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Why So Serious?

From Batman 272

Detective Comics #32

No. 32
Date: October, 1939
Title: None? The Monk Part II
Creative Team: Bob Kane

Story:
Batman is traveling in “Hungaria” chasing the Monk. He stops the Monk's carriage but only finds a woman named Dala. He takes Dala back to a hotel where Julie is staying. In the night, Dala bites Julie, attacks Batman, and runs away. Batman assumes that Dala is a vampire and pursues her. He catches her and heads for the Monk's castle in his Batplane. A huge net captures the Batplane and brings it down to the ground where the Monk is waiting.

The Monk then hypnotizes Batman and mentally calls Julie to join them. It turns out that, besides being a hypnotist, the Monk is also a werewolf! The villain turns into a wolf and howls for other wolves to gather in a pit at his castle. Batman is thrown into the pit, but hope is not lost for the hero. He uses gas pellets to stun the wolves and his batarang and lasso to climb out of the pit. As the Monk sleeps, Batman melts down a sliver statue to make two silver bullets. He then shoots the Monk and Dala to break their spell over Julie.

Notes:

• First use of the batarang with a rope.

• The Batgyro is now called the Batplane.

• Batman kills again. But, if the Monk is already part of the undead, does it count?

• Whatever the Monk is, the terms “werewolf” and “vampire” seem to be used interchangeably. I know, this will offend Twilight fans everywhere. But, apparently to Batman, vampires and werewolves are equivocal.
  

• No Batman cover to this issue.

Detective Comics #31

No. 31
Date: September, 1939
Title: None? The Monk Part I
Creative Team: Bob Kane

Story:
The debut of the villainous Monk! And no, it's not Antonio Scarpacci (Bonus points to those of you who understand the reference). This issue starts out with Batman on patrol through the city night when he saves a man from being killed by a hypnotized woman. The woman turns out to be Julie Madison, Bruce Wayne's fiancée! Batman escorts her back to her home and the next day she explains it all to Wayne. The wealthy socialite takes her to Doctor Trent, who recommends Julie relax and go on a trip to Paris.

However, Wayne suspects the good doctor was also hypnotized. Cloaked as Batman, he follows Julie's ship in his fancy aircraft known as the Batgyro. Batman briefly encounters the Monk on the ship before escaping the villain's hypnotic powers and fleeing in the Batgyro. He then heads to Paris to search for Julie.

He finally finds his fiancée, but a giant gorilla (seriously, a giant gorilla) in her room attacks him! Batman falls through a trap door, is ensnared in a net, and lowered by the Monk of a pit full of snakes. He uses his knew gadget, the batarang, to escape, and tries to chase the Monk. But the giant gorilla stops him again! Batman escapes the clutches of the gorilla and flies off in the Batgyro after the Monk's car. Catching up to the vehicle, Batman throws a gas pellet into an open window, causing the car to crash. The Monk is absent from the wreck, but Batman rescues Julie Madison and the two of them fly off.

Notes:

• First appearance of The Monk

• First appearance of Julie Madison as Bruce Wayne's Fiancee

• First Batgyro and famous batarang. Still no Bat-shark repellent.

Detective Comics #30

No. 30

Date: August, 1939

Title: None?

Creative Team: Bob Kane

Story:

Doctor Death returns! A man dies from a strange disease and Bruce Wayne suspects Doctor Death is behind it. But isn't Death dead? Why, he must have somehow survived the fire from the last issue!

Disguised as a reporter, Wayne visits the widow who says her late husband received a death threat unless he paid up. However, the couple had lost most of their wealth in the Depression. The widow does admit that she still has a substantial collection of diamonds, though, and Wayne suspects the far-reaching hands of Doctor Death will return for them.

In an attempt to preempt such a possible theft, Batman returns to the widow's home that night to find the diamonds himself. Batman's suspicions were correct, as Death sends his Cossack henchman Mikhail to retrieve the diamonds. A fight between Batman and Mikhail ensues with Batman, of course, victorious. But he leaves the diamonds with the unconscious Mikhail so he can follow the thug back to his employer.

Batman follows Mikhail to Ivan Herd's pawn shop and then to the Cossack's own apartment. Searching the apartment, Batman finds nothing but trouble as another scuffle occurs between him and Mikhail. A kick to Mikhail's neck breaks it, presumably killing him, and ends the fight. Batman returns to the pawn shop to confront Ivan Herd. The pawn shop owner turns out to be Doctor Death with a mask and disguise concealing his severely burned face. Batman captures Doctor Death and leaves him and the diamonds for the police to find.

Notes:

• Batman seems to kill yet again.

• Batman does not appear on the cover of this issue.

• His car is fancifully described as a “special built high-powered auto.”

• Bruce Wayne's home is called Wayne Mansion.

• Doctor Death is the first recurring enemy and described as Batman's “sworn enemy.” His unique methods and grotesque disfigurement could establish him as the first true super villain in Batman's rogues gallery.

Everyone Needs a Minotaur Costume

I recently watched the movie Role Models starring Seann William Scott and Paul Rudd. It also had Elizabeth Banks because it seems her presence is mandatory in every other movie made, much like Jason Statham and Samuel L. Jackson. I think those three should all star in a movie together entitled The Ubiquitous.

So, Role Models, right. It is you're typical, modern raunchy comedic fare with the obligatory dash of heart thrown in at the end. It's nothing too special, but certainly is funny and entertaining. And sometimes that's all you should want from a movie.

The story is about two childish men who run afoul of the law and are sentenced, in lieu of jail, to 150 hours of community service mentoring kids. Hilarity ensues. It's also got McLovin from Superbad (come on, you wouldn't know the kid's real name anyway) and an excessive amount of LARPing. That's Live Action Role Playing, if you didn't know. And if you didn't know that, what on earth are you doing reading this blog?

As an interesting tidbit, Seann William Scott apparently grew up in Cottage Grove, MN. And now you know the rest of the story.

7.1/10 Toddsperience

Detective Comics #29

No. 29
Date: July, 1939
Title: “The Batman Meets Doctor Death”
Creative Team: Bob Kane

Story:
This issue introduces us to the notorious Karl Hellfern, otherwise known as Doctor Death! The bad doctor has developed some pollen extracts which are deadly if breathed in. He plans to seek tribute from the wealthy, lest he use his potent pollen to kill them. However, Doctor Death is worried that Batman will interfere with his plans, so he has his goon Jabah set a trap for our heroic vigilante. This, of course, occurs via Jabah placing a personal ad in the paper challenging Batman to stop a murder. Batman answers the challenge and easily defeats to thugs awaiting his arrival. But then Jabah appears and shoots Batman in the shoulder. Batman manages to escape with the use of a gas pellet to distract Jabah.

Batman, as Bruce Wayne, seeks help from the family doctor to tend to his wounds. While the doctor inquires about Wayne being shot, he seems unusually content with how the socialite shrugs it off and doesn't give a reasonable answer. During this time, Doctor Death orders Jabah to use the deadly pollen to assassinate John P. Van Smith, who refuses to pay Doctor Death. While Wayne is driving along, he sees Jabah on the street and follows him. He foils the murder and follows Jabah back to Doctor Death's hideout.

That night, Batman returns to Death's hideout. He quickly subdues Jabah and chases the doctor throughout labyrinth of his lair. The final confrontation takes place when Batman catches up with Doctor Death and knocks a volatile chemical out of his hand. The room is suddenly set ablaze and Doctor Death is presumably consumed with fire and burned alive.

Notes:
- Batman uses a utility belt with gadgets, such as gas pellets, suction cups for climbing buildings, and his lasso seen in previous issues.
- It seems that Batman once again committed murder. The story ends with Batman's grim, remorseless stinger: “Death...to Doctor Death.”
- There's still no Batcave. In fact, Bruce Wayne keeps the Batman costume in a chest in his residence.

Detective Comics #28

No. 28
Date: June, 1939
Title: “Justice” ? Maybe. I'm not really sure.
Creative Team: Bob Kane

Story:
A spree of jewel thefts is terrorizing the city! On the phone with a police informant, Bruce Wayne disguises his voice as Commissioner Gordon's in order to get the required information. After learning that the gang is led by Frenchy Blake, Batman swings into action and stops the next heist. In the process he kicks a thug off a roof, killing him. Batman is then intentionally seen by the police with the jewels before he gets away.

Now the cops think Batman is involved with the jewel thefts. This gives Frenchy Blake undue confidence, for now he thinks the police are too busy looking for Batman to bother looking for him! However, Batman is secretly watching Frenchy and learning all his plans. Batman foils the next robbery and then confronts Frenchy. He hangs the thief out of a window until Frenchy confesses to all the crimes. Batman then drops Frenchy off at the police station along with the written confession.

Notes:
- Batman again kills a man without any remorse.
- Though briefly seen in the previous issue, the first Batmobile is more prominent here. However, instead of a fancy black super car, it's an orange, nondescript automobile.
- Batman is not on the cover of this issue.

Detective Comics #27

From time to time I'm going to try to write summaries of Batman comics. I'm starting with the beginning, in Detective Comics 27. Who knows how long this will go on. Who knows if I'll even get to number 28. Um, beware: spoilers are abundant. But I'm sure no one really cares at this point.


No. 27
Date: May, 1939
Title: “The Case of the Chemical Syndicate”
Creative Team: Bob Kane

Story:
The first appearance of Batman begins with Commissioner Gordon lounging at home with his good friend, Bruce Wayne. Gordon gets a call saying that old Lambert, a chemical industrialist, has been murdered. Gordon rushes to the scene of the crime, taking Wayne with him. Lambert's son explains that he found his father with a knife in his back, muttering “Contract...contract...” before he died. He also explains that the deceased had three former business partners: Steven Crane, Paul Rogers, and Alfred Stryker. Crane then calls and says his life was recently threatened.

Wayne, apparently bored with the crime scene, departs. Two thugs show up at Crane's house and shoot him. But, their attempt to flee is foiled by the “Bat-Man” who fights them off and takes the document the thugs stole from Crane.

Paul Rogers then shows up at Alfred Stryker's door and is promptly subdued by Stryker's assistant, Jennings. Jennings leaves Rogers beneath a descending glass chamber that is normally used to gas guinea pigs used in experiments. As Jennings leaves to turn on the gas, Batman swoops in and joins Rogers beneath the glass chamber. He stuffs a handkerchief in the gas nozzle and smashes the glass with a wrench, freeing himself and Rogers.

Batman quickly fights Jennings and then stops Stryker from stabbing Rogers. Batman explains that what he recovered from the thugs at Crane's was a secret contract between the four businessmen for ownership of the Apex Chemical Corporation. Stryker attempted to kill the other three so that he would have sole ownership of the company. In a final effort, Stryker reaches for a gun, but Batman punches him over a railing. Stryker falls to his death into an acid tank. At the end, the narration reveals that Batman is really Bruce Wayne!

Notes:
- At Stryker's death, Batman merely comments “A fitting ending for his kind.” This is certainly a ways away from the modern inception of Batman and his “one rule” not to kill.
- The gas chamber for killing guinea pigs is huge! What sort of fiendish guinea pig genocide was Jennings conducting in this lab?
- Batman saves the day with a handkerchief and a wrench. No neat gadgets yet. Not even Bat-shark repellent.
- Artistic styles in 1939 were definitely different than they are in 2009. Everyone looks like Dick Tracy.
- Though the comic only credits Bob Kane, I must mention the often unsung contribution of Bill Finger. Never forget, people!
- It's only 8 pages long!