#1 "The Original Ra's al Ghul Saga" (Batman #232, 242-244) When we first Ra's al Ghul, he and his servant, Ubu, surprise Batman in the Bat-Cave, fully knowing that he is Bruce Wayne! Ra's wants to recruit Batman to help him get back his daughter Talia (an exotic beauty), as well as Robin, who have both been kidnapped. They travel to a snow-bound fortress in the Himalayas, where Talia and Robin are. The fortress is really owned by Ra's. He is merely testing Batman to see if he would make a worthy successor and son-in-law, since Talia is in love with him.
Ra's al Ghul is an international criminal and terrorist, who has lived for many centuries, because of something he calls the 'Lazarus Pit'.
In a 3 issue series beginning with #242, Batman decides to bring Ra's to justice (so he 'kills' off his Bruce Wayne identity, and poses as a small-time crook, 'Matches' Malone). This is the only issue that was not illustrated by Adams; but the great Irv Novick. In the next chapter, Batman saves one of Ra's' minions, named Ling, obligating him to lead to where Ra's is. On the way to Ra's' snow-bound fortress, they pick up a lady named Molly, who apparently also has an ax to grind with Ra's. At the fortress, they encounter Talia ,Ubu, and Ra's, who is apparently dead. Ra's is lowered into the'Lazarus Pit' and brought back to savage life (temporarily mad and endowed with the strength of 10 men).Ra's and Talia escape to the desert. Batman pursues them alone and finds them. This leads to a fierce sword duel between Batman and Ra's, which ends with Batman dying of a scorpion sting. Talia secretly gives him an antidote and he recovers to smack down Ra's. Batman kisses Talia with passion and strides off into the desert, dragging Ra's behind him. (Note: I have an over-sized comic, which reprints all four issues; personally signed by Neal Adams & writer Denny O'Neil)
#2 "The Joker's 5-Way Revenge" ("Batman" #251) From the very first page, Neal presents an image of the Joker, driving in the pouring rain, with a thoroughly evil expression; laced with sheer insanity (re-establishing him as the remorseless wacko, that he was back in the 40's). The Joker begins 'offing' his own former associates in grand fashion, which Batman is trying to prevent. This leads to a grand showdown, involving a shark tank and an oil slick.
#3 "The Original Man-Bat Series" ("Detective Comics"#400, 402 & 407) Neal got the honor to introduce us to the Man-Bat, and he starts us off with a bang!!! Kirk Langstrom (A scientist) is experimenting with a serum, in which he is mixing samples taken from bats. He tries the serum on himself, and becomes a grotesque part-bat, part-man creature. He ends up helping Batman dispatch some criminals, who break in. Batman thinks that he is just wearing an elaborate costume. Batman figures out what happened and tries to contain the Man-Bat in his Bat-Cave. During this time, the Man-Bat develops wings and tries to fly out. He hurts himself, but does get out. When Batman next encounters him, Kirk is looking normal, and is about to marry his fiance, Francine. Batman prevents this by un-masking Kirk, revealing him to still be Man-Bat, which causes him to flee. As Francine tries to explain to Batman why she still wants to marry Kirk, she un-masks (in a terrifyingly brilliant scene) and reveals herself to be a bat creature also, after using Kirk's serum. Batman pursues both of them and injects both of them, restoring them to normal (temporarily).
#4 "Moon of the Wolf" ("Batman"#255-100 page Giant) Neal does an absolutely brilliant job of depicting a werewolf. When we first encounter it, Batman prevents it from killing a woman in a high-rise apartment. The werewolf escapes and returns to his 'master'; a mad scientist named Milo. We then meet Anthony Lupus, a troubled man, who first came to Milo to seek a remedy for unbearable headaches. Milo cured him of the headaches, but inflicted him with something far worse and utterly horrifying. Anthony became a savage werewolf, who would turn back to normal, if Milo gave him a serum. He kills Milo, causing his cure to break on the floor. The werewolf escapes into the streets, and is confronted by Batman. They have a ripping, raging battle until Batman spears him with a metal pole,which is struck by lightning. Batman thinks him dead, but the ending is left open-ended.
#5 "The House That Haunted Batman" ("Detective Comics"#408) This story takes off like a shot. Batman finds Robin in an 'old dark house', and watches him decompose and crumble to dust before his eyes. He encounters other spooky illusions, before it is revealed who is behind it all (Dr. Tzin Tzin, a master of illusion and elaborate traps). How they escape from his complex trap and defeat him is done in artistic style.
Neal Adams' artwork in all of these masterworks is done in his amazing, fabulously striking, exciting style!!! All of these stories (except #5) were portrayed in some form for "Batman- The Animated Series".
If you haven't seen and read these masterworks, check 'em out, you'll like 'em!!!!!
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