top of page

Batman Sunday Newspaper Strip - Story 1


November 7-December 12, 1943

The Penguin


While there was a daily newspaper strip for Batman in 1943, there was also an expanded Sunday strip running concurrently. And where the daily opened with a story with a basic gangster, the Sunday run begins with a Penguin tale.


The story opens with Batman and Robin stopping a robbery of an umbrella store where they encounter the Penguin. He quickly escapes from the two by causing them to flinch when he sprays them with water from his umbrella. The two return home and we get the now familiar schematic of the layout of the Bat Cave.


Meanwhile, Penguin sells an umbrella to Amos Pinchbeck, eccentric millionaire. Alfred happens to be in the store at the same time and purchases one himself. When Bruce sees it and hears about Pinchbeck, it spurs him to visit the millionaire, catching Penguin in the act of robbing him. The two approach Penguin by tightrope, which he then cuts.


Batman quickly saves them by swinging on another rope he tosses at a weather vane. When they land, they are held at umbrella gunpoint by two trained penguins. Batman sends them flying but then the two are sent flying over the edge of the roof as Penguin uses oil from one of his umbrellas.


The story ends with Penguin thinking he has finished off Batman, allowing him to complete his robbery of Pinchbeck. But Batman and Robin burst back into the penthouse apartment. Penguin leaps from the roof, using his umbrella to glide to the waiting arms of the police below. Batman wants to keep the umbrella Pinchbeck bought as a souvenir, but only if he pays the five cents Pinchbeck paid for it.


It's a cute little story, told in six weeks, but because of the short time, the story itself has to be simplistic. What's next, Citizens? This was a short-run story, so we'll continue with the next Sunday strip story.






Featured Posts
Recent Posts
Archive
Search By Tags
Follow Us
  • Facebook Basic Square
  • Twitter Basic Square
  • Google+ Basic Square
bottom of page