Why it's Hot:
- 1st cameo appearance of Jason Todd.
- 2nd cameo appearance of Killer Croc.
- ⚠️ Debatable Firsts: this issue is cited as the first full appearance of Killer Croc, but there is no difference in his depiction as a gangster in a trench coat and fedora as first seen in Detective Comics #523, released one month before #357. In Detective Comics #524, he is revealed to have crocodile features for the first time.
- It should also be noted that this version of Jason Todd is not visually accurate to later versions, and his origin is retconned in Batman #408.
- CGC recognizes this issue as the first full appearance of both Killer Croc and Jason Todd.
- Writer: Gerry Conway.
- Artist: Ed Hannigan.
- Published by DC Comics in March 1983.
- White Pages.
Synopsis:
Batman is on the lookout for the associates of the crime lord Tony Falco, who has already been captured by the authorities. During his investigations, Batman learns that most of them are being recruited by the Squid, a former spy turned gangster. Meanwhile, Dick Grayson goes to a circus in New Jersey, where his friend Waldo introduces him to the Todds, the circus' trapeze artists. Unknown to Dick, the circus' owner, Mr. Sloan, is being blackmailed by a crook only known as Croc, who runs a protection racket. Later, Batman learns that the Squid is planning to eliminate all competition to become Gotham's first crime lord. Knowing this, Batman prepares a plan to save Tony Falco, who is bound to be sentenced and prosecuted in court. After the session, Falco is sentenced to prison, but during transport, the Squid releases him and takes him to his hideout. In the abandoned aquarium, the Squid reveals that he already knows that the man he just released is not Falco, but in reality is Batman in disguise. With his plan discovered, Batman has no choice but to fight the Squid's henchmen, but he is easily outnumbered and captured. Finally, in revenge for their past encounter, the Squid throws Batman inside the tank where his giant squid will devour the Dark Knight.
