Data courtesy of the Grand Comics Database under Creative Commons license.

Issue Details

Issue #491
Published June 1980
Cover Price 1.00 USD
Pages 68
Editing Paul Levitz

Cover Details

Characters Batgirl [Barbara Gordon]; Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Robin [Dick Grayson]
Genre Superhero
Pencils Ross Andru (signed)
Inks Dick Giordano (signed)

1 page advertisement "The Saga of Johnny West"

Characters Johnny West
Genre Western
Notes Inside front cover. Comic strip ad for Acme boots from Acme Boot Company, Inc., a subsidiary of Northwest Industries. Inc.

17 page Batman story "The Riddle of the Golden Fleece"

Characters Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Professor Price; Medea (Maxie's daughter); Maxie Zeus (villain); Barney O'Hara (villain); Fred Britt (villain; death)
Synopsis Maxie Zeus tries to steal a gold cloth as a gift for his daughter.
Genre Superhero
Script Denny O'Neil
Pencils Don Newton
Inks Dan Adkins
Colors Adrienne Roy
Letters Milton Snapinn

7 page Tales of Gotham City story "Fragrance of Death!"

Characters Jason Bard [also as Griffin]; Rose Bard (first appearance; flashback; death); Scratch (first appearance; flashback; death); Mark Kelson (first appearance; villain; flashback); Mr. Bard [as Doug Parker] (first appearance; villain; flashback; death)
Synopsis Jason tells an old caretaker of how he found his mother's killer... who just happened to be his father.
Genre Detective
Script Mike Barr
Pencils Dan Spiegle
Inks Dan Spiegle
Colors Adrienne Roy
Letters John Costanza
Notes A spin-off character from Batgirl's strip, Jason Bard is the featured character in this Tales of Gotham City. Note JB is a guest star in the Slam Bradley strip in #500.

1 page Flash; Hostess Twinkies advertisement "A Flash in the Dam"

Characters Flash [Barry Allen]; The Destroyer
Genre Superhero
Pencils Curt Swan
Inks Vince Colletta
Notes Advertisement for Continental Baking Company which holds the registered trademarks for Hostess and Twinkies. The Flash is copyright DC Comics.

8 page Robin story "The Target of the Death-Dealer"

Characters Robin [Dick Grayson]; Jennifer Anne; Kenny; Doris Dexter; Ben Dexter; Mr. Washington
Synopsis Robin captures a gambler who's trying to blackmail a basketball player.
Genre Superhero
Script Jack C. Harris
Pencils Alex Saviuk
Inks Vince Colletta
Colors Gene D'Angelo
Letters John Costanza

1 page Batman illustration "Special Bonus Pin-up"

Characters Batman [Bruce Wayne]
Genre Superhero
Pencils Dick Dillin
Inks Bob Smith
Letters typeset

10 page Black Lightning story "Short-Circuit"

Characters Black Lightning [Jefferson Pierce]; Lincoln Trask; Leon (villain); Jacques Cravin (villain)
Genre Superhero
Script Martin Pasko
Pencils Pat Broderick
Inks Frank McLaughlin
Colors Bob LeRose
Letters Milton Snapinn
Notes Created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden.

2 page Batcave letters page "Batcave"

Characters Batman logo in masthead
Script Paul Levitz
Letters typeset
Notes Letters from readers - Henry J. Kujawa, Scott Gibson, Phil Schweier and Mark Ryan - and responses from Paul Levitz.

8 page Batgirl story "The Assassination of Batgirl!"

Characters Batgirl [Barbara Gordon]; Commissioner James Gordon; James Stein; Richard Bender (first appearance); Robert Barton (first appearance); General Scarr (villain); Cormorant (villain)
Synopsis The mob hires an assassin to kill Batgirl.
Genre Superhero
Script Cary Burkett
Pencils Jose Delbo
Inks Joe Giella
Colors Gene D'Angelo
Letters Ben Oda

1 page Spalding advertisement "Street Ball"

Characters Rick Barry; Dr. J [Julius Erving]
Synopsis NBA stars Rick Barry and Julius "Dr. J" Erving demonstrate their skills at a playground basketball game with some kids and discuss the quality of Spalding autograph basketballs.
Genre Sports
Pencils Jack Davis (signed)
Inks Jack Davis (signed)
Notes Ad for Spalding basketballs. On back cover.