Batman

Revision as of 17:25, 27 March 2007

Overview

aka The Bat-Man

A costumed crime-fighter and adventurer who has, for decades waged, an unrelenting battle against the forces of crime, brutality, and evil. He is secretly Bruce Wayne, a millionaire socialite and philanthropist based in Gotham City who, while still a young boy, vows to dedicate his life to “warring on all criminals” after seeing his parents murdered by a hoodlum on a darkened city street. In April 1940, approximately a year after the onset of his crime-fighting career, Batman trains a young orphan named Dick Grayson to be his partner, conferring on him the name Robin, and thus launching the career of a crime-fighting partnership whose feats have become the stuff of legend. Like Wayne, the Boy Wonder is an orphan, his parents killed when a gangster arranges to have his trapeze-expert parents die in a circus accident. The name Robin refers to the legendary Robin Hood of English yore. As chronicled in the 1980s, Dick outgrows the Robin identity and passes it the young Jason Todd.

Both Superman and Batman are founding members of the Justice League of America.

Origin

Batman's own chronicles gradually reveal his origins as time progresses. In his first appearance, he is already established as a mysterious vigilante and Bruce Wayne is known to Commisioner Gordan as a "socialite" (Detective Comics No. 27, May 1939: "The Bat-Man"), perhaps without the sense of responsiblity and philanthropy that later marked his career as a millionaire businessman. He is later joined by Robin (Detective Comics No. 38, Apr 1940: "Robin the Boy Wonder") and it is also revealed that Alfred Pennyworth (first appearance, Batman No. 16, Apr/May 1943: "Here Comes Alfred") has remained his family's trusted servant and ally over the years.

It is not until 1948 that the full details of his origin are made known. Vowing revenge on the murderer who killed his parents (Thomas and Martha Wayne) on a street at night, young Bruce Wayne carefully acquires the skills necessary to fight crime. To do this, he "mastered scientific criminal investigation" and "trained his body to physical and athletic perfection". Wayne takes his crime-fighting name and costume from the bat, a creature of the night that he knows strikes terror in the heart of even hardened criminals. Years later, as Batman, Wayne encounters the hoodlum who shot his parents - Joe Chill - now a criminal boss running a crooked trucking operation. In carrying out his vengeance, Bruce reveals his identity to Chill, but it is Chill's own men who kill him, angry at the revelation that Chill's past homicides actually "created" the Caped Crusader who is persecuting them (Batman No. 47, Jun/Jul 1948: "The Origin of the Batman!").

The World's Finest

Batman is a close friend of Superman and one of the few persons privy to the closely guarded secret of Superman’s identity. From mid-1954 onward, Batman and Superman regularly participate in certain of their adventures together.

In May-June 1952, Superman and Batman meet and team up for the first time ever as they apprehend John Smilter and learn each other's secret identity while vacationing aboard the coastal cruise ship Varania (S No. 76: " The Mightiest Team in the World!").

In July-August 1954, Superman joins forces with Batman and Robin to apprehend a gang of criminals and prevent Lois Lane from unraveling the secret of his duel identity (WF No. 71: "Batman... Double for Superman!").

In September-October 1954, Batman, Robin and Superman apprehend the Heavy Weapons Gang (WF No. 72: “Fort Crime!”).

In November-December 1954, Batman, Robin and Superman battle The Fang (WF No. 73: “Batman and Superman, Swamis, Inc!”).

In January-February 1955, Batman, Robin and Superman help an extraterrestrial youngster stranded on Earth find his way home again (WF No. 74: “The Contest of Heroes!”).

In addition to crushing criminal plans, Superman and Batman also show signs of occasional competitiveness, for example, challenging each other to determine the other's secret identity after being subject to an Amnesia Machine (WF No. 149, May 1965: "The Game of Super Identities") and an adventure in which Superman dares Batman to discover the true identity of "Nightman" - a fictional character The Man of Steel creates in Batman's mind by using mind-control (WF No. 155, Feb 1966: "Exit Batman - Enter Nightman!"). In one instance, Batman and Superman take different sides in an "alien" conflict - with Batman requesting Supergirl's help and Superman being aided by Batgirl - but the entire situation is actually a charade set-up by a dying actor hoping to engineer his greatest performance (WF No. 176, Jun 1968: "The Sperman-Batman Split!").

Superman and Batman are sometimes beset by the mischief of Mr. Mxyzptlk and Bat-Mite, such as when the bothersome imps combine forces and impersonate Supergirl and Batgirl (WF No. 169, Sep 1967: "The Supergirl-Batgirl Plot!"). The magical pests also cause nuisance in earlier adventures (WF No. 113, Nov 1960: "Bat-Mite Meets Mr. Mxyzptlk!"; WF No. 123: Feb 1962: "The Incredible Team of Bat-Mite and Mr. Mxyzptlk!"; and WF No. 152: Sep 1965: "The Colossal Kids!").

The Bat-Family

The Batman Family includes the following heroes: the original Robin (Nightwing), the next Robin, Batwoman and Bat-Girl, Ace, the Bat-Hound, and Batgirl. Alfed is also a valued member of the team.

Often, the Superman Family, especially Jimmy Olsen and occasionally Supergirl participate in the same missions and cases with Batman and those closest to him.

The Batcave

The subterranean cavern, situated beneath the mansion of millionaire Bruce Wayne, which serves as the secret crime fighting headquarters of Batman and Robin. The Batplane and the Batmobile are housed there, along with trophies of the Dynamic Duo’s past cases and a vast array of specialized equipment. (TGSB)

The Equipment

Batplane

The unique airplane, specially designed and equipped, which is the principal aircraft employed by Batman and Robin. (TGSB)

Batmobile

The unique automobile, specially designed and equipped, which is the principal land vehicle employed by Batman and Robin. (TGSB)

External Links

• The Golden Age Batman Site!
• Wikipedia entry on Batman
• Earth-1 Batman Index by Mike
• Batman Index by Dark Mark
• Superman/Batman Team-Up Index by Dark Mark

On-Line Batman Comics

• Bat-Comics Through the Ages! Part 1
• Bat-Comics Through the Ages! Part 2
• Operation SUPER-SONS!