Collects a number of Batman stories from the 1940s, '50s, and '60s which served as inspiration for select episodes of the 1960s Batman television series.
Introduction by Michael Uslan, executive producer of every Batman film from the 1989 feature onward.
Issues
- Detective Comics #140 - "The Riddler!"
- Batman #53 - "A Hairpin, a Hoe, a Hacksaw, a Hole In the Ground!"
- Batman #73 - "The Joker's Utility Belt!"
- Inspired "The Joker is Wild"/"Batman is Riled"
- Batman #121 - "The Ice Crimes of Mr. Zero!"
- Inspired "Instant Freeze"/"Rats Like Cheese"
- Batman #169 - "Partners in Plunder!"
- Batman #171 - "Remarkable Ruse of the Riddler!"
- Inspired "Hi Diddle Riddle"/"Smack in the Middle"
- Detective Comics #230 - "The Mad Hatter of Gotham City"
- Detective Comics #341 - "The Joker's Comedy Capers"
- Detective Comics #346 - "Batman's Inescapable Doom-Trap!"
- Detective Comics #359 - "The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl!"
- Inspired "Enter Batgirl, Exit Penguin", as well as the unaired Batgirl demo reel.
Notes
- This collection notably excludes "The Menace of False Face" from Batman #113, whose villain would appear in "True Or False Face"/"Holy Rat Race". Given the obscurity of both the character and the issue, however, it is possible that the series' False Face was created completely independently of the comic's.
- Despite the cover, this collection does not contain any Catwoman stories.