The fifth appearance of The Batman took place in the September 1939 issue of Detective Comics. Once again, Batman was featured on the cover and this adventure pitted him against a new foe: The Monk, a mysterious man dressed in a red cloak and hood who had as his heavy a giant gorilla.
We discover something new about Bruce Wayne in this issue, he is engaged to a woman named Julie Madison who is hypnotized (along with others) by the Monk. However, Batman manages to save a man who is about to jump to his death and also return his fiancée Julie to her home. Julie sees The Batman does not recognize him as Bruce Wayne.
In Detective Comics issue 31 we learn for the first time that Bruce Wayne has “a secret hangar” which house a combination helicopter / airplane which is shaped like a Bat. This is the first appearance of a Bat-copter or Bat-plane. Batman intends to follow Julie Madison on a trip she is taking to France to protect her. First, however, he flies over an unnamed city (not yet Gotham) scaring people with his “giant bat” flying machine.
Batman encounters both the Monk and his giant red gorilla on the ship that Julie is taking to France and does battle with them. He manages to keep Julie safe but does not capture the Monk.
The Batman again encounters the Monk near Paris, France and manages to rescue Julie again from his control but is, once again, unable to capture or defeat the Monk and has to settle with fleeing with Julie in his protection.
Detective Comics issue 31 is interesting in that there is no true conclusion to the story and the Monk is left free, though there is a conclusion in the next issue. It also introduces us to Bruce Wayne’s fiancée and debuts the Bat-copter / Bat-plane.
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
Batman Kill Count: 3
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