The 17th appearance of The Batman took place in the June 1940 issue of World’s Fair Comics Issue 2. This was a special issue produced for the 1940 World’s Fair and featured multiple characters interacting with or visiting the 1940 World’s Fair in separate stories. This marked the first time that Batman and Superman shared the cover of a comic book. They do not, however, appear in the same story.
The Batman story features the alter egos of Batman and Robin, Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson, visiting the 1940 World’s Fair.
Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson witness a catastrophe, a bridge collapses (or actually melts). This launches an investigation by Batman and Robin after Bruce Wayne discovers an extortion note which is being read by Commission Gordon.
Batman and Robin take the threat seriously and begin investigating bridges before they are attacked and discover a group of saboteurs.
Batman is able to show his fighting skills and Robin his circus tight rope walking skills during a fight scene on a bridge that the saboteurs are attempting to destroy.
We discover that the mastermind behind the bridge attacks is the inventor of a machine which causes metal to melt, and he intends to use this technology to enrich himself through extortion.
Once he is discovered, the evil scientist uses his machine to melt the bars in prison and cause a mass escape. Thankfully, Batman and Robin are already prepared as Batman swoops in with his Batplane and knockout gas which renders all the escaping prisoners unconscious.
In a shocking (literally and figuratively) scene, the mad scientist commits suicide by grabbing a live wire and electrocuting himself. With the mastermind dead, Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson decide to visit the 1940 World’s Fair and take in the attractions again.
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The Batman Timeline and Chronology:
03-30-1939: 1st Appearance of The Batman & Commissioner Gordon. Detective Comics issue 27.
06-1939: Batman swings from building to building with a rope for the first time. Detective Comics issue 28.
07-1939: The Utility Belt is used for the first time.
09-1939: Fiancée Julie Madison is introduced. First Bat-Copter / Bat-Plane
10-1939: Batman uses a gun to kill The Monk.
11-1939: Batman kills Dr. Kruger by causing his plane to crash after knocking him out with gas. Origin of Batman.
12-1939: Batman is depicted holding a smoking gun. Commissioner Gordon returns.
02-1940: First appearance of Prof. Hugo Strange.
04-1940: First appearance of Robin (Dick Grayson). Robin kills a mobster.
04-1940: First appearance of the Joker and Catwoman (AKA: The Cat).
06-1940: First appearance of Clayface.
Batman Kill Count: 16
Robin Kill Count: 1
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