It’s 1956 or thereabouts. Born in December 1951, the younger Tony is an avid watcher of The Adventures of Superman and that like brings him to the neighborhood bookie-adjacent newsstand on Detroit Avenue in Cleveland. The newsstand sells more racing kinds than Tony had ever considered, now not that Tony knows what those are. The actual bookie is subsequent door.
The newsstand also has more journal and newspapers than Tony has ever considered earlier than. Most fine, it also has more silly books than he’s ever considered earlier than. Tony learned to learn from silly books when he used to be four years outdated skool, but he used to be easiest now changing into the avid fan we know this present day.
Superman and Motion Comics gain been his favorites, but he used to be getting in this Batman man as properly. Soon, Batman would eclipse Superman to change into Tony’s current huge-hero. On myth of Batman, and not utilizing a huge-powers per se, regarded an attainable feature mannequin for a younger would-be hero. He could presumably well say himself suitable as Bruce Wayne had. If Dick Grayson could presumably well establish it, so could presumably well younger Tony. Alas, he lacked the critical grunt of needless rich dad and mom. Quiet, Batman remained his current until Spider-Man swung round.
We’re persevering with our finding out of Batman: The Silver Age Omnibus. The book collects Batman #101-116 and Detective Comics #233-257. Let’s obtain relieve into it…
Detective Comics #237 [November 1956] supplied “Be taught about for a New Robin” by a currently unknown author and with paintings by Sheldon Moldoff and Charles Paris. This barely mild-weight ten-pager consists mostly of a disguised Bruce Wayne imaging what his existence could presumably per chance be if his modern Robin used to be one among the two barely detrimental early life he meets in his brief modern identification.
The outdated skool premise is that, whereas appearing with Batman at a bridge dedication ceremony, a dummy of Bruce Wayne is shot by a gangster. The dummy tumbles into the river and all americans thinks Bruce is needless. Taking on a modern identification, he knows Batman must work solo for misfortune of exposing Robin’s identification. It’s disagreeable common sense, but, after Bruce’s daydream of a modern Robin or two, the police obtain the bullet-riddled
dummy. A half-ass explanation of why Wayne had taken on a diversified identification mercifully brings this memoir to an pause.
Batman #104 [December1956)hasoneamongmycurrentcoversofthistechnologyDrawnbySheldonMoldoffitinspiresthemassivedinosaurmoviesthatgainbeenanimatedmePreviousthatthemisfortunehasthreeterrifictalesbeginningwith“TheManWhoKnewBatman’sSecret”byauthorEdmondHamiltonwithpaintingsbyDickSprangandCharlesParisInonlyeightpagesweogleaGothamCityimperiledbygraspcriminalJohnVardenComplicatingBatmanandRobin’shuntforVardenquirkybeginnerdetectiveThaddeusCranebylikelihooddiscoversBatman’ssecretidentificationVardenisresidingtokidnapCraneandobtainhimtoshriekBatman’sidentificationEvenasreasonablyoneIsawtheendingcomingamileawaybutusedtobeserenewrathfultolearnCraneusedtobetrulyaccuratebutlerAlfredthedeargruntofBatman’sbelieftocaptureVardenandhismenIusedtoberoundfiveyearsoutdatedskoolandmydetectiveabilitiesgainbeengorgeousdarnbright
Invoice Finger’s suave “Robin’s 50 Batman Companions” used to be also successful. Again drawn by Sprang and Paris, the story has Batman injured with Robin having to envision solo hosting responsibilities at a gala honoring a few of Batman’s biggest circumstances with accurately immense displays. The spoiled guys resolve they’ll effortlessly rob down Robin, but the Boy Wonder uses the displays to rob them down as a substitute.
“The Creature from 20,000 Fathoms” is by Finger, Moldoff and Paris. No hoax here. The fire-respiratory monster is the exact deal. Batman and Robin must battle the dinosaur as a member of their exhibition tries to abolish them to supply protection to a like he learned. This would gain been a standout memoir in most Batman issues with the time, but it came in a shut third to the opposite two.
Detective Comics #238 [December1956]featured author Dave Wood’s extremely involving “The Doors That Hid Catastrophe!” The quilt is by Sheldon Moldoff with the inner paintings by Moldoff and inker Charles Paris.
Successfully-organized-criminal Checkmate thinks he has escaped Batman and Robin but has as a substitute doomed himself by hiding in a chamber holding deadly radioactive field topic. He plans his closing revenge against the duo by having his gang establish his plans after his loss of life. They entice Batman and Robin genuine into a constructing full of deadly traps that the crime fighters gain faced earlier than. However repeating those escapes would abolish them. It’s a huge “battle of wits” proceed.
What makes the memoir even more fun are the mentions of Batman foes that below no circumstances regarded beforehand and are now not considered, even in flashback, in this story. It’s easiest a topic of time earlier than some as much as date Batman author introduces us to such irascible luminaries as the Bowler, Harbor Pirate and Wheelo.
Detective Comics #239 [January 1957] has a wash quilt by Sheldon Moldoff and Jack Adler. The author of “Batman’s Robotic Twin” has now not yet been identified, but the paintings is by Moldoff and Charles Paris. The shiny but naive Professor Carden fortunately reveals his newest invention to the clearly shady Dr. Dall. It’s a robot that could presumably per chance furthermore be programmed with the details and persona of someone. Dall tells the professor the robot is simply too bad to be given the thoughts and persona of someone instead of Batman. Realizing the robot received’t be ordinary for irascible with this thoughts and could presumably well even be a boon to crime-combating, Batman has the same opinion.
Dall cuts the brakes on a crane, forcing Batman to head away the robot earlier than he can present it any instructions. Dall then clobbers Carden and takes alter of the robot. He takes alter of the robot, but is stymied for the reason that robot received’t shriek Batman’s secret identification. That’s Batman’s persona coming via.
Dall sends the robot to capture Batman. On his possess, the robot goes to the Batcave. A excessive voltage shock will erase the robot’s memory, but the robot knows that’s what Batman will strive and foils him. Batman escapes. Dall uses the robot’s files to reduction him damage genuine into a diamond-slicing factory. One more conflict of Batman vs. Robotic Batman commences.
SPOILERS AHEAD
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This time, Batman solutions the robot into excessive-voltage wires the utilization of a tactic our hero suitable belief to be and which the robot could presumably well now not know about. Batman disguises himself as the robot, tricking Dall and his gang genuine into a locked truck.
Even with its memory erased, Batman and Carden agree the invention is to bad to be ordinary. It finally ends up yet one other memento in the Batcave.
I’ll gain more from Batman’s Silver Age adventures in the hopefully come future. Thanks for stopping by.
© 2023 Tony Isabella