Comic Title: Batman #157
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: August 1963
On Sale Date: June 6, 1963 Newsstand Date June 6, 1963
Source: House Ad, Batman Annual #5, Page 12

Copyright Date June 6, 1963
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1963

Frequency: Monthly, with the exception of Jan., April, July and Oct.
Cover Price: $0.12
Page Count: 32
Editor: Jack Schiff

Title: "The Villain of the Year"
Pages: 12

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

Writer: Dave Wood
Penciller: Sheldon Moldoff
Inker: Charles Paris

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (last appearance in Detective Comics #317; next appearance in Batman #157)

Supporting Character(s)

• Robin (last appearance in Detective Comics #317; next appearance in Batman #157)
• Commissioner Gordon (last appearance in Detective Comics #317; next appearance in World's Finest Comics #135)

Villain(s)

• The Jackal (Hal Lake; a reporter; alias Marty Kale; no further appearances)
• Gaxton, Snooper, and an unnamed hood (no further appearances)
• The Barker Gang (Reed named; no further appearances)
• The Denton Gang (no further appearances)

Synopsis:
Batman and Robin are tipped off to a crime by reporter Hal Lake. Although they catch the crooks, a costumed character called the Jackal steals the loot from the crooks and escapes. Batman goes undercover to find the Jackal and learns that Lake uses an underworld alias Marty Kale to gather information. When the Jackal strikes again, Batman realizes that the crook is really the mentally unbalanced Hal Lake. The Caped Crusader protects Lake from gang members trying to kill him, then takes him to a hospital for treatment.