What do you think?
Rate this book
Batman (1940-2011)
Batman (1940-2011) #401
Enjoy this great comic from DC’s digital archive!
Legends crossover: Chapter 1. Batman and Robin are on the case when Magpie commits murder in her compulsive quest to collect bird-themed gemstones.
Legends crossover: Chapter 1. Batman and Robin are on the case when Magpie commits murder in her compulsive quest to collect bird-themed gemstones.
24 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 1986
5 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 24, 2025
Actual rating 2.7 stars.
Firstly, I did not like the art for this issue. Which is a shame because this is the first appearance of the Post-Crisis Batman.
In saying that, the sentence structure and plot reminded me of an older comic style. Not sure why that decision was made but for me, it didn’t work.
I did like that they brought in a villain from the Man of Steel series.
Something I found odd was that Robin just pops up into the story. You don’t see Bats call him or anything, he’s just already there.
Also, I really disliked the part with Robin ripping Magpie’s shirt. That was not necessary.
I read this mostly because it is the first chapter in the upcoming Legends event!
Firstly, I did not like the art for this issue. Which is a shame because this is the first appearance of the Post-Crisis Batman.
In saying that, the sentence structure and plot reminded me of an older comic style. Not sure why that decision was made but for me, it didn’t work.
I did like that they brought in a villain from the Man of Steel series.
Something I found odd was that Robin just pops up into the story. You don’t see Bats call him or anything, he’s just already there.
Also, I really disliked the part with Robin ripping Magpie’s shirt. That was not necessary.
I read this mostly because it is the first chapter in the upcoming Legends event!
October 31, 2024
This issue continues the villain magpie from the man of steel comics and kicks off the legends crossover event!
I could be completely wrong, but I believe this issue happens in the past. The costumes are older, Dick appears to still be Robin, and this takes place directly after man of steel #3, and that was intended to be set more in the past, reestablishing the canon, right? For all this reasons I’m going to treat it as the past, which makes it even more perfect when Godfrey is introduced.
This issue follows an investigation into murders following the same concepts as magpie, but they can’t figure out the connection. A pretty object is taken and then replaced with a deadly one, and magpie is currently out on bail even after killing 10 people. Talking with Gordon, Batman has figured out that all of the diamonds stolen have had secondary bird related names. So it’s definitely magpie and she is collecting birds. But how do we lure her out? Well…Bruce Wayne owes Batman a favor and he has some diamonds he can show that would be quite alluring.
The stage is set the room is packed with police in disguise and now they wait to lure her out as the billionaire playboy continues to worry. But the night is interrupted as G. Gordon Godfrey makes an appearance, and in his typical evangelical fashion…he is making a fool of himself. Claiming that they are all reliant on superheroes and that one day the public will turn against them. And that superheroes spur villains to be created. Who even invited this guy?? He ended up spilling a drink on the detective that outwardly disagreed with him, and who was also the bait for magpie. As she went to clean up with a maid, it was unfortunately revealed the maid was magpie in disguise!! And everyone only found out because she came running out with a dangerous object on her neck. As Bruce raced to change and come out and save her as Batman, this spurred Godfrey to start preaching about an unprovoked attack from Batman. But in the chaos it’s almost like some people believe him…
As Alfred makes a quick excuse for Bruce’s disappearance, we get a look at Batman and Robin exiting the super Adam West batcave in the very similar Batmobile. Alright this is definitely in the past. They are able to track magpie via the catering truck and find her base of operations. Full of all the pretty shiny things she won’t let her goons touch. After a quick fight, magpie was able to slip out and then activate the rooms defenses. Sealing it off and sending a laser grid down onto our heroes and her goons alike. As long as the pretty things are fine, she doesn’t care.
Batman realizes she wouldn’t jeopardize her things and is able to take some of the mirrors from the displays to reflect the lasers back and allow Robin to break through the door. While rigging this escape it also lead to a hilarious moment where Robin kicked one of the goons back out after he woke up in the middle of it.
Magpie was distracted the entire time upstairs after accidentally dropping a shiny thing under a cabinet and having to stop and take time to get it. When Batman came up she was ready to shoot him, but couldn’t once he revealed he was holding a shiny thing. She immediately broke down, and he promised he could bring her in without hurting her, she just had to give up. We see as Batman gracefully leads magpie into custody as the words of Godfrey echo in the background: “these so-called superheroes are dangerous, and they must be stopped!”
Thus setting up legends, and the entire question of the super hero being brought before trial in the public trial.
I could be completely wrong, but I believe this issue happens in the past. The costumes are older, Dick appears to still be Robin, and this takes place directly after man of steel #3, and that was intended to be set more in the past, reestablishing the canon, right? For all this reasons I’m going to treat it as the past, which makes it even more perfect when Godfrey is introduced.
This issue follows an investigation into murders following the same concepts as magpie, but they can’t figure out the connection. A pretty object is taken and then replaced with a deadly one, and magpie is currently out on bail even after killing 10 people. Talking with Gordon, Batman has figured out that all of the diamonds stolen have had secondary bird related names. So it’s definitely magpie and she is collecting birds. But how do we lure her out? Well…Bruce Wayne owes Batman a favor and he has some diamonds he can show that would be quite alluring.
The stage is set the room is packed with police in disguise and now they wait to lure her out as the billionaire playboy continues to worry. But the night is interrupted as G. Gordon Godfrey makes an appearance, and in his typical evangelical fashion…he is making a fool of himself. Claiming that they are all reliant on superheroes and that one day the public will turn against them. And that superheroes spur villains to be created. Who even invited this guy?? He ended up spilling a drink on the detective that outwardly disagreed with him, and who was also the bait for magpie. As she went to clean up with a maid, it was unfortunately revealed the maid was magpie in disguise!! And everyone only found out because she came running out with a dangerous object on her neck. As Bruce raced to change and come out and save her as Batman, this spurred Godfrey to start preaching about an unprovoked attack from Batman. But in the chaos it’s almost like some people believe him…
As Alfred makes a quick excuse for Bruce’s disappearance, we get a look at Batman and Robin exiting the super Adam West batcave in the very similar Batmobile. Alright this is definitely in the past. They are able to track magpie via the catering truck and find her base of operations. Full of all the pretty shiny things she won’t let her goons touch. After a quick fight, magpie was able to slip out and then activate the rooms defenses. Sealing it off and sending a laser grid down onto our heroes and her goons alike. As long as the pretty things are fine, she doesn’t care.
Batman realizes she wouldn’t jeopardize her things and is able to take some of the mirrors from the displays to reflect the lasers back and allow Robin to break through the door. While rigging this escape it also lead to a hilarious moment where Robin kicked one of the goons back out after he woke up in the middle of it.
Magpie was distracted the entire time upstairs after accidentally dropping a shiny thing under a cabinet and having to stop and take time to get it. When Batman came up she was ready to shoot him, but couldn’t once he revealed he was holding a shiny thing. She immediately broke down, and he promised he could bring her in without hurting her, she just had to give up. We see as Batman gracefully leads magpie into custody as the words of Godfrey echo in the background: “these so-called superheroes are dangerous, and they must be stopped!”
Thus setting up legends, and the entire question of the super hero being brought before trial in the public trial.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2025
Yall think he shaves his legs before he suits up 🤨
November 21, 2025
A fun cape-tale. A classic crime adventure with some over-the-top cleverness and an emotional arc underpinning the story.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews