Gunshy Barton

GUNSHY BARTON

Real Name: Barton (first name unrevealed)

Class: Human

Occupation: Criminal

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Gotham City

First Appearance: Detective Comics I #360 (February, 1967)

Powers: Gunshy was an intelligent criminal who used abbreviations to orchestrate crimes and command his gang. His headquarters was equipped with flashing letters as another way iof communicating with his gang. He had a number of weapons at his disposal, including an electrified net, a fireball catapult and sleep gas. As his nickname implied, Gunshy had a pathological fear of guns.

History: (Detective Comics I #360) - Gunshy led a gang, and was the mastermind behind their crimes. During a safecracking job they encountered Batman, and Barton telegraphed all his gangs moves by shouting orders at them. Batman defeated them, and later testified at their trial. Barton came up with the idea of using an abbreviated code to deliver orders to his gang in the future, and started studying speed-writing and applying it to language. After a few years he was paroled for good behavior. He immediately got his old gang back together, and taught them his abbreviation system, including codes to deal with Batman, who he still feared. After as number of successful heists the gang robbed the Trent mansion, and Batman and Robin responded. Gunshy made good use of his abbreviations, allowing his gang to subdue the Dynamic Duo. Barton had his men roll the heroes up in silk rugs, and ordered them to drop them off at the Gotham police station, assuming the rugs would smother Batman and Robin to death. Batman used a loose fingernail to escape, freed Robin, and rolled up the rugs again, so the crooks would be none the wiser. When the truck returned to Barton's headquarters they jumped out, using their utility belts as noisemakers to confound Barton's system. Barton's hq had light-up letters all over the walls, and he used those to communicate with his gang until Batman disabled them. The Duo defeated the gang, and handed them over to Gordon, with Robin declaring "Barton's Abbreviated Talk Mobsters Are Nabbed."

Comments: Created by Gardner Fox & Sheldon Moldoff.