In my last batch of new comics from Acme Comics, I indulged in a facsimile edition of Detective Comics#359.
Facsimile editions are not merely reprints but reproduce the entire comic as it originally appeared including ads, letter columns and more.
There are some alterations. Sadly, the original 15 cent price point is replaced with the $3.99 price.
And there is a credit for "Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger".
What makes Detective Comics#359 significant is that it marks the first appearance of Barbara Gordan,AKA Batgirl.
She makes her first appearnce on the cover by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson.
When Julius Schwarz took over as editor of Batman and Detective Comics, he eliminated the ancilllary characters from the books such as Ace the Bathound, Kathy Kane AKA Batwoman and her neice, Bette as Bat-Girl.
But the Batman TV show wanted to introduce a female member of the Bat team and Schwartz was tasked with creating such a character for the comics to appear in advance of her TV debut.
Here we see Adam West and Yvonne Craig perusing a copy of Detective Comics#359.
It begins on a bit of a lark. Barbara has designed herself a Batgirl costume for a masquerade party.
Barbara tries to put her one night of adventure as Batgirl behind her but she can't get it off her mind.
And here we have Yvonne Craig in all her purple and gold glory as Batgirl.
Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino & Sid Greene introduce us to Barbara Gordon and how she becomes Batgirl.
That costume really does do something for Barbara. It fixes her vision problems. Barbara wears glasses but Batgirl doesn't need 'em.
On fhe way to the party, she happens across a costumed villain called Killer Moth kidnapping Bruce Wayne.
Batgirl more than holds her own against Killer Moth's goons but Moth entangles her in a web cocoon and disappears.
Bruce has changed into Batman and intervenes.
Barbara tries to put her one night of adventure as Batgirl behind her but she can't get it off her mind.
She continues to work out, training for another adventure as Batgirl that may never come.
But tragedy strikes that forces Barbara to become Batgirl once more.
Batgirl began by stopping the kidnapping of Bruce Wayne.
"Hey, you know that super heroine with the form fitting costume? Could you be more like that, daughter?"
Now she has to return to avenge his murder.
Murder?
The "murder" of Bruce Wayne was part of a plot by Batman and Robin to lure Killer Moth into a trap.
The "murder" of Bruce Wayne was part of a plot by Batman and Robin to lure Killer Moth into a trap.
The Dynamic Duo confront Batgirl with the usual drivel of "this kind of work is too dangerous for a girl" blah blah blah, you know the drill.
But Batgirl is undaunted (that outfit is too tight her to keep any daunts) and follows Batman & Robin where Killer Moth has caught the duo in a trap and it's up to Batgirl to extricate them and put an end to Killer Moth's shenanigans once and for all.
At the end of the issue, Batgirl gets an endorsement from Batman and a complimentary assessement from Commissioner Gordon that is NOT creepy at all.
"Hey, you know that super heroine with the form fitting costume? Could you be more like that, daughter?"
No, not creepy at all.
Batgirl would appear with Batman & Robin again and also get a solo back up series in Detective Comics.
The facsimile edition includes the letter column that appeared in Detective Comics#359.
Hey, there's a letter from future professional comic book/animation writer person Mark Evanier.
Hey kids! Get your own telegraph set!
With a buzzer AND light? Wow! That's worth $1.98 for sure!
Great fun to have with your friends.
Friends not included.
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And that is that for the beginning of Batgirl.
Rounding out the issue is an Elongated Man back up by Gardner Fox & Murphy Anderson.
There's some fun banter between Ralph and Sue Dibny and some nice art from Murphy Anderson. Otherwise, It's a slight tale of no consequence.
The Infantino/Anderson cover to Detective Comics#359 has been parodied or homaged. For example, there's this cover to Batman: Gotham Knights#43 by Brian Bolland.
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Next week's comic book post looks back on Batman's tale of his beginning and his probable end.
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Wait a minute!
Hold on!
This.....?
This again?!?!
This has been at the end of every post this week since Monday?
What is going on? And why?
Explanations are forthcoming in our next post later this morning.
All hail and glory to Count Binface!
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