Batman #32 - Story 2

October 10, 1945

"Dick Greyson, Boy Wonder"

We start the story with a quick recap of Dick's origins as Robin, but there is an addition to the story that was never told - until now. After Robin helped to bring Zucco to justice and the electric chair, he had to prove himself to Batman in order to hold on to the mantle of Robin. And it's interesting to note that Batman feels Robin would not be effective as now that he's avenged his parents' murder, he would not be as motivated, perhaps even scared, in facing the elements they face. It's the first time in the comics, at this point, we see why Batman is Batman.

He is put through a regimen of intellectual and physical training in the art of crimefighting. And his first test is helping Batman apprehend Sidney, the Lisping Lug, a villain first thought to be using Middle English as a gimmick for his crimes with Thee and Thou, but it turns out it was just his impediment.

In the course of the fight, Robin is captured and used as a hostage to keep a bound Batman from not interefering. They take him with them on their next heist, but have to dump him on the road when the police pursue them. With the police, they storm Sidney's hideout, but he's gone along with Batman.

Robin proceeds to look for clues and finds rabbit hair on a piece of clothing. He knows that one of Sidney's men runs a rabbit farm upstate, so he proceeds, alone in case he's wrong, to make his way there. He draws the crooks out of their house by having the chimney back up. Once freed, the two quickly round up the gang.

A nice, little story from the past that just adds to Robin's origin. Can't really see it working as a Batman 66 story as it's too straightforward, but I like it nonetheless.

We'll continue with story three from this issue tomorrow.