Batman (1940) 285

While there’s no Christmas colored cover, I wanted to start December with a Batman comic book.

Again, comic books and Christmas are synonymous. Batman tops the list of those comic book titles. Mom and Dad bred those habits that have become traditions into me early.

The origins of this Web site lies in the stockings of my youth. Rushing down the stairs to tear open those over-sized, white trimmed footies for the comic books. Those held my attention, kept me sane, while I waited for breakfast to end so as to start the main course of presents.

Batman (1940) 285

For some reason, maybe ‘cuz it doesn’t have a seasonal cover, this book never made its way into any of my stockings. I’m sorry to say. Batman 285 would have been a very welcome addition to my meager collection back then.

By the end of the Bicentennial, when this was published, I was on the tail end of my affair with Mego’s World’s Greatest Super Heroes. How I wish we could rekindle that relationship. I tossed it away so casually, moving on to Kenner’s Star Wars toy line. Even super hero comic books would take a back seat to George Lucas’ opening salvo in the soon-to-be nine-part epic.

Back on task, Batman 285 is a typical Bronze Age tale of excess. “The Mystery of Christmas Lost” is courtesy of villain Dr. Tzin-Tzin who has the power to possess the psyche of any who look into his eyes.

Batman must stop the cruel criminal from stealing Christmas 1976. Holiday imagery abounds as the Dark Knight trails the villain. Maybe the best scene is Batman battling a bear on a Christmas tree.

Of course he is able to halt Tzin-Tzin’s scheme and return Christmas to the people of Gotham.