Issue Detective 585 Subtitle The Ratcatcher Date April 1988 Writer(s) John Warner, Alan Grant Artist(s) Norm Breyfogle, Ricardo Villagran storyline Batman attacked some arms dealers as the Ratcatcher dealt with one of his captives trying to escape. The escapee almost made it to where Batman was, but he was killed by pursuing rats. Batman watched the rodents flock back to a man; he followed them into the sewer. Ratcatcher set his pets against Batman then flooded the sewer pipe.

Issue Detective 586 Subtitle Rat Trap Date May 1988 Writer(s) John Warner, Alan Grant Artist(s) Norm Breyfogle storyline Gordon arranged a search party for the sewers. The victim turned out to be a judge that had been missing for five years. Rats attacked the search party; Gordon and his men pieced together what was happening. Batman awakened and continued searching out the Ratcatcher. He rescued the rest of the prisoners, delivered the Ratcatcher to the police, and headed to Dr. Thompkins for treatment.

Issue Detective 587 Subtitle Night People Date June 1988 Writer(s) John Wagner, Alan Grant Artist(s) Norm Breyfogle storyline Derek "Deke" Mitchel escaped from prison. With police in pursuit of him, he was struck by lightning at a chemical plant. Batman took out some smugglers with 10 kilos of coke nearby.

Issue Detective 588 Subtitle The Corrosive Man Date July 1988 Writer(s) John Wagner, Alan Grant Artist(s) Norm Breyfogle storyline Mitchel survived, but appeared to have been somehow mutated by the lightning + chemicals; he burned everything he touched. A hitman reported back to his boss, Mr. Kadaver, but was informed that he got the wrong guy. Batman gave chase to Mitchel, but he was able to get away (Mitchel was after Kadaver for setting him up, causing him to go to prison). The hitman got the right guy the second time. Batman pinned him for it.

Issue Detective 589 Subtitle The Burning Pit  For the Love of Ivy Date August 1988 Writer(s) John Wagner, Alan Grant  Lewis Klahr, Steve Piersall Artist(s) Norm Breyfogle  Dean Haspiel, Denis Rodier storyline Kadaver attempted to extort Phil Hobart, who'd come by to pay for the hit. Hobart was nephew to the deceased, Dalton "California" Walls, a former millionaire who decided to live on the streets as a bum. Batman arrived at Kadaver's with the killer; Mitchel showed up shortly thereafter. He was forced into a pit of quicklime that Kadaver had threatened Hobart with. The quicklime seemed to neutralize the "Corrosive Man." Batman left the four men there for the police.  Batman happened upon a dying man with ties to Poison Ivy. After seeing Ivy and going to her doctor, he learned that she was dying - the immunities that made her almost involnerable were breaking down. He was able to get to her and convince her of what was going on. The doctor assured them she'd have a complete recovery in time.

Issue Detective 590 Subtitle An American Batman in London Date September 1988 Writer(s) John Wagner, Alan Grant Artist(s) Norm Breyfogle storyline Muslim terrorists attacked a veteran's club killing 7 and injuring 13 before killing themselves. Bruce Wayne took a vacation to London so that Batman could track Abu Hassan, the brains behind the attack. After finding Hassan, Batman learned of an upcoming attack on Parliament. Batman was struck from behind by one of Hassan's associates, and the boss fell through his window dying on impact below. Batman was luckily able to stop the suicide bombing.

Issue Detective 591 Subtitle Aborigine! Date October 1988 Writer(s) John Wagner, Alan Grant Artist(s) Norm Breyfogle storyline An aborigine sought out a sacred artifact that had been taken from his homeland. He tracked it to a museum and made off with it after killing two.

Issue Detective 592 Subtitle The Fear Date November 1988 Writer(s) John Wagner, Alan Grant Artist(s) Norm Breyfogle storyline Batman appeared on the scene when a cabbie found a body in his trunk. The only witness said Jesus put it in there. Batman ran a search on recently released murderers and narrowed it down to Cornellius Stirk after another man was killed by Abraham Lincoln.

Issue Detective 593 Subtitle Diary of a Madman Date December 1988 Writer(s) John Wagner, Alan Grant Artist(s) Norm Breyfogle, Steve Mitchell storyline Stirk, who apparently had the ability to shape-shift, killed again. Batman broke in on him, but was confused by the shape-shifting; he was captured. Stirk fed on the fear of his victims but had a hard time creating fear in Batman. He finally found something - the death of innocents. Batman broke free from his bindings when Stirk threatened a man in front of him. Stirk was returned to Arkham.

Issue Detective 594 Subtitle Ecstasy Date undated Writer(s) John Wagner, Alan Grant Artist(s) Norm Breyfogle, Steve Mitchell storyline Batman witnessed a man almost run down some kids in a Porche, then he gave the car to them. The man, who was hearing voices from a bad ecstasy trip, detonated the car. All four inside were killed. A tipped off PI gave Batman the details. The second bomb ripped through Ventriloquist's club. Batman and the PI, Joe Potato, tracked the bomber down to his currency trading job, where he blew himself up in the vault with his final bomb.

Issue Detective 595 Subtitle Our Man in Havana  Cold Cuts Date undated Writer(s) John Wagner, Alan Grant  Jeff O'Hare Artist(s) Irv Novick, Steve Mitchell  Roderick Delgado, Jerry Acerno storyline The Justice League sent Batman to Cuba when aliens invaded. He uncovered the aliens' gun running operation, exporting the weapons in cigar cases; Batman reported his findings to Commissioner Gordon. Investigating further, Batman was attacked by Thanagarian Aerial Guards - hawkmen. He escaped them and blew up the cigar/gun factory. S.T.A.R. Labs created a perfect artificial diamond which could fire a laser to perfect precision. Mr. Freeze escaped while being transported from Arkham to a prison and went after the laser. Batman was briefly captured by Freeze, but he defeated him.