The Batman Family #5

In a heartfelt 1976 tale from *The Batman Family* #5, Batman and Robin rescue an injured dog from the streets, bringing him to the Batcave where he quickly earns his place as a loyal companion. As Ace, the Bat-Hound, begins aiding the Dynamic Duo in their investigations, his keen instincts lead them to uncover a mystery tied to his missing master—and a criminal mastermind named Bert Bowers. With Alfred Pennyworth and Commissioner Gordon playing key roles, this touching origin story introduces a four-legged hero whose bond with Gotham’s Dark Knight proves as strong as any human partnership.

In "The Signs of the Signalman," the escaped criminal Signalman [Philip Cobb] tries to prove himself to his fellow inmates by targeting a Batman exhibit, only to be thwarted at every turn by the Caped Crusader. With Robin at his side and Commissioner Gordon watching from the shadows, the chase unfolds as Batman and the Signalman engage in a tense game of wits—each move marked by the eerie glow of the signalman’s beacon.