Batman #395 – “The Film Freak” – Doug Moench/Tom Mandrake
This one starts with a burglar robbing various places in Gotham, setting off the alarms so the cops will chase him down. He seems to be working off some kind of script, trying to set up a scenario where he’s cornered by the cops and has to shoot his way out. At police headquarters, Batman responds to the Bat-Signal only to find Catwoman waiting for him. After their strange night on the town last issue, she wants to talk about their relationship. Naturally they end up making out, which is how Commissioner Gordon finds them when he comes up to activate the Bat-Signal. Gordon tells them
about the burglar the cops have cornered so Batman and Catwoman head downtown to check it out. At Wayne Manor, Jason Todd is complaining to Alfred about being stuck there doing homework instead of out being Robin. Alfred soon realizes that Jason is pissed off about all the time Batman’s been spending with Catwoman lately. Downtown, the burglar plays to his audience, tossing out quotes from old movies like White Heat. Vicki Vale and Julia Pennyworth are there covering the story and Julia dubs the guy “Film Freak”. When Batman and Catwoman show up, Film Freak proves craftier than most crooks, threatening to shoot innocent bystanders to give himself some 
breathing room (and quoting Clint Eastwood). Film Freak manages to get away by jumping on a passing truck, which seems straight out of a movie. Jason reads about it in the paper the next day and decides he should track down Film Freak himself … with a little help from Harvey Bullock, who Jason knows is something of a film buff himself. Bullock is out canoodling with the widow of the security guard who was killed a couple issues ago, but when he gets home and finds Robin waiting, he agrees to help him look for Film Freak. Meanwhile, Gordon calls Batman (and Catwoman) to headquarters, where an actress named India Blue (it’s her stage name) says she knows who Film Freak really is. He’s her ex-boyfriend, Burt Weston, a movie fanatic who
always preferred villain roles to heroes, since they were so much more complex. When asked about associates, she mentions a director (Paul Vasseria) and another struggling actor named Al Jacobs. When they talk to Jacobs, he tells them about a publicity stunt (based on a scene from The Sting) where Jacobs was supposed to “shoot” Weston, who would do a dramatic fall from a bridge and then miraculously appear alive later. It didn’t get any press (Batman doesn’t even remember it) and Weston disappeared, although he did send Jacobs a postcard later, so Jacobs knew he didn’t actually die in the stunt. Meanwhile, Robin and Bullock have been going 
over the evidence and Bullock’s movie knowledge lets them confirm that Burt Weston is the Film Freak and helps deduce the meaning of a note he sent to Gordon. The note mentions “the stuff dreams are made of”, an obvious Maltese Falcon reference, and Bullock knows of a movie memorabilia auction at an art gallery. They tell the others and Robin is pretty snotty to Catwoman, trying to prove he’s a better partner to Batman than she is. Catwoman thinks the Maltese Falcon clue is too obvious, but Batman says they should stake out the gallery. Unfortunately, it was a bluff and while they’re all at the gallery, Film Freak sneaks into Gordon’s office to leave another note. He also leaves a note for Julia at Picture News, since
he doesn’t like the way she’s been portraying him in her stories. The note mentions Norman Bates (a name neither Julia nor Vicki recognizes), and Julia decides to head north to talk to Weston’s mother, who she can’t get on the phone. After she’s gone, Vicki figures out who Norman Bates was and goes after Julia, hoping she doesn’t stop at a motel or take a shower. Of course, that’s exactly what Julia’s done and when a shadow looms up behind the shower curtain, she finally gets the Norman Bates reference.
Detective #562 – “Reeling” – Doug Moench/Gene Colan/Bob Smith
This one continues from above, with Julia Pennyworth about to be stabbed in the shower by Burt Weston (aka Film Freak). Julia tries to defend herself with a towel, a bar of soap, and a shampoo bottle, but it doesn’t do much good. Luckily Vicki has tracked her down and comes busting in, which ruins Film Freak’s perfect scene and he takes off. In Gotham, Robin and Bullock talk to Al Jacobs and Robin is pissed off to learn Batman and Catwoman already spoke to him. Meanwhile, those two are with Paul Vasseria (the director) who tells them Burt Weston was trying to prove himself worthy of a part in Vasseria’s movie when he faked his
death. Vasseria has a big movie premiere in Gotham, so he figures that might be why Weston has resurfaced now. Robin and Bullock talk to India Blue and Robin gets even more resentful that Catwoman has preceded him again. Gordon signals Batman to tell him about the attack on Julia and Batman figures Weston must be pissed off about her reporting on his real name. Since India was the one who provided that info, Batman thinks she might be Weston’s next target. He’s right … Weston shows up at India’s place in a gorilla suit, making references to King Kong, Mighty Joe Young, Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment, and even Blonde Venus (where Marlene Dietrich sang Hot Voodoo dressed like a gorilla). Batman and Catwoman get there in time 
to stop Weston from killing India, but she’s in bad shape and Weston gets away again by threatening to shoot Catwoman. When Catwoman calls in the attack on India, Bullock realizes Weston must have inside knowledge of their movements, since he showed up at India’s place right after Bullock and Robin left. Bullock remembers the premise of Rear Window and figures Weston has been watching Gordon’s office from across the street. They bust into the apartment across the way and find a video camera and tapes of all their recent meetings (meaning Weston can read lips). Weston has also left a tape for Batman telling him he has all the clues he needs to figure out Weston’s big plan. Bullock thinks he has the answer and it has something to do with Antonioni’s Blow-Up. We’ll see if Bullock is right next issue.
Green Arrow – “The Criminal Element” – Joey Cavalieri/Jerome K. Moore/Dell Barras
This one starts with the thugs who knocked Black Canary out last issue dumping her into the harbour (not wanting to risk the noise of a gunshot).
But she pops back up in time to intercept their incoming drug shipment and pound them. Across town, Mayor Bolt is holding a press conference about the recent jump in crime in Star City. Green arrow interrupts o tell Bolt to do something about mercenary vigilantes like Champion, but Bolt points out that Green Arrow is an unsanctioned vigilante too. After the conference, Bolt heads to a secret hideout underground and we learn that he’s Steelclaw, pretending to be a crime lord to get info on criminals so he can shut them down (apparently not trusting the cops or costumed vigilantes to do the job). Elsewhere, a store clerk named Tommie gets shit from his boss about the mess in the store’s back room and Tommie realizes Onyx must be back.
Adventures of the Outsiders #33 – “A Tiny Deadly War” – Mike W. Barr/Alan Davis
The title of this series has changed to reflect Batman quitting (as we saw last issue), but the storyline continues for another five issues, which is when it starts reprinting the Baxter series. This one starts with the Outsiders flying into Markovia, which is being invaded by Soviet troops. Two Soviet fighters shoot down the Outsiders’ plane, but they survive the crash and turn the tables, destroying the jets. Halo is affected by all the soldiers killed in the invasion, having sense memories from her long existence as an Aurakle. Geo-Force is so pissed off about the invasion of his country he’s ready to kill the downed pilots, but Black Lightning stops him (and uses Geo-Force’s anger as a way to get info from
the pilots). In Washington, Dr. Jace asks the American government for help to stop he invasion of Markovia, but they refuse to get involved, not wanting to upset diplomatic relations with the USSR. In Los Angeles, Lia (Looker) Briggs is getting attention from a lot of guys with her new hotness, but she still loves her husband Greg. But Greg’s not thrilled about the changes in his wife; it’s not the physical change that bothers him so much, it’s the change in her personality. She’s gone from being sweet, shy Emily to brash, extravagant Lia, and Greg doesn’t like it. But when he suggests he might like the old 
Emily back, Lia gets pissed off and says no way. In Markovia, we see the architect of the invasion (Baron Bedlam) conferring with a Soviet “observer” named Bad Samaritan. Samaritan isn’t very deferential and thinks Bedlam is hiding something. The Outsiders try to sneak into Bedlam’s camp but run into his minions, the Masters of Disaster. The two teams fight and the Masters end up getting the upper hand (although Windfall takes Halo out gently, not wanting to hurt her because Halo was nice to her in their previous meetings). New Wave wonders if Windfall (who’s her sister) took care of Halo properly
and Windfall assures her she did, but New Wave isn’t convinced. Lia tries to get in touch with the Outsiders, using her new mental powers to make contact. When she realizes they’re in trouble, she decides she’d better go to Markovia to help them. In Markovia, Bad Samaritan sneaks into Bedlam’s tent and finds something shocking. One of Bedlam’s minions knocks him out and when he revives, we see what freaked him out so much … Bedlam has Adolf Hitler preserved in a glass tube and plans to resurrect him.
Outsiders #7 – “Assault on Station Markovia” – Mike W. Barr/Jim Aparo
Last issue, the Outsiders had a guest (Earl Dukeston aka the Duke of Oil) in their oil platform headquarters. Duke was sent by the government to check the Outsiders research into alternate energy sources, but he turned out to be a spy … and a robot. After trapping the Outsiders in a corridor full of burning oil, Duke grabbed Dr. Jace, who soon figured out is robotic nature. But Duke insists he’s still human and tells how his original body was destroyed in an explosion. He awoke among a bunch of scientists, who had implanted his brain in this robot body and promised to clone him a new human form if he worked for
them. Duke agreed and getting info on the Outsiders’ alternate energy was his first assignment for his new employers … SKULL. Meanwhile, we see that the Outsiders haven’t been burned to a crisp; they suspected a trap and used Halo’s illusion aura to simulate their deaths while they hid safely. They split up to search their headquarters and Black Lightning, Halo, and Looker soon run into Duke and Dr. Jace. They attack and manage to get Jace away from Duke, but he takes off, pulling the ceiling down behind him to cover his escape. Katana and Metamorpho find Geo-Force, who’s just recovering from the beating Duke gave him last issue. They run into Duke, who’s looking more robotic 
by the minute but still insists he’s human. After a brief fight, Duke retreats and taps into the computers, using the Outsiders’ own defences against them. They defeat everything Duke throws at them and blow through a wall using Metamorpho as the explosive. Black Lightning reverses the power, so the system drains power from Duke, giving them a chance to beat him. In the attack, Katana’s sword splits Duke’s head open to find there’s no human brain inside after all. Duke realizes SKULL lied and were just using him. Geo-Force punches him through the wall but when they go to look for his robot carcass, they find nothing. Metamorpho says Duke will come back some day, but Geo-Force wonders if Duke chose to end his existence after finding out he was no longer human.