Batman #142 is an issue of the series Batman (Volume 1) with a cover date of September, 1961.
Synopsis for "Batman's Robot-Guardian"
Batman and Robin are given a robot-guardian from their old friend Tal-Dar of the Interplanetary Space Police as a gift to protect them. AS it continues to save Batman's life and learns his ways it actually prevents them from risking their lives to catch crooks. Batman decides to trick the robot by using his own Batman Robot and fake his own death, so the robot-guardian would return to his planet. However, when the robot-guardian sees the "dead" Batman, it starts a self-destruction sequence. Finally free from the protection of their robot-guardian, Batman decides to take the remains of the robot and place it in the trophy room.
Appearing in "Batman's Robot-Guardian"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Robin
- Robot Guardian (Single appearance; dies)
Other Characters:
- Tal-Dar (On a TV or computer screen)
- Gotham City Police Department
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Crimes of the Ancient Mariner"
Batman and Robin go after a crook an old sailor turned crook out for revenge on the firm that pensioned him off because of his age. After a few confrontations with the elder criminal, Batman finally captures him and it is revealed that a young man has been impersonating the old sailor. With the real criminal's capture, the old sailor's name is cleared, and he embarks on a new job provided by Batman - that of Ferry Captain.
Appearing in "The Crimes of the Ancient Mariner"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- Tom Travis (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Commissioner Gordon (Cameo)
- Mr. Stubbs (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Ruler of the Bewitched Valley"
In a remote Central American valley, Batman and Robin trace a vanished detective and encounter the wrath of Tezcatlipoca, an apparent incarnation of the Mayan god of destruction. Batman and Robin investigate the mystery and learn that the man impersonating the god is an American fugitive that has been using machines to trick the local people and force them into slavery. When Batman and Robin are captured, they finally find the missing detective and they work together to stop the criminal, free the locals that have been enslaved, and return home.
Appearing in "Ruler of the Bewitched Valley"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- Tezcatlipoca imposter (Hartley) (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Regan (Single appearance)
- Tezcatlipoca (Mentioned only)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- In the letter column published in the original printing of this issue, the editor who responded to submitted questions confirmed that Bat-Girl (Betty Kane) is trained in judo, like Batwoman.
Trivia
- The second story works around a reference to the poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
See Also