A balmy night in Gotham City. Threatening clouds fill the air. As
usual, by a nearby street-lamp, a gathering of moths can be seen, but
these moths are not the usual kind!
At first glance, the five men don't appear that oddly attired . . . but on closer inspection they all wear green body suits beneath their long trench-coats. Their apparent leader is even more brightly arrayed and on his head he wears long, jiggling antenna.
"All right men, there is our objective," their leader exclaims, "Gotham Electronic Supply. Smash the window and take all the transistors, capacitors and what-not you can lay your hands on."
"But, KM," one of the men whispers, "what is it we're after?"
"Quiet, Flicker", the boss snaps. "What does Killer Moth know of such things? Just smash the window with the large stones you bare and fill your Moth-Bags with the store's contents. I'll sort though the stuff later. Go!"
The Moth-men step closer and begin hurling their rocks. As the large front window shatters, they step inside and begin stuffing their Moth-Bags.
The next morning at police headquarters, Commissioner Gordon is speaking
on the phone. Chief O'Hara is close at hand, trying to follow Gordon's
half of the conversation.
"A petty theft . . . yes, I see. Yes, Goldberg. Follow the usual procedure." A slight look of concern passes Gordon's face. "An empty cloth sack with Moth-Bag' stenciled on the side? . . . Interesting." Then he again assumes his relaxed manner. "Yes, Goldberg, follow the usual procedure."
As Gordon puts down the receiver, Chief O'Hara bursts to life.
"Moth-Bags! Begorra! That can only mean Killer Moth is operating in Gotham City! Should we inform the Caped Crusader, Commissioner?"
As Gordon thumbs through some paperwork, the corners of his mouth curve in suppressed amusement. "Our Department shouldn't have too much trouble with the likes of Killer Moth, but I suppose Batman might be . . . somewhat interested." Unhurriedly, the Commissioner rises and paces toward the red phone.
Batman, however, is not in the confines of the fabulous Bat-Cave, but is
instead walking the drab corridors of Gotham State Prison where an
animated Warden Crichton is busily puffing his pipe and regaling
Batman with talk of his latest advancement in the penal sciences.
"I call it . . . Let the skill fit the crime', Batman. Too long we've
steered the convicted felon away from his field of expertise. Of
course, when released, he turns his hand back to what he is best. With
my new penal policy, we take the inmates innate talents and put them to
a constructive purpose -- thus removing the criminal intent from his
useful skills. Therefore, when released, he has no reason to turn his hand
back to crime and can lead a productive life."
The Warden punctuates his final point by taking his pipe from his mouth
and exhaling a stream of thick smoke. He then fixes Batman with a
satisfied smile, as he waits for his due.
Batman, of course, realizes the Warden is rather a silly fellow, but
realizes too that beneath his pompous exterior, Crichton has a great deal
of concern for the inmates he houses. Perhaps this concern takes odd
turns at times, but as a deputized policeman Batman feels his duty lies
only in catching criminals and that he should leave the Warden to his
job. Noting Crichton's immediate need for approval, Batman musters as
much enthusiasm as possible. This is an old game between the two.
"Another of your advanced penal theories, Warden Crichton . . . another
first!"
Crichton's smile broadens as be leans back, pipe in hand,
basking in Batman's praise. The cycle now complete, he merrily begins
puffing his pipe again.
"Here, for example . . .", Crichton announces as they
enter a section of the prison workshop that resembles a classroom, "there
is the former safecracker Smitty Smith putting his trade to good use as
a lock-maker . . . and there, Ballpoint Baxter, putting his nimble hand to
audit accounting . . . and there . . ."
Batman does not need an introduction to this fellow. The familiar refrain of a lute plays through his head, as a pair of cold eyes rise to meet his. The man in prison gray who just before had been busily working over a large mound of oscillators, tubes and wires was The Minstrel.
After a few beats, Batman picks up the Warden's conversation. ". . . why with his unmatched skill in electronics, any number of corporations would stand in line to snatch him up", Crichton chuckles knowingly. "Don't you agree, Batman?"
Batman nods, not breaking from Minstrel's icy stare.
"Yes . . . quite right. Sound penology, Warden. Very sound."
As Bruce exits his study fresh from a ride up the Bat-poles, Alfred tells
him of Commissioner Gordon's call regarding Killer Moth. Bruce nods, but
if there is need for concern, there is no outward show.
At the same time, Barbara Gordon in the Gotham City Library lays down the receiver of the library's phone and says aloud, "Killer Moth".
Mentioned in her usual call from her father, the re-appearance of third-rate villain Killer Moth shouldn't seem to be of sufficient consequence to bother her, but somehow it does. Killer Moth was her first villain after all -- but there have been many more dangerous villains since.
Still, tonight Batgirl would go on patrol.
In an old abandoned factory that once made large commercial light
fixtures, Killer Moth and his men have fashioned a crude hide-out. "You
see, The Batman realizes that I am his true adversary. Is it coincidence
that bats and birds are the enemy of the moth? The Batman burst into the
Gotham Library just as I'd grabbed Millionaire Roger Montrose. He must
have been watching me for weeks! And just as I was getting the better of
him, Batgirl appears for the very first time The Batman knew that he
and the Boy Wonder wouldn't be able to handle Killer Moth alone!"
Killer Moth's henchmen appear bored, but KM does not seem to notice. "The Joker was villain number one, but his mind is gone! The Riddler is crippled by his compulsion to constantly feed Batman clues and the Penguin is a vain waddling buffoon!" Finally KM seems to notice his men's lack of interest and he suddenly breaks from his diatribe and snatches up a newspaper.
"Here it is, my moth-eaten mob. Here is our objective: The Flame of Kasmir Ruby."
One of the Moth-men, Lepid, speaks up. "The World-Expo Jewel Exhibit! but KM, the exhibit is theft proof! While it's here, everything's kept in Gotham Hall and the place is as secure as the Mint -- the walls of the place are three feet thick!"
Killer Moth smiles ruefully. "I'll take care of that . . . tonight." From his coat he take a small rock-hammer used by quartz collectors and displays it to the Moth-men. They look at it and then at him, perplexed.
Later the same night, Batgirl glides quietly through the nearly deserted
Gotham back streets on her Batgirl-Cycle. As a whim, she circles Gotham
Hall and seeing nothing amiss, starts to travel back toward the
parking area when an odd, sudden glint of light against the wall of the
building reflected by her headlight makes her suddenly stop.
In the Batmobile, across town, the Bat-phone, over the roar of the Batmobile's engine, sounds.
"Robin, here. Yes, Batgirl . . ." Robin nods to Batman who reaches for the phone.
"Hello, Batgirl?"
"Yes, Batman. I've found something odd at Gotham Hall."
"Yes?"
"A piece of stone from the east wall seems to be chipped away."
"How large a piece?"
"About the size of a man's nose." Batgirl says with a sly smile.
In the Batmobile, Batman's smile is barely perceptible, but is noted by Robin -- who looks on mildly puzzled.
"I wouldn't worry, Batgirl. A nose-sized chip won't make much difference there if nothing else arises, perhaps we'll have a look."
Batman gives the phone back to Robin who hangs it up.
Just as Batgirl turns to put down her new mobile Batgirl phone, Batgirl is suddenly clouded in a mass of web-like goo and loses consciousness!
Upon returning to the hideout, the Moth-men are flabbergasted at Killer
Moth's capture of Batgirl, but Killer Moth is less than excited. "You've
done it, Killer Moth! You've captured Batgirl! One third of the Terrific
Trio!" Flutter exclaims.
"Terrific Trio," Killer Moth hisses disdainfully, "It's the Dynamic Duo! -- but actually it's The Batman alone that matters. She and the boy are only lackeys like yourselves. The real game is between The Batman and Killer Moth!"
Moments later, as Batgirl awakens she hears, "This is more like it all this money from robbing that movie theater! Who'd believe Godzilla vs Mothra could rake in that much dough?"
Batgirl tenses, for the next voice she hears is unmistakably Killer Moth's. "Fool! Do you think I'd risk capture for this paltry sum? This money is needed elsewhere put it here with the gadgets. I'm ready for my return trip to Gotham State Prison. Do not remove Batgirl from her cocoon. I will return within the hour."
Oddly, Batgirl's breathing within the cocoon seemed almost normal. She observes that the material
must be extremely porous. The voices of the Moth-men appear far off, so
Batgirl assumes she must be in some sort of enclosure in addition to the cocoon.
She can feel the cocoon give ever so slightly to the tensing of her back
and arms. Her fingers enjoy the most mobility, but her arms are crossed
across her chest, her palms outward in front of her face, as she had
attempted to protect her eyes.
Batman and Robin had gotten out of Killer Moth's cocoon only through the timely intervention of Batgirl. On her own, escape seemed impossible.