Checkered Past Episode 5: Detective Comics 348!

Checkered Past

Detective Comics 348 Cover date February 1966 Cover Price 12 cents Cover Artist: Joe Kubert and Ira Schnapp Edited by Julius Schwartz “Birdmaster of Bedlam!” Writer Robert Kanigher, Artist Sheldon Moldoff and Joe Giella in which Batman and his Buddy battle a be-turbaned birdbrain! When a plane carrying Miss USA crash lands after it is attacked by wild birds (killing her in the process), Batman and Robin soon become aware of a sinister plot by a criminal known as the Birdmaster who plans to hold the world ransom by sending out armies of trained birds to attack any planes in the sky. Traveling to the Birdmaster's castle base, the dynamic duo battle the Birdmaster and his minions, forcing the Birdmaster to flee. In a stroke of irony, Birdmaster escapes in a plane that's attacked by his own birds, forcing a crash land and causing the criminal's death. “My Wife, the Witch!” Writer Gardner Fox, artist Carmine Infantino & Sid Greene in which the stretchable sleuth and his sexy sidekick sidle up to Salem – errr, Malem! When Ralph and Sue Dibny arrive at the Pine Beach Hotel in the town of Malem, they find that their reservations have been lost. The only room the hotel has available is said to be haunted, but the Dibny's take it anyway. The next day, Sue finds a book of spells. When she tries the first two, the magic works. She then sends Ralph to the store for the materials she needs for the third spell. Ralph arrives at the store and stumbles upon a robbery. He apprehends the gang, but not the gang boss who planned the crime. Ralph suspects the hotel manager and tricks the man into a panic. When the manager flees, Ralph catches him. The manager used the phony magic story to trick Ralph into capturing his gang, so that he could keep the loot for himself. Public Service Announcement Theatre: Buzzy Says – Old People are People Too! Sound Effects: http://www.freesfx.co.uk