I love Batman. He's either chasing muggers or surviving falling from space. There's no in between lol

It seems like Gotham should have a public access tv station dedicated to allowing random villains make their evil announcements; it would streamline everything.

The bit about the psychiatric help had me rolling for a good minute or two😂

You know, an Ankh has a pretty defined shape, and it's funny that seemingly no research was put into finding out what that shape is.

That second story sounds like a story by H.P. Lovecraft or one of his friends but inexplicably staring Batman and the Flash.

World's. Greatest. Detective.🦇⚡

" the Acelerated Gentlemens Club" best bar name ever. 🍻

I love stories where Bruce tries to resurrect his parents with reckless abandon, that's definitely a highlight of HBO's Harley Quinn series as well for me

Thinking of teamups, my favorite batman ever has been the animated brave and the bold version for the longest time. It perfectly encompasses batman as a leader and a friend as he teams up with every DC character under the sun. I love it as the perfect mix of goofiness and seriousness that makes comics fun and that most of the live action batman movies are missing

Bat Manuel was my favorite character from the short lived "The Tick" live action sitcom in the late 90s or early 2000s. :-)

In retrospect, they could now say that the meteorite particles (fibers?) were somehow leaching-off the Speed Force, and THAT is why Barry was weakening. Then the whole thing makes a lot more sense (with Flash's proximity allowing him to reabsorb the stolen Speed Force.

A Flash and Batman teamup where Barry has to be the responsible and level-headed one while Bruce is the one who keeps making dumb and impulsive decisions is just hilarious

Didn't Bob Haney's approach to continuity result in the creation of Donna Troy by accident when he mis-read comics featuring a young Diana as Wonder Girl (in the style of Superboy) and wrote a story with her as a separate character?

I kinda want a Speed Boys reboot. I don't know why lol

Why was The Flash dying in that first story? My head-canon is that the sneaker thieves were unknowingly tapping into the speed force and were poisoning it somehow. Only problem is...the speed force wasn't really a thing until 1994. But screw it. It works fine for me. always loved silver age team-ups. One of my favorites is "Three Super-Musketeers" where superman, batman and robin get sent back in time, and it turns out there was another "man in the iron mask" and that man was Superman. Really fun story. Think you'll like it (if you haven't read it already, but you probably have since it used to get included in compilation books a lot. I read it in "The greatest team-up stories ever told" which is where i also read my favorite Alan Moore story for the first time. "The Jungle Line". A story in-which Superman trips balls on kryptonian shrooms and swamp thing has to save him.

That’s… definitely not what an ankh looks like

Your love of the Silver Age is infectious. As someone who came into Batman comics during the Miller era, it’s fun to look back at some light-hearted fare.

It came to my mind, that it would be nice to see one of these videos about the best stories about Robin.

"Hey, it's Bob. What were Batman's folks' names again? Ok thanks, bye."

Glad you mentioned Bat-Manuel!

The very goofy complete sincerity of the original DC stuff is an incredibly refreshing thing to hear about. Great video.

I also love the goofy fun of the Silver and early Bronze Age. While continuity has been cool sometimes, it's become ridiculous in people adherence to it as having to make everything fit in a tidy little bowl. Or toilet bowl, considering some of the stories in the past 30 years. It was also Bob Haney who wrote and co-wrote many of the cartoon shorts from the 1967 Saturday morning Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure that included stories of the Flash, Green Lantern, Superboy, Atom, the Justice League and the Teen Titans. Those were also goofy fun with no time for anything but rushing through often preposterous stories. Thanks, Bob!

I love comics from back then They were out of this world! And I love every weird and wonderful bit of them!

I love these wacky, goofy, silly stories. There's just nothing like Silver Age comics.

"Bob Hainey obviously didn't give a shit." 😄😄😄

Oooo, dig the old TV Tick drop there.

“Bat-Manuel” … I almost did a spit-take

Makes me question if the writers of Herley Quinn are fans of that second crossover issue. Considering that show also had Batman pursue and equally unhinged and potentially disastrous plan to resurrect his dead parents.

You've outdone yourself, Steve. Loved every single word of this video essay and was frequently rolling with laughter.

Now I want a Best Flash Ever series.

"Batman, we'll let you leave the island with a warning." "It's cute you think you could stop me, but okay."

"Bat-Manuel" I understood that reference

21:45 Manuel in the living room with a candlestick... Missed clue pun... I guess

Fun things not to give a hoot about in this version of Earth- -Thomas and Martha; two parents, one urn? -No Alfred? Nothing about the guy you'd think would have handled their remains and knew what happened to them.

Of course the ghosts can’t pass through doors, they’re not fire!

The time travel disco dance marathon story in the Brave & the Bold issue whose cover you showed is also pretty wacky (as a phrase like "time travel disco dance marathon story" might imply).

...another Pee-Wee reference? Damn that was a good movie. Tell 'em Large Marge sent ya!

*Spoiler* "Bat Manuel" nearly killed me.

I want to see the first story get adapted into a huge budget live action movie LMAO

Karen: "Batmanuel? What's that accent? Where are you from?" Batmanuel: "I am Spanish." Karen: "Spanish is a language. Where are you from?" Batmanuel: "You've never heard of SPAIN?!?!"

My personal favorite is The Brave and the Bold #81 "But Bork Can Hurt You!". It's written by Bob Haney and is illustrated by Neal Adams.

"Batmanuel"... I see what you did there... As an old man, I rarely give these out. But for you, you get a LOL....

I'm mostly a Marvel guy, but sometimes the classic D.C. characters are just so much fun.

"Batman and Portuguese Ghost" is likely in Peacemaker's Google search history somewhere.

This whole thing is so absurd. I never would've guessed that Batman or the Flash would be in such surreal situations. I'm going to be that person and point out that the, um, 'ankh' looks like more a statue of Ma'at than anything else.

Lol "bat-rope" and "bat-manuel"

I swear either that "key to the city snatched out of the mayor's hand" thing has happened multiple times or somehow I've actually read this exact comic book, which I think is impossible.

Well, at that point in early 1966, Batman did not know who The Flash was in civilian life and Barry Allen might not want to let him know what he does in civilian life. (Or even give him reason to suspect who he actually is, not a bad idea given Bats later behavior). You skipped the Haney/Adams "But Bork Can Hurt You," story form 1968. Vinnie Colleta's work on the issue was dire enough that Adams had him replaced in mid-job by Dick Giordano.

poor Manuel's leg, waiting patiently for him in the land of eternal rest. It must have passed before Manuel's unforgivable sins

This is the first time I caught a video going up. Good video btw love a good team up just finished getting all the marvel dc crossover comics.

Love the Tick drop there

I did laugh out loud! Thank you!

Nice Large Marge reference Steve...😆

Steve please do a show about the Composite Superman . I love everything to do with those stories .

The "Bat-Manuel" joke is the entire reason you made this video, isn't it?

Love the The Tick reference.

Flashman *Rockman music plays in 8-bit glory

I love that Batman respects the Flash because he's a forensic scientist

@23:08 and yet no mention of how this is the "world's greatest detective"! I'm shocked!

if Batman was arrested every time he assaulted cops, his stories would be a lot shorter!

This was a great assessment of Bob Haney stories, which also included the Super Sons. Didn’t they say Bob Haney stories really took place on Earth 1B? B for Bob Haney. One of the stories had Catwoman kill and that was a no-no, too.

Batman in the second one was probably possessed by Cornholio

Nice Tick reference

They actually reused the Thomas Wayne Jr. Thing in the New 52 run lol

Listening (& watching) to this reminds me to radio days....

There's so many 'Best _____ Ever" I'd like to see and the Flash is definitely one.... but most of all, I'd love a few episodes devoted to Robin. He doesn't get top billing and is left out of most of the movies, but I'd say the Robins are nearly as important, and certainly have as deep a legacy.

Funny how Wolfman and Perez would use this speed disease for Walky later on.

Wasn't Bruce Wayne's older brother used in some other stories as well?

Not only is it totally normal for a police forensic scientist to be researching transmissions from other dimensions, it's *also* completely normal for a medical doctor to be doing research into necromancy.

i do love a strange story at times, a story with no logic or connection. It makes the old grey cells tick and wake up a little. There is a limit when it only hurt a story if you go off the beaten path but at times it can be great.

So, is this a Batmanuel? 20:50 Well, heck, I hadn't watched this far yet. Oh, well.

would we have preferred john constantine for the second story?

I would have loved if the ghost story ended with Bruce crying over his parents Ashes and the flash being like " Bruce... your parents were buried, I've seen you standing at their graves multiple times." an Batman being like "Oh, er right"

They could have suggested the Speed Boys sneakers are pulling energy from the Speed Force, which is killing Flash. But you know... I only do this for a living. Also I appreciate the live action Tick and Pee-Wee reference.

The most implausible thing about Batman is that he's an old money billionaire that actually gives a damn. I'll buy aliens and superheroes any day of the week, but an engaged billionaire? Please.

The Flash really invented the modern comic book team up, in that he was the vector they used to kick in the door on all the batshit crazy kinds of crossovers we now get to do! Every time a crossover starts with a confused dude falling out of a portal, blame The Flash!

That's sum sharp detecting😂

McFarlane Toys is finally making Batman’s Whirly-Bat for their updated Super Powers line. Cannot wait to get it. I might order a second Whirly-Bat for Robin 😝

It's gotta be the shoes!

Not entirely related, but given your thoughts on continuity, I'm curious about what you think of All-Star Squadron, a series that was largely an excuse for Roy Thomas to obsess over the continuity of (then) 40-year-old comics.

Hey! I actually read that one!

We need Grant Morrison to bring Bat-Manuel back.

Howdy strangers. Have a nice day! Or else.

WHAT’S THIS???? The World’s Greatest Detective, NOT CARRYING CASH????

Zany Bob Haney! Consistency is better than continuity! I read the Speed Boys tale a reprint from 1970 that also had Metamorpho’s 1st appearance with Ramona Fradon art!❤ My into to Neal Adams was Brave and the Bold 81 which had the flash zooming through time and space lugging around a totem shaped like Bork!🤪Haney had a bizarre logic and other example Batman with Metamorpho and Plastic Man issues 123 ,Bruce Wayne in jail in a foreign country and Plastic Man has to bring his costume? Beautiful artwork by Jim Aparo!🎯❤️

Bob Haney was Chevy Chase's uncle. Ours is a small World . . . .

Reason for the Flash in the second book: Batman needed help, fast!

I was just getting ready to finally watch The Flash movie on Max and saw this. Guess I can wait another 30 minutes to watch a movie I have been in no rush to watch.

The first one was like really good I absolutely love the concept of The Flash slowly dying every time he runs I know it might sound weird but I actually think it could really work with Jay Garrick instead even more with the whole fact of him getting his powers via inhaling gas and if we ever have like a universe where Jay Garrick was the first flash event along the timeline Barry Allen then replaces him because Jay was shortening his lifespan every time he ran whereas the flash with his new source of power isn't able to get that so Jay Garrick can live the rest of his life without having to risk his life for running. I also really like the second one it sounded like a really fun and classic ghost story it doesn't need to be true it's just there to try and entertain you like most Urban Legends The Flash is my favorite DC superhero and the fact that his first actual theatrical movie dedicated to him is said to be so bad it really makes me sad

I love Batman ghost 👻 stories

Didn't they usevThomas Wayne Jr for the Court of Owls thing?

Wait. so in the DC universe, there is a city called "Boston"? is it the same as the city in our universe? Where is it in relation to Gotham City and Metropolis?

I don't know what's stupider, the idea that adhering to canon is what's ruining DC, or the idea that DC gives a shit about canon? Every series that's run for any significant length of time suffers from the "too many cooks" trope, and has all the higher ups arguing over their own personalized headcanons over random aspects of the franchises. Then the inability of them to make a final decision, and release everything halfcocked leaves fans with conflicting information which there's virtually no choice but to argue over... or become a mindless bootlicker. Those sorts of people ironically go online and chide people for... IDK _not_ blindly accepting everything given to them? It's a very strange stance to take. It's like "I don't care about this subject, and yet I will die on the hill that you aren't _allowed_ to care about it either!" Either way, canon confusion, or rather fans complaining about it is hardly the worst part of DC or fandoms in general.

Why didn’t they just use that oil trick to begin with?

I mean it's not like it has to be one or the other. I like stories with lots of subtle and clever or even gross and pandering call backs to previous stories, but I also like ones that irreverently play with the themes and ideas of old stories by contradicting them. A production where every scene has meticulous continuity of say costume changes is great, but the same series heck the same story could have fun by completely abandoning such continuity at times being full of unexplained and nonsensical costume changes from shot to shot. Like yeah continuity mongering as a substitute for meaningful critical reaction, judgement and discussion are bad. However that does not make the lack of continuity a good or useful thing in itself, it's a means to an end and that end should just be telling an entertaining and engaging story etc. Both these stories feel like I don't have to care about the fact that they have no implications for anything outside of themselves. I love the concept that the authorities agree to let Batman go on the understanding he will seek professional psychiatric help. Although Batman seeking counseling was pretty effective as a scene or two in BTAS so not completely ridiculous. Bat-Manual was no Die Fledermaus.😉

BatManuel...hey, how's your sister?

You've seen Epic Rap Battles of History's "Stan Lee vs Jim Henson" right?

Hmmm... Even before watching the video, I wonder what recent event brought about this episode of this particular series. Could it perhaps have been a certain box office failure of a movie with a similar premise? 🤔 Nah, probably just coincidence. 😜

I prefer the portmanteau Manman to Batmanuel

1:43 I didn't know Lucciano Pavarotti also wrote DC comics... who would ever figure from a man of such culture and a ferocious lust for the fairer sex, yeah?