Although both Batmen were founding members of their parallel planets' prime protectors, their relationship with their allies was at times strained indeed. Months after the Justice League's founding, Earth-One's Batman found his niche on the team and was active throughout its various cases until an uprising in the nation of Monrovia threatened his old friend Lucius Fox. When the League wouldn't aid him in saving Fox, Batman left the team to form his own, the Outsiders.
His counterpart on Earth-Two had immediately chose to be an honorary member of the Justice Society of America, like his best friend Superman. After which, Batman only joined the team on cases involving Ian Karkull, the "Five Drowned Men" and the Society's attack on Nazi Germany which time erased. However, Batman, was more active alongside the All-Star Squadron, operating around the same time period. Although aiding the Society on one adventure to Earth-S, afterwards as Commissioner Bruce Wayne he allowed his vendetta (caused by the influence of Psycho-Pirate and the effects of his advance-stages cancer) versus the Justice Society to cause a war within itself. Later he wrote a disparaging diary which held clues to the reemgence of their old foe Per Degaton, and finally he gave his life to protect his allies against the machninations of Bill Jensen and Frederick Vaux... which showed that he like his twin had deep down cared for his fearless friends.
1 comment:
Batman and Superman were already popular enough that they did not need the added exposure of JSA, so they were only honorary members, and seldom appeared in All-Star Comics in the Golden Age. Similarly, although both were full members of the JLA from the beginning, they were often absent, or made only brief cameo appearances, in the early years. That was mainly because their editors were afraid of over-exposure. That changed in 1966, when DC was trying to cash in on the Batman TV fad. But then over exposure did provoke a backlash, and Batman was downplayed again for several issues.
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