Diamond Disaster was the forty-third overall story published in DC Comics' Batman '66 title. The story was initially published in Digital Issues #59 and #60, and reprinted in Print Issue #24, with a further reprint in Volume 5 of the Compiled Volume series.
Plot Summary[]
"Diamond Disaster"[]
An account crisis occurs at the First Bank of Gotham, and the manager, Mr. Bucksley, contacts Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara about the situation, and Gordon and O'Hara contact Batman and Robin to investigate the matter. At Wayne Manor, Bruce and Dick were preparing to attend the charity ball at Gotham Museum's Diamond Gala to benefit Wayward Youth when they received Gordon's call on the Batphone. Bruce and Dick attend the gala, while Alfred hid the Batmobile behind some bushes outside the museum door with their costumes.
Arriving at the museum, Bruce and Dick see the giant diamond hanging on the ceiling, and millionaires throwing their jewellery at a group of guards, making them realise they're under mind control. Suddenly, Marsha, Queen of Diamonds, pulls a switch, activating the giant diamond's shiny lights on everyone, except Bruce, who shield his eyes while Dick is mesmerised. While the hypnotised attendees hand over their valuables to Marsha, Bruce heads out to the Batmobile and changes into Batman.
After dealing with Marsha's goons, Batman goes after Marsha, but she escapes in her car. Pursuing her in the Batmobile with a lovesick Robin, Batman notices that Robin took the brakes off, and the Batmobile speeds out of control through the streets and crashes into a construction site, but the Dynamic Duo escaped with a Batrope. Taking Robin back to the Batcave, Batman uses the Batcomputer to free him from his trance, which he succeeds.
Running over to a bus stop, Batman and Robin board a bus and head for Gordon's house. Arriving, the Caped Crusaders see Gordon leaving his house with a briefcase filled with his deed and account books. As Gordon boarded his car, Batman and Robin quickly climbed onboard, and they head over to the Sparkling Star Hotel where Marsha is hiding out. Confronting Marsha, Batman and Robin get hypnotised by her diamond's shiny light. At first, it looks like the Dynamic Duo were under Marsha's spell, but it was revealed to be a ruse so that they can sabotage Marsha's machine.
After dealing with Marsha's goons, Batman and Robin rewire the machine and freed Gordon from Marsha's spell. The police arrived to round up the goons and the stolen loot, and Gordon took Marsha into custody.