At a point in the early 1960s, DC Comics gave Batman a slight overhaul, outfitting him and Robin with all-new Bat-branded gadgetry – a move which directly inspired the Insta-Smash TV show, so says the back cover of SHOWCASE PRESENTS BATMAN: VOLUME 1.
You can judge for yourself in this 550-page collection of two years’ worth of consecutive issues of BATMAN and DETECTIVE COMICS (minus that title’s backup stories starring Elongated Man, having already been collected), all featuring the Dynamic Duo keeping Gotham City clean and neat. My opinion is yes, I can see how these stories gave rise to the über-camp TV series, although they don’t have the self-aware humor. They’re corny, alright, but in a completely naïve manner than doesn’t wink at the audience. And they’re also as harmless and irresistible as its cover is bright.
As with Elongated Man, the mysteries they encounter are preposterously plotted, involving a man who turns into a cyborg, a booby-trapped castle and an elephant goddess in Africa. My favorite stories were the three involving the Mystery Analysts Gotham City – kind of a poor man’s version of Isaac Asimov’s Black Widowers – a condundrum club of which Batman is a charter member.
Expect lots of jewelry thefts, mind-control schemes, gimmicky traps, secret-identity close calls and baddies in TG&Y costumes. The Penguin and The Riddler each show up for one issue, and The Joker for two (tell me the cover of DETECTIVE COMICS #341 at left isn’t mega-disturbing), but that’s about it for Batman’s usual rogue’s gallery. The craziest opponent may be Klag, a frozen caveman – though still enclosed in a block of ice, he goes several rounds with “the sinewy sleuth.” Or maybe it’s the talking gorilla strapped with explosives. (Oh, Batman, don’t you remember that some days you just can’t get rid of a bomb?)
Throughout all the fun, Robin’s chock full of the unintentional double entendres (pg. 74: “I could lick a cageful of tigers right now!”). My favorite might be when Robin complains, “Whew! My fist aches!,” but that’s another story entirely. –Rod Lott
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OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF THIS SERIES:
• SHOWCASE PRESENTS THE ELONGATED MAN: VOLUME 1
• SHOWCASE PRESENTS THE HAUNTED TANK: VOLUME 1
• SHOWCASE PRESENTS THE HOUSE OF MYSTERY: VOLUME 1
• SHOWCASE PRESENTS JONAH HEX: VOLUME 1
• SHOWCASE PRESENTS METAMORPHO: VOLUME 1
• SHOWCASE PRESENTS SUPERMAN FAMILY: VOLUME 1
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Hi Rod, I’m just loving your Showcase review. I was wondering… which one is your favorite?
That’s tough to pick from so many good ones. From a pure fun factor, I’d say HOUSE OF MYSTERY. For overall quality, JONAH HEX.
What about your favorite traditional superhero Showcase title?
I haven’t read all of them, but of those, BATMAN and BRAVE AND THE BOLD are the best superhero titles, with honorable mentions to METAMORPHO and SHAZAM! for being so weird.