Comic Title: Batman Annual #4
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: Winter 1963
On Sale Date: November 8, 1962 Newsstand Date November 8, 1962
Source: House Ad, Action Comics #295, Page 31

Copyright Date November 8, 1962
Source: Library of Congress, Pamphlets 1962

Cover Price: $0.25
Page Count: 80
Editor: Jack Schiff

See Also: The Guide to DC Giants

Title: "The Phantom of the Bat-Cave"
Pages: 8

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

Writer: Edmond Hamilton
Penciller: Sheldon Moldoff
Inker: Charles Paris

Reprinted From:
Batman #99 (1956)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (last appearance in Batman #99; next appearance in Detective Comics #230)

Supporting Character(s)

• Robin (last appearance in Batman #99; next appearance in Detective Comics #230)
• Alfred Pennyworth (last appearance in Detective Comics #228; next appearance in Batman #101)

Villain(s)

• Pardu and two partners (no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Joker (as a Bat-Cave prop)
• Penguin (as a Bat-Cave prop)

Synopsis:
Batman fails to capture two bandits and their masked leader during one of their crimes. He does find a box held by the leader which he examines in the Bat-Cave. The box yields no clues, so Batman places it in his trophy case. The next day the box is gone and a tiny top hat is in its place.

Batman battles the crooks again. They escape again, this time leaving behind a toy gun. Batman again places the evidence in the trophy case. The next day, the gun is gone, having been replaced by another tiny top hat.

Batman suspects that the crook has learned the location of the Bat-Cave. When the magician then tries to blackmail Batman, threatening to expose Batman's secret identity, Batman agrees to pay. When Batman drops off the money, he traps the crook, who claims to know Batman's secret. However, Batman has already deduced that the trophies were made of memory plastic which resumed its original shape. The crook wasn't in the Bat-Cave at all, so Batman's secret identity remains safe.