471 – Detachable Bat Cowl

In Batman #64 (February 1951), we get a quick glimpse at how Batman changes into Batman, which apparently involves a stiff mask for a cowl. I always thought that the cowl and cape were part of one piece, but at least in 1951 that is not the case. The cowl, of course, is one of […]

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467 – The Red Hood

In Detective Comics #168 (December 1950), the Batman reminisces to a college class in criminal deduction about the Red Hood, a criminal that Batman failed to catch ten years ago. In their final encounter, Batman had chased him from a playing card factory and the Red Hood dove into a vat of chemicals to escape. […]

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465 – Killer Moth!

Batman #63 (December 1950) features an outlandish new rogue for Batman’s gallery: Killer Moth. Killer Moth is an ex-convict who somehow works himself into high society as “Cameron van Cleer”. He then proceeds to develop his villainous alter-ego as a counterpoint to Batman, complete with a garish costume and a Moth Car. Cameron even makes […]

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459 – Catwoman Pivot

In Batman #62 (October 1950), the Catwoman makes another appearance, but this time a back-story is given when she suffers a head trauma while trying to save Batman from death during a crime spree: Catwoman is Selina Kyle, a former flight attendant who is suffering from amnesia all these years. The new head trauma booted […]

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453 – New Bat-Plane

In Batman #61 (August 1950), criminals capture the abandoned Bat-plane and trigger Bruce and Dick to build a new Bat-Plane (sometimes called Batplane II)… by themselves… in the Bat-cave. The new Bat-Plane is sleeker, more like a jet. I wonder if the U.S. involvement with the Korean War had anything to do with more military-inspired […]

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444 – Deadshot!

In Batman #59 (April 1950), the criminal Deadshot makes his debut. In 1950, he is bored millionaire Floyd Lawton who uses his expert marksman skills as a crime fighter to win over Commissioner Gordon. Over the course of the story, it is revealed that Deadshot really wants to become Gotham City’s newest crime lord. Batman […]

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406 – Two-Face Returns?

No, I didn’t quite lie. The last 1940s appearance of Two-Face was back in 1943, but Batman #50 (October 1948) brings us one last Two-Face story in the Golden Age. In it, Harvey Dent, cured with kindness and some plastic surgery these past five years, suddenly seems to be sleep-walking and moonlighting again as the […]

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403 – The Riddler!

August 1948 was a big month for new Batman characters, also introducing The Riddler in Detective Comics #140. The Riddler would join the Joker, the Penguin, and Catwoman as one of Batman’s most popular and well-recognized villains.

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401 – Vicky Vale

Batman #49 (August 1948) introduces a new potential love interest for Bruce Wayne in the form of Vicky Vale, a photographer who plays with the now-tired trope of the girl who suspects the superhero’s secret identity. This story also introduce a new rogue for Batman and Robin in the form of The Mad Hatter, a […]

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393 – Chilling Confrontation

Batman learns that his parent’s killer, Joe Chill, is still alive and confronts him in Batman #47 (April 1948). This is the first time the Wayne’s mugger is given a name and the third time Batman’s origin has been re-visited. Upon confronting him, Batman dramatically reveals his secret identity. Oh, that’s not going to bode […]

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