American Notes NEW YORK CITY

For weeks the front-page headlines in New York City's tabloids have featured villains whose more proper venue would seem to be the comics pages. First came the "Zodiac Killer," who threatens to murder one person for each astrological sign. He has wounded four men, one fatally, since March 8 -- and prudent people are keeping their birth dates to themselves. Then there is "Dart Man," who since June 13 has provoked a miniwave of terror by firing homemade darts into the backsides of 53 women, mostly in Midtown Manhattan.

After a massive manhunt, police announced last week that they had finally collared Dart Man. The suspect: Jerome Wright, 33, a messenger at a Midtown advertising agency who police said was on probation for a previous drug conviction and had been under observation for psychiatric problems. They had less luck with Zodiac, who evaded a citywide dragnet. Where are Batman and Robin when Gotham City really needs them?