The Batman Family #9

Ah, the '70's...

DC's The Answer Man, Bob Rozakis opens the "Startling Secret of the Devilish Daughters with Congresswoman Barbara Gordon making an appearance at Hudson University for a speech and to receive an award. The award is stolen before her arrival. Dick Grayson's girlfriend, Lori Elton is jealous of Barbara - which is strange, since Barbara should be a few years older than The Boy Wonder. Lori's Uncle Chief Frank McDonald is investigating the theft of the award. Robin joins the investigation. Barbara's speech is interrupted by The Scarecrone, The Scarecrow's Daughter. Who turns out to be The Joker's Daughter in disguise. Later, dinner is interrupted by the appearance of The Riddler's Daughter, another disguise for The Joker's Daughter! She manages to unmask Robin, who quickly fashions a mask from paper towel to confer with Lt. Rick Tatem. Later, as a protest erupts when Barbara continues her speech, The Penguin's Daughter makes an appearance. The Dynamite Duo use a little choreography to defeat her backstage. Batgirl captures the protestor. The adventure wraps up with Barbara receiving her award; the protestor going to jail; and, Duela Dent, Two-Face's Daughter confronting Dick Grayson with her petition to join the Teen Titans!

The issue also includes a reprint of an Alfred story with art by Jerry Robinson from 1944 where he plans a big dinner for Bruce and Dick to compensate for their busy schedule as The Dynamic Duo. However, he forgets his wallet and mistakes a seedy looking character for a pick-pocket. Following the individual, Alfred stumbles across a hit. There's someone else following Alfred's alleged pick-pocket!

Finally, the issue is rounded out with a 1966 reprint of "The Blockbuster Breaks Loose" by Gardner Fox, with art by Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella. The story spotlights how Robin helps Batman beat The Blockbuster, who is manipulated by The Outsider. At the end of the story, there is a brief explanation of who The Outsider is; and, what the Alfred Memorial Foundation is.

The Good

There can be no denying that Julius Schwartz made fun comics. Duela Dent is a wacky, fun character. With her multiple personalities, including as The Harlequin, she is what Harley Quinn has become in the Modern Age. She seems also a precursor of what Marvel's Runaways turned out to be: children of villains looking for atonement and redemption. Rozakis' story, with art from Irv Novick and Vince Colletta and edited by Schwartz is guilty pleasure: full of action, drama and suspense. Like a '70's soap opera with costumes. It's kind of a Marvel story with DC characters. It's has a bit of a Spider-Man vibe to it.

The Bad

The issue is made up of just one main seventeen-page story, and two reprinted stories. That seems to be the design of the book; a Doctor Double X story was featured in issue seven.

The Alfred reprint is an interesting flashback. A bit dated; but The Batman Family was just eleven years after the live action Batman television series, so this image of Alfred has been pretty much cemented.

Characters like Hourman, Elongated Man and Blockbuster really can't work in the Modern Age. They're all based on chemical dependency, which is not really PC. Blockbuster seems more like a one-off version of Solomon Grundy and The Hulk. a precursor of Doomsday and Bane. A character of sheer primal force.

The Skinny

The Batman Family spotlights The Dynamite Duo of Robin and Batgirl, with stories featuring Alfred, Gordon, Batwoman, and Man-Bat. It's more or less a Batman-less bat book. It's an enjoyable time-capsule of The Bronze Age. The stories are fun. Somewhat disposable, but fun.

The Batman Family 9 earns three stars for harmless frivolity.