Home-Gall, Edward R[eginald]. THE HUMAN BAT ... CAUGHT IN THE SPIDER'S WEB. London: Mark Goulden Ltd. (Sole Distributors W. H. Allen ...), n.d. [1950]. Octavo, pp. [1-4] 5-127 [128: ad], pictorial wrappers. First edition. Issued as "The Fantasy Library No. 1." First of the two "Human Bat" novels, written by a noted writer of boys' stories, followed by THE HUMAN BAT V. THE ROBOT GANGSTER (1950). "The 'hero' is The Human Bat, a costumed psychotic who makes Batman appear almost normal. Mechanical batwings give him the power of flight, and from his fingers he is able to project energy beams. His mission in life is to save young boys from a life of crime. Here, he smashes a criminal mastermind (masquerading as a robot spider!) who recruits boy thieves by poisoning their minds with 'kleptotoxin.' ... [In the sequel there is] more spectacular high camp, and even more violence (dead policemen everywhere!), as the sinister Dr. Syntax sends out a gigantic armed robot to commit jewel robberies. The robot is accompanied by a schizophrenic schoolboy controlled by the disembodied brain of his twin, who has been dismembered by his mad scientist father. By turns hilarious, repellent, and oddly fascinating." - Harbottle and Holland. Reginald 07374. Harbottle and Holland A235. A fine copy. An very uncommon book. (#146970).