History:  (Batman I #167) - Hydra was an international crime cartel, named after the mythical monster because they claimed they could never be stopped because any time one of their heads was cut off another would grow to replace it. Batman met with an Interpol informant at Gotham's airport, but he was shot after debarking. With his dying breathe he told Batman about a madman named Karabi, who planned to set two Asian countries against each other, starting a new world war. The CIA were informed, and met with Batman and Commissioner Gordon. They knew Karabi might change his headquarters if he knew Interpol was on to him, so Gordon called a press conference announcing that Batman and Robin blamed Hydra for the agents death, and vowed to travel the world to clean them up. Hydra made a good smokescreen, because their recent activities were a good target for the Caped Crusader. With Interpol's aid and intel Batman and Robin went to Holland to bust up a Hydra den operating out of a windmill, Hydra counterfeiters in Greece, and another group in France. Using the Batplane for rapid travel Batman visited various Asian countries, playing a spy game with Interpol to learn Karabi's plan. Karabi had a nuclear missile, and planned on launching it at an Asian country, assuming they'd blame their political rival and engage in a war that would drag in the rest of the world. Batman and Robin foiled Karabi,, and Karabi's notes indicated that he'd moved his wealth from a Swiss bank account because Hydra was planning on robbing it. Batman and Robin flew to Switzerland, and captured the head of Hydra, crippling their criminal enterprise.

Comments: Created by Bill Finger & Sheldon Moldoff.

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