Comic Title: Detective Comics #398
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 909 Third Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: April 1970
On Sale Date: February 24, 1970 Newsstand Date February 24, 1970
Source: Comic Reader, #77

Copyright Date February 24, 1970
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1970


Newsstand Date February 26, 1970
Source: House Ad, Challengers of the Unknown #73, Page 9

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.15
Page Count: 32
Editor: Julius Schwartz

Title: "The Poison Pen Puzzle"
Pages: 15

Feature(s):
Batman (of Earth-1)

Writer: Frank Robbins
Penciller: Bob Brown
Inker: Joe Giella

Reprinted In:
Showcase Presents:Batman Vol. 5 TPB (2012)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (last appearance in Brave & the Bold #89; next appearance in Batman #221)

Villain(s)

• Rod Drake (an actor; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Maxine Melanie (an author; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Jill and Tippi (flight attendants; no further appearances)
• A group of movie studio executives (Sidney named; no further appearances)
• Loren Melburn and Dorian Spence (actors; no further appearances)
• Zuki (a butler; no further appearances)

Synopsis:
Bruce Wayne visits Hollywood to oversee a merger between Wayne Enterprises and Seven-Star Pics. During the flight he meets Maxine Melanie, an author famous for her tell-all book revealing Hollywood secrets. Bruce is not impressed and nearly calls off his business deal when he learns the Seven-Star is producing a movie based on her book. Bruce voices his displeasure to the studio executives. They ask him to read the book first.

Bruce goes to the bookstore to purchase a copy. Maxine is there doing a book signing. An old woman kills Melanie with a poison pen. She then performs a judo throw to escape from Bruce. Bruce returns to the studio where two of the studio's stars have confessed to the murder.

Batman sees to it that both suspects are released. He then questions them. Eventually he uncovers the real killer, Rod Drake, an actor who failed to get a movie role in Maxine's new movie. Batman clears the other two suspects and takes Drake into custody.