Detective Comics #629

THE HUNGRY GRASS!

For several nights, Gotham City is plagued by bizarre disasters: policemen are killed by invisible axes, cars crash against thin air, and ordinary citizens launch into sudden homicidal rages. A mysterious terrorist known as "Hungry" claims to be responsible, and promises more deaths if his demands are not met. To the consternation of both Batman and the police, Hungry's demands are even more bizarre than the deaths - for instance, ordering citizens to clean the sidewalks with toothbrushes while accusing Batman of being a "lying, hypocritical, sanctimonious Fascist guardian of injustice".  Sensing that Hungry has a special hatred for him, Batman issues a personal challenge, which Hungry accepts. The two men confront each other at the abandoned Blackgate Penitentiary, where Hungry reveals himself to be an out-of-shape drunkard exacting revenge on Gotham City for wrongful imprisonment. Batman pursues Hungry, but is attacked by a variety of phantoms - prison guards, murderous convicts, and even the sensations of a drug withdrawal. Hungry escapes in the confusion, but Batman nevertheless secures several clues.  With the clues, and some help from the police, Batma