Villains tend to turn up again and again because they strike a chord with the readers - while many others make an appearance or two and disappear from view.
With this issue of Detective Comics, writer Steve Englehart manages to take a one-hit wonder and turn him into a major contender.
The character is Deadshot, a villain who appeared in Batman #59 in 1950 - and not again until this issue in 1977!
It doesn't hurt that artists Marshall Rogers and Terry Austin provide a terrific costume, including wrist-mounted guns and a mirrored mask with a sighting lens.
This issue revived the character, who would go on to star in the Suicide Squad (series and movie) and in mini-series of his own.
This issue is something of a breather before the final confrontation with the Joker (next issue), but it's a fast-paced and eventful issue - it starts with some heartwarming moments between Batman and Robin, and ends with a startling revelation!
The art continues to amaze (the cityscape on page 8 is a stunner) and there are lots of Easter Eggs for longtime fans (lunch at Fox Gardens, and a convention center with a giant typewriter).
This comic proves that, in the right hands, almost any character can become a star. All you need is a high-powered creative team!
Up next: the main event!
Grade: A
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