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Detective Comics #448 (Group 1)

detective-comics-no448-cover.jpg

Title

Detective Comics #448 (Group 1)

Subject

Batman encounters the League of Assassins

Description

My Batman artifact is the cover of Detective Comics #448 -- "Bedlam Beneath the Big Top!”. This issue was released in June 1975 by Len Wein. This cover indicates the tough decision Batman was faced with when trying to be lured and forced into joining the League of Assassins. The comic begins with Jack Ryder explaining to Batman that the most possible location of the responsibilities for his frame-up is in a foreign circus so Batman decides to investigate. At first it seems as if nothing is out of the ordinary at the circus – until Batman investigates the private rooms in which he notices large machinery out of place. He then realizes he’s being followed by a midget that belongs to the circus. Batman attempted to catch the midget but loses him in the maze of mirrors and gets attacked, he managed to defeat them a short time later, although. Once Batman gets outside, he notices Ra’s al Ghul’s employees and decides to disguise himself as him but they didn’t fall for the prank and attacked Batman until he was unconscious. When he later recovers, he was surrounded by the circus crew, and Ra’s al Ghul’s daughter, Talia, in effort to lure Batman into joining their side in Ra’s al Ghul’s empire. Talia tries to convince Batman by telling him the police have turned against him and that this is the only choice he had to make. His opposition to joining Ra’s al Ghul’s empire resulted in the attack of his new enemies. Just as Batman is about to lose in this attack, The Creeper shows up and helps Batman fight the League of Assassins. Together, they defeated the assassins and confront Ra’s al Ghul, who was concealed behind the midget’s disguise. Ra’s al Ghul admits to his plan of framing Batman in order to transform him into an outlaw and forced him to join his League of Assassins. As a result of everything Ra’s put Batman through, he attempts to capture Ra’s and bring him to the authorities to clear his name, but then the circus tent goes into flames and the place begins to collapse. While this is happening, Batman is faced with two choices – saving Talia or capturing Ra’s. As a result, Ra’s decides to stay put while Batman takes Talia out of the tent and witness how the place is going to burn to the ground with Ra’s al Ghul inside. When Commissioner Gordon and the Gotham City Police Department arrive at the burning scene, The Creeper flees and everyone is in disbelief that Talia is alive. Batman explains to the authorities about the conspiracy the League of Assassins placed against him and shows them the automatic guns used to frame him work. Commissioner Gordon decided to drop the charges against him and Batman was allowed to work with the Police Force once again.

Creator

Bob Kane
Bill Finger

Publisher

DC Comics

Date

June 1975

Contributor

John Schwartz
Meg Williams

Format

Physical
image/jpeg

Language

English

Type

Comic Book

Abstract

Batman encounters the League of Assassins

Collection

No Collection

MLA Citation

Bob Kane and Bill Finger, “Detective Comics #448 (Group 1),” Student Digital Gallery, accessed March 29, 2024, https://digitalgallery.bgsu.edu/student/items/show/12191.