Batman Issue 291

Where Were You on the Night Batman Was Killed?
The report goes out from coast-to-coast in the underworld that Batman has been killed. But scores of contradictory versions spring up as to who did it, how it was done, or if it was done at all. To settle the controversy, Col. Jake "the Claw" Van Cleeve, a top Gotham mobster, provides his estate as a court of crime to determine the truth or falsity of the reports from the top contenders, Catwoman, Lex Luthor, the Riddler, and the Joker. The judge is Ra's Al Ghul, the district attorney is "Two-Face", and the jury is composed of the Mad Hatter, the Spook, Poison Ivy, the Scarecrow, Signalman, and Mr. Freeze. The Catwoman, in widow's weeds, gives her testimony. After Batman recently broke up one of her rackets, she packed up her belongings and made an escape, but Batman blocked the road with his Batmobile and forced them both off a bridge. She says that she bobbed to the surface and clung to a floating jaguar cage for safety. When Batman attempted to do the same, she made a tough decision, kicked him off, and watched him drown. "Two-Face" demolishes her testimony by demonstrating that her jaguar cage, made of Brazilian pepper tree wood, is too heavy to float and could not have supported her in the water. Her phony testimony is an attempt to convince the underworld that she is capable of killing, thus convincing top criminal talents, who have hitherto shunned her, to flock to her banner. The jury declares Catwoman not guilty, and Ra's Al Ghul dismisses her and adjourns the court till the next claimant can be heard.

Individuals

 * Batman
 * Captain Stingaree
 * Catwoman
 * The Cavalier
 * The Joker
 * Killer Moth
 * Lex Luthor
 * Mad Hatter
 * Mr. Freeze
 * Poison Ivy
 * Ra's al Ghul
 * The Riddler
 * Scarecrow
 * Signalman
 * Spook
 * Tweedledum
 * Tweedledee
 * Two-Face (behind the scenes)
 * Jack van Cleeve

Locations

 * Gotham City