Comic Title: Detective Comics #339
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: May 1965
On Sale Date: March 25, 1965 Newsstand Date March 25, 1965
Source: House Ad, Justice League of America #35, Page 30

Copyright Date March 25, 1965
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1965

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.12
Page Count: 32
Editor: Julius Schwartz

Title: "Batman Battles the Living Beast-Bomb"
Pages: 16

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

Writer: Gardner F. Fox
Penciller: Carmine Infantino
Inker: Joe Giella

Reprinted In:
DC Special #16 (1975)
Batman:The Dynamic Duo Archives Vol. 2 HC (2006)
Showcase Presents Batman Vol. 1 TPB (2006)
DC Goes Ape Vol. 1 TPB (2008)
Tales of the Batman:Carmine Infantino HC (2014)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (last appearance in World's Finest Comics #149; next appearance in Detective Comics #339)

Supporting Character(s)

• Robin (last appearance in World's Finest Comics #149; next appearance in Batman #172)

Villain(s)

• Karmak (an intelligent ape; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Walter Hewitt (no further appearances)

Synopsis:
Meek scientist Walter Hewitt turns himself in to the police claiming to be responsible for a series of incredible robberies. Hewitt used bionics to transfer the abilities of animals to himself. However, an accident caused his intellect to be transferred to a gorilla, Karmak. The gorilla then mind-controlled Hewitt, forcing the robberies. Hewitt breaks out of his cell, as ordered by Karmak, just as Batman and Robin arrive. Batman knocks out Hewitt, preventing him from escaping.

Karmak decides to transfer Batman's powers and mental prowess to himself. He lures Batman into a trap and succeeds in gaining Batman's abilities. When Batman meets Karmak again, the ape has a bomb strapped to his chest. If Batman beats the gorilla, the bomb will explode. Batman defeats the ape anyway, then deduces that the bomb can be disarm by keeping Karmak off the ground for several minutes. Batman holds the 700 pound gorilla above his head until the bomb is defused. The effects of the bionic transfers eventually wear off, restoring both Hewitt and Karmak to normal.