VOLUME 6 1955 - 1957
COMICS INDEX
VOLUME 6 1955 - 1957
COMICS INDEX LEONIDAS FRAGIAS
The Arts & Charts Index to Batman The format and design of this book is based on George Olshevsky's Marvel Index series and Murray Ward's DC Index series. Their books have a beautiful layout which was an inspiration for me. The Official Marvel Index is a series of comic books released by Marvel Comics which featured synopses of several Marvel series. The books were largely compiled by George Olshevsky and featured detailed information on each issue in a particular series, including writer and artist credits, characters who appeared in the issue, and a story synopsis. The Official Marvel Index was preceded by the Marvel Comics Index (also compiled by Olshevsky) and distributed by Pacific Comics Distributors sporadically from 1976-1982. These books were magazinesized as opposed to comic-sized. The first Official Marvel Index titles were published in 1985, and produced regularly through August 1988. A similar series of indices was published for DC Comics. The Official DC Index was released by Independent Comics Group (an imprint of Eclipse Comics) from 1985–1988. The books were edited by Murray Ward. The data for this book is taken from various sources. I fill the gap of the missing data, since I have the complete collection of DC and Marvel comics from the 1930s to the present. Also I made some corrections, when the data is wrong. The book series cover the golden age (pre-1956), the silver age (from the mid-1950s to 1969) and the bronze age (from 1970 to 1986) of DC Comics. This is my favorite era, when it comes to comics. Many thanks to DarkMark, George Olshevsky, Murray Ward, Mark Waid and Mike Tiefenbacher among others. Leonidas Fragias
THE BATMAN COMICS INDEX Volume 6, 2018. Published by Arts & Charts. Editor: Leonidas Fragias, Writers: Various. Batman is trademark of DC Comics Inc. All art and cover reproductions Š2018 DC Comics Inc.
Detective Comics #217 March 1955 Cover Artist: Win Mortimer Story: “The Mental Giant of Gotham City” Writer: Edmond Hamilton Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: Barney Barrows' ultimate ambition is to become a police detective, but as he applies at the GCPD Headquarters, he learns that he can't pass the mental test to become one. Barrows is allowed to keep a job as a janitor at the GCPD and during his daily cleaning routine, he causes a freak explosion in the Police lab, exposing himself to radiation which swells his mental capacity and head. He figures out Batman and Robin's true identities and forces the Dynamic Duo to do his bidding.
Batman #91 April 1955 Cover Artist: Win Mortimer Story: “The Living Bat-Plane!” Writer: Edmond Hamilton Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: Batman and Robin test new remote controls on the Batplane and Batmobile with help from Dr. Philip Winters. However, Winter's laboratory is found by some criminals, who take the controls of the Batvehicles and turn them against the Dynamic Duo. Batman finds a way to stop the Batmobile, but the crooks manage to take the Batplane away from the Batcave and use it in their crimes. Story: “Batman's Publicity Agent!” Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Mike Whalen is a publicity agent who starts a city wide campaign in honor of Batman. The Dark Knight finds the whole thing flattering, but the constant exposure to Batman themed stunts interfere with his crime-fighting career, preventing him from solving even some of the easiest cases. Batman then decides to lure the man behind the crimes that have been plaguing the city by challenging him to show himself, and the crook falls for Batman's trap. Story: “The Map of Mystery!” Writer: Edmond Hamilton Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: A Gotham City archaeologist has found a treasure in a hidden Incan city in South America and he travels to the secret location. However, some members of the Explorers Club are concerned after the disappearance of a very important map and they alert Batman of the situation. After an extensive investigation, Batman and Robin deduce the location of the hidden city and they travel to Peru in order to stop the criminal who stole the map from getting the treasure.
Detective Comics #218 April 1955 Cover Artist: Win Mortimer Story: “Batman, Junior and Robin, Senior” Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Wilton Winders, a criminal ex-scientist, attacks Dr. Richard Marsten, and steals his two newly invented gas compunds. The gases cause people to become older or younger depending on which gas is applied. When Batman and Robin try to capture Winders, they are exposed to the gases. Robin becomes an adult, and Batman becomes a child with no memory of the last 10 years.
Detective Comics #219 May 1955 Cover Artist: Win Mortimer Story: “Gotham City's Strangest Race” Writer: Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Batman and Robin learn that several notorious criminals are heading to Millville in old-fashioned cars to take part in the town's ancient car festival. The Dynamic Duo decide to follow them, but they're unable to enter the town using their modern Batmobile and they are forced to use two cars from the 1900's, one fitted to look like the Batmobile.
Batman #92 June 1955 Cover Artist: Win Mortimer Story: “Fan-Mail of Danger!” Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Overwhelmed by fan mail, Batman is forced to hire a secretary to handle all of it. The lady, however, has a crush on Batman and in order to make her temporal job as Batman's secretary permanent she gives an interview and claims that Batman returns all fan mail. This causes the volume of mail to increase, and hampers the Caped Crusader's war on crime. Story: “Batman's Guilty Neighbor!” Writer: Dave Wood Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Bruce's new neighbor, Cal Tremont, is suspected in a series of crimes and the Dynamic Duo decide to investigate. The initial clues lead them to believe that Cal is in fact the wanted criminal and the heroes try to prove it by all means. However, on their efforts, they miss the real criminal as he steals from Wayne Manor. Story: “Ace, the Bat-Hound” (8 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Batman and Robin rescue an injured dog from a nearby stream. While they are trying to find his owner, they are chagrined to find that the dog runs after the Batmobile. They are forced to take him along, with a black mask to cover a distinctive mark on his forehead. After the dog helps them take down escaped con Bert Bowers, who calls him “BatHound”, the Dynamic Duo accept that as a working name for their new pet. Bat-Hound helps Batman and Robin track down his owner, John Wilker, an engraver held captive by counterfeiters. They learn that BatHound’s real name is Ace, and, after the case is closed, reunite him with Wilker.
Detective Comics #220 June 1955 Cover Artist: Win Mortimer Story: “The Second Batman and Robin Team!” Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: In the year 1255, the English philosopher Roger Bacon has gathered information about time travelers that have appeared on different moments of history. Bacon's evidence points towards Batman and Robin, who have traveled to the past on several occasions thanks to Professor Nichols' time machine. Bacon decides to send two of his assistants to the future and he provides them with costumes similar to those of Batman and Robin believing that to be the common garb of the future.
Detective Comics #221
Batman #93
July 1955 Cover Artist: Win Mortimer Story: “The Thousand-and-One Escapes of Batman and Robin!” Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Batman and Robin go out on patrol, and are lured into a trap and taken to the hideout of the crook known as Paul King. Batman is unconscious, but Robin recovers in time to confront the criminal. King tells Robin that he's going to eliminate them by placing them on a dangerous trap, but will set them free if Robin can tell him of 4 previous escapes without King figuring out their methods.
August 1955 Cover Artist: Win Mortimer Story: “Journey To the Top of the World!” Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: Batman and Robin are summoned by the FBI and tasked to recover a valuable microfilm atop Mount K-4 in the Himalayas. The microfilm was lost in an accident and it contains the names of many members of an international crime cartel. For this purpose, the Dynamic Duo join a mountain expedition to the mountain as Bruce Martin and Dick Green. Story: “Batman, Baby-Sitter!” Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: Bruces Wayne's cousin, Jane, drops off her baby unexpectedly at Wayne Manor, hoping for Bruce to take care of him. Bruce is forced to deal with the baby and he recruits Robin and Alfred's help to check over the baby while he goes to fight crime. Story: “The Caveman Batman” Writer: Edmond Hamilton Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: An archaeologist finds evidence that men and dinosaurs existed together at one point, but his discovery is considered fake by the Gotham Museum. In order to learn the truth of the mystery, Batman and Robin ask their friend Carter Nichols to send them back in time to the pre-historic era, where they find a hero by the name of Tiger-Man.
Detective Comics #222
Batman #94
August 1955 Cover Artist: Win Mortimer Story: “The Great Batman Swindle!” Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: Ned Judson, a wealthy yachtsman, is called to a mysterious castle once built by an eccentric millionaire, and comes face-to-face with the Brotherhood of Batmen. The leader, Batman Number One, convinces Judson that the figure of Batman is actually four people, and, because of the death of one of their members, he is to become Batman Number Four. Judson agrees and joins the Brotherhood, not knowing that all the members are actually criminals who want to take advantage of Judson's admiration for Batman.
September 1955 Cover Artist: Win Mortimer Story: “The Sign of the Bat!” Writer: Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: The only evidence to convict the leader of a ring of jewel thieves is stolen and Batman goes to confront the gangleader. After being mocked by the master criminal Batman devises a plan to make sure that the criminal and his gang are haunted by the famed but dreaded bat symbol each time they try to commit a crime. Story: “The New Batman!” Writer: Edmond Hamilton Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: While cleaning up the Batcave, Alfred decides to try on one of the Batsuits when he is accidentally struck on the head by a catapult held in the trophy room. When he awakens, he suffers from temporal amnesia and when he sees his reflection wearing the Batsuit, he believes he is the Batman. Batman and Robin learn of the unfortunate accident and they allow Alfred to continue his impersonation, to prevent a greater shock to his memory while Bruce decides to play the role of the butler. Story: “Mystery of the Sky Museum!” Writer: Edmond Hamilton Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Batman and Robin fly out to the Sky Museum outside Gotham in order to talk with the curator about a problem he has been having and they are forced to save the man as he struggles to keep an old air relic in the sky. Batman and Robin soon start investigating the case and a series of attempts on their lives take place.
Detective Comics #223 September 1955 Cover Artist: Win Mortimer Story: “The Batman Dime-Museum” Writer: Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: A man decides to start a phony Batman museum in Gotham City in order to amuse some people and earn some money. He invests a great amount on money creating the place, full of props and designed to look like the Batcave. The operation is successful and even Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson enjoy the place. However, Commissioner Gordon disapproves of the whole concept and demands the place to be closed.
Batman #95 October 1955 Cover Artist: Win Mortimer Story: “The Guardian of 100 Cities!” Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Batman and Robin look for some criminals who are hiding in a Hollywood studio lot. The lot's only inhabitant, a washed up actor turned night watchman, tries everything to stop them from capturing the crooks and ruining the setpieces stored on the lot. But after he is saved by Batman, he decides to help the Dynamic Duo capture the criminals. Story: “The Bat-Train” Writer: Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Various Police Departments across the country ask Batman to travel to each of their cities and give lectures about his crime-fighting career in order to deter people from turning to crime. For this purpose, the railroads outfit a special Bat-Train to serve as a mobile Batcave for the exhibitions. Story: “The Ballad of Batman” Writer: Edmond Hamilton Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: Sam Strong is a country singer whose dream is to go to Gotham City and create a tribute song in honor of his heroes, Batman and Robin. Sam's song becomes an instant hit and his name is recognized across the city. However, Sam's devotion proves a bit troublesome when he learns one of Batman's secret plans and he creates a song which gives away details about the plan.
Detective Comics #224
Detective Comics #225
October 1955 Cover Artist: Win Mortimer Story: “The Batman Machine” Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: While Batman and Robin are testing the new Batplane rockets they come across some crooks stealing from an explosive factory, and try to capture them without success. During the struggle, one of the criminals managed to tear a small part of the Batsuit, revealing a metallic part underneath. The crooks instantly assume that Batman is a machine, since a few nights ago, some crooks managed to kill Batman or so they believe.
November 1955 Cover Artist: Win Mortimer Story: “If I Were Batman” (12 pages) Writer: Edmond Hamilton Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Three men take the place of Batman while the real Caped Crusader is away, as part of an “If I Were Batman” contest run by the Gotham Gazette, and gangsters attempting to break John Larrow out of jail intend to capitalize on the occasion.
Batman #96
Detective Comics #226
December 1955 Cover Artist: Curt Swan / Win Mortimer Story: “His Majesty, King Batman” (8 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Batman switches places with the visiting king of a small nation to help nab a gang of thieves after the king’s crown jewels.
December 1955 Cover Artist: Win Mortimer Story: “When Batman Was Robin” (12 pages) Writer: Edmond Hamilton Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: When the late detective Harvey Harris has an old Robin costume sent to the Wayne estate, the modern Robin first learns of how a teenaged Bruce Wayne created the costume and identity of Robin to secretly become the apprentice of Harris and learn the art of detection.
Story: “Batman’s College Days” (8 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Bruce Wayne and four of his college classmates are guests aboard the yacht of Joe Danton, a one-time rival of Bruce Wayne’s, who reveals that he is about to die of a defective heart, but that he intends to see all of them die with him. Story: “The Third Alarm For Batman” (8 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Batman and Robin agree to help publicize a fire-prevention week in Gotham City while searching for a gang of smugglers.
Detective Comics #227
Batman #97
January 1956 Cover Artist: Win Mortimer Story: “The Fifty Faces of Batman” (12 pages) Writer: Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Batman teaches a class in makeup and disguise artistry for his friend, Barrett Kean, who taught him the arts of imposture. But a criminal photographer uses the opportunity to hatch a scheme to expose Batman’s secret identity.
February 1956 Cover Artist: Win Mortimer Story: “The Joker Announces Danger” (8 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: The Joker watches Batman debut as guest announcer for an anticrime TV program and is inspired to a new crime motif: announcing his crimes. Story: “Doom On Channel 14" (8 pages) Writer: Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Batman and Robin are captured by crooks on the scene of a TV program in which they are reenacting the Marty Kirk case. Story: “The Return of the Bat-Hound” (8 pages) Writer: Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: A gang of crooks forces a dog trainer to use his animals to help them commit crimes, but Batman and Robin even the odds by employing Bat-Hound on their side.
Detective Comics #228
Batman #98
February 1956 Cover Artist: Win Mortimer Story: “The Outlaw Batman” (12 pages) Writer: Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Batman is seriously injured while trying to capture some crooks and a doctor who witnesses the scene, offers to mend Batman's wounds before giving Batman some medication for his injuries. After that night, Bruce can't sleep without having terrible nightmares in which he commits steals items that he and Robin recently recovered in waking life.
March 1956 Cover Artist: Win Mortimer Story: “The Return of Mr. Future” (8 pages) Writer: Arnold Drake Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: After gangsters steal a deadly weapon designed by Jules Verne, Batman and Robin are sent back in time by Carter Nichols to get a counterweapon from Verne himself. Story: “The Desert Island Batman” (8 pages) Writer: Edmond Hamilton Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Criminals force a shipful of millionaires, including Bruce Wayne, ashore on a desert island, wreck their ship, and hold them for ransom, but Batman and Robin rescue them. Story: “Secret of the Batmobile” (8 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: A thief called the Racer has been using a speedy car to outdistance the Batmobile in every encounter, but Vicki Vale uncovers evidence that Batman is using a phony Batmobile.
Detective Comics #229
Batman #99
March 1956 Cover Artist: Win Mortimer Story: “The 10,000 Secrets of Batman” (12 pages) Writer: Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: Batman’s microfilmed crime-file is stolen during a TV crew’s visit to the Batcave, and the Caped Crusader uses his regular electronic crimefile to deduce the culprit.
April 1956 Cover Artist: Win Mortimer Story: “The Golden Eggs” (8 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: The Penguin frames a new series of crimes around the birds that hatch from a cache of eggs in his hideout. Story: “Batman--Frontier Marshal” (8 pages) Writer: Edmond Hamilton Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: A newspaper reporter finds an 1880 newspaper fragment with a photo of Batman in the Old West, so Batman and Robin have Prof. Nichols send them back to 1880 to uncover the solution to the mystery. Story: “The Phantom of the Bat-Cave” (8 pages) Writer: Edmond Hamilton Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Batman and Robin notice trophies in the Bat-Cave disappearing and being replaced by plastic top hats, and are blackmailed by Pardu, a magician, for $10,000 for their secrets.
Detective Comics #230 April 1956 Cover Artist: Win Mortimer Story: “The Mad Hatter of Gotham City” (12 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: The Mad Hatter seeks one crowning trophy for his collection of famous headgear--Batman’s cowl.
Detective Comics #231 May 1956 Cover Artist: Curt Swan / Stan Kaye Story: “Batman, Junior” (12 pages) Writer: Edmond Hamilton Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Robin learns that Batman had a partner before him, Batman, Jr., who, as John Vance, is helping them track down gangster Birrel Binter.
Batman #100 June 1956 Cover Artist: Dick Sprang, Ira Schnapp, Bob Kane, Charles Paris, Win Mortimer Story: “Batmantown, U.S.A.” (8 pages) Writer: Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: The city of Plainview changes its name to Batmantown in an effort to attract business. Batman and Robin arrive soon afterward for a visit, but Batman worries that the new name will attract criminals as well. Story: “The Hunters of Gotham City” (8 pages) Writer: Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Batman and Robin deal with escaped animals from a zoo ship, and discover one of the beasts is being used to smuggle diamonds. Story: “The Great Batman Contest” (8 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Batman holds a contest with a scholarship award to a high school student who invents the most useful “bat-weapon”, and uses the finalists’ inventions while fighting crime.
Detective Comics #232 June 1956 Cover Artist: Curt Swan / Stan Kaye Story: “The Outlaw Who Played Batman” (12 pages) Writer: Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: A gangster weasels his way into playing Batman in an upcoming movie, and uses the equipment and training he gets from the real Caped Crusader in perpetrating crimes.
Detective Comics #233 July 1956 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Story: “The Batwoman� (12 pages) Writer: Edmond Hamilton Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Kathy Kane, an heiress and former circus aerialist, becomes the Batwoman to aid Batman and Robin in their fight against crime, but Batman fears that her success thus far has been due to luck.
Batman #101 August 1956 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Story: "The Vanished Batman" (8 pages) Writer: Edmond Hamilton Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Gothamites are startled to see a Batman-less Robin taking care of crimes and emergencies on his own, and even more startled to see the Batmobile and Batplane and Bat-signal redesigned into a Robinmobile,Robinplane and Robin-signal, respectively. Story: "The Six Strangest Sleuths" Writer: Edmond Hamilton Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson attend a benefit show for the Vaudeville Relief Fund, featuring some of vaudeville's biggest stars. But the magic show of Scortini is used, unintended by the magician, as a disruption during which crooks rob the box office. Story: "The Great Bat-Cape Hunt" Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: While Alfred is helping them tidy up the Bat-Cave, Bruce and Dick Comment on a Batcape with a cowel that Alfred is holding, one sent to Bruce Wayne by a man who was convinced Wayne was Batman and has stitched in the cape's underside label with the message, "BRUCE WAYNE IS BATMAN." The sender died soon afterward, and Batman kept it as a trophy.
Detective Comics #234
Batman #102
August 1956 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff / Charles Paris Story: “Batman and Robin’s Greatest Mystery” (12 pages) Writer: Edmond Hamilton Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Criminal scientist Jay Caird robs Batman and Robin of their memories, and they must use their detective skills to learn who they really are.
September 1956 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Story: "The House of Batman" (8 pages) Writer: Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Wealthy philanthropist Adam Penfield dies, and in his will is left a provision for his left gift: money to be used to build a House of Batman, a headquarters in the center of Gotham City to be used by Batman and Robin. Story: "The Batman From Babylon" (8 pages) Writer: Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: Brand Bartor, a small-time crook, walks down Gotham streets in broad daylight wearing a Batman costume. He is nabbed and put on trial for it because, he says, he wants to test the validity of the law ruling that no man may wear a Batman uniform in Gotham City except Batman himself. Story: "The Caveman at Large" (6 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: An actor named Carlin, playing a caveman named Goth in a new picture called Stone Age Man, is hit in the head by a tusk of a mechanical mammoth, develops amnesia, and thinks he actually is a caveman.
Detective Comics #235 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Story: “The First Batman” (10 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: After seeing an old home movie of his father, Dr. Thomas Wayne, in a Batman costume for a masquerade party, and learning from Dr. Wayne’s diary that he was marked for death by gangster Lew Moxon, Batman and Robin realize that Joe Chill was only a tool of Moxon’s and go after the real murderer of Thomas Wayne, only to find he has no memory of Wayne or Chill.
Batman #103 October 1956 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Story: "The Broken Batman Trophies" Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: As Bruce Wayne is being interviewed on TV during Batman Day ceremonies, a mike boom falls and accidentally cuts Bruce on the chin. Later, as Batman, he is told that three gifts will be awarded him, and the camera will zoom in for a closeup each time. Batman accepts the awards for his past feats of derring-do, but he manages to drop and smash or disfigure every trophy and, in the process, blur the closeup picture. Story: "The League of Ex-Convicts" (8 pages) Writer: Arnold Drake Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Batman and Robin witness a live broadcast by Ed Stinson, an exconvict who has opened his own employment agency featuring ex-cons as clients. Stinson explains that society's prejudice against the former convict, plus the legal bars against him getting a civil service job or even a chauffeur's liscence, makes it imperative for private industry to give the reformed criminal an even break, escpecially those who have acquired productive skills in prison. Story: "Bat-Hound, Movie Star" (8 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: With his owner John Wilker in Europe on vaction, his dog Ace, in the keeping of Wilker's friend Bruce Wayne, is able to aid Batman and Robin as Bat-Hound. He is instrumental in helping them nab bank robber Baldy Gore, who swears vengeance upon his captors.
Detective Comics #236 October 1956 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Story: “The New-Model Batman” (10 pages) Writer: Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Criminal inventor Wallace Whaley gets out of prison and begins turning out inventions by which crooks can counter Batman’s equipment, and one super-weapon he intends to use himself.
Detective Comics #237 November 1956 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Story: “Search For a New Robin” (10 pages) Writer: Penciller; Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: After a Bruce Wayne dummy set up to preserve Batman’s secret identity is “murdered”, the Batman is forced to assume a new identity separate from the “deceased” Wayne and scout for a boy to play the new Robin.
Batman #104 December 1956 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Story: "The Man Who Knew Batman's Secret" (8 pages) Writer: Edmond Hamilton Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: Batman and Robin nab a pair of John Varden's hoods using a bazooka to loot a bank. The captured criminals refuse to rat on their elusive boss, but let slip the fact that Varden plans a big operation soon. To trap the gang leader, Batman and Robin hatch a plan. Story: "Robin's 50 Batman Partners" (8 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: Batman breaks his ankle during a fracas with the Sparkles Grady mob, and Robin has to take his place as representative at the Batman Exposition. The Exposition, covered on TV, features fifty images of Batman in various forms--as a colossal robot, a giant statue, a mechanical figure on a great clock, and so forth. Story: "The Creature From 20,000 Fathoms" (8 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Batman and Robin, as honorary members of the 50 Fathoms Club, a group of underwater specialists, attend a meeting at which deepsea diver Devoe presents photos of Babonga, a giant saurian monster which appears periodically at a Pacific island which Devoe visited.
Detective Comics #238 December 1956 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Story: “The Doors That Hid Disaster� (12 pages) Writer: Dave Wood Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Checkmate, an enemy of Batman, is dying from radiation poisoning, but leaves an elaborate deathtrap to his men for use against Batman and Robin.
Detective Comics #239 January 1957 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff / Charles Paris Story: “Batman’s Robot Twin” (12 pages) Writer: Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: A gangster gains control of a robot twin of Batman equipped with a simulation of the real Batman’s mind, including knowledge of his secret identity.
Batman #105 February 1957 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Story: "The Challenge Of Batwoman" (10 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Kathy Kane, still bound by her promise to Batman not to assume her Batwoman identity to fight crime, does it nonetheless to go to a costume party. At the same time, Batman and Robin are carrying out an attack on the mob of a mysterious, masked gang boss who is attemping to loot the mail car of a passing train. Story: "The Second Boy Wonder" (6 pages) Writer: France Herron Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Batman and Robin are returning from a battle with gangster Gorilla Hardy and his men, during which Batman has to rescue a captive and a bound Robin. In the Batcave, Batman changes into his Bruce Wayne civilian identity, but when "Robin" removes his mask and reveals a different face than that of Dick Grayson's. Story: "The Mysterious Bat-Missle" (8 pages) Writer: Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Batman and Robin are flabbergasted by the sight of a black, capsule-shaped missle with the Bat-insignia on its hull emerging from the floor of the Batcave without leaving a hole behind it.
Detective Comics #240 February 1957 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Story: “The Outlaw Batman” (12 pages) Writer: Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: Batman finds himself accused of accumulating stolen loot from criminals he has captured, and appears to be unable to clear his name.
Batman #106 March 1957 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Story: "Batman’s Secret Helper" (8 pages) Writer: Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: A new television program stars Batman relating stories of people who have helped him in past cases, and presenting them for their hour of recognition before the camera. Story: "Storm Over Gotham City" (8 pages) Writer: Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: When a hurricane proves too powerful for even hunter planes to chart, the National Weather Bureau has Commissioner Gordon request Batman and Robin to do the job in their Batplane. Story: "The Puppet Batman" (8 pages) Writer: Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: During a performance of the Gotham City Charity Circus, Batman is forced by a strange compulsion to play a trumpet solo, make a high dive into shallow water, and play lion-tamer to a cageful of big cats--all skills he has never before exhibited.
Detective Comics #241 March 1957 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Story: “The Rainbow Batman” (12 pages) Writer: Edmond Hamilton Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Dick Grayson sprains his arm while rescuing a little girl from a car. Thus, Batman wears differently-colored uniforms during his succeeding appearances to distract attention from Robin’s wounded arm.
Batman #107 April 1957 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Story: "The Boy Who Adopted Batman" (8 pages) Writer: Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Danny Benson's father is dead and his mother works days, so, when he gets lonely--which is often--he goes and talks to another fatherfigure, the statue of Batman in a Gotham Park. Story: "Robin Falls In Love" (8 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Batman and Robin take in a rehearsal of the "Ice Capers" show they will make an appearance for chairty in a week. While there, Robin swings down and rescues Vera Lovely, a beautiful teen-aged skater, from crashing into a ring of fire blown off-position by a fan. Vera insists on rewarding Robin with a kiss, which a photographer takes a picture of, and Robin begins to fall--hard--for Vera. Story: "The Grown-Up Boy Wonder" (8 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: When Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson examine a box which Superman found floating in outer space and left with them until he returned from a current mission, Dick accidentally causes it to open and spew forth a gas that ages him to a young adult.
Detective Comics #242 April 1957 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Story: “The Underworld Bat-Cave” (12 pages) Writer: Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Brainy Walker uses an elaborate treasure-hunt ruse to trick Robin into revealing the location of the Bat-Cave, and intends to force them out of their headquarters.
Detective Comics #243 May 1957 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Story: “Batman the Giant” (12 pages) Writer: Edmond Hamilton Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: Batman is turned into a thirty-foot giant by a scientist’s Maximizer ray, and the Minimizer which can restore him to normal height is stolen by a crook.
Batman #108 June 1957 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Story: "The Big Batman Quiz" (8 pages) Writer: Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Batman appears on The Big Quiz program to verify the answers given by super-contestants Frank Davis, who stands to win $125,000 from correct responses to questions about Batman's career. Story: "Prisoners of The Bat-Cave" (6 pages) Writer: Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: John Roddy, convicted of killing a man named Winters and scheduled for the death house, pleads his innocence to Batman, who believes him. Story: "The Caper of Batman Jones" (10 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Years ago, near the genesis of his career, Batman used his Batmobile to stop and out-of-control car, saving the family within. The grateful father and mother named their newborn son Batman Jones in his honor.
Detective Comics #244 June 1957 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Story: “The 100 Batarangs of Batman� (12 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: A crook put in jail by Batman with a Batarang begins a plan to use bomb batarangs against Batman when he is released.
Detective Comics #245
Batman #109
July 1957 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Story: “The Dynamic Trio” (12 pages) Writer: Edmond Hamilton Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Batman and Robin join with a new costumed partner, Mysteryman, to take down a ring of crook-smugglers in Gotham, and Vicki Vale vows to discover their new partner’s identity.
August 1957 Cover Artist: Bob Kane / Lew Schwartz Story: "Three Crimes Against Batman" (8 pages) Writer: Artist: Bob Kane Synopsis: A villian named Bagley, in his Dragon Fly craft, is able to exert enough force with an electromagnet to steal metal objects by drawing them through the air to his airborne plane. However, the only objects that he steals are models or busts of Batman or his equipment. Story: "Follow the Batman" (8 pages) Writer: Artist: Bob Kane Synopsis: A Gotham mob trains Waller, one of its members, to impersonate Batman in order to help them during a big job. Story: "The 1,001 Inventions Of Batman" (8 pages) Writer: Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: Using their Flying Eye spy-device, Batman and Robin are able to pick up two crooks' conversation that reveals the thieves' boss is planning a big heist using one of Batman's own inventions.
Detective Comics #246 August 1957 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff / Charles Paris Story: “Murder At Mystery Castle� (12 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Batman and Robin investigate the crossbow murder of a gun manufacturer in an ancient, imported castle.
Batman #110 September 1957 Cover Artist: Curt Swan / Win Mortimer Story: "Crime-Of-The-Month Club" (8 pages) Writer: Dave Wood Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: After barely stopping the theft of a $50,000 black orchid at a flower show in may, Batman and Robin compare it to other odd recent crimes in police files, such as a March 15th holdup by baloon at the Gotham Gas Works or an April Fools Day heist at a fur warehouse by men wearing strange masks. Story: "The Secret Of Batman's Butler" (8 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: While Batman and Robin are out on a mission, Alfred sits down and begins composing an farewell letter. He writes to his employers about how he began work for them, and how, shortly afterward, he was approached by a man named Noyes, who tried to get information about Bruce Wayne from him, even at the point of bribery. Story: "The Phantom Batman" (8 pages) Writer: Edmond Hamilton Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: Batman and Robin's current problem is finding the Len Landers Mob, which has committed three major thefts without hindrance.
Detective Comics #247 September 1957 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Story: “The Man Who Ended Batman’s Career” (12 pages) Writer: Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Criminal scientist Professor Milo succeeds in giving Batman a phobia about bats, causing him to adopt the costume and identity of Starman.
Batman #111 October 1957 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Story: "The Gotham City Safari"(8 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Bob Kane Synopsis: Batman and Robin have been made members of the Safari Club, a group of Gotham big-game hunters. Their host, Alec Judson, takes them on a tour of his palatial country estate, subdivided into different areas to simulate such locales as Africa, Mexico, and Malay, and each stocked with appropriate wild animals. Story: "The Other Bruce Wayne" (8 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Bob Kane Synopsis: Commissioner Gordon calls the Wayne Manor to summon Bruce Wayne, not Batman, to headquaters. There Bruce finds an unexpected newcomer, his father's cousin and his own namesake, Bruce N. Wayne. Story: "The Armored Batman" (8 pages) Writer: Edmond Hamilton Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: After a man in a trenchcoat appears at the Gotham City Hall of Fame and tells the assembled reporters to let Batman know that Blair Graeme, is after him, Batman and Robin, who arrive shortly afterward, are apparently thrown into a panic.
Detective Comics #248 October 1957 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Story: “Around the World In Eight Days” (12 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: To save a dying patient in need of a miracle drug, Batman and Robin must literally trace a ring of criminal fences around the world.
Detective Comics #249 November 1957 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Story: “The Crime of Bruce Wayne” (12 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Bruce Wayne agrees to impersonate the Collector and go to jail as part of Commissioner Gordon’s plot to capture the masked criminal. But Wayne is framed for a guard’s death in the Big House, and Batwoman and Robin must clear his name before he can be executed.
Batman #112
Detective Comics #250
December 1957 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Story: "The Signalman Of Crime" (8 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Phil Cobb, a criminal from a small town, comes to Gotham with the idea of forming a gang and hitting the big time. But the underworld is less that enthusiastic about teaming with a small-timer without a reputation.
December 1957 Cover Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Story: “Batman’s Super-Enemy” (12 pages) Writer: Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: A crook finds a spaceship from the planet Skar loaded with three alien devices, and plans to use them all against Batman.
Story: "Batman's Roman Holiday" (8 pages) Writer: Edmond Hamilton Artist: Dick Sprang Synopsis: Professor Carter Nichols displays his greatest achievement, the time-ray, to Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson. With this ray, developed from his time-hypnosis technique, he can send anybody--including himself, this time--back to the past and return them automaticly in ten days, provided he stands in the same spot he arrived at. Story: "Am I Really Batman?" (8 pages) Writer: Bill Finger Artist: Sheldon Moldoff Synopsis: Batman awakens from deep sleep to find himself in a padded cell. When he calls for a guard to let him out and tells him who he is, the guard points to another inmate who fanices himself Napoleon. Batman yells for them to call Robin to identify him, but a psychiatrist comes and lets him see on television Batman and Robin receiving a medal from the police department.
VOLUME 6 1955 - 1957
An Explanation of the Comics Index In this series, we examine every issue of every DC and Marvel comic book of the silver and the bronze age and also provide you with a color reproduction of the comic’s cover, a complete listing of the creative people involved in producing the comic, a summary of what happened in each adventure, and various other information. All comics indexed in a series will run in serial order, beginning with the first issue or the earliest issue that features the series being indexed. Each of the index entries is as self-explanatory as possible. Some of the criteria we used to create an index entry are provided below. Cover Credits It usually takes many people to produce a comic book cover, from conception and design through coloring and production, and it is impossible to credit them all. The Artist, responsible for the basic execution of the cover, does the lion’s share of the work. If more than one artist works on a cover, some usually pencil and the others usually ink. Records of artists and letterers are sometimes unavailable, particularly for covers that appeared many years ago, so the identities of some cover artists and letterers are the best guesses that the indexers and DC’s and Marvel's current editors and art staff can make. Credits other than Artist or Artists and Letterer appear where known. Story Information Story titles are given as they appear on the title pages, not as on the covers or in coming attractions. When a story lacks a title or title page (a rare occurrence), a note to this effect appears as a Comment. Story credits are taken from the credits as published. As with cover credits, it is impossible to credit everybody who worked on a story, but whenever additional information is available, it appears in the Index. If the published credits in a story are incorrect, the Index corrects them wherever possible.
Chronology A time line for all of DC’s and Marvel's comics that allows proper chronological ordering of the appearances of every DC and Marvel character is far from complete. Nevertheless, some appearances are known to precede or follow others. Whenever chronological information is known reliably but is not obvious from the continuity of the stories, it is noted in parentheses. “First appearance” accompanies a character’s listing when the comic is the earliest one in which the character appears. A first appearance is not necessarily a character’s chronologically earliest appearance, which might occur, for example, in an origin flashback first told many years later. As a general rule, in the case of feature characters who are members of a team but who also appear in their own features or comics, issue-by-issue chronological notations for these characters are made in the indexes to their own features, not in the index to the team feature. For instance, Superman’s chronology is noted in The Superman Index, not in The Justice League of America Index. A casual reading of a few Plot Synopses will make it abundantly clear that a whole month does not usually pass for the characters in between monthly issues of a comic. Many issues begin hours or even minutes after the previous month’s story. Consequently, a character who has had his own feature for ten years will not have aged ten years in the time it took for those comics to come out. As for trying to determine in what year a given adventure takes place, there’s no conclusive answer. Specific dates that appear in stories, as well as mention of current events and popular culture, depictions of contemporary fashions, and usage of contemporary slang, are all what is known as Topical References. These are specific details added by a writer or artist to a story to make it seem current at the time the story is being published. They are not necessarily indicators of when — what year or even what decade — a story took place.