Detective Comics #95

November 24, 1944

(The Blaze)

Ohh, a new villain with a name and not some random gangster of the month - the Blaze! But is he a villain or just a random gangster that comes up with a name? The splash page plays up the Blaze name with phrases like "flares a new kingpin of crime". But it doesn't say if this Blaze has a gimmick having to do with fire. Best to get into it and find out.

The story opens with Batman's war on crime giving great dividends for the GCPD as they round up criminal after criminal based on Batman's tips. Interesting that he doesn't apprehend them himself. The criminals, having been caught and tried all at the same time, I guess, are placed in a train car to be transported to their finally destination - prison.

But the train is taken over by the Blaze! And he is quite the interesting looking character with his red hair and handlebar mustache. He definitely looks the part of a Batman villain. Once he has the train, his men enter the car and kill the guards allowing the prisoners their freedom. The Blaze declares himself their leader of an organization that will loot America. And he will take care of the Batman, don't you worry.

The Blaze visits Gordon in the guise of a wealthy socialite who is concerned his enemies will attack him at his birthday party. He wants Batman's protection, but Gordon says that the police will do if he cannot persuade Batman. That evening, Batman and Robin perform for the police academy graduation ceremony. Afterwards, the two head to the Blaze's trap. Batman has Robin wait outside as he thinks it's all a false alarm. And I love the 66 bit as he has Robin study his multiplication tables while he waits.

Inside, Batman is knocked out by gas and trapped in a steel mesh net suspended over the room filled with the men he helped capture. The discuss how to kill him. As they do, Batman uses a diamond filled Batman emblem given to him by Gordon as thanks for attending the ceremony. Once free, he attacks his captors. And now I know where that image of Batman throwing birthday cake in the Blaze's face comes from. I've received that image a few times on Facebook for my birthday.

Robin joins the fight, but is brought down by a blow from the Blaze. Batman is able to disable him by literally kicking off his boot. But someone else knocks out Batman as the police arrive. The Blaze and his men race off in their cars and manage to take Robin with them when he tries to stop their escape. They hideout at the waterfront, preparing their next move.

Robin gets a signal to Batman who races to the waterfront as the Blaze and his men head to a museum to rob. The Blaze leaves Robin gagged and boobytrapped. He kicks out at Batman to warn him away. The Batman knocks the chair Robin is tied to through a window and into the river below. There, the bomb that was tied to the chair is rendered useless.

The two race to the museum to round up the gang and there is a fight. Now, according to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, the Blaze does not return, which is a shame in itself. He is seen doing the whole Batman 66, "Get em, boys!" line at the start of the fight, but we never see him engage with the Duo, nor do we see him in the final panel as the two look on their work of knocked out crooks with pride. So it is possible he got away and we could have seen him again.

But we don't. It's a shame. While fire does not feature greatly as a gimmick with the Blaze, he does things with smoke and fire, plus his use of explosives and gas tie in to the character. I would have liked to see him again. And what's next? We're back to the Sunday newspaper strip, Citizens!