"The Duped Domestics": Alfred has been acting strangely in the last few days without an apparent reason. Batman and Robin save one of the butlers that works for a rich man nearby and the butler tells them t

Well, what an excellent opportunity to pay off a little debt for my good friend Alfred. A little spanking will do the trick. And believe me, it will hurt you more than it will me! — Alfred disguised as Batman

Batman #22 is an issue of the series Batman (Volume 1) with a cover date of April, 1944.





Contents show]

Appearing in "The Duped Domestics"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Catwoman Craven (Single appearance)



Other Characters:

Locations:

Items:

Vehicles:

Synopsis for "The Duped Domestics"

Alfred has been acting strangely in the last few days without an apparent reason. Batman and Robin save one of the butlers that works for a rich man nearby and the butler tells them that he was attacked by some criminals who wanted to take away a picture of a lady called Belinda from him. The butler is apparently in love with this girl and soon, it is revealed that Alfred has also fallen for this lady.

While Bruce and Dick are outside, Alfred spends his time going to the park to meet with Belinda and he tries to court her by telling her that he knows the Batman personally. Belinda dares Alfred to prove his claim and Alfred tells her that he is going to call Batman, but he is not going to be able to return. As Alfred returns to Wayne Manor, he picks one of Bruce's spare Batsuits and he puts it on. Dressed as Batman, Alfred returns to the park and posing as the dark knight, he talks wonders about Alfred to Belinda. At that moment a couple of thugs appear out of nowhere and knock Alfred unconscious. The thugs think they've captured Batman and Belinda instructs them to take the man away as it is revealed that she is none other than Catwoman and she has been luring the butlers of wealthy people to get information from them.

Later, Batman and Robin return home and they realize that Alfred is gone. Looking through Alfred's personal things, they find a poem dedicated to Belinda and guided by Alfred's poetic description of her, they deduce that she is Catwoman. The duo leave Wayne Manor as Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson to talk to a neighbor and ask if the butler has also been acting strangely, but upon arriving they are captured by Catwoman and her gang and they are locked away in a cold room along with Alfred disguised as Batman.

Working together, Alfred, Bruce and Dick manage to break free and the real Batman and Robin get into action. The dynamic duo rush to Wayne Manor, the place that Catwoman and her gang are stealing, but Alfred can't keep up with them and stays behind. Batman and Robin take care of the criminal gang by capturing all the thugs, but the sneaky Catwoman manages to escape unnoticed. As she returns to her hideout, she encounters Alfred, who was still wearing the Batsuit. At the sight of Batman, Catwoman surrenders and allows "Batman" to arrest her. However, Alfred has something else in mind before taking her to the police and he tells her that the punishment will hurt her more than it will hurt him.

Back in Wayne Manor the Gotham City Police Department take the criminals away, leaving Bruce and Dick safe in their home. The duo realize that Alfred hasn't returned yet and a few moments later, someone knocks the door. Bruce answers the door and he is surprised to see Alfred, still wearing the batsuit and carrying Catwoman with him. Alfred, pretending to be Batman, asks Bruce for a telephone to contact the police and inform them of his capture. While Alfred calls the police, Dick tells Catwoman to sit down until they police arrive, but she is not willing to sit down as a result of Alfred's punishment.

The next day, Alfred's attitude has improved and he has returned to act normally. While he tells Bruce and Dick about Catwoman's plan to steal from everyone in the vicinity, Bruce remarks that maybe Alfred was a bit too harsh with her. Alfred insists that she deserved it for toying with his affections and he also tells the duo that he perfomed quite good as Batman; to which Bruce replies that he was more than good according to Catwoman.





Appearing in "Dick Grayson, Telegraph Boy"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Mike Optik (Single appearance) Deafy (Single appearance) Egghead (Single appearance)



Other Characters:

Professor Hendriks (Single appearance)

Locations:

Items:

Synopsis for "Dick Grayson, Telegraph Boy"

Dick Grayson gets a job as a telegraph boy and he is asked to do all sorts of things while delivering messages. Certain day, Dick delivers a telegraph at the Gotham Observatory and he recognizes that the man who takes the message, is a criminal. Going back to the secret laboratory, he tries to identify the crook and soon, Bruce joins his search. After learning the identity of the thug, Batman and Robin go to the observatory to capture the criminal, who has also captured the main scientist at the observatory. Batman and Robin have to comply to the crooks' orders to save the scientist and so they are left tied up in the observatory while the crooks go on their way to steal a bank.

Batman and Robin manage to break free and they follow the criminals across the city to the planetarium, where the final showdown takes place and all the gang is captured. In the end, Dick decides to give up his job but first he needs to deliver one last message. The next day, Dick delivers a present to Bruce, as it is his birthday and Alfred gives him a new present: a telescope.





Appearing in "Conversational Clue"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Reginald Raffles (Single appearance)

Antagonists:

Professor Dyke (Single appearance)

Butch (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

Locations:

Synopsis for "Conversational Clue"

By mistake, Alfred has taken a Professor of Criminology's notebook only to discover that the professor is really a safe-cracker. Inside the notebook is a list of places he plans to rob, and Alfred is on the case alone. Without the help of Batman and Robin, Alfred manages to stop the criminals and returns home to keep up with his chores.





Appearing in "The Cavalier Rides Again"

Featured Characters:

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

Neermbrandt (Single appearance)

Locations:

Items:

Synopsis for "The Cavalier Rides Again"

The Cavalier is ready to strike again and steal something of great value to add to his still empty collection. This time, Cavalier is prepared to confront Batman and Robin, as he has set up a series of traps for the dynamic duo. His plan is successful and Cavalier manages to capture the vigilantes. After his victory, Cavalier takes off his costume and reveals his true identity as high society playboy Mortimer Drake.

Batman and Robin manage to escape Cavalier's trap and they find a clue left behind. The duo decide to stop their hunt for the night, as Bruce has to attend to an important event, where Mortimer Drake is also present. Ironically, the two enemies find themselves chatting in a normal way, not knowing their true identities.

The next night, Cavalier strikes and he tries to steal some precious diamonds, but Batman and Robin appear at the crime scene after decoding Cavalier's clue. The dynamic duo manage to capture Cavalier's gang and retrieve the stolen diamonds, but Cavalier manages to escape once again. Both Bruce Wayne and Mortimer Drake are frustrated for their unsuccesful encounters, but they also have admiration for each other.





Notes

Trivia

On the fourth story there's a reference to Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin.









See Also