Batman #6 - Story 1
June 18, 1941
"Murder on Parole"
Our story opens with Batman and Robin patrolling the waterfront one night when they come upon a couple of thugs getting ready to shoot someone and dump his body in the river. They jump in to stop it, but the man still gets shot. As the gang escapes, the man, Chick Miller, explains what led to this moment.
Chick was serving five years in prison, but was going stir crazy. He swore if he got out, he would go straight. His cell partner offered him an opportunity to get parole. Despite his doubts, Miller went along with it and soon found himself out of prison. Upon leaving, he is approached by men who claim they were responsible for his freedom. They take him to their boss, who turns out to be one of the parole board members. He is running a gang and he frees cons to work for him.
Miller refuses to join as he just wants to go straight and when he threatens to reveal the operation, he is taken to the pier to be executed. He then passes out and is taken to the hospital. The next day, the duo stop an assassination attempt by some of the gang when they get into the hospital. They all run off when the police arrive. It's interesting to note that gangsters only open fire on the police in these comics when all else is hopeless for them. And Batman comments they need to leave as the police, while acknowledging his crime fighting efforts, do not approve of his methods.
Later that night, Batman goes to the prison in the Batplane. He storms the place, knocking out the guards with his gas. He kidnaps the current cellmate of Slink, the man who sets up the paroles, and then disguises himself as the cellmate, taking his place in prison. He puts on the act of wanting to get out and Slink gets the process in motion. Soon, Batman, as Marty Loden, is free and meeting with the leader of the gang.
He is sent out on a heist of silks. There, he reveals himself as Batman and fights the other thieves. He is thrown into the water and disappears. Meanwhile, Robin is captured as he watches over the leader and his other men. They plan to kill him when Slink shows up. He escaped from prison as he was getting sir crazy and didn't think his own parole could happen as he is a murderer.
