Comic Title: Batman #85
Publisher: DC (National Comics Publications, Inc.)
Address: 480 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: August 1954
Approx. On Sale Date: June 2, 1954 Copyright Date May 31, 1954
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1954
Until 1958 DC did not report actual on sale dates to the copyright office
The publication dates listed in LoC records are NOT release dates.

Frequency: Monthly, with the exception of Jan., May, July, and Nov.
Cover Price: $0.10
Page Count: 40
Editor: Jack Schiff

Title: "The Guardian of the Bat-Signal"
Pages: 10

Feature(s):
Batman (of Earth-1)

Writer: Edmond Hamilton
Penciller: Sheldon Moldoff
Inker: Charles Paris

Reprinted In:
Batman #254 (1974)
Batman:The Golden Age Omnibus Vol. 9 HC (2021)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (last appearance in Batman #85; next appearance in Batman #85)

Supporting Character(s)

• Robin (last appearance in Batman #85; next appearance in Batman #85)
• Commissioner Gordon (last appearance in Batman #85; next appearance in Batman #85)

Villain(s)

• Lew Lakers and his mob (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Sgt. Harvey Hainer (a police officer; no further appearances)
• Joe Dolman (an ex-con; no further appearances)

Synopsis:
When veteran cop, Harvey Hainer, proves to be unfit for duty, Batman has him appointed as guardian of the Bat-Signal. Batman and Robin soon find themselves in pursuit of a gang of parachuting thieves. When the Bat-Signal is not activated on time, they are too slow to catch the crooks. Hainer claims he never received notification to turn on the signal, but everything appears to work fine. Batman investigates and learns Hainer is blind.

Rather than have the cop fired, Batman helps him activate the signal without sight. When the crooks strike again, a technical malfunction prevents Hainer from activating the signal. This time, he comes up with an alternate way of alerting Batman. When Batman gets the timely alert, he and Robin are able to apprehend the gang.