Comic Title: Batman Family #4
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY
Cover Date: Mar/Apr 1976
On Sale Date: December 4, 1975 Newsstand Date December 4, 1975
Source: Direct Currents, Amazing World of DC Comics #9

Newsstand Date December 4, 1975
Source: Comic Reader, #125

Copyright Date December 4, 1975
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1976

Frequency: Bi-monthly
Cover Price: $0.50
Page Count: 64
Editor: Julius Schwartz

See Also: The Guide to DC Giants

Title: "The Secret War of the Phantom General"
Pages: 24

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

Writer: John Broome
Penciller: Carmine Infantino
Inker: Joe Giella

Reprinted From:
Detective Comics #343 (1965)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (last appearance in World's Finest Comics #152; next appearance in Detective Comics #344)

Guest Star(s)

• Elongated Man (last appearance in Detective Comics #342; next appearance in Detective Comics #344)

Supporting Character(s)

• Robin (last appearance in World's Finest Comics #152; next appearance in Detective Comics #344)

Villain(s)

• General Von Dort and his gang (Heinrich and Whipper named; no further appearances)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Sue Dibny (last appearance in Detective Comics #342; next appearance in Detective Comics #344)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• John Broome (as a narator)

Synopsis:
Batman and Robin are confounded by a gang of crooks using military tactics when committing robberies. When they learn from the Elongated Man that a fugitive Nazi war criminal General Von Dort is in Gotham, they suspect the general is behind the crimes. While Ralph checks for leads on Von Dort, Batman and Robin battle the gang again. This time, they successful stop the gang, only to learn that Von Dort was using them to cover for another robbery on the other side of town.

Von Dort has stolen a rare component needed to complete a Nazi death-ray. Elongated Man joins the Dynamic Duo in tracking Von Dort to his secret hideaway. While the Caped Crusaders are occupied, Von Dort hypnotizes Ralph and turns him against his friends. Batman overcomes Elongated Man and Robin, who also falls victim to the hypnosis. He then defeats Von Dort. The hypnotic effect proves only temporary, and Von Dort's plan of world domination is ended.