This issue begins at midnight when Batman is patrolling the streets of Gotham looking for criminals. He sees a thief and swoops in to stop him, only to be stopped by the holdout man being held at gunpoint by his would-be victim. Then he witnesses another attack, and another citizen fighting back. The entire issue plays out this way in "The Night of Thanks, but No Thanks." 

Harlan Ellison was a guest writer on this issue of Detective Comics, and he delivered a story with more humor than the average issue starring the brooding Batman. Over and over again, he tries to be the hero only to find his services are not needed. As the night wears on, Batman gets more and more frustrated, which is humorously depicted in the art by Gene Colan and Bob Smith. 

It's a rare, lighter Detective Comics issue that shows how tough Gothamites can be and that even Batman wants to feel needed. 

–Amanda Sheriff