Part 1: The Penguin Turns the Tables and Part 2: Batman Shows He's Able were the thirty-ninth and fortieth overall stories published in DC Comics' Batman '66 title. The stories were initially published in Digital Issues #55 and #56, and reprinted in Print Issue #22, with a further reprint in Volume 4 of the Compiled Volume series.
Plot Summary[]
"Part 1: The Penguin Turns the Tables"[]
The Penguin and his finks broke into Gotham Museum to steal an umbrella donated by Bruce Wayne, but they intercepted by the arrival of Batman and Robin, and entered a brief brawl with the villain and his goons, which ended with Penguin setting fire to the exhibit room, but the Dynamic Duo smothered the flames with their capes, just as the fire started the water sprinklers, putting out the flames while Penguin and his goons escape.
At his hideout, Penguin came up with a plan to dispose of Batman and Robin once and for all; by staging numerous robberies around Gotham. While on patrol in the Batmobile, Batman receives a call from Commissioner Gordon that Penguin is attacking the Five Blessings Chinese Restaurant. Heading over to confront the villain, Batman and Robin get ambushed by the Penguin with his machine gun umbrella, but Batman turns off the power by throwing a Batarang at the fuse box, leading to the Penguin's escape, leaving the Dynamic Duo wondering why would he rob a Chinese restaurant.
The next afternoon, the Penguin struck again at Ace Animation and stole the company's payoff. Later, Batman and Robin confront Professor Carstairs and interrogate him for Penguin's whereabouts, and Batman finds a book about bats, and he and Robin figured out the Penguin's plan; He is basing his crimes on bats. After receiving information from Carstairs, Batman gives him a dose of Bat-Anesthetic Gas. As Batman and Robin left, Carstairs discreetly phones Penguin that the Caped Crusaders are coming.
Arriving at the Penguin's hideout, Batman and Robin get trapped in a fiberglass cage and Penguin fills it with vampire bats to feed on the Dynamic Duo.
"Part 2: Batman Shows He's Able"[]
After failing to stop the bats with their Bat-Laser, Batman uses his Bat-Radio to send a signal which confuses their radar, stunning them. Using their Bat-Cutting Torch, Batman and Robin escape from the fiberglass cage, just as Penguin and his finks made their escape.
Returning to Carstairs, Batman knocks him out and place him in a box and disguised himself as Carstairs. Arriving at Carstairs' lab, the Penguin and his goons inform "Carstairs" that they're skipping town before Batman and Robin could find them. After Penguin and his finks left, Batman and Robin learn that Penguin will lead them to his ill-gotten gains, before taking Carstairs away.
The next day, the Penguin and his goons attack Gotham Orphanage, and knock out Mr. Maxwell with his knockout gas umbrella and stole his baseball bat. At Wayne Manor, Bruce and Dick head to the Batcave and set off as Batman and Robin to stop Penguin for good. Meanwhile, at the old Gotham Umbrella Factory, the Penguin and his finks prepare a trap for the Caped Crusaders. Arriving at the umbrella factory, Batman and Robin activate the Batmobile's flare launchers, surprising the Penguin and his goons out of the factory, where the Dynamic Duo captured them into custody.
Trivia[]
- The cover of this issue is an homage to the cover of Batman #9.
- This story is divided into two parts.