Comic Title: Batman:The World's Finest Comics Archives Vol. 1 HC
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: 2002
On Sale Date: September 25, 2002 Direct Market Date September 18, 2002
Source: Previews, Vol. 12 #7 (#163)

Direct Market Date September 25, 2002
Source: ComicList, New Comic Book Releases List for Wednesday, September 25, 2002

Cover Price: $49.95
Page Count: 240
Editor: Dale Crain

See Also: The Guide to Graphic Novels and Collected Editions

Title: "The Ghost Gang Goes West"
Pages: 13

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

Writer: Bill Finger
Penciller: Bob Kane
Inker: Jerry Robinson

Reprinted From:
World's Finest Comics #4 (1941)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (last appearance in All-Star Comics #8; next appearance in Detective Comics #59)

Supporting Character(s)

• Robin (last appearance in Detective Comics #58; next appearance in Detective Comics #59)

Villain(s)

• Lafe Brunt and the Ghost Gang (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• A group of ranchers (no further appearances)

Comments:
The contents page lists the title of this story as: "The Riddle of the Phantom Trail".

Synopsis:
Batman and Robin travel West to vacation on a ranch. Their train is attacked by bandits. Then, shortly afterward, the bandits strike again hundreds of miles away. Townspeople become convinced that the bandits are ghosts which accounts for their incredible fast travel.

When the Ghost Gang strikes again, Batman pursues them. He inexplicably loses them in the open desert. The nearby ranchers believe Batman is the leader of the bandits, so they try to lynch him. Batman talks them out of it, then baits a trap for the real crooks.

He sets himself up as a target, prompting several attacks by the bandits. Batman avoids injury then exposes the bandits method of transportation, an auto-gyro. One of the ranchers, Lafe Brunt, is the gang leader. Batman captures him and lets the sheriff finish off the gang.