Comic Title: Batman Family #9
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY
Cover Date: Jan/Feb 1977
On Sale Date: October 21, 1976 Newsstand Date October 21, 1976
Source: Direct Currents, Amazing World of DC Comics #13

Newsstand Date October 21, 1976
Source: Comic Reader, #136

Copyright Date October 21, 1976
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1977


Newsstand Date October 18, 1976
Source: Daily Planet, Vol. 76 #24
Listed as on sale the week of October 18th

Frequency: Bi-monthly
Cover Price: $0.50
Page Count: 48
Editor: Julius Schwartz

See Also: The Guide to DC Giants

Title: "The Blockbuster Breaks Loose"
Pages: 13

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

Writer: Gardner F. Fox
Penciller: Carmine Infantino
Inker: Joe Giella

Reprinted From:
Detective Comics #349 (1966)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (last appearance in World's Finest Comics #156; next appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #92)

Supporting Character(s)

• Robin (last appearance in World's Finest Comics #156; next appearance in Detective Comics #350)

Villain(s)

• Blockbuster (last appearance in Detective Comics #345; next appearance in Justice League of America #46)
• Alfred Pennyworth (as the Outsider; last appearance in Detective Comics #340; next appearance in Detective Comics #356)
• Various thieves (no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Roland Desmond (in flashback to the first story of Detective Comics #345)

Synopsis:
While attempting to apprehend a gang of safe-crackers, Batman and Robin are surprised by the Blockbuster. While Robin deals with the crooks, Batman exposes his unmasked face of Bruce Wayne to calm Blockbuster. Somehow Batman's mask returns to his face. Enraged by Batman's appearance, Blockbuster attacks him. Batman manages to duplicate the voice of Roland Desmond to scare off his foe.

To prevent the unexplained problem with his mask from happening again, Batman paints the mask with special make-up that will make it transparent under special lighting. When Blockbuster appears again, Robin shines the light on Batman's mask, allowing his features, now made up to resemble Roland Desmond, to appear.

However, Robin is knocked unconscious by flying debris. Without the light, Batman's mask returns to normal, and Blockbuster defeats him. Blockbuster's hidden accomplice the Outsider then places Batman in a trap. However, Blockbuster turns on the Outsider. Batman escapes his trap and finally defeats Blockbuster. The Outsider escapes without Batman learning of his involvement.