Featuring: Batman and Robin
Release: May 27, 1965
Cover: July 1965
Price: 12 cents
15.33333… pages
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|---|---|---|
| Tales of Suspense #68, Story B | Reading order | Amazing Spider-Man #25 |
| Detective Comics #340, Story B | Detective Comics | Detective Comics #341, Story B |
No credits are given. The story is by John Broome, Carmine Infantino, and Joe Giella.
The cover is another cover in sequential art panel format. We’ve seen very few of those. Amazing Spider-Man #4 a rare exception.
Joker’s plot is to pretend to be a movie producer making movies about fake crimes that are actually real crimes being filmed. Mr. Fear had a basically identical plan in Daredevil #6, released 5 months earlier. I pointed out then that filming your crimes is a bad idea.
Joker is writing, directing, producing, and starring in all these films. His first role is as the Tramp robbing a bank.
Batman and Robin show up to stop the Tramp, but it’s all part of the movie. They are actors in disguise. Actually, criminals pretending to be actors pretending to be Batman and Robin.
“I can’t wait to deliver a punchline to stop the Joker with my fist!” Oh, Robin. Who needs the Joker when you’re so witty.
Joker continues in the vein of other classic actors.
Until finally breaking character and revealing his true identity.
With a mid-page ad, the first chapter ends, and the story continues.
The story then jumps forward several days. Which is odd as the last chapter ended with Batman and Robin succumbing to Joker’s knockout gas. We are left to infer Joker had the Dynamic Duo at his mercy and then… just ran away.
Here’s the scene the cover was based on.
Joker’s failure is trying to steal the Batmobile for his getaway. Batman was prepared for that.
This time, at least. The editor reminds us of Detective Comics #334, where the Batmobile was successfully stolen.
Remember, everything is happening really fast now. We’re about to check in on the Fantastic Four, still lost at sea. Thor’s hammer is broken and he needs to get the Norn Stones to Odin; Thor doesn’t even yet know that the Avengers have disbanded. The X-Men are recovering from their injuries against Juggernaut. This latest Joker caper is concurrent with all those events.
This issue isn’t done, as there is still an Elongated Man story to read, but first we need to check in on Spider-Man. Jameson has a plan to finish him once and for all…
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 55/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
Characters:
- Batman/Bruce Wayne
- Joker/Mr. De Nil/The Tramp/Deadpan/Cross-Eyes/Specs/Banjo
- Cornelius Van-Van
- Mr. Throck-Morton
- Robin/Dick Grayson
Story notes:
- Mr. Van-Van only likes old comedies, so intends to make new movies inspired by classic comedies.
- Mr. De Nil advanced $50,000 to produce the movies from his scripts. Mr. De Nil actually the Joker in disguise.
- Plan is to make movies about crimes, but have the crimes be real.
- Criminals play part of Batman and Robin in the movie.
- Joker plays: The Tramp (based on Charlie Chaplin), Deadpan (based on Buster Keaton), Cross-Eyes (based on Ben Turpin), Specs (based on Harold Lloyd), and Banjo (based on Harpo Marx).
- Next phase of Joker’s plan is to steal from Van-Van when invited into mansion to receive award.
- Batman and Robin also invited to Van-Van’s mansion to receive award as best supporting actors.
| Previous | Next | |
|---|---|---|
| Tales of Suspense #68, Story B | Reading order | Amazing Spider-Man #25 |
| Detective Comics #340, Story B | Detective Comics | Detective Comics #341, Story B |
Nice to see the return of the Fighting Hobo. Stan doesn’t usually pay that close attention to continuity.
I liked this Joker story, and I really wanted to enjoy Batman as much as I once had. But look at what was going on with Spider-Man and the FF at this time!