337 – Robin Solo
Robin replaces the Guardian and the Newsboy Legion in Star-Spangled Comics #65 (December 1946) as the main feature. The story itself is an uninspired affair in which Robin has to outwit a corrupt reform school.
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321 – Batman Dickless Again
In World’s Finest #24 (July 1946), Bruce Wayne full-hand slaps Dick Grayson for spilling a cup of water on him, publicly denouncing him, and sending him back to an orphanage. Batman is Dick-less again! Of course this is so that Dick can infiltrate an orphanage and spoil some crooks’ plans. Of course all is better […]
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299 – Time Travel Hypnotist
Bruce and Dick pay Professor Carter Nichols another visit in Batman #32 (October 1945). Prof. Nichols was introduced the previous year. He has the astounding ability to use hypnosis to send our two heroes into the past. This time they visit France in the 1600s and get involved with the Three Musketeers. I always disliked […]
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298 – Robin, Year One
For the first time in five years, the origin story of Robin the Boy Wonder, is re-told in Batman #32 (October 1945). The story recounts how his parents were murdered and the criminals brought to justice, but it also focuses on how Dick Grayson worked hard to transform himself from circus acrobat into detective sidekick.
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155 – Bat-Man, Bad-Ass
Although Batman #5 (April 1941), features another tale of Bat-silliness with dragons, giants and flying carpets, it also features a separate story in which Batman finds the near-lifeless body of Robin, beaten up by criminals. He experiences terrible feelings of rage and vengeance; a dramatic departure from his silent, mysterious, and almost dispassionate first year […]
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143 – The First Bat-Cave
By Detective Comics #48 (December 1940), Bob Kane and Bill Finger are starting to develop the Batman back-story a bit, giving the dynamic duo a secret tunnel leading to a seemingly abandoned barn with their “supercharged” car, called for the first time: the Bat-Mobile!
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131 – Bat-Silliness Begins
Robin’s dream story in Detective Comics #44 (September 1940), foreshadows what I consider to be the worst era of Batman story-telling. With the introduction of Robin to the Bat-mythos, the character deviated from his noir, grim and gritty feel towards silly, fantasy stories and stayed that way for the next 25 years.
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109 – Robin, the Boy Wonder!
In Detective Comics #38 (March 1940), Batman gains a youthful sidekick as he rescues the newly orphaned Dick Grayson and trains him to become Robin, the Boy Wonder. Robin was co-created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and inker Jerry Robinson. This issue marks the start of shift to a lighter tone for Batman, one in […]
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