THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN
"Batman's Great Mystery" ( 11 episodes from February 3, 1948 to February 17, 1948 )
If you ask me, the real mystery here is how this script ever got approved to air on radio - because it is flawed with 'holes' through and through! It is actually more fun to listen to this story for the purpose of picking out all of the errors than it is for the 'adventure' itself!
First - you need to realize that the relationships between Batman, Robin, and Superman are really complicated on the radio series - much different than in the comic books. Apparently Clark Kent knows that Bruce Wayne is Batman and Robin is Dick Grayson. Bruce Wayne knows that Clark Kent is Superman but, Dick Grayson does NOT! To Dick, Clark Kent and Superman are two seperate people - both of whom know that he and Bruce Wayne are secretly Batman and Robin!
'Make any sense so far?
Unbelievably, this is the only thing that remains consistent throughout this entire storyline! Because, despite Clark Kent's claims that he is taking every precaution to preserve Batman's true identity a secret, the big Kryptonian idiot blatantly blabs it to Perry White, Lois Lane and Inspector Henderson!
Example: The story begins with Bruce Wayne's mysterious disappearance. The only clue they have to go on is an audio recording of a conversation between BRUCE WAYNE and a "Mr. Jones" who has somehow discovered Bruce's secret identity ( My theory is that Jones must have been a regular listener to THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN radio show ). Clark Kent carefully edits this audio recording so the part of the conversation where Bruce Wayne's identity as Batman is left out. Then, He and DICK GRAYSON play the recording for the Daily Planet staff and the Metropolis police, in the hopes that someone will recognize the voice of the mysterious "Mr. Jones" and be able to help them locate the missing BRUCE WAYNE.
Okay, all is well... so far.
In the meantime, BATMAN begins making public appearances all over town delivering bigotted, un-American, rabble-rousing speeches! Kent suspects that this 'Batman' is either a phony -OR- the real Batman is out of his mind, drugged, or under some kind of duress.
Still believing that the clue is in the recording, Kent consults with both Perry White and Lois Lane. BUT - here's where the story begins to go awry - this time Kent refers to the recording as being the voices of BATMAN and "Mr.Jones". Batman you say? I thought it was BRUCE WAYNE? Hmmmm.....
Then, while Kent is conferring with Inspector Henderson, he suggests that they compare the suspected phoney Batman's fingerprints with the fingerprints of the real Batman - which are CONVENIENTLY ON FILE at the Metropolis Police Department! Hmmmm.... Why don't we compare Batman's fingerprints with BRUCE WAYNE's while we're at it? Duhhh.... Does Gotham City's Police Commissioner know that Batman's fingerprints are on file in Metropolis?
So then, Henderson tells Kent that he really can't authorize the fingerprint comparisons unless ROBIN files a formal document to the effect that he suspects that the real Batman is being impersonated.
"No problem," says Kent, "Let's drive out to THEIR HOUSE!" So, Kent takes Henderson right to WAYNE MANOR where ALFRED - Bruce Wayne's supposedly faithful Butler - tells them that ROBIN isn't there because he'd received a mysterious phonecall earlier from none other than BATMAN, asking him to meet him at a certain location! Some loyal butler!!!!
The whole plot is preposterous and laughable! I won't even go into how extremely gullible, inept and un-resourceful Batman & Robin are at being heroic crimefighters - and still, the announcer, ( Jackson Beck ) can refer to them as "The Dynamic Duo" with a straight face!
Another hilarious peice of business has the Batman impersonator withdrawing all of BRUCE WAYNE's money and securities from the Bank while dressed in the Batman outfit! Ummm... does he have his bank accounts under the name 'Batman'?
Then, the Bank official is completely taken aback when it is suggested to him that the masked man he gave the money to might not - just MIGHT not - have been the real Batman. Do you mean to say that just ANYBODY might put on a Batman costume and pass themselves off as the Caped Crusader? Unbelievable!
This is a GREAT example of how NOT to write a Superman/Batman story! But, it's a slice of radio history and an interesting look back at the formation of the now legendary Superman-Batman & Robin alliance.
- GJS
"Batman's Great Mystery" ( 11 episodes from February 3, 1948 to February 17, 1948 )
If you ask me, the real mystery here is how this script ever got approved to air on radio - because it is flawed with 'holes' through and through! It is actually more fun to listen to this story for the purpose of picking out all of the errors than it is for the 'adventure' itself!
First - you need to realize that the relationships between Batman, Robin, and Superman are really complicated on the radio series - much different than in the comic books. Apparently Clark Kent knows that Bruce Wayne is Batman and Robin is Dick Grayson. Bruce Wayne knows that Clark Kent is Superman but, Dick Grayson does NOT! To Dick, Clark Kent and Superman are two seperate people - both of whom know that he and Bruce Wayne are secretly Batman and Robin!
'Make any sense so far?
Unbelievably, this is the only thing that remains consistent throughout this entire storyline! Because, despite Clark Kent's claims that he is taking every precaution to preserve Batman's true identity a secret, the big Kryptonian idiot blatantly blabs it to Perry White, Lois Lane and Inspector Henderson!
Example: The story begins with Bruce Wayne's mysterious disappearance. The only clue they have to go on is an audio recording of a conversation between BRUCE WAYNE and a "Mr. Jones" who has somehow discovered Bruce's secret identity ( My theory is that Jones must have been a regular listener to THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN radio show ). Clark Kent carefully edits this audio recording so the part of the conversation where Bruce Wayne's identity as Batman is left out. Then, He and DICK GRAYSON play the recording for the Daily Planet staff and the Metropolis police, in the hopes that someone will recognize the voice of the mysterious "Mr. Jones" and be able to help them locate the missing BRUCE WAYNE.
Okay, all is well... so far.
In the meantime, BATMAN begins making public appearances all over town delivering bigotted, un-American, rabble-rousing speeches! Kent suspects that this 'Batman' is either a phony -OR- the real Batman is out of his mind, drugged, or under some kind of duress.
Still believing that the clue is in the recording, Kent consults with both Perry White and Lois Lane. BUT - here's where the story begins to go awry - this time Kent refers to the recording as being the voices of BATMAN and "Mr.Jones". Batman you say? I thought it was BRUCE WAYNE? Hmmmm.....
Then, while Kent is conferring with Inspector Henderson, he suggests that they compare the suspected phoney Batman's fingerprints with the fingerprints of the real Batman - which are CONVENIENTLY ON FILE at the Metropolis Police Department! Hmmmm.... Why don't we compare Batman's fingerprints with BRUCE WAYNE's while we're at it? Duhhh.... Does Gotham City's Police Commissioner know that Batman's fingerprints are on file in Metropolis?
So then, Henderson tells Kent that he really can't authorize the fingerprint comparisons unless ROBIN files a formal document to the effect that he suspects that the real Batman is being impersonated.
"No problem," says Kent, "Let's drive out to THEIR HOUSE!" So, Kent takes Henderson right to WAYNE MANOR where ALFRED - Bruce Wayne's supposedly faithful Butler - tells them that ROBIN isn't there because he'd received a mysterious phonecall earlier from none other than BATMAN, asking him to meet him at a certain location! Some loyal butler!!!!
The whole plot is preposterous and laughable! I won't even go into how extremely gullible, inept and un-resourceful Batman & Robin are at being heroic crimefighters - and still, the announcer, ( Jackson Beck ) can refer to them as "The Dynamic Duo" with a straight face!
Another hilarious peice of business has the Batman impersonator withdrawing all of BRUCE WAYNE's money and securities from the Bank while dressed in the Batman outfit! Ummm... does he have his bank accounts under the name 'Batman'?
Then, the Bank official is completely taken aback when it is suggested to him that the masked man he gave the money to might not - just MIGHT not - have been the real Batman. Do you mean to say that just ANYBODY might put on a Batman costume and pass themselves off as the Caped Crusader? Unbelievable!
This is a GREAT example of how NOT to write a Superman/Batman story! But, it's a slice of radio history and an interesting look back at the formation of the now legendary Superman-Batman & Robin alliance.
- GJS
