Batman #6 - Story 3
June 18, 1941
"The Secret of the Iron Jungle"
It's the return of Linda Page as we get a little more background as to how she has her place in the upper class - her father is an oil tycoon.
Our story opens as the NY representative for Page's oil company is being tossed out a window. Batman manages to catch him and then learns the next day from Linda that her father's partner, Graham Masters, is trying to force him out before a major gusher hits on the oil field.
Bruce plans a trip to Texas, but oddly enough, he and Dick take their own car and not the Batmobile or even more expectantly, the Batplane. Even odder still is that Dick hides in the trunk as they approach Texas. maybe Bruce doesn't want people to connect that Batman and Robin are on the scene the same time Bruce and Dick are?
Bruce arrives at Page's office as Masters threatens the man's life. In a strange bit, Bruce sends the man running by, what I guess are accidental hits to Masters. I say accidental as Bruce plays it off like they are, but the panels say otherwise. It's the first time Bruce is losing the bored playboy act since he helped the citizens of Gotham back with the death ray case in Detective Comics #33.
Later, Bruce is ambushed by a group of Masters' men. He makes short work of them, even getting them to fight amongst each other. But it's enough of a distraction for Masters to grab Page who is shot in the struggle. Masters has him taken to the "Iron Jungle" an area of abandoned oil rigs.
Bruce and Dick make their switch to Batman and Robin as Linda arrives, pulling up in what is identified as a yellow roadster even though the car is clearly green. The duo take an oil tanker and pursue the kidnappers. Batman manages to rescue Linda, but their oil rig is forced off the road when it catches fire from the kidnappers' bullets.
Batman races to the Iron Jungle where he is eventually joined by Robin in putting an end to the threat, but not before Robin forces Masters hand holding a gun to turn towards the gunman's head. The gun goes off and once again, Robin is responsible for the death of a bad guy.
Here's the thing, everyone talks of the gritty and grim Batman in these early issues. That may have been the case, pre-Robin, but here, Robin is more bloodthirsty and quick to use moves that can lead to the death of a person than Batman is. It's a little unnerving.
