The first milestone issue of the Batman flagship title! BY PETER BOSCH An offbeat anniversary in the history of Batman is upon us: Exactly 70 years ago (on April 17, 1956) the Batman series celebrated its 100th issue. Well, it celebrated at least by showing off on its front six great covers from the series’ then-16 year run. Unfortunately, the inside didn’t quite play up the benchmark to the degree the cover did. No retelling of the Dynamic Duo’s individual origins, and no appearance from any of their infamous rogues gallery. However, it did include tales that were examples of the period — and entertaining ones at that. NOTE: Art for all interior pages below by Sheldon Moldoff (pencils) and Charles Paris (inks). — The lead story is indeed appropriate for the issue: “Batmantown, U.S.A.” The Dark Knight is honored by the renaming of a small town after him — though the burg does it just for monetary reasons. It doesn’t take long for Batman to discover that criminals are already at work taking advantage of the new name. The script (by an undetermined author) turns amusing when Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson (in disguise) show up and apply to play Batman and Robin in the city’s upcoming festivities, and then intentionally bungle their acrobatic moves. “The Hunters of Gotham City,” the second story of the issue (writer also unconfirmed), features Batman and Robin out to capture an escaped shipload of animals running loose in Gotham City, while also trying to uncover the criminal behind the move and their motive. The final Batman tale in the issue, “The Great Batman Contest” (written by Bill Finger), involves a competition that invites inventive youths to come up with a new weapon to aid Batman in his crime-fighting activities. All the inventions are turned over to the Caped Crusader to determine the winner — and “the Bat-Cave is piled high with scores of unusual entries.” (You really have to wonder how Batman was able to cart them there without being seen. Did the citizens of Gotham just turn their backs politely so they wouldn’t notice the line of trucks heading toward the secret Bat-Cave? Did Batman assign Wayne Manor as the send-to address on the contest forms because they were such good friends?) The inventions are a varied lot, from a flashlight...