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 Unofficial Detective Comics Index

Detective Comics 491

DETECTIVE COMICS #491

Cover Date: June 1980
Cover Price: $1.00

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Cover Credits:
Pencils: Ross Andru (signed)
Inks: Dick Giordano (signed)
Colors: Tatjana Wood


Story: "The Riddle of the Golden Fleece" (17 Pages)

Credits:

StoryDennis O'Neil
PencilsDon Newton
InksDan Adkins
LetteringMilt Snapinn
ColorsAdrinne Roy
EditingPaul Levitz

Feature Character(s):

Batman (last in Batman Vol. 1 #324; next in World's Finest Comics #263)

Supporting Character(s):

Commissioner Gordon

Villain(s):

Maxie Zeus (last in issue #486; next in Batman Vol. 1 #327)
Zeus' gang:
Hephaestus (Fred Britt; first appearance; Zeus' gagdet creator; dies)
Barney O'Hara (first appearance; a guard at the Wayne Foundation working for Zeus)

Other Character(s):

Medea Zeus (first appearance; Maxie's young daughter; lives in an orphanage)

Location(s):

Gotham City
Wayne Foundation
Arkham Asylum

Story Reprinted in:

Tales of the Batman: Don Newton (2011)


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Second Story: "Fragrance of Death!" (7 Pages)
"Tales of Gotham City"

Credits:

StoryMike W. Barr
ArtDan Spiegle
LetteringJohn Costanza
ColorsAdrienne Roy
EditingPaul Levitz

Feature Character(s):

Jason Bard (last in issue #485/5; next in Brave and the Bold #172; also in flashbacks to his youth)

Villain(s):

"Doug Parker" (first appearance; in flashbacks only; a crook who kills Rose and is Jason's father under another name)

Other Character(s):

Rose Bard (first appearance; in flashbacks only; dies)
Scratch (first appearance; an informant who kills Parker; dies)

Location(s):

Northmont (first appearance; in flashback; Jason's home town)
Gotham City


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Third Story: "Target of the Death-Dealer" (8 Pages)

Credits:

StoryJack C. Harris
PencilsAlex Saviuk
InksVince Colletta
LetteringJohn Costanza
ColorsGene D'Angelo
EditingPaul Levitz

Feature Character(s):

Robin

Supporting Character(s):

Jennifer (now Dick's girlfriend)

Villain(s):

An unnamed gambling fixer (first appearance)

Other Character(s):

Man in Black

Location(s):

New Carthage
Hudson University

Comment(s):

This story takes place during college basketball season (November-March).


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Fourth Story: "Short-Circuit" (10 Pages)

Credits:

StoryMartin Pasko
PencilsPat Broderick
InksFrank McLaughlin
LetteringMilt Snapinn
ColorsBob LeRose
EditingPaul Levitz

Feature Character(s):

Black Lightning (electric powers are short-circuited)

Villain(s):

Jacques Craven

Location(s):

Metropolis
Jefferson High School

Comment(s):

This story continues from the last issue.


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Fifth Story: "The Assassination of Batgirl!" (8 Pages)

Credits:

StoryMike W. Barr
PencilsJose Delbo
InksJoe Giella
LetteringBen Oda
ColorsGene D'Angelo
EditingPaul Levitz

Feature Character(s):

Batgirl (takes a job at Humanities Research and Development Center as head of Social Services Department)

Supporting Character(s):

James Gordon (next in Batman Vol. 1 #325)

Villain(s):

General Scarr (first appearance; organizes his gang using military forms; hires Cormorant to kill Batgirl)
Cormorant (Edward Wells; first appearance; an expert assassin)

Other Character(s):

James Stein (first appearance; head of HRaDC)
Richard Bender (first appearance; head of Historical Department)
Robert Barton (first appearance; head of Performing Arts Department)

Location(s):

Gotham City

Comment(s):

This story continues in the next issue.

Story Reprinted in:

Batgirl: The Bronze Age Omnibus #2 (2019)


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