Comic Title: Batman Archives Vol. 4 HC
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: 1998
On Sale Date: June 17, 1998 Direct Market Date June 17, 1998
Source: Previews, Vol. 8 #4 (#112)

Direct Market Date June 17, 1998
Source: ComicList, New Comic Book Releases List for Wednesday, June 17, 1998

Shipping Date June 17, 1998
Source: Comics Buyers Guide, #1283

Cover Price: $49.95
Page Count: 224
Editor: Bob Kahan

See Also: The Guide to Graphic Novels and Collected Editions

Title: "The Merchants of Misery"
Pages: 13

Feature(s):
Batman (of Earth-2)

Writer: Joseph Greene
Artist: Dick Sprang

Reprinted From:
Detective Comics #88 (1944)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (last appearance in Batman #23; next appearance in World's Finest Comics #14)

Supporting Character(s)

• Robin (last appearance in Batman #23; next appearance in World's Finest Comics #14)

Villain(s)

• Big-Hearted John and his henchmen (John dies in this story; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• George and Mary Simpson and their daughter (no further appearances)

Synopsis:
Big-Hearted John, a loan shark, has set up his operations in a poor district of town. When his victims can not pay or threaten to call the police he has them killed. Batman and Robin prevent the murder of George Simpson, one of John’s victims. Simpson implicates the loan shark to Batman, sending the Caped Crusaders after the crook.

Batman and Robin go undercover to get the crooks to try murdering them too. They succeed, but are captured and placed in a death-trap. Batman uses a mini-bomb to escape, then they track down John who has gone to kill Simpson. Batman rescues Simpson, is wounded in the process, and falls. He lands on John, knocking him off a high ledge. John falls to his death, and his gang is rounded up by Batman.