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    Batman #73

    Batman » Batman #73 - Guns For Hire / Vicki Vale's Secret / The Joker's Utility Belt! released by DC Comics on October 1952.

    Short summary describing this issue.

    Guns For Hire / Vicki Vale's Secret / The Joker's Utility Belt! last edited by Raines on 08/02/23 07:16PM View full history

    1. Cover by Dick Sprang and Charles Paris.
    2. "Guns For Hire" written by Unknown, penciled by Dick Sprang and inked by Charles Paris.

    3. "Vicki Vale's Secret" written by David Reed, penciled by Lew Schwartz and inked by Charles Paris.

    4. "The Joker's Utility Belt!" written by David Reed, penciled by Dick Sprang and inked by Charles Paris.

    • At the Gotham Museum of Modern Art, The Joker attempts to steal the new Knoxborough jewel collection. The Batman and Robin engage the Joker and his gang in the Comedians Hall OF Fame. A large painting falls of its hook and crashes down on the Batman making him dizzy as he and Robin become the Jokers captives. The Batman pulls out gas pellets from his utility belt and takes out some of Jokers gang as the Joker escapes.
    • The Joker, upset after his plan failed, realizes that Batman's utility belt gives him the edge and creates one of his own. The Joker strikes at Gotham Opera House causing havoc with Gotham's finest with his utility belt. He escapes before The Batman and Robin arrive. Later at Professor Laughwell's private studio, Batman figures out, and tries to foil the Joker's plan to steal a priceless collection of rare native masks. When they struggle the Joker slips his utility belt onto Batman . The Batman reaches into it to use gas pellets they burst into flowers instead of gas and the Joker makes a clean getaway.
    • A few days later the Batman and Robin publicly launch the new SS Gotham with champagne bottles. The Batman notices that the paraffin wax has not discolored with age .He changes the bottle for another and launches the boat. Suddenly a woman picks up the champagne bottle Batman put to the side and smashes it against the ship releasing a powerful gas knocking out the caped crusaders. The Joker and his gang grab the Batman and Robin and plan a fiery fate for them at the Joker's hideout. Robin is placed on a conveyor belt that runs into a furnace.The Batman watches as he stands next to the the Joker held by his thugs. The Batman sneaks the snake pellets from the Jokers utility belt stopping the conveyor belt and saving Robin. Batman continues to ransack the Joker's utility belt turning it on him and his gang, thus capturing and turning them over to Commissioner Gordon at Gotham Police Headquarters.
    • The Story was later adapted into a two part episode of Batman 1966.
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    4.2 stars

    Average score of 3 user reviews

    0

     The Joker always loses to the Dynamic Duo because of the dreaded utility belt.  Not to be out done, the Joker decides to create one for himself . Joker doesn't waste time putting it to use. It fowls up the Batman and Robin enough to avoid capture several times. The Joker's inventiveness surprises even himself at points. Dick Sprang's art is definitive for Batman in the Fifties along with Bill Fingers story. This issue may have along with other classic stories of the time inspired the classic an...

    1 out of 1 found this review helpful.

    Pure Silver Age 0

    1952's "The Joker's Utility Belt" shows up in The Greatest Joker Stories Ever Told, and Batman: The TV Stories. It's pure Silver Age! It's one of the defining Joker stories, along with "The Laughing Fish"... And maybe Batman: The Killing JokeStop a second, and let the story sink in, and appreciate it in all it's camp awesomeness.The Joker is based off the playing card. That's his signature. He could very well be a Jester. Here he is portrayed as a frustrated comedian; a comic. Frustrated because...

    1 out of 1 found this review helpful.
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