The Black Bat was the name of two unrelated pulp heroes featured in different

pulp magazine Pulp magazines (also referred to as "the pulps") were inexpensive fiction magazines that were published from 1896 to the late 1950s. The term "pulp" derives from the cheap wood pulp paper on which the magazines were printed. In contrast, magazine ...

series in the 1930s, most well known because of their similarity to

DC Comics DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with thei ...

hero,

Batman Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on ...

. There is, also, a Black Bat character, that is seen in toys and comics within the "Ip Man" spin-off film, "Master Z: Ip Man Legacy." This hero is idolized by Cheung Fong, son of the lead character, Cheung Tin-Chi.

The first Black Bat

He appeared in ''Black Bat Detective Mysteries'' (published by The Berryman Press), a short-lived pulp which saw six issues, all written by

Murray Leinster Murray Leinster (June 16, 1896 – June 8, 1975) was a pen name of William Fitzgerald Jenkins, an American writer of genre fiction, particularly of science fiction. He wrote and published more than 1,500 short stories and articles, 14 movie ...

(a pen-name of William Fitzgerald Jenkins), between 1933 and 1934. The character was called Black Bat in the way

Simon Templar ''The Saint'' is the nickname of the fictional character Simon Templar, featured in a series of novels and short stories by Leslie Charteris published between 1928 and 1963. After that date, other authors collaborated with Charteris on books unt ...

was called the Saint; unlike the Simon Templar books, however, none of the Black Bat stories ever mentioned the character's real name.

The second Black Bat

In July 1939,

Thrilling Publications Thrilling Publications, also known as Beacon Magazines (1936–37), Better Publications (1937–43) and Standard Magazines (1943–55), was a pulp magazine publisher run by Ned Pines, publishing such titles as ''Startling Stories'' and ...

(also known as Standard or Better) introduced a new Black Bat in a series called ''Black Book Detective''. Written mainly by

Norman A. Daniels Norman Arthur Danberg, better known as Norman A. Daniels and other pen names (June 3, 1905 – July 19, 1995), was an American writer working in pulp magazines, radio, and television. He created the pulp hero the Black Bat and wrote for such se ...

under the house name G. Wayman Jones, the stories describe the crime-fighting career of former District Attorney Anthony Quinn. In a clear departure from most pulp characters and heroes, this Black Bat actually has an

origin Origin(s) or The Origin may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Comics and manga * Origin (comics), ''Origin'' (comics), a Wolverine comic book mini-series published by Marvel Comics in 2002 * The Origin (Buffy comic), ''The Origin'' (Bu ...

story. It describes how Quinn became the Black Bat after being blinded and disfigured by

acid In computer science, ACID ( atomicity, consistency, isolation, durability) is a set of properties of database transactions intended to guarantee data validity despite errors, power failures, and other mishaps. In the context of databases, a sequ ...

when trying to save evidence against Oliver Snate in court, an idea borrowed a few years later by

for the creation of both the hero

Doctor Mid-Nite Doctor Mid-Nite or Doctor Midnight is the name of multiple fictional superheroes in DC Comics. The figure has been represented in the comics by three different individuals, Charles McNider, Beth Chapel, and Pieter Anton Cross. Dr. Mid-Nite was o ...

and the

villain

Two-Face Two-Face is a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, commonly as an adversary of the superhero Batman. The character was created by Bob Kane and first appeared in ''Detective Comics'' #66 (August 1942). As one of Batman's ...

(when D.A. Harvey Kent is disfigured by having acid thrown in his face in

Detective Comics ''Detective Comics'' is an American comic book series published by Detective Comics, later shortened to DC Comics. The first volume, published from 1937 to 2011 (and later continued in 2016), is best known for introducing the superhero Batman i ...

#66, August 1942; his surname was later changed to ''Dent''). (Marvel Comics later created Matt Murdock, the blind lawyer who gained "super senses" and became

Daredevil Daredevil may refer to: * A stunt performer Arts and media Comics * Daredevil (Lev Gleason Publications), a fictional 1940s superhero popularized by writer-artist Charles Biro * Daredevil (Marvel Comics character), a Marvel comic book superher ...

.) The Black Bat left paper stickers of a bat stuck to his victims, so like

The Spider The Spider is an American pulp-magazine hero of the 1930s and 1940s. The character was created by editor Harry Steeger and written by a variety of authors for 118 monthly issues of ''The Spider'' from 1933 to 1943. A 119th Spider novel manuscrip ...

before him (who stamped a blood-red spider stencil on the criminals' foreheads), innocent people would not be blamed for their deaths, and other criminals would come to fear him.

The Black Bat and Batman

Both the Black Bat and Batman hit the newsstands around the same time, and both claimed that the other was a copy. The threat of lawsuits ended when DC editor

Whitney Ellsworth Frederick Whitney Ellsworth (November 27, 1908 – September 7, 1980) was an American comic book editor and sometime writer and artist for DC Comics during the period known to historians and fans as the Golden Age of Comic Books. He was also ...

intervened. Ellsworth had once worked for the Black Bat's publishers and brokered a deal that allowed both characters to co-exist peacefully. It is probable that the costumes of both characters were copied from the 1933/34 Black Bat series which featured costumed illustrations of the Black Bat inside the pulps, although in reality, the "Black Bat" in the stories wore ordinary street clothes. Batman creator

Bob Kane Robert Kane (born Robert Kahn ; October 24, 1915 – November 3, 1998) was an American comic book writer, animator and artist who co-created Batman (with Bill Finger) and most early related characters for DC comics. He was inducted into the comi ...

always contended that the only bat-like man he had seen was the villain from the 1930 film, ''

The Bat Whispers ''The Bat Whispers'' is a 1930 American pre-Code mystery film directed by Roland West, produced by Joseph M. Schenck, and released by United Artists. The film is based on the 1920 mystery play '' The Bat'', written by Mary Roberts Rinehart and ...

''. However, the Black Bat did have a permanent influence on the Batman: chief Batman scribe

Bill Finger Milton "Bill" Finger (February 8, 1914 – January 18, 1974) was an American comic strip, comic book, film and television writer who was the co-creator (with Bob Kane) of the DC Comics character Batman. Despite making major (sometimes, signatu ...

called Kane's attention to the wrist flaps, which appeared to be gauntlets the rival character was wearing. Subsequently, similar "fins" were added to Batman's gloves which remain to this day.

How the Black Bat got his abilities

In the first issue, DA Tony Quinn is blinded by acid thrown by a thug working for Oliver Snate, a crime lord, and believes his career is over until a mysterious woman arrives (Carol Baldwin). She tells him that her father is a small town policeman who is dying from a gangster's bullet and that a surgeon is willing to perform an operation to graft his corneas onto Tony Quinn's eyes so that he can see again. The operation is done in secret and when the bandages are removed four months later, Quinn finds that he can not only see normally but can even see perfectly in darkness too. While blind, Quinn had developed the necessary skills of the blind; sharper hearing, more sensitive touch, a better sense of smell, etc.

The other characters

Like many other crime fighters, Quinn is unhappy about all the criminals who slip through the law's net on legal technicalities, etc. and decides to work outside the law in another persona to bring them to justice, and so the Black Bat is born, with Quinn deciding to keep the role of a blind man and later acquires the title of "Special District Attorney". Con man, Norton "Silk" Kirby, a small-time crook who had tried to rob Tony Quinn (when sighted) one night and had been persuaded to stay on as "officially" a valet and this continued after Quinn was blinded. His many criminal skills are a valuable asset to the Black Bat. Carol, a "resourceful and intelligent girl" who is already working undercover in a gang decides to work with Quinn on his secret crusade and last comes Jack "Butch" O'Leary who risked his life to save a crowd from machine gun fire. None too intelligent but completely loyal and "a hulking giant of a man who was never happier than when his fists were flying in defense of the law and in the aid of the Black Bat". Quinn has a secret tunnel to a gatehouse at the rear of his house which leads to a quiet street, which he uses as the Black Bat. This is necessary not just because of criminals who want him dead but because of the police too as he works outside the law. Friend to Quinn, the bulky lieutenant, Captain McGrath (under Commissioner Warner) who is so honest he would turn in his own mother if she did something wrong is also enemy of the Black Bat. He suspects they are one and the same (same build, similar voice) and often tries to prove it, with tricks, even once having a doctor examine Quinn's eyes. While Quinn can see perfectly, he can also make his eyes appear like those of a blind person and even a doctor is fooled. Quinn usually turns the tables on McGrath, making him look foolish in his attempts to prove he is the Black Bat.

Pulp hero

Covers of the ''Black Book Detective'' where Black Bat was the main story with some back-up stories were normally dark and featured a crime being committed while in the background shadows is the symbolic face of a brooding Black Bat looking on. Few covers broke with this tradition, like #27 where the Black Bat is seen being attacked by a huge dog and a knife wielding woman. Unlike many heroes of the pulps, the Black Bat did not come up against the fantastic but battled ordinary criminals who prey on the weak and helpless. The stories were detective stories too with the criminal and details revealed in the last pages by Quinn. Issue 7 has the Black Bat fighting against a gang of arsonists burning down tenement buildings for insurance money, regardless of who dies in them. Issue 11 has the Black Bat investigating a strange plane crash as well as a missing fortune in diamonds, needed for America's war effort. Russia initially started the war on Germany's side so issue 12 deals with Russian spies who commit sabotage and murder in America. Issue 13, a fiend uses a hospital for illegal and deadly experiments, even punishing his own men with horrible torture if they fail him. Issue 19 has a man who is believed to be the Devil but the Black Bat reveals his trickery. Issue 25 has Nazi fifth columnists steal a supply of bauxite (aluminum ore) which America desperately needs for the war effort. Issue 27 (around this time, page count of the BB stories started dropping due to a paper shortage, to about 45 pages for a time) Prohibition is over so ex-bootleggers move into the commodity market, stopping supplies getting through. Issue 28 features a criminal hypnotist. Issue 36 (Artwork is usually checked for "taste" but this one got through. A woman on the front cover who is obviously not wearing a bra.) One by one, people who know a secret start dying. Issue 38, a man convicted of murder has the Black Bat convicted of charges too on which he must acquit himself. Issue 39 Crooks plan to attend a rich party as detectives and steal two million in diamonds. Issue 40, the death predictions of a man prove too accurate so the BB investigates. Issue 41, in a 73-page story, a killer plots to control the Sentinel newspaper. Issue 44, a jailbreak and bank loot vanishes.

The third Black Bat

In 2011 Anthony Quinn is stated as dead in the Clockwork Comics series '' Education of a Superhero'' by

Adam Dechanel Adam Dechanel (born 1978 London) is a British author, illustrator, graphic designer and producer. Life He has worked in television, film, books, short stories and graphic novels for many years. He graduated from Camberwell School of Art, and imme ...

and a new Black Bat under the alias Steve Ventura took on the daunting legacy. ''

Legacy of the Black Bat In law, a legacy is something held and transferred to someone as their inheritance, as by will and testament. Personal effects, family property, marriage property or collective property gained by will of real property. Legacy or legacies may refer ...

'' is an ongoing series created by

Paul Hobbs Paul may refer to: *Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name) *Paul (surname), a list of people People Christianity *Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chris ...

and

. Ventura, a former reluctant assassin, has vague memories of Anthony Quinn's past suggesting he is a clone of some kind. In addition to this he also has access to all the Black Bat's former hidden weaponry and tech arsenal in the Bat Crypt. Anthony Quinn's former teenage sidekick Jeremiah Graymalkin helped Ventura begin his new life as the new Black Bat.

Black Bat in Black Bat Detective Mysteries Index (The first Black Bat)

# "The Body in the Taxi" (Oct 33) # "The Coney Island Murders" (Nov 33) # "The Hollywood Murders" (Dec 33) # "Murder At First Night" (Jan 34) # "The Maniac Murders" (Feb 34) # "The Warehouse Murders" (Apr 34)

Black Bat in Black Book Detective Index (The second Black Bat)

(Note - Titles in italics have all been reprinted by Sanctum Books) # ''The Brand of the Black Bat'' (Jul 39) # ''Murder Calls the Bat'' (Sep 39) # ''The Black Bat Strikes Again'' (Nov 39) # ''The Black Bat's Challenge'' (Jan 40) # ''The Black Bat's Spy Trail'' (Mar 40) # ''The Black Bat's Crusade'' (May 40) # ''The Black Bat's Flame Trail'' (Jul 40) # ''The Black Bat's Triumph'' (Sep 40) # ''The Black Bat and the Trojan Horse'' (Nov 40) # ''The Black Bat's Dragon Trail'' (Jan 41) # ''The Black Bat's Justice'' (Mar 41) # ''The Black Bat and the Red Menace'' (May 41) # ''The Black Bat's Summons'' (Jul 41) # ''The Black Bat's Invisible Enemy'' (Sep 41) # ''The Voice of Doom'' (Nov 41) # "The Eyes of the Blind" (Jan 42) # "The Blackout Murders" (Mar 42) # "Shadow of Evil" (May 42) # "The Faceless Satan" (Jul 42) # "The Murder Prophet" (Sep 42) # "The Nazi Spy Murders" (Nov 42) # "The Seventh Column" (Jan 43) # "Millions for a Murder" (Mar 43) # ''Captains of Death'' (May 43) # "Without Blood They Die" (Sum 43) # "Guardians in Black" (Fal 43) # ''Markets of Treason'' (Win 44) # ''The White Witch'' (Spr 44) # "Death For Charity" (Sum 44) # "Murder Deals in Ersatz" (Fal 44) # "The Skeleton's Secret" (Win 45) # "The Marked Man" (Spr 45) # "Murder on the Loose" (Sum 45) # "Murder Among the Dying" (Fal 45) # "Blind Man's Bluff" (Win 46) # "The Man Behind Murder" (Spr 46) # "The Survivor Murders" (Sum 46) # "With Malice Aforethought" (Fal 46) # "The Crime To Come" (Feb 47) # "The Lakeside Murder" (Apr 47) # "The Murder Prophet" (Jun 47) # "Dead Man's Plunder" (Aug 47) # "The Long Ago Murder" (Oct 47) # "City of Hidden Death" (Dec 47) # "The Coiled Serpent" (Feb 48) # "Inheritance of Murder" (Apr 48) # "The Murder Maker" (Jun 48) # "The Lying Killers" (Sep 48) # "City of Hate" (Nov 48) # "Thirty-One Deadly Guns" (Jan 49) # "The Riddle of the Dead Man's Bequest" (Mar 49) # "Murder's Playground" (May 49) # "The Missing Million" (Sum 49) # "The Dennison Document" (Fal 49) # "Murder Town" (Win 50) # "Blueprint of Crime" (Spr 50) # "The Murder Genius" (Sum 50) # "The Black Bat Fights For Life" (Fal 50) # "The League of Faceless Men" (Win 51) # "The Dangerous Corpse" (Spr 51) # "The Killer Who Wasn't" (Win 52) # "The Eyes of Death" (Spr 52) nnounced but never appeared# "Hot, Willing--and Deadly" (Win 53) # "The Lady of Death" (Spr 53)

as published with the Black Bat character changed to Myro Catin As, AS, A. S., A/S or similar may refer to: Art, entertainment, and media * A. S. Byatt (born 1936), English critic, novelist, poet and short story writer * "As" (song), by Stevie Wonder * , a Spanish sports newspaper * , an academic male voice ...

# "The Celebrity Murders" (Sum 1953) [An unpublished story by

In comics

Due to the issues with Batman,

Nedor Comics Standard Comics was a comic book imprint (trade name), imprint of United States, American publisher Ned Pines, who also published pulp magazines (under a Thrilling Publications, variety of company names that he also used for the comics) and pape ...

, the comic publishing arm of Thrilling Publications, did not create a Black Bat comic series; however, it did create a series with a character called "The Mask", which was based on the Black Bat. The Mask appears in the first twenty issues of ''Exciting Comics'' from April 1940-July 1942.

Moonstone Books Moonstone Books is an American comic book, graphic novel, and prose fiction publisher based in Chicago focused on pulp fiction comic books and prose anthologies as well as horror and western tales. The company began publishing creator-owned com ...

included the Black Bat in a new series of comics based on public domain pulp heroes called "Return of the Originals", which began in September 2010. ''Black Bat Doubleshot'', written by

Mike Bullock Mike Bullock is an American author and musician born in Washington, DC. Bullock began writing fiction, non-fiction and poetry in the 1980s. He worked professionally in the music and comic book industries since 1986 and is best known as the creato ...

with art by Michael Metcalf, was one of the five main titles in the line. In 2011, Clockwork Comics launched a new Black Bat with ties to the title character in E.O.S. During his introduction it is stated that Anthony Quinn, the second Black Bat, was killed. Who this third Black Bat remains a mystery.

began using the Black Bat name for another completely unrelated new costumed identity for the character

Cassandra Cain Cassandra Cain (also known as Cassandra Wayne and Cassandra Wu-San) is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with the superhero Batman. Created by Kelley Puckett and Damion Scott, Cassan ...

, who had previously been the fourth

Batgirl Batgirl is the name of several superheroines appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, depicted as female counterparts and allies to the superhero Batman. Although the character Betty Kane was introduced into publication in ...

. In 2012, it was announced that

Dynamite Entertainment Dynamite Entertainment is an American comic book publisher founded by Nick Barrucci in 2004 at Mount Laurel, New Jersey. It is best known as the owners of '' The Boys'' franchise across several IP medias. Dynamite primarily publishes adaptation ...

was going to relaunch the Black Bat. The first issue was released on May 1, 2013. Black Bat (Tony Quinn) is one of the pulp heroes in Dynamite's "Masks" comic book series.

References

External links

* {{ISFDB series, id=48682 Fictional male detectives Characters in pulp fiction