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"The Conqueror Bookworm": Robin delivers the keynote address at a meeting of the Gotham Chamber of Currency, with Commissioner Gordon, Chief O'Hara, and an uncostumed Bruce Wayne (among other prominent citizens) in attendance. The Boy Wonder's speech is warmly received by all - save Bookworm, wh

Quote1 Whatever the danger, whatever the risk, a crime-fighter must fight crime! Quote2
ā€” Batman

Batman '66 #6 is an issue of the series Batman '66 (Volume 1) with a cover date of February, 2014. It was published on December 18, 2013.

Synopsis for "The Conqueror Bookworm"

Robin delivers the keynote address at a meeting of the Gotham Chamber of Currency, with Commissioner Gordon, Chief O'Hara, and an uncostumed Bruce Wayne (among other prominent citizens) in attendance. The Boy Wonder's speech is warmly received by all - save Bookworm, who has infiltrated the meeting meaning to steal the giant checkbook the Chamber use to fund charities.

Despite his best efforts (and his mentor's covert coaching), Robin fails to stop Bookworm and his gang from escaping with the checkbook. This forces Gotham's banks to deny all payments on the checkbook, impeding Bookworm but also numerous charities. Though the Dynamic Duo are harrowed, they retain one advantage: during the fight, Robin had managed to switch Bookworm's hat with a wired replica, letting them eavesdrop on Bookworm's plans.

Eventually, Bookworm discerns and destroys the replica hat, but not before revealing his grand scheme: to lure Batman into action via meaningless crimes (the checkbook theft being but the first), gather minutiae on him, and use those minutiae to deduce his secret identity. In following days, Bookworm attacks a matchbook collection and a police-manual delivery van, escaping the Dynamic Duo each time while observing the following:

  • Robin enjoys a type of vegetable juice served only at a spa from a particularly upper-class district
  • Batman was educated at Londinium's Bambridge University.

From these facts, Bookworm deduces that Batman is Bruce Wayne's butler Alfred, and leads his gang to invade Wayne Manor. There, an amused Alfred immediately reveals the real Batman and Robin, who make short work of Bookworm and his cronies. As the gang is taken into custody, and their loot recovered, Batman reveals that he had deliberately planted false hints - a fact which disgusts Bookworm like none other.

Appearing in "The Conqueror Bookworm"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Bookworm
    • Bookplate (Single appearance)
    • Endpaper (Single appearance)
    • Joyce Carol (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

Locations:

Items:

Vehicles:


Synopsis for "The Kissing Cossack"

Smarting over her beloved Egghead's latest defeat, Olga and her loyal Cossacks lure Batman and Robin to a snowy plain far beyond Gotham, where she demands Batman become her new beau. When Batman refuses, the Bessarovian exiles unleash a pack of trained bears on the Dynamic Duo.

(Meanwhile, Barbara Gordon receives a large, leatherbound tome for the library's "Arcane" section, which flashes ominous lights while her back is turned.)

Employing his rudimentary knowledge of Bessarovian (and some fish treats from his utility belt), Batman manages to tame the bears, who allow themselves to be ridden back to Olga's hideout. There, the Dynamic Duo handily defeat and apprehend Olga and her Cossacks - but not before the self-proclaimed Queen steals a kiss from Batman's lips.

Appearing in "The Kissing Cossack"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

  • Mr. Vinton (First appearance)
  • Trained Comrade Bears (Single appearance)
  • Egghead (Mentioned only)

Locations:

Items:

Vehicles:

  • Egghead's Blimp (Mentioned only)

Notes

  • The contents of this issue were originally released digitally as Batman '66 Chapters Sixteen-Eighteen on October 16, October 23 and October 30, 2013, respectively. Chapters Sixteen and Seventeen comprise "The Conqueror Bookworm" (with Seventeen originally titled "The Inevitable Jail-Term") and Chapter Eighteen is "The Kissing Cossack".
  • This issue is reprinted in Batman '66 Vol. 2.
  • The "occult tome" Barbara receives in "The Kissing Cossack" will be readdressed (and named) in Batman '66 #18.

Trivia

  • According to Bookworm, Batman pitches Batarangs with "a motion developed by baseball pitcher Jim Creighton in 1859".


See Also


Links and References

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