DC Database
Register
Advertisement

"Batman: "Death-Web"": Batman interrupts a million-dollar drug deal between Slinky Hamilton and his supplier, "Doc" Sugarman. Slinky orders his bodyguard, Hunk, to attack Batman in order to allow him to make off with the heroin. Batman subdues Hunk, but is too late to

Detective Comics #463 is an issue of the series Detective Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of September, 1976. It was published on June 28, 1976.

Synopsis for Batman: "Death-Web"

Batman interrupts a million-dollar drug deal between Slinky Hamilton and his supplier, "Doc" Sugarman. Slinky orders his bodyguard, Hunk, to attack Batman in order to allow him to make off with the heroin. Batman subdues Hunk, but is too late to prevent Slinky from getting into his car. Batman tries to warn him not to turn on the ignition, as he can see explosives attached to the car's exhaust pipe, but Slinky ignores him and is killed in a fiery explosion that wounds Batman as well. Sugarman escapes among all the commotion.

Police Commissioner Gordon and his officers, along with City Commissioner Reeves, arrive at the scene. Concerned at his obvious injuries, Gordon encourages Batman to seek medical attention, while Reeves calls for his arrest and accuses him of killing Slinky. Gordon has his officers escort Reeves away so he can talk with Batman, who explains the situation. Batman notes that the murder went beyond typical gang methods and seemed like "an act of war." While he doesn't yet know who planted the bomb, he is suspicious that Sugarman may have had something to do with it. He heeds Gordon's advice and returns to his penthouse apartment to get his shoulder treated by Alfred.

Shortly thereafter, Batman goes on the hunt for Sugarman and starts by interrogating a man called Lonnie outside of the Purple Lion, a shady social club. Lonnie quickly directs him to Sugarman's office in the Midtown area of Gotham. Batman arrives and confronts Sugarman, who has his henchmen attack him. He defends himself with ease but still feels impeded by his shoulder injury. Sugarman backs up against the window and aims his gun at Batman, but is suddenly shot multiple times, dying instantly.

Batman theorizes that the two killings of the drug lords were committed by this same person. Batman tracks down the source of the bullet that killed the second drug lord and is confronted by a new and ruthless vigilante called Black Spider. The sniper detects his presence with uncanny ease. After a brief fight, Black Spider gets the upper hand due to Batman's previous injuries. As Batman is defeated, Black Spider tells the Dark Knight that he only followed his example, but with more definitive results. Batman soon passes out and Black Spider leaves the crime scene.

Batman regains consciousness to find himself in Commissioner Gordon's office at the GCPD Headquarters, surrounded by Gordon, Reeves, and a couple of police officers. One of them has patched up his shoulder again. Gordon informs him that they found him next to the weapon used in Sugarman's murder. Reeves demands that he be arrested. Batman realizes that Black Spider has framed him and he manages to get out of the GCPD HQ, defying the pleas of Commissioner Gordon to wait.

Batman deduces that Black Spider’s next target must be in a plane arriving from Paris, France. He goes to the Gotham Airport to prevent another killing, but he is ambushed by the Black Spider and shoved into the middle of the runway as a plane is about to land and crush him to death.

Appearing in Batman: "Death-Web"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Black Spider (First appearance)
  • Doc Sugarman (Single appearance; dies)
    • Otto (Single appearance)
    • José (Single appearance)
  • Slinky Hamilton (Single appearance; dies)
    • Hunk (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Lonnie (Single appearance)

Locations:

Items:


Synopsis for The Atom: "Crimes by Calculation"

Ray Palmer attends a lecture by his friend, Rick Bagley, about earthquakes and their potential to be used constructively to generate energy. Bagley presents his invention, the Quake-Braker, which he made to harness this energy and reduce the destructive impact of earthquakes. Two hours into the lecture, the room suddenly starts shaking. Debris falls from the ceiling. An attendee frantically tells him to use the Quake-Braker, but Bagley says that it's not fully finished. The cause of the quake becomes clear as the Calculator bursts through the wall, declaring that Bagley's machine will never be completed. Palmer quickly transforms into the Atom, shrinking down to prepare to attack. The Calculator reveals that he decided on targeting Bagley specifically, and on this particular day, because he calculated that Bagley was just about to perfect his invention, which would be revolutionary and world-changing. He also implies that he anticipated the Atom being there.

After being punched by the Atom, the Calculator uses his suit's generative headgear to envelop his miniature opponent in fiery rings. The Atom dives into a pitcher of water to cool himself off, while Rick Bagley flees outside with his invention. The Calculator chases after him, gleefully herding him about. The Atom follows, however, knocking the Calculator down to the ground; he retaliates by using his headgear to create a projection of a hand and poking the tiny man away, partially damaging the suit. The Calculator tosses him at high velocity at a brick wall, but the Atom uses the backup controls on his hands to shrink between the molecules of the wall and come out the other side unharmed.

Unfortunately, the Calculator takes this opportunity to blast the ground beside Bagley with an energy beam. Another brutal quake breaks open the ground. Bagley's invention falls into the fault, leading Bagley to try to reach in and retrieve it despite the Atom's warnings. Bagley himself slips and falls in, and the Earth swallows him up and shuts around him. The Calculator gloats at his death, which angers the Atom. He beats up the villain, defeating him. Just before he is apprehended, however, the Calculator pushes a mysterious button on the front of his suit.

In his jail cell, his suit gone, the Calculator just laughs, and thinks to himself, "Project Atom is complete," vowing to move onto his next target, Black Canary.

Appearing in The Atom: "Crimes by Calculation"

Featured Characters:

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

  • Richard "Rick" Bagley (Single appearance; dies)
  • Lecture attendees
  • Black Canary (Mentioned only)

Locations:

Items:

  • The Quake-Breaker
  • The Calculator's Suit
  • The Atom's Suit

Notes



See Also

Recommended Reading

Links and References

Advertisement