Had a bitch of a day so instead of doing reviews I will be beginning my comprehensive Batman read through starting with Batman: the Golden Age V1, which contains Detective Comics 27-45, Batman 1-3 and New World World's Fair #2.

I guess I’ll do occasional reactions because how can I not? I love how Gordon just casually takes socialite Bruce Wayne to crime scenes. Also just going up to a suspect and saying, They say you killed your father! Sure is a tactic.

Wait what? First of all his car is just like a red car. I knew that the Batmobile didn’t get to stylish until later, but literally this car is red. Also, from the side his ears are actual ears they’re not just points. I knew the original ears were kind of curvy and off to the

side, but I didn't realize they had the contours of actual eats, what the whole hell, Bruce, that's weird.

Ps you may be saying to yourself please dont tell me you've never read Batman's first appearance before! the answer is "ok i did but i was like 8 what do you want from me."

So… Gotham has always been like this…

So… Batman has always been like this…

Bruce that’s really unethical! But seriously it’s interesting how much of the basic Batman mythology is already in place even in the first or second stories. You already have Bruce swinging into windows on a rope we’re jumping off of buildings also on a rope.

He used to use a lasso instead of a grapple gun but yeah a lot of the basic elements were always there. pretty cool.

... are you kidding me.

OK now things are getting exciting. First of all this is the first appearance of the utility belt in detective comics number 29 so it took him three issues to get the utility belt and I feel like at this point pretty much the majority of his basic presentation has come together.

But also I find the idea of putting a public message in the Paper telling Batman to go to the post office and ask for a letter addressed to John Jones is flawed because clearly Bruce Wayne was able to do that and collect the letter in civilian clothes, so obviously the villain

didn't even leave them instructions to look for a guy dressed as a bat, wtf.

His first leap through a window without opening it or making sure that it was open...

Oh I just saw this panel get mentioned.

And this is Dr. death, Batman’s first super villain. Or I guess his first recurring villain

... I don't even know where to begin with #30. It's so weird. First of all, it's the first appearance of Julie Madison, aka Bruce's original love interest, which is fine. We first meet her when Batman finds her standing on the street about to kill someone.

So Bruce takes her to the doctor and the doctor is just like heywhy don’t you go on vacation so they go on vacation.This is also the first appearance of the batarang And the first batvehicle!

But anyway Julie goes on vacation and then The Monk just kind of shows up on the boat and, uhh idek Bruce gets on his plane and follows the boat to Paris, and then....

Suddenly monkey! Well ape.

Next thing you know there's a snake pit and a gigantic gorilla and... when people talk about how early Batman was grounded and realistic someone please tell them it took all of four issues for him to be fighting a giant gorilla in a random castle in the middle of Paris while

pursuing a 7 foot tall dude in red robes called the Monk who has apparently supernatural hypnotic powers.

Detective Comics #32, the first appearance of the patented Batman cape move. Also I forgot to mention that the Monk threatened to feed Julie to his werewolves, and now a woman has bitten Julie on the throat.

and like, Batman's just, "vampires! I knew I shouldn't trust you!" Very grounded, very realistic yes.

It's also fun watching his outfit evolve. For example, you can clearly see his cowl becoming the famous cowl that it is today instead of having, well, contoured bat ears.

...first of all that wolf looks like an otter, second of all REALISTIC AND GROUNDED. Also the relationship between Bruce and Batman and Julie is so weird, because Julie doesn't know Bruce is Batman but she kind of treats him as though she does... and the Monk ALSO treats her as

though Batman and Julie are a thing. It's weird. I guess I shouldn't overthink it, considering this story is LITERALLY ALMOST 100 YEARS OLD, OH MY GOD.

Also in early stories Batman does kill a few people but not like, as many as people sometimes seem to imply, and a lot of time it's by accident.

Also: first origin sequence. Thomas gets a name, but Martha doesn't. Ears have fully transitioned.

Notably, it's specifically 15 years between the beginnings of his Batmanning and the death of the Waynes in these early issues so like, I guess he was maybe 25ish?

Legend.

This issue also specifically namedrops his city as Manhatta - Gotham is a bit farther off.

*Manhattan

The mythos continues to grow. Bruce shows himself to have a secret base (quite modest compared to what it evolves into) and his car becomes longer, darker and has, if you look closely, a bar decal on the hood.

First time the Batplane is called the Batplane, and also the Batplane has a bat face on the front, which I am PRETTY sure isn't aerodynamic.

I wonder if people would be open to Bruce being a master scientist these days or if that would trigger a freak out.

Bruce sure is calm about this.

You know, for a second I legit expected that to be the Question, but of course he wasn't even a thing yet.

And the age of the supertraps begins.

......

Okay back to this. And back to Gordon just casually inviting Bruce to listen in on police business even after he says lol maybe i'll write a story about this!

Hey one of the true "joys" of really old comics: casual racism.

So basically the story is that a dude finds a giant ruby carved into a statue of "Kila, the Hindu god of destruction" and sells it to a curio collecting rich guy. The rich guy then gets a threatening note saying

he has to return the ruby statue to the temple it came from or be destroyed, so he ran to Gordon and here they are chasing down the uhh, Indian people I guess. Honestly, he p;robably should just return the statue, it was stolen from a foreign temple and all but hey.

Detective Comics #35 - first appearance of the blue car that looks set to morphe into a true batmobile. Anyway the idol gets stolen by the... group of people in the car, and they bring it to Chinatown for some reason, and specifically a shop called Sin Fang's and so Batman goes

to see... "Wong, unofficial mayor of Chinatown" who tells him Sin Fang trades in stolen goods. Sin Fang on the other hand tells Batman he doesnt like stolen goods and then tries to have him killed by dudes with swords. Uhh, but then it turns out that Sin Fang is actually some

white guy in yellowface and he killed the real Sin Fang and hired a bunch of actors to pretend to be Indians and uhh yeah so Bruce throws the ruby idol at him and he falls out the window and dies the end

Im gonna say the best part about that one is that when the guy dies, Gordon is just like, dammit the Batman is doing it better than us! and I'm like, well he's killing all the suspects (generally by accident but...).

Sorry, what? Hugo Strange is literally an earlier character than Robin, Alfred or the Joker.

No words.

I lied. This is hilarious. Also this is issue 36 of Tec and Batman is already starting to take on more of a Superhero look rather than a Shadow style look. His dialogue also gets punchier here. He starts to emerge as a hero for the people instead of a grim avenger.

1. That same blurb appears in #36, so I guess it's his first recurring descriptive blurb! No idea how long it'll last.

2. "Batman gets lost and decides to ask directions" sure is an opening for a Batman story that would literally never happen today & not just because of GPS.

omg. I don't know what's funnier, the way Bruce asks if this guy being tortured might get a cold because his shirt is open or the criminal who is also a Batman fan.

Next time someone says modern mystery stories are being hampered by the internet because research is all about google ima tell them about the time Batman found the criminal by looking his name up in the phone book.

This is just funny, I don't know how else to put it, he's just like,

Tomorrow I will call upon the Turgs!

Perhaps this Turg might be the suspect, because he runs a grocery store in an area that doesn't seem to be good for business seeing as there aren't any houses around!

Out of Context Batman

And Bruce develops his signature silhouette and his signature musculature. Coming along, coming along.

...

He should foil more murder attempts by opening the door behind him.

AND NOW WE COME TO A NEW ERA. But I guess I'll take a break and do current reviews for a little bit..... maybe....

I take it back, how can I turn away from this. SO HEY DICK GRAYSON'S FIRST APPEARANCE LETS GO

Man, I like Haly's attitude. Some Mafia guys come over like, protection money bub, and he literally is like, I GET IT, I GET IT, YOU'RE GANGSTERS, JFC FUCK OOOOOFF.

Come on, I can't snark about this, look at them, they're so cute. Also, uh Dick definitely looks like a teenager, like I get that he's supposed to be a kid but I do wonder how young he was meant to be inthis first issue because his age isn't given and he doesnt look THAT young.

After "months" of training Dick goes back to the town he came from and gets a job as a newspaper kid, where he pretends to be scared of the uh bully newspaper kids who I guess work for Zucco. He follows them to Zucco's place and listens in on his plans then reports back to Bruce.

...sick burn.

You know, I don't recall Batman smiling at all before now. Which is interesting.

Ok here's the thing: I would definitely say that Batman was already evolving into more of a Superhero figure. I did mention already that he was becoming punchier, witty, etc. So in fact, bringing

Robin into the story is certainly a reflection of where they were choosing to go rather than causing the tone shift, like the tone had already shifted.

But that said, from an inworld perspective, it really is the perfect way to explain Bruce coming into his upbeat period.

Because suddenly he's smiling and making puns, you know? So while the Doylist POV would be that they decided to take Batman in a more childfriendly direction thus they brought in Robin, the WATSONIAN perspective says meeting Dick made Bruce happier, and that! Is completely valid.

I mean, the man sent Zucco a bat in a box.

FIRST APPEARANCE OF DICK GRAYSON AS ROBIN aside from that one panel that wasn't actually in the story flow, it was just a wrap on his origin.

NO WHY ARE THEY SO CUTE

OKAY BACK TO THIS, so I've reached Batman #1 which means we're about to enter the era of the big costumed rogues. rubs hands together!

So the first story in Batman #1 is a reprint of his origin from Detective 33, the only difference being that they changed the plot relevant dirigible image to this big pic of Bruce. Also some coloring things.

And then right on to the Joker. In his first story ever, he kills a millionaire and steals the guy's super cool diamond and is creepy AF. Yikes!

Day 2, he does it again but this time he hides in a suit of armor and talks to the corpse. Then some gangster gets mad and challenges the Joker, who shows up and shoots him. Behold: Bruce chasing the Joker for the very first time.

This reminds me of how, in the old Mayfair DC Superheroes RPG, the Joker had a strength stat of 6 and Batman's was only 5.

Joker here is disguised as the "police chief" which, oddly enough, doesn't seem to be Gordon, who hasn't appeared in some time! And of course we establish that Bruce is an inventor! ...of weird shoes.

And so begins a beautiful friend...ship???

Story #2 is the return of Hugo Strange, including the first appearance of his famous Monster Men!

Looks like that's also the first appearance of Arkham, though at the time it was just "The Insane Asylum." Anyway, here's Bruce demonstrating his politeness even when captured "Good evening!" and then uhh I guess he keeps explosive chemicals in his shoe. K.

Just casually kicking Hugo Strange out a window or whatever. It does occur to me that the lethal force has already tapered off. Also that Bruce just mixed the antidote to the monster men formula in five minutes, and people think he's op NOW.

But yeah, see? As of this point Bruce hasn't yet gone full code vs killing but he's already shifted from "he's dead! A fitting end!" to "I hate to do it, but...!" as of Batman #1.

Also, someone is a King Kong fan, haha.

This story is also notable as the first time Dick wasn't in a story post-his intro but you know. Anyway next up I'm pretty sure is the Catwoman intro.

Yep, it's the first appearance of the nameless woman who would one day become Selina Kyle. Basically a yacht has a bunch of rich people including a specifically special necklace on it and Bruce kind of assumes someone will try to steal it so he sends Dick to infiltrate as a

server. Meanwhile, Catlady is masquerading as an old woman. Dick finds a note from the Cat instructing as a guy to keep Mrs Travers (owner of the necklace) away from her room, and when Dick investigates, the necklace is already gone. Also look at his face.

Some gangsters come on board the ship to steal the necklace but it's too late, it's already gone, lolol. The gangsters decide to go ahead and steal everything ELSE and then Dick interferes.

And then Bruce just kinda pops out of nowhere and, I guess, decides to have the four crooks that were trying to steal the necklace fight Dick?? Okay Bruce. ...and then he breaks the fourth walls HEY.

....and then he wins a costume contest!

And, of course, the reveal.

AND the very first time Bruce lets a criminal go on purpose, albeit it's an undercover kind of on purpose, lmao. Hormones, Bruce, hormones.

Also nice of him to remember Julie given that she hasn't appeared in ages, HAHA. Anyway time to update the love interests thread. :P

Fourth story is... the second appearance of the Joker! Notably using the same technique as Bruce except instead of the chemicals being in his show they're... in his teeth?!?!

And much like Black Mask eventually will, he has a secret hideout in a graveyard. Also worth noting: we have our third police chief? Of course first we had Gordon and then that nameless guy and now it's a guy called Chalmers?

Joker v. Bat round 2, and also I guess Gordon is back!?!? And still inappropriately sharing information with Bruce.

Notably the Joker really likes jewels in this earliest incarnation of him.

Like, a lot.

Wow, his second appearance and he's already starting up his tradition of trying to murder Robins. Took him a while to perfect the technique, though. ...apologies to Jason.

Anyway, WHAT HE STABBED HIMSELF IN THE HEART BY ACCIDENT, ROFL

Apparently, the Joker was originally intended to die in this story for real and for true, which would fit the general pattern I've seen of villains appearing in two stories before they meet their end... but someone saw the potential in this

character and suggested the last panel pulling a switch, which explains why it's so tacked on. Good choice, though.

It's fascinating to see how much of the Joker is already in place (his venom, his casual murders, his finding things funny when they really are... horrible,

eg even his accidental suicide just made him crack up. But at the same time, he comes off as much less chaotic and psychotic and much more of a methodical criminal mastermind - and a genius who is show mixing chemicals and such. Also, while he was a killer even then, it seems

more like murders with a primary goal of robbery. INTERESTING.

Hugo Strange has changed the most, and I daresay his current psychiatrist incarnation is much more interesting than the sort of generic scientist villain that he began his career as.

As for Selina, we see the same primary crime - jewel theft with no real push toward murder unlike with the Joker - but a very different method. The Joker's method of stealing is actually much closer to the modern Selina's since he sneaks into people's houses and takes their

stuff, but of course he also kills them whereas she doesn't. Haven't seen Selina in a disguise for a minute.

The attraction between Batman and Catwoman has clearly been there from the start along with his tendency to accidentally let her get away, though this early it's more of

a femme fatale/dangerous temptation sort of thing, IMO. That said I can certainly see why people would glom onto that dynamic - Bruce isn't overtly romantic or attracted toward Julie at all, although presumably he's meant to be in love with her since they're engaged.

Anyway Detective Comics #39.

I'm just gonna leave this here.

Aaaaaanyway Wong, unofficial mayor of Chinatown, is killed with a hatchet.

Also I'm not trying to be too serious during a readthrough of golden age craziness but this right here is why I want them to get rid of certain aspects of the al ghul design, like the two whisps of hair on Ra's' face.

I mean come on!

Anyway, so Tec40 is the first appearance of Claymore, and this is actually one of my favorites so far. It's got this cool Hollywood vibe and some misdirects - being a modern lady I know who Clayface is, but at the time, the red herrings were probably pretty effective.

Also Bruce spends a lot of time just kind of thinking, "there sure is a lot of whatever happening there, I'd better hang around until someone gets murdered or something gets stolen and then solve that crime!" I'm just saying. He never misses though because the blond actress

is killed the next day.

And geez look at this dramatic weirdo.

I feel like after Batman #1 the writing changed a little. We're starting to see more of Bruce and his life, his relationship with Julie Madison (albeit a short lived relationship), etc. Everything's a bit less...

direct, I guess, like straight for the action. Less of that and more, "Gosh Bruce, I'm scared" and "I'm being attacked by an elf wtf?!"

"A passkey is used." Bruce you're at someone else's house, why do you have a passkey.

Anyway first mention of Clayface!

I think this is the first time they've really gotten into the idea that the villain is mentally ill - Hugo Strange was in an "insane asylum" but here we've got Karlo with a real disconnect from reality with regards to real life vs. his film roles.

Okay so Tec 41, a murder and a disappearance at a boys' boarding school leads Bruce to enroll Dick in the school to look into wtf is going on. And he's supposed to keep in touch with the freaking wireless in his belt I can't. BATMAN HAS ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THIS.

Honestly this issue is a bit boring IMO, I guess because... boys boarding school but that said, this bit just... is so great. FREAKING MINIGAMES FOR KIDS INSIDE THE COMICS i love to see it.

And yeah good thought seeing as he grows up to be Nightwing!

Our next Joker appearance seems to be the first crossover with him and Catwoman. Second, I did a double take on Bruce's plan, lmao what. He sure has changed in one year!

Anyway, some gangsters are also planning to kidnap the Joker, but to have him replace their dead boss.

"Batman" shows up and the cops are like, let's trap him and take him in!!! Batman fights back and they're all, 'what! I wouldn't have expected this of batman! I mean it's not him, but nevermind that.

Anyway yeah the Batman is actually just some guy named Circus Charlie distracting the police from the hospital whee the Joker is in recovery so that the gangsters can grab the Joker and spirit him away to become their new leader. Hanging around nearby is The Cat. Batman kidnaps

HER and bargains with her for information on what's going on with the Crime Syndicate (...) and the Joker, then he lets her go as part of their deal, but... uhh there's radioactive substances in his car that he uses to track her?? I DONT KNOW.

The Joker pulls a Joker and betrays the Syndicate then runs off while Batman is taking them down. Meanwhile, having seduced the owner of the big jewels', The Cat goes to visit him, and finds him dead. And then the Joker and the Cat meet in person for the first time!

Honestly that's pretty awesome. Watching the pieces come together!

Anyway, Selina gets the jewels and tries to use them to save Robin, once he's revealed to have been following her. Bruce beats the Joker up and then she ditches all of them to run off with the jewels and you know ... Catwoman never changes.

Story 2 of Batman 2 - here's a character I don't think has turned up much since then, and it's a bit of a shame because it's kind of a cool idea. A Jekyll&Hyde style character that predates Two-Face. Lamb is a mild mannered office worker who loves mysteries, and when he suffers

a head injury, he begins turning into a master criminal by night, with no memory of his nighttime actions in the morning. The criminal calls himself Wolf, so... Wolf and Lamb!

I actually wish I could keep track of all the Batman villains as I go too but I wonder if that's too

much to take on, along with the romances and this thread.