Batman #442 Page #8 by THE Jim Aparo and Mike DeCarlo! - 2 of 3 pages to post!

Just another great issue by Jim Aparo! And Mike DeCarlo did a really nice job inking Jim!

Thanks to my friends Mitch and Jerry! They saw 3 pages in a comic store ALREADY FRAMED! The framing is sooooo nice, that I kept them in there.

"A Lonely Place of Dying - Chapter Five: Rebirth"
Tim Drake and Alfred Pennyworth, desperate to help Batman and Nightwing - who have gone missing while on the trail of Two-Face - decide that Tim should don the costume of Robin and help them. As Tim and Alfred drive to the scene, Tim explains that while he never wanted the role of Robin for himself, since Dick refused to return to the role, he will take it up.

Meanwhile, Two-Face wonders whether the voice that has been directing him to kill Batman is coming from within himself or from the outside. Despite the voice's urging, Two-Face insists on flipping his coin, and decides to detonate his explosives at 2AM. Just as he activates the detonator, Tim arrives dressed as Robin, and warns that he'll make Two-Face pay if Batman or Nightwing are dead.

Tim is inexperienced, and Two-Face wastes little time in beating him down. A horrified Alfred intervenes, wishing for no more death. Fortunately, the distraction proves enough opportunity for Tim to get up and deliver a knock-out punch. While Two-Face is down, Alfred helps Tim down the building's coal-chute, hoping to find Batman and Nightwing below.

Batman and Nightwing are pinned beneath the crossbeams, but Tim can't move them without clearing the rubble away. After some effort, he finally frees his idols, but Batman immediately removes Tim's mask, angrily stating that there is no more Robin. Batman is even further surprised and indignant to find that Tim knows his secret identity. Despite Alfred's support, Batman states that after one boy had died in the suit, he wouldn't take the risk a third time. Tim explains that while Batman is now a symbol, so too is Robin. Batman is more concerned with tracking Two-Face, which Tim helps with, having placed a tracking device on him during their fight. Batman agrees to let Tim join them, and discuss his future later.

They track Two-Face to a junkyard where Tim's life is immediately in peril, but he escapes using his wits, to Batman's relief. The three soon defeat their enemy, reminding him that neither Batman, nor Nightwing, nor even Robin can be killed. Afterwards, at Wayne Manor, the heroes discuss the future of Robin, and while Bruce is disapproving, he comes to realize the need for a partner. He at least promises to try Tim out.

Elsewhere, the voice that had been controlling Two-Face reveals that it was actually the Joker all the time - and not Harvey Dent's subconscious - controlling everything from his hospital bed, still recovering from his last encounter with Batman.



Notes
This is the final chapter of the "Lonely Place of Dying" storyline and the previous part took place in New Titans #61.
This issue is reprinted in the Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying and Batman: A Death in the Family trade paperbacks.
Joker's previous appearance took place in Batman #429 during the storyline, Batman: A Death in the Family, where he killed Jason Todd, the second Robin.
The "Bat-signals" letter page of this issue contains important information regarding the storyline, DC Comics and the Batman continuity after the massive success of the Batman Film, which caused hundreds of fans to write letters. Some of the issues adressed were:
The spoiler from the letter page of Batman #440.
Clarifications regarding Dick Grayson and Jason Todd's origins as Robin.
Clarifications about the continuity of the Batman Film as well as Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, which are separate from the mainstream continuity.
Joker's origin is also addressed and it's explained that the story shown in Batman: The Killing Joke is a likely scenario but not the definitive origin.
Clarifications about merchandising, licensing and letters standards to comply.
Finally, there were also plugs to the new upcoming Batman releases, including the one-shot Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth and the ongoing series called Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (Volume 1).