By Bob Kane & various (DC Comics)
ISBN 10: 1-84576-618-0 ISBN 13: 978-1-84576-618-4
The latest chronological compilation of Batman’s crime-busting career covers May to October 1941 and features all his adventures from Detective Comics #51-55, Batman #6-7, and World’s Finest Comics #2-3. All the stories were written by unsung genius Bill Finger and the art chores were shared out between Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson and George Roussos. The World’s Finest covers were produced by Fred Wray.
Those necessary details dealt with, what you really need to know is that this is a collection of Batman tales that see the character grow into the major player that would inspire so many and develop the resilience to survive the many cultural vicissitudes the coming decades would inflict upon him and his partner, Robin.
‘The Case of the Mystery Carnival’, ‘The Secret of the Jade Box’ and ‘Viola Vane’ (Detective #51, 52 and 53 respectively) are mood-soaked set-pieces featuring fairly run-of-the mill thugs, but ‘The Man Who Couldn’t Remember!’ from WF#2 is a powerful character play and a baffling mystery that still packs a punch today.
‘Hook Morgan and his Harbor Pirates’ sees the Dynamic Duo clean up the docks and the four tales from Batman #6 (‘Murder on Parole’, ‘The Clock Maker’, ‘The Secret of the Iron Jungle‘ and ‘Suicide Beat’) range from human interest to crazed maniac to racket busting and back to the human side of being a cop, whilst Detective #54 went back to basics with the spectacular mad scientist thriller ‘The Brain Burglar’. A visit to a ghost-town produced the eerie romp ‘The Stone Idol’ (Detective #55) and World’s Finest #3 featured the first appearance of one of Batman’s greatest foes in ‘The Riddle of the Human Scarecrow’.
The volume ends with four great tales from Batman #7. ‘Wanted: Practical Jokers’ stars the psychotic Clown Prince of Crime, whilst ‘The Trouble Trap’ finds the heroes crushing a Spiritualist racket. They then head for Lumberjack country to clear up ‘The North Woods Mystery’. The last tale is something of a landmark case, as well as being a powerful and emotional melodrama. ‘The People Vs. The Batman’ sees Bruce Wayne framed for murder and the Dynamic Duo finally become official police operatives. They would not be vigilantes again until the grim and gritty 1980’s…
These are tales of elemental power and joyful exuberance, brimming with deep mood and addictive action. Comic book heroics simply don’t come any better.
© 1941, 2007 DC Comics. All Rights Reserved.