Friday, November 18, 2011

Miscellany Spotlight: The Bat-Poles

Of all the signature bits the 60s Batman tv show had - the red telephone, "Holy ___, Batman!", etc - one of the most enduring is the Bat-Poles; that is, the entryway to the Batcave, accessed by a flip-back Shakespeare bust that conceals a switch that slides a bookcase open.


For most of Batman's comics history, the Batcave has been accessed by a stairway behind a door shaped like a grandfather clock, but that's all changed.  The poles first appeared in Batman #655 (September 2006)...



...and will continue to appear in DC's "New 52" comics.  I don't have exact issues yet, but I've heard they make an appearance in Flashpoint #5 (October 2011) and various issues of Batman and Detective Comics.



And this makes sense.  Dan DiDio's stated goal for the New 52 is to return all of the characters to their most iconic points.  How well DC will succeed in this regard is a matter for another place, but the grittiness of the Nolanverse with the trappings of the Adam West series is definitely a step in that direction.

EDITED TO ADD: I do have an issue now; they make their first New 52 appearance in Batman and Robin  #1 (September 2011).

UPDATE: As of DC Rebirth, the Shakespeare bust is part of it as well. Seen here in Batman #9 (October 2016).


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