Comic Title: Batman Annuals Vol. 1 HC
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: 2009
On Sale Date: April 22, 2009 Direct Market Date April 22, 2009
Source: ComicList, New Comic Book Releases List for Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Direct Market Date April 22, 2009
Source: Previews, #243

Cover Price: $39.99
Page Count: 256

See Also: The Guide to Graphic Novels and Collected Editions

Title: "Batman the Magician"
Pages: 12

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

Writer: Bill Finger
Penciller: Sheldon Moldoff
Inker: Charles Paris

Reprinted From:
Detective Comics #207 (1954)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (last appearance in Detective Comics #206; next appearance in World's Finest Comics #70)

Supporting Character(s)

• Robin (last appearance in Detective Comics #206; next appearance in World's Finest Comics #70)

Villain(s)

• An unnamed gang leader and his men (Pete named; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Merko (a magician; no further appearances)

Synopsis:
The Moriarty Gang attacks a rival gang leader and places him in chains. The chains are filled with a chemical that will explode if they are moved. Fearing that an explosion will result from trying to escape, the gang boss has his men kidnap Merko the Magician, an escape artist.

Merko is performing at a charity benefit when he is captured. Batman is in the audience, but fails to prevent the abduction. Batman then replaces Merko for the benefit performance, while Merko is taken to the gang leader.

Merko is ordered to release the gang boss, but he stalls. The crooks learn that Merko's performance is continuing, so they deduce Batman has replaced him. The crooks try to kill Batman at the theatre, but the Caped Crusader stops them and tracks down the real Merko. After the rescue, Batman explains to the gang boss that his manacles did not contain explosives.