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Often excluded for space reasons from "R'as Al Ghul Saga" reprint collections, is the less appreciated final story from BATMAN 245.

[Linked Image from milehighcomics.com]



It ties up the remaining story threads from BATMAN 242-244, where Batman faked the disappearance/death of Bruce Wayne, to prepare to go after R'as Al Ghul and take Al Ghul off guard. And If Al Ghul figured out he was still alive, rendered it useless to reveal his identity as Bruce Wayne.

I also like how this story in many ways taps into the appeal of the earliest 1939-1940 Batman stories. He is a mysterious vigilante in the shadows who operates outside the law, with no regard for local city politics or larger considerations, he is focused on the smaller victims of crime, or of those duped into involvement in crime, and irregardless of technicalities of legal procedure, stops criminals and brings them to justice.

I also like the brevity of the conclusion, how O'Neil skillfully brings Bruce Wayne back at story's end. A less skilled writer would have spent an entire plodding issue doing what O'Neil wrapped up satisfyingly in just one panel. This is an under-appreciated and quietly powerful single issue story, that perfectly captures what Batman is about, from his earliest stories.