The Black Bat was the name of two unrelated pulp heroes featured in different pulp magazine series in the 1930s, most well known because of their similarity to DC Comics hero, Batman .
41-761: 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 (a pen-name of William Fitzgerald Jenkins), between 1933 and 1934. The character was called Black Bat in the way Simon Templar was called the Saint; unlike the Simon Templar books, however, none of the Black Bat stories ever mentioned the character's real name. In July 1939, Thrilling Publications (also known as Standard or Better) introduced
82-518: A Hugo Award for his 1956 story " Exploration Team ". Leinster's career also included tie-in fiction based on several science fiction TV series: an episodic 1960 novel, Men into Space , was derived from the series' basic concepts, but Leinster had little knowledge of the series' actual content, and none of the book episodes bear any relationship to the filmed episodes. Men Into Space was followed, seven years later, by two original novels based on The Time Tunnel (1967), and three based on Land of
123-450: A bat stuck to his victims, so like The Spider 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. 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 intervened. Ellsworth had once worked for
164-425: 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,
205-547: A distributed system of servers (called "tanks"), to provide communications, entertainment, data access, and commerce; one character says that "logics are civilization." During World War II , he served in the United States Office of War Information . After the war, when both his name and the pulps had achieved a wider acceptance, he would use either "William Fitzgerald", "Fitzgerald Jenkins" or "Will F. Jenkins" as names on stories when "Leinster" had already sold
246-594: A few years later by DC Comics for the creation of both the hero Doctor Mid-Nite and the Batman villain Two-Face (when D.A. Harvey Kent is disfigured by having acid thrown in his face in Detective Comics #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 .) The Black Bat left paper stickers of
287-496: A new Black Bat in a series called Black Book Detective . Written mainly by Norman A. Daniels 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 story. It describes how Quinn became the Black Bat after being blinded and disfigured by acid when trying to save evidence against Oliver Snate in court, an idea borrowed
328-457: A partnership with Evcol entertainment, Adam has worked on hit shows such as Stephen Sondheim 's "Passion, A… My Name Is Alice", and also spearheaded campaigns for the critically acclaimed European premieres of "Preacherosity" & the Hollywood legend Ossie Davis penned " Purlie : The Musical". He also wrote a standout script, "A Wrongful Execution", which was one of the headlining plays in
369-547: A piece to a particular issue. Leinster was so prolific a writer that Groff Conklin , when reviewing Operation: Outer Space in March 1955, noted that it was his fourth novel of 1954 and that another would be reviewed in the next month. Leinster continued publishing in the 1950s and 1960s, appearing in Galaxy Magazine and The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction , as well as The Saturday Evening Post . He won
410-462: 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
451-406: 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
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#1732794223181492-732: Is also credited as one of the first (if not the first) instances of a universal translator in science fiction. In 2000, Leinster's heirs sued Paramount Pictures over the film Star Trek: First Contact , claiming that it infringed their trademark in the term. However, the suit was dismissed. Leinster was one of the few science fiction writers from the 1930s to survive in the John W. Campbell era of higher writing standards, publishing over three dozen stories in Astounding and Analog under Campbell's editorship. The last story by Leinster in Analog
533-404: 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
574-416: 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
615-511: Is one of the pulp heroes in Dynamite's "Masks" comic book series. Murray Leinster Murray Leinster ( / ˈ l ɛ n s t ər / ) was a pen name of William Fitzgerald Jenkins (June 16, 1896 – June 8, 1975), an American writer of genre fiction, particularly of science fiction . He wrote and published more than 1,500 short stories and articles, 14 movie scripts, and hundreds of radio scripts and television plays. Leinster
656-489: Is the Black Bat. 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
697-473: The BBC and Channel 4 . He has had a series of novels published including several based around DC Comics properties. Adam has also worked extensively over the years with Warner Bros. , Marvel , DC Comics and The Walt Disney Company . He also exhibits his artwork in galleries around London, including the prestigious Old Truman Brewery. Adam has also been a journalist on comic, television and movie properties for
738-467: The Superman Homepage for many years. Adam co-wrote the multiple path series: The Interactive Adventures Of Superman before writing and illustrating the novel Superman: Tempered Steel. Adam is a regular exhibitor at London based WAMCT Conventions. In publishing, he is the co-creator along with noted producer/director Simon James Collier , of publishing label Okai Collier Kids that pioneered
779-475: The Black Bat is an ongoing series created by Paul Hobbs and Adam Dechanel . 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
820-534: 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 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,
861-400: 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 always contended that
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#1732794223181902-529: 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
943-475: The Giants (1968–69). Leinster was also an inventor under his real name of William F. Jenkins, best known for the front projection process used in special effects . He appeared in September 1953 on an episode of the educational series American Inventory , in which he discussed the possibility of space travel. "Murray" is a reference to Leinster's mother's maiden name ("Murry"), while "Leinster" alluded to
984-931: The Inspiration, Innovation, Integration Season in Hackney Empire . "A Wrongful Execution" premiered the day of the July 7th London terrorist attacks dedicating itself to the memory of those lost that day. In radio, Adam wrote and produced the audio adventure series 'Chip One' he also recorded the pilot for Education Of A Superhero - which proved so successful it also launched a series of cast diaries which were performed by West End veterans Omar F. Okai ( Five Guys Named Moe , Ruthless, Purlie), Nathan Amzi ( Rocky Horror Picture Show ), Elise Audeyev ( Mrs. Henderson Presents ) and recording artist, Lisa Jayne. Adam continues to write for comics, television and theatre. In collaboration with Angelic Inspiration Entertainment he brought
1025-606: The May 1916 issue of H. L. Mencken 's literary magazine The Smart Set . Over the next three years, Leinster published ten more stories in the magazine; in a September 2022 interview, Leinster's daughter stated that Mencken recommended the use of a pseudonym for non- Smart Set content. During World War I, Leinster served with the Committee of Public Information and the United States Army (1917–1918). During and after
1066-434: 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. 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
1107-593: The connection between his middle name ("Fitzgerald") and the Dukes of Leinster . In 1921, he married Mary Mandola. They had four daughters. as Louisa Carter Lee Adam Dechanel Adam Dechanel (born 1978 London ) is a British author, illustrator, graphic designer and producer. He has worked in television, film, books, short stories and graphic novels for many years. He graduated from Camberwell School of Art , and immediately began working in graphic design for Zomba Records and quickly followed on with work for
1148-535: 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. In 2011 Anthony Quinn is stated as dead in the Clockwork Comics series Education of a Superhero by Adam Dechanel and a new Black Bat under the alias Steve Ventura took on the daunting legacy. Legacy of
1189-458: The flash animation based CDbook entertainment format which has gone on to publish over fourteen acclaimed novels and picture books for the digital generation. His educational project concepts for the graphic novel anthologies, Vanston Place: The Secret Adventures & The Timber Wharves Gang earning him a nomination for a SNAC award. Adam's family novel The Legend Of Mauritius won him the prestigious Palace Leisure award. In theatre, forging
1230-511: 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
1271-432: 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
Black Bat - Misplaced Pages Continue
1312-453: The new Black Bat. (Note - Titles in italics have all been reprinted by Sanctum Books) Due to the issues with Batman, Nedor Comics , 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 included
1353-530: The novel (and inspiration for the Anthony Hopkins / Emma Thompson movie of the same name) The Remains Of The Day to the London stage this was followed shortly after by musical horror 1888. In 2013 Adam adapted Rudyard Kipling classic The Jungle Book as an immersive family show that went back to the original books for The Lion & Unicorn Theatre . It won a Family Theatre Award. In 2014 Adam wrote
1394-476: The only bat-like man he had seen was the villain from the 1930 film, The Bat Whispers . However, the Black Bat did have a permanent influence on the Batman: chief Batman scribe Bill Finger 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. In the first issue, DA Tony Quinn
1435-820: The pen name Louisa Carter Lee. Leinster's first science fiction story, " The Runaway Skyscraper ", appeared in the February 22, 1919 issue of Argosy , and was reprinted in the June 1926 issue of Hugo Gernsback 's first science fiction magazine, Amazing Stories . In the 1930s, he published several science fiction stories and serials in Amazing and Astounding Stories (the first issue of Astounding included his story "Tanks"). His work continued to appear frequently in other genre pulps such as Detective Fiction Weekly and Smashing Western , as well as Collier's Weekly beginning in 1936 and Esquire starting in 1939. Leinster
1476-423: 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
1517-428: The second Black Bat, was killed. Who this third Black Bat is remains a mystery. DC Comics began using the Black Bat name for another completely unrelated new costumed identity for the character Cassandra Cain , who had previously been the fourth Batgirl . In 2012, it was announced that Dynamite Entertainment was going to relaunch the Black Bat. The first issue was released on May 1, 2013. Black Bat (Tony Quinn)
1558-575: The war, his work began appearing in pulp magazines like Argosy , Snappy Stories , and Breezy Stories . He continued to be published regularly in Argosy into the 1950s. When the pulp magazines began to diversify into particular genres in the 1920s, Leinster followed suit, selling jungle stories to Danger Trails , westerns to West and Cowboy Stories , detective stories to Black Mask and Mystery Stories , horror stories to Weird Tales , and even romance stories to Love Story Magazine under
1599-510: Was "Quarantine World" in the November 1966 issue, thirty-six years after his appearance in the premier January 1930 issue. Murray Leinster's 1946 short story " A Logic Named Joe " contains one of the first descriptions of a computer (called a "logic") in fiction. In the story, Leinster was decades ahead of his time in imagining the Internet . He envisioned logics in every home, linked through
1640-519: Was an early writer of parallel universe stories. Four years before Jack Williamson 's The Legion of Time came out, Leinster published his " Sidewise in Time " in the June 1934 issue of Astounding . Leinster's vision of extraordinary oscillations in time ('sidewise in time') had a long-term impact on other authors, for example Isaac Asimov 's " Living Space ", " The Red Queen's Race ", and The End of Eternity . Leinster's 1945 novella " First Contact "
1681-595: Was born in Norfolk, Virginia , the son of George B. Jenkins and Mary L. Jenkins. His father was an accountant. Although both parents were born in Virginia, the family lived in Manhattan in 1910, according to the 1910 Federal Census. A high school dropout, he nevertheless began a career as a freelance writer before World War I . He was two months short of his 20th birthday when his first story, "The Foreigner", appeared in