Batman Knightcast is so done with Superman now that the movie is out (and great, btw), so Chris Franklin and Ryan Daly return to the usual Knightcast format, reviewing two classic tales of the Dark Knight. First up is “The Batman Nobody Knows” by Frank Robbins and Dick Giordano, originally published in Batman #250. Then “There is No Hope in Crime Alley” Denny O’Neil and Giordano from Detective Comics #457. After that, the fellas respond to listener feedback from Knightcast episodes 38-42.
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Music: “The Batman Theme: Epic Version (feat. Mask of the Phantasm + Imperial March” arranged by Samuel Kim. Check it out on Youtube right here: https://youtu.be/m-AnLl9Vyb8?si=H5SsJPY_L8FMdtG5
Additional music: “Hip to Be Square” by Huey Lewis and the News
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SHINING Knight killed firestrom by stabbing him in the butt! That’s a Bad idea.
Like all bad ideas I TRIED to fix it but nobody wanted my shinnig KIGHT STORY
This was an enjoyable episode. I liked FF: First Steps quite a bit, even though a thunderstorm knocked the power out near the end of the film. It is the most Silver Age of Marvel movies IMHO.
I first read The Batman No One Knows in the Batman’s Strangest Cases Treasury comic. It’s probably one of the first Batman stories I read so I have always had a soft spot for it. I’m pretty sure that I encountered There is No Hope in Crime Alley in the very collection mentioned in this episode. I also have a trade of Batman in the ’70s which I believe also contains that story.
Batwing was one of the unexpected pleasures for me in the New 52. But the story gets a little complicated. The first Batwing in the New 52 was David Zavimbie who was based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and his stories took place in Africa. After several issues, David resigned as Batwing and Luke Fox, son of Lucius Fox, took over the identity.
Lucius has another son, Tim Fox, also known as Jace. Luke was the smart, successful son and Tim/Jace was a bit of a young delinquent. During the Future State event, DC published a two-parter set in the future which showed Tim/Jace as the Next Batman. Not long after that, DC published I AM Batman in which Tim/Jace took on the identity of another Batman. Both of these were written by John Ridley who wrote for Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on TV and the screenplay for 12 Years a Slave.
The Signal is Duke Thomas who is younger and has served in the “Robin” role alongside Batman.
The Batman nobody knows sounded
Familiar.
Here’s a secret question for you two
If the one character from Batman the animated series hero or villain got solo mini series who would choose?
Me I’d choose the Gray gosht do it this way first would be done as we see them from a young Bruce Wayne’s eyes watching the show with his dad so part of the comic in color part in black In white . The last two would focus on Timothy north trying to solve a mystery with Batman in order to save a young girl who is the niece of a former producer of his show .
And just to be clear I’m not trying to a super villain I’m more of a question fan . Plus I don’t look good in green tights. But I looks good in a fedora
Great show. I love both of these stories, but esp. “There is No Hope…”
And man, I so, so absolutely love Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told; I have the pb edition with the Simonson cover and it is one of my most treasured books.
Otherwise, here’s another vote for an episode that looks into more of Barr’s Batman stories, particularly Annual #8 and the 1984 special.
Looking forward to the next episode…
Outstanding episode (as expected) on 2 of my favorite Batman stories. I would have also seen the Batman nobody knows in the Treasury and just thought it was great. I know it wouldn’t work today but the 1970s were a more innocent time. As to the conclusion, I always thought that Bruce just had his suit on underneath his clothes (which they all did back in the day) and decided after hearing the stories to dispel the myths. As to whether they were supposed to know if it was Bruce, I always thought so but it doesn’t really matter.
As to There Is No Hope in Crime Alley – just a seminal story. So much (most good some overdone) has come from it. This was the first comic I ever got signed – by Denny O’Neil old school on the splash page. I was at a show in Philadelphia and saw he was there. I did not have anything with me but found a duplicate of this issue and bought it. Sitting on my vintage spinner rack right now. And another link – I have an original cel from Appointment in Crime Alley that I got at the WB store. It has Batman and Leslie with Batman kneeling down putting the rose on the ground. Couldn’t believe it when I found it and still love it to this day. I look at it every time I go down to my comic book room.
Sorry for the meandering comments. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for going back and discussing Bronze-Age Batman, my favorite period for the character.
I read both stories before their inclusion in the Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told. I read “The Batman Nobody Knows” in my beloved Batman’s Strangest Cases treasury…quite possible my favorite comic that I own. There was a used bookstore in my town that occasionally got old comics, and I picked up 457 there. I hate how the Batman logo looks with the Bat and Man shoved together and the weird and out of proportion “apostrophe S” looks…That is my favorite Batman logo but this run of Detectives sure ruined it.
Out of curiosity, have either of you read the cover story to Batman 250, The Deadly Numbers Game? It seems to have been lost to most fans’ memories, due to “The Batman Nobody Knows” getting so much attention.
Since you mentioned the Batman Special #1, Michael Golden told me at a con that he didn’t finish the book…I always thought the last few pages didn’t look like his work. I got him to sign my Batman Special #1 at a con in Birmingham, Alabama. That is the only time I’ve ever let anyone write on my comics…I bought another copy so I would have one that hasn’t been written on. I enjoy signed prints from artists, and I have a signed Denny O’Neil trading card, but there is still something that freaks me out if someone writes on my comics.
Good show on two stories that would not be done today. nobody knows could be done with the Fantastic Four, not Batman Modern Batman just would not go camping with kids. Crime Alley would be done in five pages and the crook would turn out to be the Riddler’s henchmen.
FF First Steps was good, but not great. Probably because I think the Silver Surfer should be a guy and I like Jessica Alba.
Great show, guys. Love the return of Knightcast. I guess you could call it a… reunion. Good stories. I’ve read both several times. At this point, they need to just turn that alley into a coffee shop or something so Batman will stop moping every year. Get a “Chill-ed” iced coffee, or some tea with Boba “pearls” in it. I’m just spitballing here.
I was amazed to find that I enjoyed Fantastic Four, First Steps even more than Superman, which I liked a lot. The FF film felt more of a piece, more focused.
I read the Crime Alley story when it came out and loved it, it’s amazing how much impact a talented creative team can make in just a few pages. I’m sure I’ve moaned previously about what they did to Leslie (learn to spell, Denny!), making her not just a doctor, but a dolly bird. The real Leslie was a special character who should never have been seen again, she could have died and been given a nice warm spot in the Wayne Mausoleum. Mind, the idea that she wouldn’t have worked out who Batman was, was ludicrous.
It only struck me, while listening, that this story perhaps had more of an effect on me than I realised; about 20 years ago we were covering an assault on some poor soul by a block of flats near where I was living. The reporter didn’t have a quote from a local, but hey, I was a local, so I said that this well-known trouble spot was known locally as ‘Stab Alley’. And so it became known. (I’m not proud of myself..)
The Batman Nobody Knows is a fun distraction.
Ryan, I hope you do manage to read the rest of Monkey Prince, It’s a great series – I was especially thrilled by who his grandfather turns out to be.
My favourite bad super pet is Destructo from the Silver Age – he had a skull & crossbones motif and belonged to teenaged Lex Luthor, but was all about being mean to Krypto. If you’ve never seen the cover to Superboy #92, check it out, it’s all win.