Batman #65

History

The issue hit newsstands on April 16, 1951, with a cover date of June 1951, published by National Comics Publications under the DC umbrella. Whitney Ellsworth held the official editorial credit, but Jack Schiff was the actual hands-on editor — a common dual-credit arrangement at DC during this period. The key lead story, 'A Partner for Batman!', was scripted by Bill Finger and drawn primarily by Lew Sayre Schwartz (with Bob Kane credited only for the Batman and Robin figures), inked by Charles Paris — credits all subsequently verified by the artists themselves. The second story, 'Bruce Wayne — Crime Reporter!', was penciled by Dick Sprang and inked by Charles Paris, while the Catwoman story deployed a mix of Win Mortimer and Schwartz on art. The cover itself was painted by Win Mortimer, with the Catwoman figure on it drawn by Schwartz and Paris from the third story.

Trivia · 8 facts

• First appearance of Wingman, a Batman-trained European crimefighter, created by writer Bill Finger and penciler Lew Sayre Schwartz (with Bob Kane figures), in the 12-page lead story 'A Partner for Batman!'
• Wingman's real name is not revealed in this issue; later continuity (post-Crisis) identifies him as Benedict Rundstrom, a Swedish vigilante and eventual member of the Club of Heroes / Batmen of All Nations.
• The issue contains three main stories: 'A Partner for Batman!' (Wingman debut), 'Bruce Wayne — Crime Reporter!' (Batman goes undercover as a journalist to expose the Artisan Gang), and 'Catwoman — Empress of the Underworld!' (Selina Kyle works as an undercover operative to help bust a gang).
• Cover art by Win Mortimer features Catwoman prominently; the Catwoman figure on the cover was specifically drawn by Lew Sayre Schwartz and Charles Paris, taken from the issue's third story.
• Jack Schiff was the actual editor of the issue, though Whitney Ellsworth held the official indicia credit — a standard DC editorial arrangement of the era.
• The lead story 'A Partner for Batman!' was reprinted in Batman: The Black Casebook (2009), a trade paperback DC assembled to collect the Golden Age stories that directly inspired Grant Morrison's Batman run, including 'Batman R.I.P.'
• The third story 'Catwoman — Empress of the Underworld!' was reprinted in Catwoman: A Celebration of 75 Years (2015), recognizing it as a significant early appearance in Catwoman's publishing history.
• The issue also contains backup features including a Varsity Vic strip by Henry Boltinoff, a Casey the Cop strip, and a one-page Superboy educational feature scripted by Jack Schiff and drawn by Win Mortimer on the inside back cover.

Cast · 18 characters

Full credits

Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers