • Ace Camera Company
    • Gotham Bank
    • Gotham Railroad Terminals

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Synopsis for "The Second Batman and Robin Team"

This story is reprinted from Batman #131.

Alfred, trying out a new typewriter, engrosses himself in writting a story of the possible future.

In this tale, Batman retires and passes on his mantle to Dick Grayson, now an adult, who becomes Batman II. Bruce Wayne, Jr., son of Bruce and Kathy Kane, the ex-Batwoman, asks to be trained as Robin II, and, over his mother's objections, succeeds. The new dynamic duo go into action against crooks holding up a televised auction, but, when Robin II tries to lasso a "Taj Mahal" spire and swing on it, he forgets the papier-mache prop cannot support him, and thus enables the crooks to escape. Batman II, Kathy and Bruce all console the downcast youngster at home.

Later, Bruce, Jr. picks up a clue from Dick via scratched-out-letters on the back of a penny that takes him, as Robin II, to a mica quarry where gangster Ted Tate and the Babyface Jordan mob have holed up. Robin II manages to free Batman II, but the outnumbered pair are overcome by the crooks. However, the original Batman and Batwoman come to their aid, and the quartet of heroes mop the floor with the crooks. Back at the Batcave, everyone acknowledges that Robin II has proven his worth as a crime-fighter.

Bruce Wayne comes upon Alfred at the typewriter and after Alfred explains what he has done, he admits he has had so much fun he may write a sequel sometime.

Appearing in "The Second Batman and Robin Team"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Batman (Bruce Wayne) (Fictional character)
  • Batman II (Dick Grayson) (Fictional character)
  • Robin II (Bruce Wayne, Jr.) (First appearance) (Fictional character)
  • Katherine Wayne (First appearance) (Fictional character)

Antagonists:

  • Ted Tate (Single appearance)(Fictional character)
  • Babyface Jordan (Single appearance)(Fictional character)

Locations:

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Notes

  • This entire issue was reprinted in DC Comics Classics Library: The Batman Annuals Vol. 2.



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