- I felt I lacked a certain dash and elegance that would enhance my value as your crime-fighting assistant... so I spent my holiday at a health resort, cultivating a new figure by hard work.
- — Alfred
Detective Comics #83 is an issue of the series Detective Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of January, 1944.
Synopsis for Batman: "Accidentally on Purpose"
Alfred is nowhere to be found in Wayne Manor and soon, the alarm at the Batcave goes off. Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson descend to their secret base of operations underneath Wayne Manor and they find Alfred training in the gym. Bruce decides to give Alfred some time off, and so the chubby Alfred leaves Gotham for a short time.
In the meantime, Batman and Robin become aware of a series of crimes involving crime lord Biff Bannister and Dr. Goodwin. When they try to stop the gang, the criminals manage to knock Batman unconscious and Dr. Goodwin doses the Dark Knight with a special serum that forces people to obey Dr. Goodwin's orders.
That night Bruce, under the effects of Dr. Goodwin's serum, goes out to the city as Batman, in order to steal valuables from a safe. Robin follows Batman to the scene and he witness how his mentor manages to overcome the drug-induced suggestion, and stops before he could steal the gems. However, the Dynamic Duo is ambushed by the criminals and soon they are outnumbered. Unknown to everyone, a slim figure has followed Batman and Robin to the place, and during the most dire moment, the thin man jumps over the criminals, allowing Batman and Robin to get the situation under control and capture the entire gang.
At first, Batman and Robin don't recognize the man who has saved them, but as soon as he starts speaking they realize that he is Alfred, who has returned from his vacation. Alfred explains that during his time off, he realized that he needed to be more athletic in order to aid the Dynamic Duo on their crime-fighting career and so, he started a hard training program in order to lose weight. However, despite his new slim shape, Alfred is still as clumsy as before.
Appearing in Batman: "Accidentally on Purpose"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Biff Bannon (Single appearance)
- Dr. Goodwin (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Henry Corliss (Single appearance)
- John Kling (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Gotham City
- Wayne Manor
- Batcave (1st official appearance)
Items:
Vehicles:
- Batmobile (Cameo)
Synopsis for Slam Bradley: "Vanishing Needles"
Appearing in Slam Bradley: "Vanishing Needles"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Jenks (Single appearance)
Locations:
Synopsis for Crimson Avenger: "Eighth Column"
Appearing in Crimson Avenger: "Eighth Column"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Bells Tinkler (Single appearance)
- Blivins (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Al Spargo (Single appearance)
- Mr. Daniels (Single appearance)
- Captain McCarthy (Single appearance)
Locations:
Synopsis for Bart Regan, Spy: "The Message of the Moccasins"
Bart Regan is honorarily made a member of Chief Big Moose's Indian Tribe. Charlie Littledeer is murdered by an unseen sniper. An anthropologist shows up, Professor Hunter, with two assistants, who claims to be making a study of Indian songs and legends. Bart snoops thru Hunters stuff and finds evidence of Hunter having shot Littledeer, but gets ambushed and head-konked in the woods before he can tell anyone. But Bart has shrugged off this kind of attack many times in his career; he stays on his feet, but the rock-thrower gets away.
Chief Big Moose, with a big rifle, shows up to help, but a baby grizzly bear also shows up, followed closely by an enraged mamma grizzly. Bart distracts the adult bear by grabbing the cub and tossing it to Big Moose, who tosses the unharmed cub to just the right spot to get mama bear's attention, while he and Regan quietly leave. Bart and Big return to the Indian village and confront Professor Hunter and Smithers his secretary, neither of whom are guilty, and Peters the Guide, who is. One left hook from Regan, and Peters is out.
Appearing in Bart Regan, Spy: "The Message of the Moccasins"
Featured Characters:
- Bart Regan (Final appearance)
Other Characters:
- Chief Big Moose
- Charlie Little Deer, scientist (Dies)
- Professor Hunter
- Smithers, his secretary
Antagonists:
- Peters, his guide
Animals:
- Grizzly cub
- Grizzly mom
Locations:
- Western United States
Synopsis for Air Wave: "The Case of the Runaway Plane"
Appearing in Air Wave: "The Case of the Runaway Plane"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Flash McClain (Single appearance)
- Spike (Single appearance)
- Slim (Single appearance)
- Chesty (Single appearance)
- Slug (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Buddy (Single appearance)
- Jimmy Blake (Single appearance)
Locations:
Synopsis for Boy Commandos: "The Triumph of Cholly the Chimp"
Appearing in Boy Commandos: "The Triumph of Cholly the Chimp"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Herr Von Pigh (Single appearance)
- Stoohl (Single appearance)
Animals:
- Cholly (a chimp) (Single appearance)
Notes
- Published by Detective Comics, Inc.
- Last issue, and last appearance, for Bart Regan, Spy, by Chuck Winter.
- Bart gets hit "a glancing blow" on the head by a football-sized thrown rock, but only is made dizzy by it and stays on his feet.
- Batman: "Accidentally on Purpose" is reprinted in:
Trivia
- This issue marks the first official appearance of the Batcave and a thin Alfred in the comics. Both concepts were adapted from the 1943 Batman Serial, which had been recently released.
See Also
Links and References
Look at how sad this is making Batman. You did this.