Batman #3 - Story 3
October 18, 1940
"The Crime School for Boys!"
Here's a story straight out of the 40s. But with a few changes, it could fit in any time period. The story opens as has many in recent issues - Batman foils another robbery, but this time, he is shocked when one of the culprits turns out to be a kid. Now, since I've been questioning Dick's/Robin's age at this stage of the story, I have to also wonder how old this kid is Batman nabs. I say this because Dick will become part of this kid's and the other kids in the neighborhood's lives. So you have to wonder how old the kid is.
And he promises Batman he will go straight if Batman lets him go. And surprisingly, Batman does, but he follows him to see where the kid goes. He's lead to a deserted warehouse where a man named "Pockets" runs a crime school for boys. When they have learned all he can teach them, he gets them involved in major gangs in the city.
Batman doesn't smash up the school directly as he knows the kids are still easily swayed. They need to be shown that crime is not the way to go. So, he has Dick dress up in some rundown clothes and speak to the kids in the neighborhood. Of course, one of them challenges him as he is the new kid in town. Dick is easily able to wipe the floor with him, impressing the others. Dick tells them about the gym he works out of that is right in the neighborhood. Dick takes them there and they are impressed with what they see. They quickly take to the program and listen to Dick's messages about fair play.
Unfortunately, they only apply these lessons to their time at the gym. Dick hears them talking about Pockets and how he wants them to attend class. They bring Dick into their confidence and offer to get him enrolled. Dick accepts and learns that one of the big time gang members, Big Boy Daniels, is planning on being there.
That night, Batman listens as Big Boy is introduced to the students. He picks out two kids for his gang as he is short two thanks to Batman. He has his gang make two hits, each gang taking a kid with them.
Batman stops the first one, a robbery of a fur warehouse and sends the kid on his way with a warning that he will get what the others got if he sees the kid again. He puts the same fear of the Bat into the kid in the other heist he stops. The word gets back to Big Boy of Batman foiling both heists.
He wonders who could have tipped Batman off. And then he gets an answer as Batman calls and warns Big Boy to close the crime school. Big Boy is certain it was Pockets that tipped him off. Before Batman can stop him, Big Boy kills Pockets.
Surrounded by thugs with guns, Batman challenges Big Boy to a fight which Big Boy accepts. But Batman is the better brawler and has Big Boy on the ropes, so he and his men get their guns again.
