Comic Title: Detective Comics #597
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: February 1989
On Sale Date: January 10, 1989 Shipping Date January 10, 1989
Source: Direct Currents, #12

Shipping Date January 12, 1989
Source: Amazing Heroes, #155

Direct Market Date January 12, 1989
Source: Comic Shop News, #82

Copyright Date January 17, 1989
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1989

Cover Price: $0.75
Page Count: 32
Editor: Dennis J. O'Neil

Title: "Private Viewing"
Pages: 22

Feature(s):
Batman (Post-Crisis)

Writer: Alan Grant
Writer: John Wagner
Penciller: Eduardo Barreto
Inker: Steve Mitchell
Letterer: Todd Klein
Colorist: Adrienne Roy

Reprinted In:
Batman:The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 3 TPB (2020)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (last appearance in Detective Comics #596; next appearance in Invasion #3)

Supporting Character(s)

• Commissioner Gordon (last appearance in Detective Comics #596; next appearance in Batman #430)

Villain(s)

• Milton Sladek (last appearance in Detective Comics #596; no further appearances)
• Tonka (last appearance in Detective Comics #596; no further appearances)
• Oscar Lampet (last appearance in Detective Comics #596; no further appearances)
• Winthrop (a chewing gum heir; no further appearances)
• Mike Neuman (a television interviewer; no further appearances)
• Marty Scorpio (a drug baron's nephew; no further appearances)
• Several wealthy guests of Sladek (Mr. Curtin named; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Barry and Dirk (last appearance in Detective Comics #596; no further appearances)
• Arch Gaines (last appearance in Detective Comics #596; no further appearances)

Comments:
This story is continued from Detective Comics #596.

Synopsis:
Batman's concentration is interrupted by a flash of light in the sky. This allows Tonka to brutally beat him during their fight in an alley. Oscar Lampet catches the action on film. The arrival of two young boxers distracts Tonka and gives Batman time to regain his feet. He then knocks out Tonka. Lampet escapes, but Batman places a listening device on him.

Batman's wounds are treated at the hospital, then he tracks down Lampet who leads him to Milton Sladek, the man who financed the video. Batman has enough evidence to have Sladek arrested, but instead he allows the man to invite several wealthy guests to a screening of the video. Batman then has the entire crowd arrested.

Batman takes the wealthy people to the hospital bed of Arch Gaines, the college student who was badly beaten in an earlier attack. The people see first hand the damage they have caused. Sladek tries to break free, taking one of his former guests as a hostage. Gaines and Batman both act to stop him.