COMIC BOOK OF THE WEEK – “Detective Comics” #619 (August 1990)

Detective Comics #619

This week’s “Comic Book of the Week” is “Detective Comics” #619, which was published by DC Comics in August 1990. This comic was titled “Beyond Belief” and was the second installment in an ongoing series called “Rite of Passage.” This issue featured Batman, Obeah Man, Tim Drake, Alfred Pennyworth, Jim Gordon and Tim’s parents, Jack and Janet Drake.

This issue’s creative team included Alan Grant, writer; Norm Breyfogle, penciller; Steven Mitchell, inker; Adrienne Roy, colorist; Todd Klein, letterer; Dan Raspler, associate editor; and Dennis O’Neil, editor. Breyfogle was the cover artist, and this issue’s cover was especially well done. The issue sold for $1 at newsstands.

“Detective Comics” #619 was a 26-page issue that begins in Haiti, where the Obeah Man has just killed Jack and Janet Drake’s assistant, Jeremy, with a long, sharp knife. The Drakes couldn’t prevent the killing because, like Jeremy, they were tied up in chairs around a table in the Obeah Man’s voodoo hut. The Obeah Man recorded the murder with a video camera and plans to send the tape to Drake Industries to demand a $10 million ransom for the release of the Drakes.

The Obeah Man gives the tape to one of his assistants, Louis Dange, and tells him to get it to one of their associates at the airport, who will send the tape to Drake Industries in Gotham City. Back at Wayne Manor, Tim Drake and Batman don’t know that the Drake’s have been kidnapped, only that the search for them is ongoing in the Caribbean. Rather than brood on his missing parents, Tim occupies his time by trying to stop a computer hacker called the “Moneyspider.”

Later that night, Batman meets with Gotham Police Commissioner Jim Gordon, who shows Batman the ransom tape received by Drake Industries. The standard domestic videotape was wrapped in a plain wrapper and was wiped clean of fingerprints, but Batman detects the faint odor of jimsonweed on the tape. Gordon also tells Batman that it’s official Drake Industries policy not to pay the ransoms of any kidnapped employees under any circumstances.

Back at Wayne Manor, Tim is worried sick about his missing parents, and Alfred the Butler tries to comfort him. Tim heads up to bed, and Batman arrives to break the news to Alfred that the Drakes have been kidnapped. They agree not to tell Tim until Batman can determine what can be done about the kidnapping.

In the crime lab at the Batcave, Batman begins to analyze the ransom tape and spots an interesting item on a shelf behind the Drakes, a glass jar containing a giant centipede. Batman goes to his library, pulls out a copy of “Myriopoda of the World” and determines that the giant carnivorous centipede’s natural habitat is Haiti.

Meanwhile, back in Haiti, the Obeah Man is supervising a group of workers who are digging a weird-looking pit outside of his voodoo shack. He tells one of the workers that the moon will be full in two days and at that time he will conduct the “fire ceremony.” During this ceremony, the “spirits of the angels themselves will walk among us – and share with us their power,” the Obeah Man said.

At the same time, while Batman’s researching voodoo in his library, Tim comes down to the Batcave and sees the ransom video. He gets mad because Batman didn’t bother to tell him that his parents were still alive. Tim eventually calms down, and Batman fills him in on the details of the kidnapping. Gordon calls to say that they’ve received the ransom call, telling Drake Industries when and where to deliver the $10 million. Batman takes off to meet with Gordon, and the issue ends with Tim wondering if maybe all Robins have to go through the loss of their parents before becoming Batman’s costumed partner, Robin.

This comic book (unless I’ve sold it) and others are available for purchase through Peacock’s Books on Amazon.com. If you’re interested in buying it, search for it there by title, issue number and date of publication.