Batman #153

In 1972, Crown/Harmony published Batman from the 30s to the 70s, a collection of Batman reprints. 

A few years later, while on a Sunday trip ‘up West’ with my parents, I came across a paperback copy of this collection in an Athena shop on Piccadilly Circus. I begged my parents to buy it for me, and I read that book cover to cover - countless times - immersing myself in Batman stories that ran the gamut from Golden Age simplicity to early Bronze Age sophistication. There was one story in particular, however, that entranced me: “Prisoners of Three Worlds” guest-starring Batwoman and Bat-Girl.

The story was reprinted from Batman #153, a comic from 1962 that I don’t own. However, due to the miracle of digital comics, I am able to read this story again while my beat up copy of the book remains packed away in a box somewhere in the cellar.

There was one reason in particular that I found this story so memorable: 

Aww..isn’t that sweet?

Long after I’d forgotten the plot of this story, those two panels stayed with me for the next 40 odd years. The plot, now that I’ve reread it, is beyond bizarre. Written by Bill Finger, with art by Sheldon Moldoff and Charles Paris, has Batman and Robin, and Batwoman and Bat-GirL, while out on patrol, come across an alien stealing silver. While attempting to stop him, Robin and Bat-Girl are transported to the alien’s dimension, while Batman and Batwoman have their life force sucked out of them and transported to the same dimension.

In that other dimension, Robin and Bat-Girl help quell a coup, and the life-forces of Batman and Batwoman battle a strange race of bird people. Needless to say, all the heroes make it back to earth and put an end to the alien’s plot. Then this happens:

What a chump!

The story reads like some sort of fever dream, so it’s no wonder Grant Morrison put this story back into Batman’s continuity, during his iconic run early this century, as an example of his writer’s conceit that all of Batman’s continuity happened. Apparently it was down to Batman’s experiments with sensory deprivation.

I can’t honestly say this is a great comic, but I’ll forgive it a lot for the nostalgia it so wonderfully evokes.

Bee-Boy awarded this comic 2 stings

The Brave and the Bold #141

Any issue of The Brave and the Bold written by Bob Haney and pencilled, inked, and lettered by Jim Aparo should be revered as the perfect comfort comic. Professional in all aspects, except for, perhaps, Haney’s disinterest in adhering to the minutiae of DC continuity, these team-ups are always a joy; as is this issue’s teaming of Batman and Black Canary against the Joker.

The Joker has taken up a murderous new scam as a loan shark, or as Batman puts it…

LIKE I SUSPECTED, THESE KILLINGS ARE LIKE A CRAZY SEQUEL TO “JAWS”…LOAN SHARKS!

A topical reference at the time, to be sure, but maybe a better sequel idea than the one we actually got.

Anyhow, Black Canary becomes involved with the Joker’s shenanigans while in her civilian identity as Dinah Lance, fashion designer. It’s fair to say that Dinah was constantly trying on new careers after she left Earth-Two for Earth-One, and I suppose she did design and sew together Red Tornado’s gaudy red and yellow outfit with the leg stripes and arrow on his head, though I’m not sure that monstrosity would qualify her for a role in fashion.

Batman and Black Canary team-up to take down the Joker using Alfred as bait, after Bruce Wayne does this…

Bruce Wayne doesn't beat around the bush!

Needless to say, after being subjected to possible poverty in his dotage, and being blown up by the Joker, Alfred lives to serve Master Bruce another day.

Bee-Boy awarded this comic 4 out of 5 stings

Superman’s Girl Friend Lois Lane #99

Lois Lane and Lana Lang’s rivalry was always going to end badly. That’s Robert Kanigher’s story premise for the lead feature, and it just about works. The cover is by the classic Swanderson (Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson) team, and the interior art by Irv Novick. After one of their legendary spats, Lois tries to apologise to Lana but the car she’s driving swerves off a bridge into a river. Lana is seemingly killed, and Lois has amnesia. Cue Superman acting as the prosecution in Lois’ trial for murder, and Batman offering to defend her. How does it end? I have no idea because it continues into the next issue.

There’s also a reprint from Superman’s Girl Friend Lois Lane #3 (1958). The title “The Man Who Was Clark Kent’s Double” - if you know your Silver Age Lois Lane -  tells you all you need to know. Suffice to say, that hussy Lois dumps Superman when she meets a more manly double of Clark Kent, but her prying gets her dumped in return. It’s drawn by Kurt Schaffenberger, and doesn’t look dated at all.

Bee-Boy awarded this comic 3 stings out of 5