Batman Vs Ra's Al Ghul Treasury

Batman had faced a few impressive villains over the years, but, Ra's Al Ghul was one who was more impressive than most.

The tales that introduced Ra's Al Ghul to the Batman universe were larger than life, and the earliest of them were collected in the Limited Collectors' Edition #C-51 (August, 1977), with this stunning Neal Adams cover.

Now, the issues which introduced Ra's to Batman, and the world!

Daughter Of The Demon

First up, the premiere of Ra's Al Ghul, from Batman #232 (June, 1971) by Denny O'Neil, Neal Adams and Dick Giordano, under an incredible cover by Adams and Giordano!

Robin starts the issue at Hudson University, and is kidnapped by mysterious figures.  A note is sent to Batman at the Wayne Foundation, informing Bruce they have Robin.  Needing more resources, Batman heads back to the Batcave at Wayne Manor....and finds Ra's Al Ghul and his servant, Ubu, in the Batcave.  Ra's had deduced that Batman was Bruce Wayne, because he needs help...his daughter, Talia (who had been introduced in Detective Comics #411) had also been kidnapped by the Brotherhood of the Demon.   Batman, Ra's and Ubu then have to travel the world searching for Robin and Talia (all the while, Batman being put in danger, and thinking about Ra's and Ubu). 

Finally, Batman finds Robin....and realizes that Ra's is the head of the Brotherhood of the Demon, and that this was a test by Ra's Al Ghul, to see if Batman is worthy of his daughter, who loves "the detective", Batman!

Ra's and Talia come back in Batman #235 and #240, by Denny O'Neil, Irv Novick and Dick Giordano, with covers by Adams and Giordano, but they weren't included in this collection.  What is important about these tales is that Batman realizes he needs to deal with Ra's and his organization, and that he doesn't like them being able to strike against his alter ego of Bruce Wayne.

Bruce Wayne -- Rest In Peace

This collection picks up with Batman #242 (June, 1972), and a cover by Mike Kaluta, story by Denny O'Neil, Irv Novick and Dick Giordano.

Batman and Commissioner Gordon start the story, by discussing the recent presumed death of Bruce Wayne in a plane crash.  Batman then informs Gordon he will be out of Gotham for a time (though doesn't tell him that he will be tracking down Ra's).  First, Batman has an encounter with criminal Matches Malone (which doesn't turn out well for Matches, who is killed during it by a sniper's bullet).  Batman, using this to his advantage, takes over the identity of Matches Malone, and does a little recruiting of his own...scientist Dr. Harris Blaine and assassin Lo Ling, both who have been forced to work for Ra's, but resent Ra's for the criminal activities he forces them to perform.

The Lazarus Pit

The story continues under a Neal Adams cover for Batman #243 (August, 1972), by Denny O'Neil, Neal Adams and Dick Giordano.

The story starts with a battle between Batman and Lo Ling...with Matches Malone watching.  Ling explains he owes Batman (and Matches was really Robin, using an inflatable body suit to get the size of Batman/Matches).  Batman, as Matches, takes Ling and Dr. Blaine in pursuit of Ra's, meeting ski champion Molly Post, who has a vendetta against Ra's for killing her fiance.  The group runs afoul of Talia and Ubu, but do find Ra's in one of his headquarters....but, Ra's is dead! 

The group leave, but Ra's is put into the Lazarus Pit...and returns to life!

The Demon Lives Again

This story, and the collection conclude with Batman #244 (September, 1972) by Denny O'Neil, Neal Adams and Dick Giordano, originally under this historic cover by Neal Adams.

The group attempt to leave the Swiss Alps, but are pursued by a maddened Ra's, who nearly kills Ling.  Ra's and Talia leave via hovercraft, with Batman and Molly following on skis, until Batman damages the craft, but Molly gets injured in the crash, with Batman having to stay with her as a less mad Ra's and Talia leave.  Ra's knows he has used the Lazarus Pit too many times, and wants Batman to be his successor and marry Talia.  Batman tracks the pair to the desert, where Batman and Ra's have a final duel, much to the chagrin of Talia who loves them both.  Beating both Ra's and the dangers of the desert....Batman is able to capture Ra's, taking him to justice.

These stories establish Ra's Al Ghul as a major league villain in Batman's world (very much like a James Bond villain, with references to Bond in many of these stories).  Every battle between Batman and Ra's Al Ghul would then be a major event!

All seven of these stories (and a few more) are included in the 1991 collection, Batman: Tales Of The Demon, with a cover by Brian Stelfreeze, foreword by Sam Hamm and afterword by Denny O'Neil, but it is still better to enjoy every tale presented in the Treasury sized edition!

Prelude To Detective Comics 700

Unlike other anniversary issues of Detective Comics, Detective Comics #700 (August, 1996) had some set up going into it (and then the issue itself kicked off a run of stories over multiple titles of the Batman family of comic books).

So, to give you a better understanding of the issue (and events after), a little bit of set up is required in this case....

...let's jump in!

Detective Comics 697 to 699

Starting off, Chuck Dixon, Graham Nolan and Scott Hanna took a little time to flesh out the recently introduced Lock-Up (Lyle Bolton) in the June, Early and Late July 1996 issues of Detective Comics.  Lock-Up was a criminal hunter, who captured people he deemed criminals and, well, locked them up. 

Currently in his private prison on the outskirts of Gotham were the Allergent (Maxwell Veezey) and Charaxes (the former Killer Moth, Neron-enhanced).   

Lock-Up then took Two-Face (Harvey Dent) out of police custody into his prison.  Batman, his current Robin (Tim Drake) and former Robin (Nightwing, a.k.a Dick Grayson) were on the case, but it was Harvey Bullock and the GCPD who captured Lock-Up....but, they had to free him (with Batman, Nightwing and Robin taking on criminal identities so they could be caught by Lock-Up, find his prisoners, then bring Lock-Up and the other criminals to justice, as no one else knew where the criminals were except for Bolton). 

Robin got captured, using the identity of Alvin Draper, and due to a short in the communication system, it took Batman and Nightwing a little time to find him, capture the criminals, including Lock-Up.

Meanwhile, former Gotham Mayor, Armand Krol was found dead of a plague, and Commissioner James Gordon was notified.

Robin 31

Tim Drake took a little break from heroics, and took his girlfriend, Ariana, to a car show, where he saw old time boxing champ Ted Grant in this Chuck Dixon, Mike Wieringo and Stan Woch July, 1996 issue of Robin.  Problem is, car thieves, the Speedboyz, were there as well, so Tim had to suit up as Robin to try to stop them.  Luckily, Robin got some help, as Ted Grant wasn't just a former boxer, but was also the hero Wildcat of the Justice Society of America (and the man who taught young Bruce Wayne to box).  The two heroes stopped the villains (leaving readers wanting to see Wildcat involved with Batman and his family even more), with Robin returning to the Batcave.

Meanwhile, Batman got the call from Com. Gordon, that former Mayor Krol died of a resurgence of the Clench, a disease that recently infected many Gothamites, including a young Tim Drake.

Catwoman 33 to 35

Selina Kyle had left Gotham to avoid the Contagion known as the Clench, taking on a job in Rheelasia (in the Indonesian Islands) that she really didn't enjoy (starting off these three issues by Chuck Dixon, Jim Balent and Bob Smith, running May to July, 1996). 

Catwoman was then captured by her foe, Hellhound, who was recruiting her for the Collector, who paired her with Brother Umberto, a former member of the Order of San Dumas (the cult Azrael, Jean-Paul Valley, had battled and been trained by).

It took a bit of convincing to get Catwoman to take on this new job (but Selina's attempts to escape almost got her killed, which also made her a little more willing to take the job).

The Collector had a buyer who wanted a treasure in a tomb in the middle of the African desert, and thought of recruiting Catwoman for her exceptional thieving skills, with Umberto there to help because of his knowledge of the Order of San Dumas.  With a bit of work, the two cleared the traps to get to the Great Wheel, but were betrayed by Hellhound, who had Catwoman imprisoned, where she recognized one of the men who employed the Collector.....

Batman: Shadow of the Bat 53

Helena Bertinelli, known as the Huntress, was still active in Gotham (recently running afoul of Batman and working with Robin) in the August, 1996 issue by Alan Grant, Dave Taylor and Stan Woch.

Bruce notified Dick of the fact that his Clench virus might come back to kill him.  Gordon, Penguin and other Gotham residents reacted to the news that the Clench may return.  Oracle (Barbara Gordon) used her information to contact Azrael (Jean-Paul Valley), who gave her a little information about the origins of the Clench, and hints at a possible cure to be found in the African desert from a time when the Order of San Dumas faced "the immortal". 

Batman told Gordon that he and his usual crew were leaving Gotham for a bit, while Robin informed Huntress that Batman had entrusted her with the safety of Gotham while Batman, Nightwing and he were gone (heading to Africa to look for the cure).

 

Batman 533 

The August, 1996 issue of Batman was the last of the prelude issues (by Doug Moench, Jim Aparo and Bill Sienkiewicz, with Batman, Nightwing and Robin winging their way to the Sudanese desert to look for the "Wheel Of Plagues".  Back in Gotham, Penguin tries to figure out how to release information that the Clench is back to cause panic, as Gordon and the Huntress work to prevent a quarantine of the city (and the panic that knowing that plague is returning).  Batman and his two helpers end up in the desert, finding out that this "immortal" had tried to use the Clench as a weapon against mankind before...and, after learning this, met up with armed forces controlled by the mystery men in charge of this menace.....

....whose identities would be revealed in Detective Comics #700.

Now, this gives you plenty of time to find and read all these issues to deduce the identity of the villain (or, just track down Batman: The Legacy Part 1, which reprints all these issues plus Detective Comics #700).  Or, just come back here next week, same Bat-time, same Bat-channel, and read my review of the issues of Batman: Legacy!

Batman's Colorful Costumes

Usually, Batman tried to be a creature of the night, hiding in the shadows, trying not to be seen by the criminal element (until he needed to make frightful entrance to instill fear in their hearts).

But, for a few issues of Detective Comics, Batman was a bright beacon in his costumes instead!

Here's a look at two of those issues.....

The Strange Costumes Of Batman

With Detective Comics #165 (November, 1950) by Edmond Hamilton, Dick Sprang and Charles Paris (all under a cover by Win Mortimer), readers saw quite a few alternative Batman outfits.

A camouflage white for fighting criminals in the snow, a glowing green to fight a radioactive foe and even a golden outfit so Batman could battle a modern day King Midas were just a few of the colorful costumes in this issue.  Other, more practical outfits made it as well, such as an interplanetary outfit (so Batman could fight crime in space), an outfit with glider wings (allowing Batman to survive what could have been a disastrous fall), an asbestos costume (to combat fire), a thin cellophane costume (to be hidden and used in prison) and even a scuba outfit (enabling Batman to fight undersea crime).

Still, the oddest of all Batman outfits was one that hadn't been used until the villain Dr. Darcy injured Batman.


This Batman suit was for Robin (allowing the Boy Wonder to impersonate Batman, keeping Gotham safe while Batman recovered from an injury).


This issue has been reprinted many times, including with the first Batman Annual of 1961, which itself has a replica edition, as well as being in a reprints of Batman Annuals.

The Rainbow Batman

Detective Comics #241 (March, 1957) by Edmond Hamilton, Sheldon Moldoff and Stan Kaye (covered by Sheldon Moldoff) showed a much brighter Batman, with the head of the Dynamic Duo adopting a different color costume every day!

The action starts with young Dick Grayson saving a girl from some robbers, but they got away (and Dick injured his arm in the process). 

Batman and Robin would then search for these robbers (as Dick could identify them), but Batman started wearing very colorful costumes as the Dynamic Duo were looking for these thieves.

The costumes got brighter and brighter, until Batman was literally "the rainbow Batman", as they finally found the criminals (after which, Batman went back to his original costume).

Why the sudden colorful costumes? 

Well, it was all for Dick. 

Not wanting the crooks to see Robin had the same injured arm as Dick Grayson, Batman took to these colorful costumes to distract the villains, allowing them to be captured without revealing Dick Grayson's identity as Robin...

....which they may have been able to figure out, if they took the time to look at Robin's injured arm, and put two and two together...

The most colorful costume of them all finally made it onto a cover, as the story was reprinted in Batman #182 (July-August, 1966).

Of course, Batman had a few transformations, that changed him and his costume as well, such as a time when he became the "Zebra Batman" as well as another time when he took a dip in the pool of chemicals and changed himself into the "Clayface Batman" to fight Clayface, but those were in the 1960s (even though Michael Cho included them on his 1950s tribute cover for Detective Comics #1000....many of Batman's looks which have been covered lately!).

Shazam! It's Jackson Bostwick

Limited Collector's Edition #C-35 (April-May, 1975) doesn't have an artist who did the front cover, but instead has a photo, featuring the Captain Marvel of the Shazam! TV show of the 1970s, Jackson Bostwick!

Even better, this oversized issue also contains 4 classic Fawcett Captain Marvel stories (as well as a few other extras).


Holy Moley, let's take a look at what's inside this exciting issue!

The Robot Hunt

First up is the story from Captain Marvel Adventures #129 (February, 1952) by Otto Binder and C.C. Beck, under an original cover by Beck.

Billy Batson's boss, Sterling Morris, wants to learn how to hunt, but can't bring himself to kill any animals. 

Scientist Doc Quartz (a friend of Billy and Sterling's) builds the radio station owner some robot animals to go after that he can feel safe shooting at...

....but, things quickly go wrong, so Billy ends up having to say "Shazam!" to bring out Captain Marvel to bring down some of these robotic beasts!

Captain Marvel Battles The Plot Against The Universe

Next, a full length tale from Captain Marvel Adventures #100 (September, 1949) by Otto Binder, C.C. Beck and Pete Costanza, with the Big Red Cheese facing his most fearsome foe, the dreaded Dr. Sivana for a full length issue!

Sivana makes plans against the old Wizard (Shazam) who gave Billy his powers, but can't find him.  Billy takes his buddy, talking tiger Tawky Tawny, to see the Wizard....which Sivana finds out about, then learns that Shazam manifests using a bracelet of Shazamium.  Sivana tries traveling back into the past to undo Cap's origin, but Tawny stops him (though Sivana escapes).  Returning to modern times, Sivana goes to the Wizard and tricks him, getting his Shazamium bracelet.  This allows Sivana to go on the offensive against Captain Marvel.  Sivana gets Billy to build robot duplicates of the evil scientist, but Billy finds a way to trick Sivana, eventually getting the bracelet back and saving the spirit of Shazam!

The Marvel Family Curse!

A look at the Batson family from Marvel Family #17 (November, 1947) by William Woolfolk and Kurt Schaffenberger!

Freddy Freeman (Captain Marvel, Jr.) finds out about William Batson, an ancestor of Billy and Mary's, who was a leader of the Salem witch trials while going through Billy's documents.


One of those witches put a curse on the Batson family, which was going to hit the current Batsons. 

Thankfully, Freddy had time to say his magic word (Captain Marvel), and, as Captain Marvel Jr., was able to save Billy and Mary from the curse just in time!

Captain Marvel Battles The World

The last story of the issue is from Captain Marvel Adventures #148 (September, 1953) by Otto Binder and C.C. Beck, with Cap facing the whole world!


The Earth is getting tired of having all these human beings on it, so it decides to try to end all of humanity.


Captain Marvel has to stop the disasters the planet is causing, then saves the Earth from a comet that was on course towards the Earth, which convinces the planet Earth that humans might be worthwhile after all, so it stops attacking! 

Plus, the issue had pin-ups, puzzles, a feature on how to draw the Marvel Family and a 3-D cut-out on the back cover!

The Stylish Batman

True, Batman has never really gone out of style, but in more than a few issues of Detective Comics, Batman has dumped his usual look for something a little different....

...., so, as we approach Detective Comics #1000, here are a couple of those different looks for Batman as he dresses up to join different groups of high society!

The Great Batman Swindle

With Detective Comics #222 (August, 1955) by Bill Finger, Dick Sprang and Charles Paris, it's time for business suit Batman!

Millionaire Ned Judson was summoned by the Brotherhood of the Batmen to join their group (because, as you know, Batman has been more than one person over the years).

Well, not really....this was a group of criminals using Batman's reputation to try to swindle millionaires, and this evil plot might have worked....

...had the real Batman not seen Judson one night on patrol, learns their plan, then trains Judson himself, to help him take the Brotherhood down.


This tale has been reprinted in Batman #259 (November-December, 1974), along with a few other costumes for Batman in the reprints contained within, and even a smaller and giant Batman (previously covered here!), along with a new story with a young Bruce Wayne being influenced by the Shadow.

The Secret Of The Dragon Society

Detective Comics #273 (November, 1959) with no listed writer and art by Sheldon Moldoff and Charles Paris bring you a Batman joining high society....well, Dragon Society, that is.

Commissioner Gordon tells a group of graduating police academy recruits of Batman's defeat of the Dragon Society.

The Dragon Society is a group of criminals that operated in multiple cities, who keep their identities a secret.

Learning that criminal Mack Hodges is a member, Batman assumes his identity, infiltrating the Society until he is caught, but, Robin arrives in time with the police to capture the Society leaders, like Harvey Straker, as Batman had been able to get out word of the secret location of where he was.

Sadly, this tale has not been reprinted, but this isn't the first time Batman's had a big head....like he has when he was the alien Batman, or times when Batman dealt with alien invasions himself, like the stories contained within the 80 Page Giant #12!

Love For Richard And Barbara

Dick and Babs had plenty of history together, but it took years for them to find time together alone, away from Batman....

...and in that time the two went from close, to closer.

Here's a quick look back at how things evolved, from the days of their first solo team-up, that started in the pages of Detective Comics #400.

Batman Family

Dick Grayson had gotten away from Batman, taking his Robin act as the Teen Wonder to Hudson University (which seemed to be a little closer to Washington, DC, where Barbara Gordon was still working as Batgirl).  The two started on and off pairings in the pages of Batman Family, with the Jim Aparo cover of Batman Family #11 (May-June, 1977 by Bob Rozakis, Curt Swan and Vince Colletta) showing a good place to show that Robin and Batgirl might be getting closer (and over the next few issues, Dick even tried telling Babs about his feeling for her...but, things didn't quite work out, and Robin and Batgirl only had a few more adventures together, then were having separate adventures by the time Batman Family moved over to Detective Comics). 

Robin eventually went to work with the Teen Titans as they came back as the New Teen Titans, with Cyborg, Starfire and Raven, and Batgirl mostly kept to herself, being in semi-retirement.

Dick eventually changed his identity to Nightwing, then parted from the Titans for a while, landing in Bludhaven, while Barbara had been shot by the Joker, being confined to a wheelchair, and helping the Suicide Squad, Batman, the new Robin (Tim Drake) and Azrael as Oracle (an online personality Barbara created to help heroes against the ever growing legions of villains).

Birds Of Prey

Barbara had also rescued the Black Canary (Dinah Laurel Lance) who had been suffering depression and a lack of direction since the apparent death of Green Arrow (Oliver Queen).  Oracle used her as her field agent, allowing Barbara the ability to have someone working directly to right wrongs (and giving Dinah a chance to do good and get on with her life). 

Nightwing also used the services of Oracle, but, on one particular day, Dick decided to help his friend, Babs, relax, taking her up in the air for a special time (helped with a harness) allowing Babs to swing through the air (all in the pages of Birds of Prey #8 of August, 1999 by Chuck Dixon, Greg Land and Drew Geraci, under a cover by Land and Brian Stelfreeze). 

This led to a relationship between Dick and Babs that continued for some time....but, for Valentine's Day, the focus will just remain on the happy times of their relationship!

The Original Batman

Gotham City only had one Batman.  

Keeping his secret at Wayne Manor, Bruce Wayne was the original Batman, right?


Well, no, not really, as readers found out in Detective Comics #195 (May, 1953) under a cover by Win Mortimer!

But, who was this masked man?

The Original Batman

In a story drawn by Dick Sprang and inked by Charles Paris (with the writer lost to history),  circus acrobat, Hugo Marmon, who had used the name of "Bat Man" in his circus act, could lay claim to being the original Batman....a problem for the head of the dynamic duo, as Gotham law only allowed "the original Batman" to wear a Batman suit (or anyone he allowed).  

For a while, Marmon allowed Batman to operate, but a conniving criminal, John Vulney, worked on Marmon's vanity, convincing him to have him petition Commissioner Gordon to keep Batman from working in Gotham City (as Marmon then did, first just to showcase his acrobatic talent, then trying as an incompetent crime fighter).

Batman then took off with Robin, outside the city.  Finding a circus, Batman planned to take over as their acrobatic act, while he had Robin do a little research around local circuses (due to Dick's connection to them from his Flying Graysons days).

Batman then did the circus act....horribly, making sure Marmon found out.  Outraged, Marmon demanded to take Batman's place at the circus, allowing Batman to again wear the costume in Gotham City for one more day.  Batman was then able to capture Vulney.  Robin returned with news, the circuses Marmon performed in never worked in Gotham proper, only outside the city, thus Marmon was never Batman IN Gotham, making Batman the original Batman again.

Of course, readers later found out that Bruce Wayne wasn't the first Batman in the Wayne family later (told here!), but, that Bruce Wayne WAS the first Robin (told here!).