Jim Gordon is back as Gotham City’s Police Commissioner. Bruce Wayne has found happiness with magazine editor Vicki Vale. And Robin (Dick Grayson) has resolved his issues with Batman. Surely things are looking up for the Caped Crusader…
The return of an old foe, the emergence of a new villain in Gotham and the death of a family of trapeze artists are all about to seriously impact the lives of the Dynamic Duo…
Crossover: This storyline is a standard seven-part crossover.
Anthology Issues: When an issue contains multiple stories, the relevant story is denoted with square brackets. For example, [2/5] refers to the second story of the five stories in that issue.
Spoilers: The issue descriptions and fallout section contain spoilers, so be warned!
Previous events that directly impact this story:
- THE HAUNTING OF BOSS THORNE (1982) – Rupert Thorne is driven mad
- CAT TALE (1982-1983) – Selina Kyle tries to kill Vicki Vale
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the chronological reading order without story descriptions, or spoilers:
- Detective Comics #523 [1/2]
- Batman #357
- Detective Comics #524 [1/2]
- Batman #358
- Detective Comics #525 [1/2]
- Batman #359
- Detective Comics #526
| Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| Detective Comics #523 [1/2] Solomon Grundy has joined a gang run by a disguised criminal referred to as ‘Croc’. Their break-in at a fur fashion store earns the attention of Batman and Commissioner James Gordon. Batman finds evidence Grundy is involved (thanks to info shared by Superman after TOO STRONG TO SURVIVE, 1977-1978) and tracks him down. The Caped Crusader tricks the unliving Grundy into entering a furnace, destroying him, though he begins to question whether or not he was right. Elsewhere, Dick Grayson reunites with his friend Waldo the Clown at the Sloan Circus… 1st appearance: Killer Croc/Waylon Jones (cameo) |
| Batman #357 Dick Grayson returns to the Sloan Circus (after another Teen Titans mission as Robin during TERRA INCOGNITO, 1983) and watches the Flying Todds’ family trapeze act. A heavily disguised Croc and his right hand man, Slick, try to make the circus pay for protection. Elsewhere, Batman finds out the Squid is taking over Gotham’s gangs. TV news reporter Olivia Ortega helps Batman switch places with crime boss Tony Falco after his trial. The Squid breaks ‘Falco’ out of the prison car and takes him to his hideout, but quickly realises it’s Batman in disguise. Squid’s goons mob Batman and he’s thrown into a tank to feed the Squid’s giant squid, Gertrude… 1st appearance: Jason Todd, Joseph Todd, Trina Todd |
| Detective Comics #524 [1/2] Only Croc sees Batman escape Gertrude’s tank, but allows him to get away. The Squid is shocked when he sees Croc’s face before he turns his back on the Squid and his gang. Later, the Flying Todds attend a party held at Wayne Manor in Dick Grayson’s honour. Bruce Wayne shows up with squid-related injuries. Trina Todd walks in while Alfred Pennyworth and Dick see to Bruce, spotting his Bat-costume. Later still, Croc tries to kill the Squid from afar with a sniper rifle. Croc takes another shot at Squid who hallucinates killing Batman as he dies. The next morning, Batman gives Jim Gordon the bullet that killed Squid… 1st appearance: Killer Croc/Waylon Jones (full, but still only called ‘Croc’) |
| Batman #358 The next night, Batman apprehends gun runner Specs who reveals he sold the very specific sniper rifle to Croc. Robin thinks Croc may be the one harassing the Sloan Circus for protection money. Bruce worries Trina Todd will share their secret identities, further driving a wedge between him and Dick over Bruce’s trust issues. Despite building a rep in Florida as ‘Killer Croc’, Croc breaks into STAR Labs and steals a computer for Gotham’s underworld bosses to prove himself worthy. Batman tracks Killer Croc to his home in rundown Hell’s Point, but Croc’s fury catches Batman off guard. Croc blows up his own home and escapes… Identity revealed: Croc’s full pseudonym is ‘Killer Croc’ |
| Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| Detective Comics #525 [1/2] Batman & Robin’s search for Killer Croc comes up with nothing. The next night, Vicki Vale walks out on her date with Bruce Wayne when he calls their relationship ‘uncomplicated’ compared to what he had with Selina Kyle. Robin asks the Flying Todds to alert him if Croc returns and meets young acrobat Jason Todd. Batman tracks Killer Croc in the sewers, but self-doubt leads to the Caped Crusader barely escaping with his life… |
| Batman #359 Then next night, Killer Croc calls a meeting of Gotham’s crime bosses in the city zoo’s reptile house and proclaims himself King Croc. He believes Batman is dead, but the bosses reject Croc and his claims. Croc sends Slick to collect on the Sloan Circus insurance, then breaks into Gotham City Jail and murders crime lord Tony Falco. Batman is defeated by Croc again on the jail’s roof as he flees. Later, Bruce rages at Dick over the Todds’ concern about helping catch Killer Croc, then storms out. Regretting his actions, Bruce calls Vicki to patch things up. Trina & Joe Todd follow Slick after his visit to Sloan Circus. Jim Gordon reveals his findings on Croc’s origin to Batman. Slick leads the Todds into a trap at the zoo… New identity: Killer Croc/Waylon Jones as King Croc Identity revealed: Killer Croc’s real name is Waylon Jones |
| Detective Comics #526 The Joker calls for a gathering of Batman’s fiercest foes to kill the Caped Crusader before King Croc can. Catwoman sneaks out and Talia al Ghul defiantly refuses. Captain Stingaree is killed trying to stop Talia from leaving. Both women show up at the Batcave and warn Batman. At Wayne Manor, Batgirl reveals to Robin that she knows he’s Dick Grayson and Bruce is Batman. Waldo the Clown and Jason Todd stay safe at the Manor, but Jason stumbles across the Batcave. He finds and puts on Dick’s old Flying Graysons costume. Elsewhere, Batman, Catwoman and Talia defeat the Black Spider, Cavalier, Mad Hatter, Riddler, Scarecrow, Signalman, Spook. They return to the Batcave to follow the next clue, unaware that Jason has snuck into the Batmobile’s trunk. Batgirl & Robin arrive at Gotham City Zoo too late – King Croc already fed Trina & Joseph Todd to the crocodiles and departed. Jim Gordon holds Robin responsible. The Joker tells King Croc the other costumed criminals are going to kill Batman and usurp Croc as ‘king’. Batman, Catwoman & Talia find Cat-Man, the Getaway Genius, Tweedledum & Tweedledee beaten almost to death in a defunct Gotham brewery, victims of Joker and Croc. Batman battles Croc for the lives of Talia and Catwoman who are tied to an overheating brewing vat. Batgirl & Robin arrive, taking out Clayface, Gentleman Ghost, Killer Moth & Two-Face. Croc accidentally knocks out the Joker before Jason Todd trips Croc, giving Batman the opportunity to defeat him. Jason finds out Croc killed his parents. Later, Catwoman and Talia al Ghul depart together. Bruce Wayne offers to take Jason Todd in as his ward… |
| Must Reads | Issue(s) & Fallout | Event/ Crossover |
| ✔ | Batman #360-361 (1983) After a month of hard training, Jason Todd makes it clear he intends on taking on the role of Robin as a sidekick to Batman; Jason plays a key role in defeating Man-Bat. | A REQUIEM FOR SKULLS |
| ✔ | Detective Comics #530 (1983) Batman’s refusal to allow Jason to become the new Robin lead to the boy running away from Wayne Manor and returning to the Sloan Circus; Vicki Vale and Bruce Wayne’s fractious relationship continues. | PASSION NOCTURNALE |
| ✔ | Detective Comics #531 (1983) Jason’s role in Chimera’s defeat makes Batman reconsider the suggestion of making him his partner, though Batman doesn’t want Jason to become Robin. | THE FACE OF THE CHIMERA |
| ✔ | Batman #366 (1983) Jason Todd dyes his hair black and dons the Robin costume for the first time to assist Batman against the Joker. | THE JOKER IS WILD! |
| ✔ | Batman #367-368 (1984) Jason Todd briefly dons the outfit he initially tried on at Wayne Manor when Batman tries and fails to talk him out of being Robin; Batman finally fully accepts Jason as Robin. | THE GREEN GHOSTS OF GOTHAM |
| ✔ | New Teen Titans #39 (1984) Dick Grayson quits being Robin and leaves the Teen Titans. | BAPTISM OF BLOOD |
| Infinity Inc #3 (1984) While this is the last appearance of the Earth-One incarnation of Solomon Grundy, his original Earth-Two counterpart returns. | ||
| ✔ | Tales of the Teen Titans #44 (1984) Wanting to stand apart from batman and forge his own future, Dick Grayson takes on a new identity as Nightwing. | THE JUDAS CONTRACT |
| Detective Comics #548 (1985) Catwoman returns to Gotham City | ||
| ✔ | Detective Comics #566 (1986) Batman #400 (1986) Killer Croc returns as, once again, Batman faces a number of his deadliest foes all at once; Talia al Ghul and Catwoman assist Batman against his army of foes, again. | KNOW YOUR FOES |
| Batman #401 (1986) The New Earth incarnation of Jason Todd appears for the first time, fighting as Robin alongside Batman against Magpie. | LEGENDS | |
| ✔ | Batman #408-411 (1987) New Earth’s Jason Todd is given a completely different origin, moving away from his circus origins to differentiate him from Dick Grayson; in this new continuity, Batman offers Jason the role of Robin. | |
| Swamp Thing #66 (1987) The New Earth incarnation of Killer Croc makes his debut, battling Batman in Arkham Asylum. | ||
| ✔ | Batman #428 (1988) As Robin, Jason Todd is murdered by the Joker. | |
| ✔ | Batman #635-638 (2005) Batman Annual #25 (2006) When a new Red Hood emerges and challenges Batman, he’s unmasked to reveal Jason Todd has been resurrected; the events surrounding Jason’s return are revealed. | UNDER THE HOOD |
| Batman #1 (2011) The Prime Earth incarnation of Killer Croc first appears, already an inmate of Arkham Asylum, likely due to Batman‘s efforts. | THE COURT OF OWLS | |
| Red Hood and the Outlaws #1 (2011) The Prime Earth incarnation of Jason Todd makes his debut appearance, having already been murdered as Robin, resurrected and assumed the Red Hood identity (though the circumstances around these events differ slightly from the New Earth version). |
See how this story fits into the wider DC Universe with these reading orders:
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| Tales of the Batman: Gerry Conway vol.3 | Batman #349-359 Detective Comics #515-526 |
| Batman: Arkham – Killer Croc | Batman #358-359, 471, 489, 512, 521-522 Batman and Robin #23.4: Killer Croc Batman Chronicles #3 Detective Comics #525, 660, 808-810 Joker’s Asylum: Killer Croc #1 |
| Collected Edition Title | Includes… |
| Tales of the Batman: Gene Colan vol.1 | Detective Comics #523 |
| Batman: The Greatest Stories Ever Told vol.2 The Joker: The Bonze Age Omnibus | Detective Comics #526 |
Reading Order © Omniverse Comics Guide 2025
Leave a Reply