Batman Archives: Bat-Hound Week Day 3: Whitey The Thief-Dog!

Welcome to Bat-Hound Week! This is Day 3, in which we look at the Return of Ace The Bat-Hound in Batman #97 by Sheldon Moldoff and Bill Finger.

Who knew Batman and Robin made meth in their spare time? Ace did, and is willing to blackmail them.

But I affectionately nick named this issue:

The Dark Dog Returns

It's the closest I could find to the cover of DKR #1 with Bat-Hound.

Because i'm going to make annoying and unnecessary DKR references. And because the story is actually called The Return Of Bat-Hound. This stuff writes itself.

Let's begin:

Bat-Hound always gets the best art. I swear. You'll see, it get's even better later.

So Narrator, where are we today? Ah yes, the Gotham Phonogragh Record and Needle CO, during a robbery. Over at Comics Make no Sense Adam was just talking about how sometimes comics date their media. Having a phonograph company in your comic would be a good example of that.

Little does Millen know, it's all actually an act and Whitey is their leader. Would you honestly expect anything else from Gotham?

And thus, we are shown the awesome power of Thief-Dog!

"LAD-DE-DEEE-DEE"

So during this robbery, Millen attempts to foil it on purpose, but this was part of Whitey's plan most likely. Look at him and tell me he's not a villain:

Anyways once out heroes arrive, our villains have already gone! But they make a startling discovery: Paw Prints!

So ~~guessing~~ deducing that the crooks used a dog (when in actuality the dog used some crooks), Batman makes a tough call:

That Ace must come out of retirement!

And thus...

The Dark Dog Returns

"You know it in your soul, for I am your soul... You cannot escape me"

"You cannot stop me, not with wine or vows or the weight of age — you cannot stop me, but still you try. Still you run. You try to drown me out... But your voice is weak."

"The time has come."

I'm sorry, I can't help myself. So anyways Ace joins the search for the ~~Mutant Leader~~ Dog-Thief.

Following a lead they uncover that the mastermind Criminal Canine is none other than Whitey, the prize dog of all competitions. Suddenly our heroes are called to headquarters, where they learn the true danger of Thief-Dog's antics

The possibility of a Dog Crime Racket, which would destroy Gotham!

Batman shares what he has with Gordon, and they soon learn the whereabouts of Thief-Dog. Next they give Bat-Hound a little upgrade, and sett him lose to find Whitey!

Upon discovering Thief-Dog's hideout, Bat-Hound lets them know that he found it. Next he peers through window to learn the crooks plans, but Whitey is aware of his presence!

And what did I say?

Bat-Hound always gets the best art.

So Bat-Hound purposely makes his presence known, and then flees into the night with info of the hideout's location. Nay, he is the night.

Just look at his Smugness:

"lol missed me"

So by the time our heroes arrive, Thief-Dog and the gang have already abandoned the bas and are on the way to the Diamond Mint. Batman, Robin and Bat-Hound all pile into the Batmobile and race towards the mint...

And actually beat them there. Everything always goes better with Ace on the Case. They decide to take the criminals by surprise when they do arrive, so they have the upper-hand.

So after about 10 minutes or o, the thieves arrive as well and set Thief-Dog to business.

Totally missed an opportunity to do an environmental takedown like in Arkham City.

And thus, they hear out Millen, who explains everything from his point of view, whilst Whitey acts innocent. Than Batman concocts a plan to prove whether or not the story is true:

Which ties up our issue.

One more DKR reference:

"We could have changed the world…now…look at us…I've become a hound…and…you…you're a joke."

"I want you to remember, Whitey…in all the years to come…in your most private moments…I want you to remember…my paw…at your throat…I want…you to remember…"