May 1945 to April 1946
–NOTE: While Batman isn’t involved in any overseas conflicts at this time, it is worthwhile to note that the war in Europe ends on May 8, 1945.
–Batman and Robin “Ch. 14: The Gopher: King of the Underworld!” [Sunday newspaper strips 5/6/1945 to 6/17/1945]
Batman and Robin tangle with The Gopher, a criminal mastermind that orchestrates burglaries from underground power mains, gas mains, and sewers. Batman meets the Gopher–who actually wears a gopher mask complete with buckteeth and whiskers–after getting caught by his hoodlums. Upon escaping from a straitjacket, Batman duels with the Gopher, who gets electrocuted to death on the subway tracks.
–Batman and Robin “Ch. 15: The Tale of the Tinker Diamond” [Sunday newspaper strips 6/24/1945 to 7/22/1945]
Diamond cutter Jonas Brock holds the world’s largest uncut diamond, the Tinker Diamond. Unfortunately, knaves have kidnapped his son and demand the diamond in exchange for the boy. Batman suspects fence Blinky Meggs as the perpetrator of the abduction and accosts him at his shop only to get bagged and hauled off to the quarry. Robin trails Batman to the quarry, helps him escape, and helps save Brock’s son. Batman then busts Meggs at the public gem cutting of the Tinker Diamond and makes it to his society club (as Bruce) just in time to be honored with a special dinner ceremony. Afterward, Batman is either given the Tinker Diamond to hold for permanent safe-keeping or given a replica of the diamond. We will later see the Tinker Diamond (or its replica) in the Hall of Trophies (as seen in Batman #69, Part 2).
–Batman and Robin “Ch. 8: The Karen Drew Mystery” [daily newspaper strips 4/30/1945 to 7/7/1945]
This is a rare tale where Bruce doesn’t suit up as Batman even once. Bruce meets the gorgeous Karen Drew at a party and is completely smitten with her, enough so that he eagerly accompanies her home after a night of doting and dancing. Oh, in case you forgot, Bruce is still engaged to Linda Page–but he’s cheated on her before, so a trist with Karen isn’t out of the question here. Anyway, Bruce is surprised to find a man–Karen’s fiance Dan Mitchell–waiting at Karen’s apartment and even more surprised when she apparently shoots Mitchell to death behind closed doors. A panicked Karen handcuffs herself to Bruce and convinces him to flee from the police. After traveling to suburban Middletown, the chained-together-couple meets with some men of ill repute who have kidnapped Karen’s father, a shipping magnate that refused to smuggle illegal goods for the dastardly hooligans. Bruce learns that the smugglers gave Karen an ultimatum: kill her fiance or her father gets plugged. When the bad guys receive word that Mitchell is still alive (Karen shot blanks) they try to kill Bruce, Karen, and her pop, but the latter trio escapes. Later, after a chase, Bruce takes down the smugglers at a blacksmith shop. Later still, Bruce pines over Karen.
–NOTE: Penguin busts outta the joint yet again (as referenced in Detective Comics #99).
–Detective Comics #99-100
Penguin, based out of a refrigeration plant, kidnaps three people and claims that unless he is paid a ransom he will chemically freeze them to death. Bruce learns of the sinister plot when Penguin sends one of the victims, in frozen suspended animation, in a coffin to Bruce’s shipping insurance company. Batman and Robin go after Penguin at his icy lair and rescue the hostages–the frozen plot was a bluff, the victims in suspended animation were merely wax replicas. Ultimately, Penguin and his ruffians wind up back behind bars.
Batman and Robin trail some gem smugglers twenty miles north of Gotham to a mansion in Crow’s Nest, home to famous mystery writer Reginald Scofield. The Dyanimic Duo tangles with gun-toting smugglers immediately upon arrival in Crow’s Nest and gets tied up along with Scofield. After freeing himself from his binds, the Caped Crusader locates a hidden passage behind Scofield’s safe and fights more scallywags outside the house. Inside, Robin and Scofield glean that the leader of the criminal clique is Scofield’s butler, Digges. Just before Digges can off Robin and Scofield, Batman lassos his gun and saves the day.
–NOTE: Batman and Robin apprehend mobster Big Ed Conroy (as referenced in Batman #35, Part 3).
–Batman #29
Adam Frank–also known as the “First Man”–hires a crew consisting of Second-Story Sam, Three-Fingers Tuttle, and Four-Eyes Fogarty in order to commit “first” themed crimes. For example, Frank and his bullies make their debut at the telephone company’s first ever direct line call to South America and evade Batman and Robin as well. Frank then robs a Shakespeare first edition and makes fools of the Dynamic Duo again. Frank is successful yet again at the premier of an ice show. However, Frank’s luck runs out at the grand opening of the Museum of Sculpture where Batman and Robin bust him.
Alfred responds to a personal ad and gives lessons to a man who wants to be a butler. It turns out that the man is trying to infiltrate high society houses to rob them and is a part of the infamous Crustmore Gang. In typical accidental fashion, Alfred nabs the whole gang.
Bruce, Dick, and Alfred return home from a fishing trip to discover that Wayne Manor has been cleaned out by thieves. When the news of the robbery hits the news agencies, broke private detectives Hawke and Wrenn are on the case–only they decide to dress up as Batman and Robin (imagine a skinny Batman and a fat Robin with a bald spot). The real Dynamic Duo then tails the fake Dynamic Duo and the latter comes across the robbers, Corky Huggins and Catspaw Carlin, who immediately chase them off into hiding. The real Dynamic Duo then pounces on the filchers, but they speed away in a car. Both Dynamic Duos catch up with Huggins and Carlin at a seedy pool hall and in the chaos, the genuine articles take down the villains. Feeling generous, the real Batman gives full credit for the capture of Huggins and Carlin to Hawke and Wrenn.
When a mailman gets shot in the arm during a fight between Batman and some jewel pilferers, Batman volunteers to finish his route. While delivering letters, the Dark Knight stumbles upon the supervillain known as The Scuttler, who has kidnapped a man in an attempt to intercept a registered letter containing the plans for a new secret invention worth a ton of moolah. Batman frees the abductee, but the Scuttler runs off. Later, Bruce and Dick learn about how the mail works by reading a book about the mail (sigh) and, using this knowledge, nail the Scuttler for good.
–Batman and Robin “Ch. 16: A Pretty Amnesiac” [Sunday newspaper strips 7/29/1945 to 9/9/1945]
Late July, 1945. Batman and Robin rescue a beautiful woman from several men who are trying to capture her, but she bumps her head and is stricken with amnesia. With no ID and no memory, but a fluency in multiple languages, Batman makes it his public mission to help her remember. While visiting Gotham’s French Quarter, the rogues try to abduct the mystery woman again, but Batman fends them off again. After another altercation in Little Italy, the desperate amnesiac gives herself up to find out the truth. The vile shysters tell her that she is Helen Smithers, daughter of missionaries and raised by a wealthy Chinese family, and they want access to her surrogate family’s fortune. Batman and Robin save Helen and the Caped Crusader gets a kiss for his effort.
–Batman and Robin “Ch. 9: Their Toughest Assignment” [daily newspaper strips 7/9/1945 to 9/1/1945]
Many of Batman’s 1940s adventures are mired in silliness, but this is really his first pure comedy tale. Due to the housing shortage linked to WWII, there aren’t any apartments vacant in Gotham. This poses a problem for the Dynamic Duo, who are tasked by Commissioner Gordon to find a residence for philanthropist Big Ed Parker’s daughter, Jean. After scouring the city for pads in and out of costume, the Dynamic Duo meets an assortment of strange characters acting strangely, including a celebrity couple in a domestic dispute that involves the wife trying to shoot herself. Our heroes soon decide that they should bust a gangster and take over his apartment. Not long after, Batman and Robin send See-Saw Smith to jail, thus freeing up his lavish flat. Jean arrives and is escorted to her new place, but it’s not long before Batman learns that Jean is a fraud. Jean is actually Elise Wells, a friend of Jean’s that is taking her place because the real Jean didn’t want to move to Gotham (her dad was forcing her). Before that mess can get sorted out, a duo of wanted murderers break into the apartment in search of Smith’s loot. Batman and Robin are looking worse for wear after a scuffle with the gun-toting hooligans, but Batman is able to hang a “for rent” sign in the window, which causes a group of apartment seekers to stampede into the room, mowing down the bad guys in the process. In the commotion, Elise takes it upon herself to award Smith’s apartment to a random old lady. Back at GCPD HQ, Gordon says that the real Jean Parker is on her way now and orders Batman and Robin to begin the search anew. Batman and Robin literally faint with comedic vaudevillian pratfalls to end this farce.
–NOTE: Batman is in Gotham during the end of the war, but it is worth mentioning that World War II officially ends with the Japanese surrender on August 15, 1945. Back in the States, Batman and Robin are awarded several medals of honor for their various contributions to the war effort (as referenced in Star Spangled Comics #110).
–World’s Finest Comics #18
Mid-August, 1945. Professor L.M. Brane is the secret leader of the Crime Specialists, an organization that uses specific types of disabled villains to complete successful robberies. For instance, a bunch of midgets (or little people if you will) steal some radium and avoid Robin’s pursuit. Later, after knocking out a section of the city’s power grid, the Crime Specialists are able to beat up the Dynamic Duo with the guidance of a few blind men. Don’t ask me how that worked. The next day, Robin pretends to be a midget and attempts to join the Crime Specialists. Robin’s plan to infiltrate the group fails when he smokes a cigar, can’t handle it, and blows chunks! Later, Bruce, as a guest of Brane, is a main figure in Gotham’s celebratory WWII Victory Parade along with several other millionaires. Bruce deduces that Brane is evil simply because he wears a monocle and deftly switches into his Batman gear. Brane attempts to orchestrate a robbery of the parade guests by communicating with deaf henchmen through the din. Batman and Robin stop Brane’s disabled chicanery and send him to jail.
–NOTE: World War II has recently ended and Wheels Mitchum returns to crime, using a decommissioned Navy vessel to hide stolen cars (as seen through flashback in World’s Finest Comics #27). Batman and Robin eventually nab Mitchum, who tries to pin the auto thefts on a man that he has murdered and faked it to appear like a suicide. Batman testifies against Mitchum in court and even acts as lead prosecutor, quickly condemning the crook. Mitchum tries to run, but the Dynamic Duo sends him to Death Row.
–Batman and Robin “Ch. 17: Devil’s Reef” [Sunday newspaper strips 9/16/1945 to 10/21/1945]
Batman and Robin spend a week chasing the evil Miller Gang from Gotham, all across North America, and back to Gotham again. After locating their secret hideout in the island caves off Devil’s Reef, Batman collars on of Miller’s men and ties him up. Alfred, who happens to be clamdigging at Devil’s Reef, comes across the bound fellow and unties him. Batman, Robin, and Alfred wind up tangoing with the Miller Gang and the Dark Knight is able to trick the coterie using a doctored treasure map. Our protagonists get off the island by turning Batman’s cape into a kite that is spotted by the Coast Guard.
–Batman and Robin “Ch. 18: Gotham’s Cleverest Criminal” [Sunday newspaper strips 10/28/1945 to 12/9/1945]
Joker escapes from prison and gets in a gang war with rookie supervillain and new rival, The Sparrow. The Sparrow, hoping to make a fool of Joker and ruin his credibility, sends a note (addressed from Joker) to Commissioner Gordon claiming that Joker will steal a Stradivarius during a sold-out concert performance. When nothing happens, the newspapers poke fun at Joker. An angry Joker, looking to redeem himself in the eyes of the public, tries to pull off a huge heist, but Batman stops him. The Sparrow’s identity is then revealed as a female–a beautiful blonde bombshell who kidnaps Joker, hauls him off to a mill, and tries to kill him. Batman and Robin save Joker’s life, but the Joker gets away. Later, Joker and Sparrow try to outwit each other and rob the Melgon Library, but Batman outwits them both and sends each to prison.
–Detective Comics #100 Epilogue
Reginald Scofield’s newest adventure novel, entitled Jewels of Death, is released with a special dedication to Batman and Robin.
–Batman and Robin “Ch. 10: The Warning of the Lamp!” [daily newspaper strips 9/3/1945 to 11/24/1945]
Bruce and Dick meet Finlay Gribbidge, owner of a cattle ranch out in the sticks, and learn that his superstitious curmudgeonly wife, Cassandra, believes that his life is in danger unless he sells the ranch. Her spiritual guide, a Middle Eastern conman that goes by The Lamp, has been influencing Cassandra, who in turn has been influencing Finlay. The Lamp wants to convince Cassandra to convince Finlay to sell the ranch, which has a profitable copper vein beneath it, to his accomplices Minnow and Soapstone. Bruce and Dick immediately begin a serpentine investigation into figuring out if Finlay is truly in danger. When the Lamp catches wind that Bruce and Dick are meddling in his affairs, he sends his henchmen to attack them at Wayne Manor. Bruce, Dick, and Alfred easily detain their attackers. Meanwhile, the Lamp decides to cut out the middlemen and winds up murdering Soapstone and Minnow. At the Gribbidge Ranch, the Lamp tries to kill Bruce, but he survives. Later, Batman kidnaps Finlay, disguises himself as the cattle rancher, and meets the Lamp face-to-face for the first time. Eventually, Batman and Robin track the Lamp down in a town an hour outside of Gotham. After a brief fight, the Lamp accidentally runs off of a cliff (he took out his night vision contact lenses). Bruce and Dick then have dinner with the Gribbidges.
–NOTE: Joker gives himself an early discharge from the penal institution (as referenced in Detective Comics #102).
–Detective Comics #101-102
While Bruce and Dick are out shopping, a mom dumps her twin babies on them and promptly disappears. Back at Wayne Manor, Bruce discovers that the babies’ stroller contains more than just the little tykes–it has jewels that have been recently stolen, supposedly by a store clerk named Roger Rainer, who is in lockup downtown. Batman, Robin, Stella Rainer (the infants’ mom and wife to Rainer) visit Rainer in jail and learn that he has been setup by three hoods. Across town, Alfred babysits the little ones and is accosted by the trio of villains, who are after the rest of the jewels, which are hidden in a bouncy ball. The bad dudes kidnap Alfred and the twins, but Batman and Robin save the day.
Joker and his men steal J. Bullion Stickney’s riverside mansion and hold it for ransom–yes, Joker uproots the foundation, lifts the base onto rollers, and floats the entire house to a new camouflaged location. After a skirmish with Joker, the Dynamic Duo barely avoids sinking into oblivion in a pit of quicksand and then follows a pigeon (one of Stickney’s pets) to the mansion’s new locale. Batman and Robin then easily defeat Joker. A few days later, the house is returned to its proper location.
–Batman #30, Part 2
Batman and Robin stumble across reformed thief, Joe Jones, while he is busy returning stolen money to a safe. Jones explains that he has gone straight because he is getting married. In that very instant, his old gang, led by Hush-Hush Bodin, bursts in and shoots Jones. Batman and Robin rush Jones to the hospital and then go to meet his fiance, Ann. However, Bodin and his gang have set our heroes up and ambush them. The injured Jones sneaks out of the hospital and helps the Dynamic Duo defeat Bodin.
–Batman #30, Part 3
While Bruce and Dick are away on a trip, Alfred gets mistaken for a Hub City gangster known as The Baron and is kidnapped by rival gangsters. When the real Baron makes his presence known, a gunfight erupts and all of the bad guys are incapacitated. Alfred gets credit for apprehending all the villains even though he didn’t lift a finger.
–Batman #30, Part 4
Angry old paraplegic Jasper Quinch has a lot of pet peeves, such as bossy subway guards, people who wear big hats in movie theaters, bad barbers, drivers who go through puddles and splash pedestrians, and many more. Quinch hires the obnoxious, loud-mouthed lunatic Ally Babble to “take care” of all of these problems, which the nutjob proceeds to do in hooligan fashion. Batman and Robin chase Ally Babble all around town, but can’t reign-in the laughing madman. Meanwhile, crooks Hoiman and Shoiman follow Ally Babble around as well, but use him as a distraction while they commit various robberies. Eventually, Ally Babble helps Batman and Robin nab Hoiman and Shoiman. Old Man Quinch is so annoyed with Ally Babble by the end of the story, he rises out of his wheelchair to shove the bastard–yes, Quinch is miraculously healed. Yay!
–NOTE: Joker breaks jail again (as referenced in Batman #32, Part 1).
–Batman #32, Part 1
Late Summer, 1945. School is about to begin again and it is fraternity rush time at Gotham City College. Joker decides to use the circus-like atmosphere to his advantage. Posing as college freshmen and wearing outlandish costumes, Joker and his bullies rob a jewelry store. Bruce happens to be at the jewelry store to purchase a birthday gift for Linda Page, so he immediately suits up as the Dark Knight. However, Joker is able to easily capture Batman. Later, Joker tells Robin that he must follow his orders or Batman will be executed. First, Robin has to shine shoes, then he has to sell ear muffs on the street, then he has to sell the winter gear to a dry goods store located next to a jewelry shop. Not only do these tasks make Robin look insane in public, they help Joker rob the jewelry shop. Robin is then ordered to go to the Bon Ton and purchase girlie dolls (a task very embarrassing for the fourteen-year-old tough guy) with a bunch of pennies. The pennies have been rigged to explode and when they do, Joker and his delinquents, dressed as firemen, try to rob the Bon Ton’s jewelry department. Fortunately for Robin, Batman has escaped and helps put Joker back in prison.
–NOTE: Linda Page ends her engagement with Bruce and breaks up with him indefinitely (as referenced in The Brave and the Bold #197). Besides the mention in The Brave and the Bold #197, we know that the relationship between Bruce and Linda ends since we won’t see her again, except for an brief appearance in The Brave and the Bold #197, which takes place in 1955. This breakup is kind of a big deal, especially since Bruce and Linda were together for five years. But alas, Bruce’s secretive nature, ostensibly idle playboy lifestyle, unavailability, general disregard, and infidelities have led to the ever-patient Linda’s “enough-is-enough” mentality. Bye, Linda!
–The Adventures of Superman “Dr. Blythe’s Confidence Gang” [radio show 9/4/1945 to 9/24/1945]
After one of his accomplices, a girl named Dixie LaMarr, shoots and kills a federal agent, gang leader Dr. Blythe frames Lois Lane, a perfect double for Dixie, for the killing. Batman and Robin join forces with Superman and Metropolis’ top cop Inspector William Henderson to apprehend the real Dixie and exonerate Lois of the charges against her.[1]
–Detective Comics #103
The former dean of Gotham University, Professor Gray, now runs a one-man confidential consulting and advice service known as Trouble, Inc. Unfortunately, Sam Slick and his team of brutes have been listening in on the private conversations and use the info to blackmail Gray’s clientele. After a scuffle with Slick’s men at good ole Colossal Studios and another outside of Gray’s office, Batman and Robin eventually catch up with the jerks at a boathouse outside of Gotham where, with assistance from Gray and a little serendipity, our fair heroes win out in the end.
–World’s Finest Comics #19
Joker escapes from incarceration, tussles with Batman and Robin, steals the Batmobile to get away, and then allies himself with the malefactor known as The Velvet Kid. The Velvet Kid is a mob boss ostensibly turned straight, but in reality he is still a mega heel. With the Joker’s secret backing, the Velvet Kid organizes the Citizens’ Committee for Law and Order. The first meeting is attended by Mayor Carfax, Commissioner Gordon, Warden Doyle, and the city’s richest men and women, including Bruce. While the meeting transpires, Joker robs all of the attendees’ homes, including Wayne Manor. Batman and Robin are then lured into a trap by the Velvet Kid, which involves Joker unleashing a swarm of South American vampire bats on our heroic champions. In the end, however, Joker and the Velvet Kid wind up back behind bars.
–Detective Comics #104
Ex-cons Fat Frank, Toby the Inchworm, and Opy Keel start a new racket that, technically, is completely legal. On giant billboards across Gotham, all of which Toby the Inchworm legally owns, the rapscallions advertise scathing and incriminating factoids about certain high profile criminals and crooks. These high profile folks then pay for the ad space, thus obtaining the privilege to erase their billboards. Despite realizing that they have no legal authority whatsoever in this case, Batman and Robin begin a campaign of systematic destruction against Toby’s signs–the GCPD even turns a blind eye when Toby complains. Frank, Toby, and Keel then begin putting up ads for what appears to be a selfless leftist attack on corrupt senators and banking officials (which seems like a totally legit heroic thing to do), but oddly enough, Batman and Robin are riding their fascist high-horse to the max in this tale and continue the wanton illegal destruction of Toby’s property. In the end, Batman erects his own giant billboard that highlights the criminal records of Frank, Toby, and Keel. Almost immediately, the three ex-cons are run out of town. Afterward, Gotham officials place a towering sign at the edge of the city limits that depicts Batman and Robin with the text: “Gotham City! Warning to Criminals! Do Not Enter!”
–NOTE: Batman and Robin shut down the gambling operation of twin brothers, Ace Pollard and Mike Pollard, and send them to jail (as seen via flashback in Star Spangled Comics #85).
–Batman #31, Part 1
Alfred decides to play detective and goes into a seedy bar and butts his nose into gang business. Stubby Stubbs and his right hand man kidnap Alfred and drive off with him in a truck only to crash off of a ravine. Police arrive at the scene of the accident and Alfred gets full credit for apprehending the bad guys.
–Batman #31, Part 2
Batman and Robin shut down Knuckles Donegan’s gang, but Donegan goes missing. At Wayne Manor, Alfred informs Bruce that an entire town in the Everglades has literally disappeared overnight. Believing Donegan to be linked somehow to the Everglades disappearance, Batman and Robin fly down South where the Dark Knight poses as Donegan. Disguised as the mustachioed rascal, Batman is taken deep into the Floridian swamp jungle where an assortment of wanted crooks have moved the entire village of Alhambra (using a method of building moving that Joker used recently in ‘tec #102). Alhambra has become a hidden safe haven for reprobates on the run. After Batman is exposed, Robin tries to help out, but they both get captured and nearly devoured by carnivorous plants mutated with agar-agar–strange since agar-agar is merely a gelatinous algae. Eventually, Batman, Robin, and an army of Miami cops reclaim Alhambra and fill the paddy wagons.
–Batman #31, Part 3
Silver John Staddon is a thief that is known for poisoning dogs and stealing silverware. Big Tim Stevens only steals cheese. These men both have unique trademarks associated with their crimes and all have been active recently. Batman, Robin, and Commissioner Gordon also realize that both men have a last name beginning with S and both are listed next to one another in the official police files. Besides cops, the only person who has access to the files is an elderly scrub woman (janitor), Mrs. Dalling. Upon Batman’s first visit with Dalling, the latter appears to be a sweet old lady. But Mrs. Dalling is one nasty old hag, who in reality, has recruited a gang via illegally accessing the S-section of the police files. After initial capture and inevitable escape, Batman and Robin hunt down the S-gangsters and Dalling, who curses like a sailor when handcuffed.
–NOTE: Batman goes on a public trip out West to deal with an unspecified case (as referenced in Batman #31, Part 4.
–Batman #31, Part 4
Bruce and Dick watch a Punch and Judy puppet show at a carnival run by the ever-argumentative scoundrels–the husband-and-wife duo of Peter Punch and Judy Punch. After Batman and Robin expose their carny gang as a veritable salmagundi of swindling grifters, Punch and Judy, hoping to get rid of the Dynamic Duo, organize a event in Central Park where Batman and Robin will perform circus stunts for charity. While Batman leaps out of a plane with a faulty parachute, Punch and Judy string up Robin and steal the charity money but are double-crossed by their accomplice, Pete. Batman activates a backup chute, glides to earth, rescues Robin, and sends the wretches to prison.
–NOTE: If ya didn’t already know, Bruce is head of Wayne Enterprises, majority stockholder in a clock company, majority stockholder in a shipping insurance company, author, producer, bank director, newspaper publisher, factory owner, stockholder in a publishing company, and automobile manufacturer. Bruce’s treasurer decides to embezzle $3 million from Bruce’s motor company, effectively ruining Bruce’s businesses (as referenced in Detective Comics #105). Bruce is forced to sell his holdings and personal effects to pay off his investors. Completely broke, Bruce, Dick, and Alfred move into Bruce’s downtown apartment. Desperate for cash, Bruce removes the diamonds from his platinum ID badge and hocks them at a pawn shop!–not all of them (he leaves a precious few).
–Detective Comics #105-106
Unbelievably, Batman and Robin don’t go after Bruce’s thieving treasurer that put them in the poorhouse, but instead go after murderer Simon Gurlin. Batman asks for police assistance, but is denied when he flashes his badge sans the diamonds he hocked–the cops think he is a fake Batman! Without any money to gas up the Batmobile, Dick gets a job at a newsstand and Alfred starts mowing lawns. Batman and Robin eventually follow Gurlin to his hometown of Lansboro, but they crash the Batmobile. After performing in the circus to earn enough dough to fix their wheels, the Dynamic Duo finally arrives in Lansboro and busts Gurlin and his henchmen. Upon returning to Gotham, Bruce and Dick learn that the feds have caught Bruce’s corrupt treasurer. Bruce’s cash is returned and he is able to salvage his business empire. I should mention that the trees seem a bit leafy and green for November (when issue #105 was released) but it is best to simply ignore it.
Seven years ago Todd Torrey, librarian at the main branch of the Gotham City Public Library, snapped and murdered his co-worker. Ever since then, Torrey has been hiding-out nearby and sporadically haunting the library via its many secret passageways. After an attempt on the life of GCPD Inspector Laurence by the so-called “Phantom of the Library,” Batman and Robin warn former DA and now judge, Judge Logan, that he may be next on Torrey’s hit list.[2] Sure enough, Torrey attacks Logan at the library, but Batman and Robin are there to protect him. During the altercation, Torrey falls from a swinging chandelier, hits his head, and succumbs to his injuries.
–NOTE: Since Batman has recently sold the diamonds from his platinum police badge, in order to make it official again, the ID is engraved with “BATMAN P.D.” (as referenced in the 4/3/1946 Batman and Robin daily newspaper strip).
–The Adventures of Superman “Looking for Kryptonite” [radio show 12/4/1945 to 1/8/1946]
The war is over, but traces of Nazi supervillainy remain. For instance, Nazi agent Henry Miller, due to having received injections of liquified Kryptonite, has been transformed into the masked-and-costumed superhuman known as The Atoman (originally called The Atom Man). Superman battles the Atoman and recruits Batman and Robin to help him retrieve pieces of Kryptonite that have been stolen by the “Crescent and Star Gang.” During the process of reclaiming the Kryptonite, Batman learns that Superman is Clark Kent! Eventually, Batman, Robin, and Superman defeat the Atoman and shut down the activities of the “Crescent and Star Gang.” Afterward, Batman and Superman agree not to tell Robin the Man of Steel’s true identity–maybe they fear he would spill the beans under torture or something? Who knows. Batman and Superman eventually do tell Robin that Clark is Superman shortly after this, as the Boy Wonder will be aware of the secret in upcoming stories. Some finer details of this tale are also referenced in World’s Finest Comics #271.
–World’s Finest Comics #20
Bruce hangs out at the Cosmopolitan Club and learns that coin collector and shop owner Mark Medalion recently sent some hired adventurers to a spot in the Atlantic not far from Gotham. The adventurers located a undersea treasure, but were immediately hijacked by pirates. Batman and Robin visit Medalion’s shop and witness the thieving hijackers steal a treasure map the wheelchair-bound Medalion. The Dynamic Duo takes another map and heads to the bayous of Louisiana where they brave the gator-filled swamps, defeat the villains, and retrieve the treasure–a chest filled with Aztec gold coins. Upon closer examination, however, Batman sees that the coins, while indeed made of pure gold, are not four-hundred-years-old but brand new. Back in Gotham, Medalion rises out of his wheelchair, revealing himself as counterfeiter Lew Cronin. Cronin had earlier melted down stolen bullion into fake treasure and hidden it across the US. Posing as the crippled Medalion, Cronin had planned (as he had before) to hire teams to retrieve the treasures, thus giving him legal claim to “legit” gold. Exposed, Cronin catches our heroes by surprise and nearly fries the Dynamic Duo in a kiln, but crime doesn’t pay. Cronin gets beat down and goes to jail.
–Batman and Robin “Ch. 19: Alfred Claus” [Sunday newspaper strips 12/16/1945 to 12/23/1945]
December 23, 1945. Batman and Robin chase after the Larson Brothers and obtain their only clue, a card with an address on it. They go to the address, but are captured by the Larsons. Meanwhile, Alfred befriends a young boy who is too poor to receive any Christmas gifts this year. Alfred gets the boys address on a card, purchases some gifts, and returns to Wayne Manor where he dons a Santa Claus outfit. Of course, Alfred grabs the wrong card and prances into the deadly lair of the Larsons. The appearance of the bumbling Alfred Claus with a blinding flashbulb allows Batman and Robin to defeat their captors. Later, Alfred (still playing Santa), Batman, and Robin deliver gifts to the disadvantaged little tyke. Back at Wayne Manor, Bruce develops the picture that Alfred snapped as he entered the Larson hideout and adds it to the Hall of Trophies along with the used flashbulb that was used to take the photo (as referenced in the 12/30/1945 Batman and Robin Sunday newspaper strip).
–Batman #33, Part 3
Christmas Eve, 1945. A heavy snowfall paints the town white and Batman and Robin take to the streets in a reindeer drawn sleigh. The Dynamic Duo recruits three down-on-their-luck men to play Santa Claus for three different charity events. One of the men, Jim Jocelyn, has escaped from an insane asylum–wrongfully sent their by his conniving cousins who wanted access to his wealthy fortune. When the Jocelyn cousins learn that their Uncle Jim is playing Santa, they decide to take him out. Unfortunately they don’t know which event Jim is performing at. Thus, the vile cousins kidnap all three Santas, and even manage to abduct Batman and Robin. The Santas, after being lined up, pull a Spartacus and all claim to be Jim Jocelyn, giving the Dynamic Duo enough time to emancipate themselves and kick some ass in front of an entire theater of overexcited kids.
–Detective Comics #116
It’s another trip to the past for our heroes courtesy of Professor Carter Nichols! This time, the Dynamic Duo is off to 13th century England where they meet Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men! Batman and Robin gallantly assist Robin Hood and his outlaws to defeat the Sheriff of Nottingham. Batman brings a pile of medieval weaponry back to the future as collectables. Among the trophies taken: a medieval knight’s helmet (as referenced in Batman #34, Part 4), a giant flail (as referenced in Batman #41), some spears, a horseman’s long-staff battleaxe (as referenced in Detective Comics #147), and several medieval outfits that will all go on mannequins (as referenced in Detective Comics #158). The Dark Knight puts all of these treasures into the Hall of Trophies.
–Batman #44, Part 2
Bruce meets with his acquaintance, famous explorer Rex Lamarr, and recent college grad Bill Jordan at the Natural History Museum. Jordan is excited to go on his first professional expedition overseas on behalf of the museum, but he is diagnosed with a heart condition and relegated to working inside the museum. A few days later, Batman and Robin tangle with the international supervillain known as The Globetrotter. Back at the museum, the Globetrotter captures Batman, Robin, and Jordan, but the trio escapes and are able to drug the Globetrotter and his henchmen with a rare African plant taken from the botanical wing in order to subdue them. The next day, Bruce has the doctors retest Jordan’s heart, and they find that he is fit as a fiddle. A few days later, Bruce, Dick, and Lamarr see off Jordan on his first official expedition. Afterward, Batman puts an African Hando Pygmy shield and spear set, liberated from the museum, into his Hall of Trophies (as referenced in Batman #34, Part 4).
–NOTE: In an unspecified case, Batman collects what appears to be either an extended reach grabber or some kind of lobster claw staff. The Dark Knight adds this item to the Hall of Trophies, which is first shown on display in Batman #34, Part 4.
–NOTE: Penguin escapes from prison and attempts to use an umbrella that squirts out napalm. Robin uses a shield made of asbestos to protect himself and the Dynamic Duo returns Penguin to jail (as referenced in Batman #34, Part 4). The “liquid fire umbrella” goes into the Hall of Trophies.
–NOTE: Joker escapes from prison and concocts a scheme where he wears a sad clown mask. Robin sees through the ruse and the Dynamic Duo sends Joker back to jail (as referenced in Batman #34, Part 4). The sad clown mask goes into the Hall of Trophies.[3]
–Batman #34, Part 4
Having had such success on recent adventures, a cocky Robin begins bragging of his superhero prowess–to which Batman replies by offering him a challenge. Batman, with a twenty-four hour head-start, will disguise himself as a crook and blend into the Gotham underworld. Robin’s mission is to track him down and apprehend him. Despite Batman’s best efforts to hide in a seedy hotel, Robin is able to locate the Caped Crusader in less than a day and is about to take him down following a scuffle when gunfire erupts on the street below. Batman and Robin call a truce and bust the crooks. Back in the hotel, the Dynamic Duo discusses the continuation of the game, but Batman cheats and knocks Robin out with sleeping gas. Robin awakes locked in a cell inside the Batcave. Batman bets that he can’t escape and leaves. But when the Dark Knight returns, Robin is not only free, but lassos Batman to win the contest! Batman then orders Robin back into the cell for another challenge: the Boy Wonder must escape again, but using a different means. After two hours and no progress, Robin gives up. Batman reveals that the cage door was unlocked–the answer was simply to walk out.
–NOTE: In a move long overdue, Bruce relocates the Hall of Trophies from Wayne Manor into the Batcave (as referenced in the 12/30/1945 Batman and Robin Sunday newspaper strip). Every single item is moved to the Batcave except for Bruce’s portrait painted by Pierre Antal. The damaged Antal is restored and then Bruce hangs it above the fireplace in the manor (as referenced in Batman #38, Part 2).
–Batman and Robin “Ch. 20: Twelvetoes” [Sunday newspaper strips 12/30/1945 to 2/3/1946]
New Year’s Day, 1946. Our story begins at the stroke of midnight. Bruce, Dick, and Alfred celebrate a quiet New Year’s in the Hall of Trophies. In the morning, a gangster named Twelvetoes is hired to run a certain beat cop, Skinny Sloan, ragged by having his gang commit random acts of vandalism. Twelvetoes has been hired by Sloan’s rival (he wants to marry Sloan’s fiance), who knows that the underweight Sloan can’t lose any more weight or his fiance will dump him. Batman and Robin assist the nervous Sloan in saving a suicide jumper that turns out to be one of Twelvetoes’ men. Batman, Robin, and Sloan nab Twelvetoes and his employees at a party above a Turkish bath.
–Batman #32, Part 3
Bruce makes fun of Alfred’s detective abilities, claiming that the butler has only solved cases by accident. Bruce then sends Alfred to walk the dog of a socialite acquaintance. Wow, Bruce is being a real dick to Alfred in this one! Desperate to prove his master wrong, Alfred vows to solve the next case using his intellect. As luck would have it, Alfred wanders into the middle of a bizarre robbery–some troublemakers make off with a load of turtle soup from the Sambell’s soup company. Alfred deduces that the culprits must work for a rival firm. Using the dog that he is walking, Alfred leads the police to Fernleigh’s Fine Soups where, sure enough, the stew-stealers are caught red-handed. Afterward, Bruce and Dick refuse to believe that Alfred was able to solve the case properly.
–Batman #32, Part 4
Bruce and Dick visit Professor Carter Nichols again. Nichols uses his avatar projection hypnosis method to send the Dynamic Duo three-hundred years into the past to France where our heroes meet the Three Musketeers and the Comte d’Artagnan. In the world of pre-Crisis Earth-Two, The Three Musketeers was not a fictional story by Alexandre Dumas, but instead, a true historical biography of the real Musketeers. Batman and Robin assist the Musketeers and help them in battle. However, the Dynamic Duo’s mere appearance causes time to change, and d’Artagnan is injured. When d’Artagnan gets injured, Batman disguises himself as the famous swashbuckler and fills in. Using their knowledge of the events of Dumas’ biography, Batman and Robin attempt to recreate events so that everything stays relatively the same. Writer Don Cameron does an impressive League of Extraordinary Gentlemen-style retelling of Dumas’ The Three Musketeers with Batman and Robin as part of the cast. In the original Three Musketeers text, the fair Lady Constance is poisoned to death. Batman, preferring a happy ending, decides to save Constance in this version, thus altering history and Dumas’ book before returning home. As Dick notes back in the present, Dumas, in 1844, decided not to include the appearances of Batman and Robin in The Three Musketeers, most likely because it probably seemed too crazy. Pretty awesome Cameron/Sprang metafiction here, especially for 1945-1946 Batman, which isn’t usually this layered (or layered at all). After the conclusion of this case, Batman puts one of the Musketeers’ hats on display in the Hall of Trophies (as referenced in Detective Comics #147).
–Batman and Robin “Ch. 11: An Affair of Death” [daily newspaper strips 11/26/1945 to 2/9/1946]
Bruce goes to purchase an automobile and stumbles upon a hot car ring ostensibly led by the towering, incoherent Lockjaw, but actually led by his charismatic “translator” Echo. After Bruce exposes their stolen car ring, Lockjaw and Echo decide their best move is to assassinate the DA. The crooks break out hot-headed Gypsy small-timer Eduardo Trujillo out of jail to do the job, but when he refuses they kidnap his sister Juanita. Batman tries to save Juanita, but gets a noggin sloggin for his trouble. Batman then meets with Eduardo and Juanita’s father before regrouping at Wayne Manor. As per Batman’s request, Commissioner Gordon releases false info to the press claiming that DA Tim Logan is vacationing in a cabin in the woods. Batman and Robin prop up a dummy DA at the cabin site and are able to capture/rescue Eduardo. Robin the goes in-disguise as Eduardo and infiltrates the hideout of Lockjaw and Echo. Robin is exposed, captured, and left in a death trap, but not before reattaching a license plate to a stolen car in Lockjaw’s garage. Robin then escapes a near fatality and rescues Juanita. Meanwhile, the cops bust Lockjaw and his gang (Echo gets away) when they drive around in the highlighted stolen vehicle. The next day, Bruce–back on the prowl after his recent break-up with Linda–goes to the Trujillo silver shop and asks the beautiful Juanita out on a date. Juanita’s pop doesn’t seem too keen on the idea until Echo shows up and Bruce takes him down. During the altercation Echo accidentally shoots himself to death. Bruce then tells Daddy Trujillo that he knows Batman personally and guarantees that Eduardo will serve a lessened sentence. The dashing playboy then goes on a sexy date with Juanita.
–Batman and Robin “Ch. 12: A Change of Costume” [daily newspaper strips 2/11/1946 to 3/23/1946]
Oh, classless 1940s hijinks of writer Jack Schiff. Batman and Robin steal some invitations to the 20th Annual First Ward Independent Political Association Ball. Wanted criminal Slugger Kaye will be at the costumed affair and the Dynamic Duo is looking to bust him. One catch–the Dynamic Duo must attend as a male and female. Thus, Batman will be Louis XVI and Robin will be Marie Antoinette! Robin has gone in drag numerous times before without so much as a peep for a complaint, but I guess since he’s at puberty age now, the idea of wearing a wig, pantyhose, lipstick, and giant fake boobs (which he does) is upsetting and embarrassing to him. At the ball, every male party-goer thinks Robin (as Marie Antoinette) is the hottest thing on the planet and the Boy-Girl Wonder is forced to dance with a bunch of dudes. When Kaye tries getting cuddly with Robin-Antoinette, his date, the hulking Hammerlock Hilda, gets jealous and starts a fight. Hilarity ensues as a costumed rumble breaks out. Eventually, Batman and Robin capture Kaye with the assistance of the Gotham City Fire Department’s Commissioner Brodie.
–The Adventures of Superman “Is There Another Superman?” [radio show 1/29/1946 to 2/14/1946]
Batman and Robin help Superman investigate a series of mysterious bank robberies that the Man of Steel believes he himself may have committed during several strange blackouts he has suffered as an after-effect of his exposure to Kryptonite. The real robber is ultimately identified as a naive Russian strongman named Boris, who has been manipulated by a gang of crooks into committing the robberies on the pretext that they are are harmless publicity stunt. The gang is sent to prison, and Superman arranges for Boris to get a legitimate job. During this story Superman mentions to Batman that he writes with his right hand as Clark Kent and his left hand as Superman to help prevent anyone from discovering his secret identity by comparing his handwriting. Batman not only remarks on the wisdom of this strategy, but will begin doing this practice from now on (as referenced in World’s Finest Comics #60).[4]
–NOTE: Penguin escapes from the pen (as referenced in the 2/10/1946 Batman and Robin Sunday newspaper strip).
–Batman and Robin “Ch. 21: Oswald Who?” [Sunday newspaper strips 2/10/1946 to 3/10/1946]
Batman and Robin follow Penguin to a post office and finally learn his real name: Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot! Penguin explains that his dear old Aunt Miranda is visiting him, but she doesn’t know he is a crook! Batman reluctantly agrees to help Penguin out–for the elderly lady’s sake. After palling around with Penguin and his aunt all day, Penguin’s old cellmate, Stonehead, gets wind that Oswald has been hanging with the Caped Crusader and thinks his friend has turned stool pigeon. Stonehead rounds up a posse and goes after Penguin, but the combined might of Batman, Robin, Penguin, and Aunt Miranda is enough to stop them. After Aunt Miranda departs still believing her nephew to be a saint, Penguin goes back to jail.
–Batman and Robin “Ch. 22: Hotel Grandeur” [Sunday newspaper strips 3/17/1946 to 4/21/1946]
Add director of an international brokerage firm to the list of Bruce’s responsibilities, which includes: head of Wayne Enterprises, majority stockholder in a clock company, majority stockholder in a shipping insurance company, author, producer, bank director, newspaper publisher, factory owner, stockholder in a book publishing company, and automobile manufacturer. Bruce heads to Gotham’s palatial Hotel Grandeur–the largest hotel in the city, which occupies an entire city block–to meet with a foreign diplomat from Germany. Naturally, some people have issue with loaning money to the Germans so soon after WWII, so they kidnap the diplomat. Batman and Robin rescue him.
–Detective Comics #107-108
Don Cameron’s weirdest tale thus far on our list–but with elegant penciling by Win Mortimer. Conman Bugs Scarpis is the Aleister Crowley analogue known as Scorpio. Scorpio and his team of robed and hooded cult followers lure rich investment bankers into their castle on the outskirts of Gotham where the bankers are dosed with a hallucinogenic gas and then hypnotized to think that Scorpio has taught them the secrets of alchemy. While in the glorious trance, Scorpio is able to embezzle money from their firms. When Batman and Robin invade Scorpio’s castle, Robin is hypnotized and nearly commits suicide, but the Dark Knight saves him. Eventually, the Scorpio and his fraudulent cult is shut down hard.
Ed Gregory is the best and toughest cop on the force. When he takes a bullet while chasing after a murderer named Torch Cleary, Batman and Robin are able to rush him to the hospital and he is saved. The same night, Gregory is promoted to detective and quickly apprehends Cleary. At a sensational rush-job trial, Cleary is found guilty and then executed less than a week later. When Detective Gregory–now an overnight Eliot Ness-type celebrity–goes after Bugs Brown and Flip Gurkin, the miscreants evade capture but leave a note claiming responsibility (falsely) for the murder that Cleary had been executed for. Gregory goes into a deep depression believing that he has made a terrible mistake. Meanwhile, Batman and Robin test out the brand new jet-powered Batplane with a little skywriting action before meeting with Commissioner Gordon and Gregory’s fiance, Kitty Corliss. On their behalf, the Dynamic Duo not only apprehends Brown and Gurkin, but proves that Cleary was Gregory’s correct perp.
–Batman and Robin “Ch. 13: The News That Makes the News” [daily newspaper strips 3/25/1946 to 6/1/46]
Reed Parker is the US’s most listened-to and sensational radio news reporter, famous for getting the first scoop on big news items. When Parker leaks information from a supposedly private Senate committee meeting, Batman and Robin apprehend the mob boss Edgar Poole before he can flee the country. Batman then travels to Washington, DC and meets with the beautiful bombshell, Senator Rae Raleigh. In DC, Batman disguises himself and has dinner with Raleigh, who tells him that Parker plans to report secret information regarding a foreign minister’s conference–information that could potentially cause a lot of backlash against the US by foreign nations. Ironically, the information, if leaked early, would be damaging to a group of unnamed political fascists (likely the Italian Social Movement) led by a man named Oronzo. Thus, both Batman (with Raleigh) and fascist assassins try to prevent Parker from making his broadcast. Eventually, Batman–although wanting to stop Parker’s “unpatriotic” broadcast–decides to heroically protect Parker, disguises himself as the journalist, and agrees to deliver the report in his place. Meanwhile, Parker, realizing he has a chance to discover Batman’s secret identity, meets with his would-be assassins within the fascist party and works out an arrangement. The fascists catch Batman, Robin, and Raleigh by surprise and capture them. After being restrained in a cabin at the edge of a mountainous ravine, Batman is unmasked and photographed. The cabin is then set ablaze and the evildoers drive down the mountain to deliver the camera to Parker. As luck would have it, Batman, Robin, and Raleigh escape and the burning cabin slides off the edge of its perch and crashes on the villains’ moving car below. Everyone in the car is killed, except for one man, who absconds with the camera. Raleigh reveals that she has terrible vision, so she was unable to see that Batman was Bruce. More luck comes Batman’s way as the man with the camera happens to be the one idiot in Gotham who has no idea who Bruce Wayne is. He delivers the film to Parker, but the camera is busted and the film has been overexposed, ruining the photo. The camera henchman is shot to death by cops and Parker wins up in jail. Oddly, Oronzo is never implicated (at least within the pages of this story).
–NOTE: Penguin escapes jail (as referenced in Batman #33, Part 1).
–Batman #33, Part 1
Three down-on-their-luck hoods–Melancholy Mike, Willie the Wag, and Ralph the Rook–decide to use Penguin’s notoriety to their advantage. They bet Penguin he can’t best Batman three times. Naturally, Penguin accepts the challenge and when the supervillain commits his first act of larceny, Mike, Willie, and Ralph pull off a huge gem heist while Batman is occupied with Penguin. Peguin avoids getting nabbed by using a web-shooting umbrella. Later, while Robin gets captured by Mike, Willie, and Ralph, Batman is defeated by Penguin again. When Penguin finds out he is being used by the terrible trio, he sends a clue to Batman that allows the Dark Knight to apprehend the trio with ease. Meanwhile, a free Robin not only prevents Penguin from robbing Fire Department Commissioner Brodie (referred to as Fire-Chief Brody in this issue), but also sends Penguin back to prison.
–Batman #33, Part 2
Batman and Robin have their first encounter with The Jackal–the Kingpin-esque, vampire-fanged boss of a group of terrorist looters. A week later, Bruce stalks one of Jackal’s men to a swing club for “hep cats” and learns that the looters plan to kidnap a famous Coast City seismologist, Professor Dorry Leaf. Batman and Robin rush to the West Coast, but are restrained–along with Leaf–by the Jackal and his crew. Leaf explains that an major earthquake is due to strike Coast City within hours and the Jackal plans to take advantage of the chaos. Batman, Robin, and Leaf escape in time to warn city officials so they can begin an evacuation. When the quake hits, it is devastating. Most of Coast City is leveled and the Jackal moves in to loot as much as he can. Just when things look dire for the Dynamic Duo, they are saved by Leaf. The Jackal falls into a fissure and gets crushed to death during an aftershock. It’s interesting how Coast City is demolished in both the Golden Age and Modern Age.
–NOTE: Joker escapes from prison (as referenced in Detective Comics #109). The Clown Prince of Crime is able to complete his successful jailbreak by dressing up and posing as Batman (as referenced in Detective Comics #114).
–Detective Comics #109
It’s been a week since Joker broke jail and his first move is to kidnap Robin and put Batman through a gauntlet of ludicrous death traps involving clues, poison arrows, buckets of acid, false staircases, pits with flames, pits with spikes, a poison quill-tipped Marotte, and a sadistic contraption that involves a noose around Batman’s neck attached to a rope that is counter-weighted with a bound Boy Wonder at the other end. After the Caped Crusader survives all of the near fatalities and frees Robin, the Joker is taken into custody. Batman and Robin then learn that Joker’s ultimate goal was not to kill them, but simply to stick Robin in a bag full of ants–they tickle! Afterward, Joker is sentenced to 100 years in the Prison for the Criminally Insane. Great story by Don Cameron that really captures the depth of Joker’s insanity and showcases his intricate use of “popcrime” tactics. After the case is closed, Batman puts Joker’s noose into the Hall of Trophies (as referenced in Batman #48).
–World’s Finest Comics #21
Dick gets a brand new camera and becomes an immediate shutterbug, so much so, he wants desperately to join the Camera Scoops Club, an organization that rewards top-notch photography. The club heads agree to give Dick membership, but only if he can snap a shot of Batman and Robin in action. When the Dynamic Duo discovers that one of the Scoops Club members has been using his camera to scout potential robbery sites for a criminal cartel, they go after him at his home only to get ambushed and bagged. Ultimately, our heroes liberate themselves and bring down the baddies. Robin is able to snap a picture of the bust via a rigged camera with a wire attached to the shutter (wonder if he influenced Spider-Man?) and, as Dick, gains acceptance in the Scoops Club.
–The Adventures of Superman “The Story of the Century” [radio show 3/29/1946 to 4/14/1946]
April 1, 1946. Batman helps Clark Kent play an April Fools’ Day joke on Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and a few other of his esteemed acquaintances.[5]
–Detective Comics #110
When Professor Moriarty, a villain that models himself after Sherlock Holmes’ old arch nemesis, begins a campaign of terror against London, Scotland Yard sends a special message to Commissioner Gordon asking for the Dynamic Duo’s help. Batman and Robin (with Alfred traveling separately) arrive in London and are given the royal treatment by Scotland Yard, which includes a gift–the “HMS Batboat,” a modified mini British Navy man o’ war. When a snooping Alfred is kidnapped by Moriarty, Batman and Robin save him and take down the vile villain. Scotland Yard honors the American heroes by erecting a statue of the duo in their headquarters. I should note that writer Don Cameron treats Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty as fictional characters. This was retconned in Detective Comics #196 by Bill Finger, who decided that Holmes and Moriarty were a real life non-fictional part of the history of Earth-Two. (The stories of the Doyle-verse, including the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, were also a real life part of the histories of the DCU Earths of the Silver and Modern Ages as well).
–Batman #34, Part 1
Aging daredevil Marty Steele organizes a cross-country steeplechase involving cars, planes, and boats. The winner of the race must travel from Gotham to San Francisco on a winding path through the US. Batman and Robin unofficially enter the contest and compete against other oddballs such as the playgirl Glenda West and blind scientist Roy Damon, who uses “radar vision” to see. Midway through the race, Batman and Robin have a blockbuster encounter atop Mount Rushmore, perilously swinging from Lincoln’s face before fending off saboteurs. While I strongly doubt that Alfred Hitchcock was reading American comics in the 1940s, it is curious that this scene is replicated in North by Northwest nearly thirteen years later! The Dynamic Duo eventually wins the race, but since they were unofficial entries, the second-placer gets the winning title. Number two is a John Doe that unmasks to reveal himself as the elderly Marty Steele. He’s still got it. Afterward, the judges still give the winner’s trophy to the Dynamic Duo and they place it into their Hall of Trophies (as referenced in Batman #48).
–Batman #34, Part 2
That incorrigible Ally Babble is back and where Ally goes trouble is sure to follow. Such is the case when Ally gets his fortune read and runs around town trying to make the predictions come true. By simply following Ally’s trail, Batman and Robin stop several crimes.
–Batman #34, Part 3
Alfred accidentally mistakes Gotham’s DA, Tim Logan, for a crook, but ultimately (and also accidentally) helps DA Logan nab notorious tire thieves Slinky and Shifty.
–Detective Comics #108 Epilogue
Batman, Robin, and Commissioner Gordon attend the wedding of Detective Ed Gregory and Kitty Corliss.
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- [1] Credit to AARON SEVERSON and JAMES LANTZ. ↩
- [2] COLLIN COLSHER: Judge Logan is NOT Gotham’s current DA, Tim Logan. It is possible that they are related, but they definitely are different characters. ↩
- [3] COLLIN COLSHER: Bill Finger and Dick Sprang, in Part 4 of Batman #34 makes reference to both Joker’s sad clown mask scheme and Penguin’s napalm umbrella. However, I cannot find any previous stories that they are actually referencing, hence the two notes placed here. This is curious since at no time prior has any Batman writer or artist added something to the Hall of Trophies that hasn’t been taken directly from a Batman tale of the past, no matter how obscure. Nearly every item that has ever been shown in the Hall of Trophies (besides various guns) can be found elsewhere (i.e. has a specific point of origin). Besides the sad clown mask and napalm umbrella, Part 4 of Batman #34 also includes what appears to be a blue claw staff or extend-o-reach claw grabber. Who knows where this item came from? I sure don’t, but I’ve added a note (see above) prior to Part 4 of Batman #34 to partially explain its existence. ↩
- [4] Credit to AARON SEVERSON ↩
- [5] Credit to AARON SEVERSON ↩