Source: theaerodrome.com

8. Ghost of the Killer Skies

Detective Comics # 404 (1970)

You know, of all the character I expected to talk about today, Enemy Ace was not one of them.

In Spain, Bruce Wayne is producing a feature film made about Klaus Von Hammer, the World War 1 fighter pilot known in DC Comics lore as the Enemy Ace, an honorable pilot who lived for chivalry. In the course of filming, one of the stunt planes crashes and the pilot is found strangled in the wreckage. It seems a string of misfortunes have befallen the set, causing damage and budget issues delaying production.

Batman solves the mystery, leading to a possible descendent of Von Hammer who doesn't like the way the movie portrays him and Batman and this new Enemy Ace square off in the skies, dueling in air combat. In the final moments, the new Ace gets his scarf caught in the plane propeller and falls out to his death.

One of the Greatest Batman Stories of All Time?: Yeah, I think so. This one goes beyond solid into great. The O'Neil writing is clever and engaging and Neal Adams art really shines here. In fairness, it's kind of an Enemy Ace Story more than a Batman one in terms of what's important, but it’s a great mystery with some fun air combat scenes.