Welcome to episode five of Legends of the Batman, the show covering everything Batman — from the beginning! The show’s premise is a simple one. Each episode, we cover a month of Batman, be it comic books, television, movies, whatever, starting with his first appearance in 1939.
It was bound to happen! After four episodes of peace, hosts Michael Kaiser and Michael Bradley butt heads over a story in an epic clash sure to go down in history, like those of Ali vs. Frazier, Montagues vs. Capulets and Red Sox vs. Yankees! The story in question comes from DETECTIVE COMICS #31 and finds the Batman battling on land, sea and air to save the life of Bruce Wayne’s fiancée when he meets a nefarious new menace in the form of The Monk! Will such a mammoth confrontation mean the end of the Batman — or the show?! Tune-in, Bat-fans, and find out!
Things We Learned:
- Bruce Wayne has a fiancée;
- Bat-aviation vehicles are extremely technologically advanced;
- Military-grade smoke grendades? Check. Chemical knock-out gas pellets? Check. Custom-made Baterangs? Check. Simple pocket knife? D’oh;
- Mutant were-apes grow quickly;
- No, really. He’s engaged.
Images from Coverage:
Reference Links:
- Homages to the cover of this episode’s issue appeared on BATMAN #227 by Neal Adams and BATMAN AND THE MAD MONK #1 by Matt Wagner. The latter is the first issue of six-issue series, written and illustrated by Wagner, based on the story told in the issues covered this episode and next.
- Speaking of recreations, check out this one by Bob Kane, done in the early ’80s for someone named Ike. Also, this stained glass version by Brandon Michael Barker is pretty cool, as well.
- Vicki Vale’s ride in the Batmobile from Tim Burton’s “Batman.”
How to Get this Episode
There are a few ways you can get this episode. You can listen immediately by clicking on the player below. You can also download the episode directly or subscribe to the show via iTunes or the RSS feed! Questions or comments? Additions or corrections? Drop us a line! You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter, to send us your thoughts, as well! And don’t forget to check out our partners, Batman: Yesterday, Today and Beyond for all sorts of Batman goodness in non-podcast form.
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While this is certainly a goofy story (or, more accurately, a sloppy story), I don’t have the same problem with it as Michael K. does, where we are coming in in the middle. Apparently, Batman suspects something is wrong with Julie and is following up on it (that’s what he “soon will know”). Julie and the man she’s been sent to kill are both connected to The Monk, which is why the man fears her — he realizes she’s an agent of The Monk. Perhaps they’ve both seen people hypnotised by him before.
Since Bruce is a wealthy socialite, his engagement would be news, so it’s not surprising The Batman could know about it, without anyone suspecting he’s Bruce.
The “Martians!” guy is definitely a “War of the Worlds” reference. Welles’s broadcast panicked quite a few people the previous year, and this is Gardner Fox’s comment on that.