Batman #208

Batman #208 (On Sale: November 12, 1968), 80pg. Giant #G-55, has a cover by Nick Cardy featuring Who is the Most Important Woman in Batman's Life?

This book contains"The Women in Batman's Life" by E. Nelson Bridwell, Gil Kane and Jack Abel. This story is a new framing sequence that surrounds reprinted stories. This framing sequence consists mostly of flashbacks to earlier events in the career of the Earth-1 Batman. Some of these events parallel adventures of the Earth-2 Batman. It should not be assumed that all other Earth-2 stories have Earth-1 parallels.

Mrs. Chilton, the woman that cared for Bruce Wayne following the death of his parents, remembers various events from the career of Batman that involve important women in his life. The women she remembers are: Julie Madison, Catwoman, Linda Page, Vicki Vale, Batwoman, Kaye Daye, Aunt Harriet, Patricia Powell, Marcia Monroe, Poison Ivy, and Batgirl. Unbeknownst to Bruce, Mrs. Chilton knows that he is Batman and that her sons Joe and Max Chill played important roles as villains in Batman's life.

The first woman is Catwoman in "The Secret Life of the Catwoman" a reprint from Batman #62 by Bill Finger, Lew Sayre Schwartz and Charles Paris. Next is Vicki Vale in "Vicki Vale's Secret" from Batman #73 by David V. Reed, Lew Sayre Schwartz and Charles Paris. Next we have Batwoman in "The Menace of the Firefly" from Batman #126 by Bill Finger, Sheldon Moldoff and Charles Paris wherein Firefly robs a party at which Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, and Kathy Kane are guests. The crook gets away, but Kathy sees the host, Ted Carson, slip away prior to Batman appearing on the scene. She suspects Ted is Batman, but when she confront him, she learns he is really the Firefly. Batman and Robin predict where Firefly will strike next, and Kathy shows up as Batwoman to stop the crook.

Next is "The Dilemma of the Detective's Daughter" from Batman #165 by France Herron, Sheldon Moldoff and Joe Giella. Patricia Powell, the daughter of Lt. Mike Powell, graduates from the police academy with top honors. She receives her awards from Batman and is immediately promoted to detective. She tells Batman that she has a crush on Bruce Wayne, though the two have never officially met.

Batman keeps an eye on Patricia. During her first case, Pat investigates the kidnapping of Professor Smedley. Batman helps her track down the Professor. The Dark Knight apprehends the crooks, while Pat releases the professor. Later, Pat attends a weekend party held by Bruce Wayne, where she meets him for the first time.

This issue also contains excerpts reprinted from other stories including: two pages from Detective Comics #203, one page from Detective Comics #233, one page from Batman #194, one page from Detective Comics #328, five pages from Brave and the Bold #64, two pages from Batman #181, two pages from Batman #182, and five pages from Detective Comics #359.

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.