Cool/ Your Favorite Batman 50's Comics

[Timothy]

Usually, when we as a fan-base discuss Batman comics from the 1950's there's an edge of cynicism regarding the quality of said-stories.

However, not all stories were terrible; my goal is to find out which ones were the best for whatever reason.

While not technically from the 50's, the (naturally) two-part story "Two-Face Strikes Twice!" was surprisingly good. Here's a Wikipedia summary of the plot:

In Two-Face Strikes Twice, Two-Face is at odds with his ex-wife Gilda, as he believes their marriage failed because he was unable to give her children. She later marries Paul Janus, a reference to the Roman god of doors who had two faces, one facing forward, the other backward. Two-Face attempts to frame Janus as a criminal by kidnapping him and replacing him with a stand-in, whom Two-Face "disfigures" with makeup to make it look as if Janus has gone insane just as Two-Face had. Two-Face is eventually caught by Batman and sent away, and Gilda and Janus reunite.

Also, there's the 1950's-inspired segment of the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Legends of the Dark Knight"



Lastly, the story "The Joker's Millions" is a surprisingly good story from an era filled with outlandish stories; this, too, became an episode on Batman: The Animated Series.

So, my question for everyone is this; do you have any favorite Batman comics from the 50's that you genuinely enjoy?

[Jack Napier]

"The First Batman," in which it is revealed that Joe Chill was actually hired by Lew Moxon to kill Thomas and Martha Wayne, is a cool one. Although I personally don't care for having Bruce's parents be killed in a hired hit, I really loved the ending where Bruce puts his father's costume on- the very image of which sends Moxon to his death.
On another note, it was the second draft of Tom Mankiewicz's script, The Batman, which kind of adapted this. Batman, on his first night out, tracks down Joe Chill and tries to get him to talk about who hired him to kill the Waynes. Batman's costume, however, causes Chill to have a heart attack and he dies before confessing, which robs Bruce of his closure.

In contrast to that, it's only set in the 1950s and I've only seen the movie version, but The New Frontier has a cool explanation of how Batman went from the grim avanger to a lighter, yet still serious and formidable crimefighter after Batman's costume scares a child. Bruce, who used to be the scared, traumatized child, would naturally want to make a change. He would not to inflict the same fear onto the inncoent children that he does onto the criminal underworld.

I'd also like to note that, despite the outlandish stories, it was in the 1950s that some critical revelations and changes were made about the villains that we now take for granted in the current continuity:
- we learned that Catwoman was Selina Kyle
- we learned that Joker became who he was due to a dip in the chemical bath
- Harvey Kent's name was changed to Harvey Dent
- Mr. Zero, later known as Mr. Freeze, was introduced

[Timothy]

May 17, 2008 17:05:28 GMT -5 Jack Napier said:

"The First Batman," in which it is revealed that Joe Chill was actually hired by Lew Moxon to kill Thomas and Martha Wayne, is a cool one. Although I personally don't care for having Bruce's parents be killed in a hired hit, I really loved the ending where Bruce puts his father's costume on- the very image of which sends Moxon to his death.
On another note, it was the second draft of Tom Mankiewicz's script, The Batman, which kind of adapted this. Batman, on his first night out, tracks down Joe Chill and tries to get him to talk about who hired him to kill the Waynes. Batman's costume, however, causes Chill to have a heart attack and he dies before confessing, which robs Bruce of his closure.

I think that's a perfect example of not using comics continuity with film; then again, that's just my opinion on the matter.

In contrast to that, it's only set in the 1950s and I've only seen the movie version, but The New Frontier has a cool explanation of how Batman went from the grim avanger to a lighter, yet still serious and formidable crimefighter after Batman's costume scares a child. Bruce, who used to be the scared, traumatized child, would naturally want to make a change. He would not to inflict the same fear onto the inncoent children that he does onto the criminal underworld.

If you ever get a chance to read the actual comic, I HIGHLY recommend it. I read it at my local library in the dual volume set, and a few months ago my dad surprised me with the Absolute Edition ;D
To put it another way, I used to despise Hal Jordan (you can thank writer Geoff Johns for doing that to me) but I came to understand him a little bit better and admired him in the process thanks to The New Frontier.

I'd also like to note that, despite the outlandish stories, it was in the 1950s that some critical revelations and changes were made about the villains that we now take for granted in the current continuity:
- we learned that Catwoman was Selina Kyle
- we learned that Joker became who he was due to a dip in the chemical bath
- Harvey Kent's name was changed to Harvey Dent
- Mr. Zero, later known as Mr. Freeze, was introduced

AVAST! THAR BE ANOTHER KARMA OFF THE PORT BOW FOR THIS POSTER!

[Jack Napier]

I think that's a perfect example of not using comics continuity with film; then again, that's just my opinion on the matter.

Indeed. It's one of those changes that still manages to respect the source material.

If you ever get a chance to read the actual comic, I HIGHLY recommend it.

Well, I did get Volume One for my birthday. I'm looking forward to starting it.

AVAST! THAR BE ANOTHER KARMA OFF THE PORT BOW FOR THIS POSTER!

THANK YE, CAPT'N!

[Timothy]

May 17, 2008 20:30:03 GMT -5 Jack Napier said:

Well, I did get Volume One for my birthday. I'm looking forward to starting it.

What's great to see again is Martian Manhunter's first appearance in Gotham... I wish this 50's portrayal of Gotham had been done in the actual 50's comics...

AVAST! THAR BE ANOTHER KARMA OFF THE PORT BOW FOR THIS POSTER!

THANK YE, CAPT'N! [/quote]

NO WORRIES, MATE! SAVE FOR THE FEROCIOUS NINJAS ON THE MAIN DECK... ALL HANDS ON DECK! WE HAVE SCALLYWAGS A-FOOT!

[Jack Napier]

^ What do you think of the portrayal of Superman in the New Frontier comic?

In the animated movie, I was in fanboy awe when he clapped his hands to demand their attention and hovered above them like a god.

[Timothy]

May 17, 2008 23:55:14 GMT -5 Jack Napier said:

^ What do you think of the portrayal of Superman in the New Frontier comic?

In the animated movie, I was in fanboy awe when he clapped his hands to demand their attention and hovered above them like a god.

I loved how he, essentially, went about his daily routine of making the world a better place, yet he was clueless to his larger purpose; providing a moral center, a rallying point for others to gather around... Speaking of the latter, I will now fork this thread