A 50th ANNIVERSARY stage production worthy of Broadway! By JIM BEARD Detective Comics #457, by Denny O’Neil and Dick Giordano, came out 50 (!) years ago, on Dec. 30, 1975. Some would say it has everything a Batman story should have: action, pathos, dark humor, character, a bit of embroidering to the Dark Knight’s legend… For my money, it only lacks one thing—singing! My mind often goes to strange places, part of being a writer of strange things, I guess. When I cracked open my copy of the issue to set my mind to writing this anniversary article, it dawned on me that the story would make a great stage musical. Don’t ask, just go with me here, ‘kay? So, without further ado, imagine the curtain rises on a stage and the story begins as the orchestra starts up the first song… Funny thing: This musical just happens to have 13 of ’em. Imagine that. — “Crime Alley.” It begins with a moody set piece to place us in Gotham City. It’s presented by a chorus, all dressed like Gotham citizens of varying social levels, and tells us what to expect as the story rolls out, of mean streets and its protector… and the victims of Crime Alley. — “He Has Never Explained.” Alfred gets the first solo, a song as internal monologue to explain how the faithful butler does his job, but wonders about his master’s annual agitation and apprehension over one particular day on the calendar… — “The Mean Streets.” Batman swings into action against a group of thieves stripping a car of valuables, and the men react through song to the hero’s interrogation concerning an old woman and her whereabouts… — “Just a Common Mugging.” A two-part tune, first taken up by the victim of a mugging saved by the Batman, and then after by a wino who’s able to impart valuable information to the Caped Crusader. Both of them express their confusion over why the masked man does what he does. — “Leslie’s Song.” Leslie Thompkins takes up the tune, musing on her life in Gotham and her history with its citizens. It’s a song with some joy and pride, but also sadness, and then menace, as the next bit of darkness approaches her… — “Pull a Gun on Me.” Finally, Batman himself limbers up...
A 50th ANNIVERSARY spotlight on There’s No Hope in Crime Alley! from THE DENNY O’NEIL INTERVIEWS… — UPDATED 12/30/25: It’s the 50th anniversary of the late Denny O’Neil and Dick Giordano’s seminal There Is No Hope in Crime Alley!, from 1975’s Detective Comics #457. Perfect time to reprint this installment of THE DENNY O’NEIL INTERVIEWS from Aug. 12, 2014. Also, check out Jim Beard’s unique take on the classic story here. Dig it. — Dan — As Denny O’Neil and I sat in his suburban New York home talking Batman and his career, our discussion inevitably led to one of his tightest, yet most influential stories: The 12-page “There is No Hope in Crime Alley!” from Detective Comics #457, cover-dated March 1976 and illustrated by Dick Giordano. (And if you missed them, go back and read our talks about Batman #251 and the Joker; Detective Comics #395 and making Batman dark again; and the origin of Ra’s al Ghul!) — This topic started with a discussion about his approach to writing Batman and how he viewed him in his mind: Dan Greenfield: So Robin had left (for college, in Batman #217) and you were writing a Batman that was back to being more or less a solo character. … Denny O’Neil: … I write scripts and on Thursday mornings I took them in to (editor) Julie (Schwartz)’s office and he gave me another assignment. I didn’t know until (former DC president) Paul (Levitz) told me about five years ago that “The Secret of the Waiting Graves” was considered to be important. I guess I knew it was a good story and I guess it accomplished what I wanted it to accomplish in the larger picture which is the same thing I wanted to accomplish years later when I became editor, which is to tell the readers, “This is not your father’s Batman.” We were starting something new. Not radically new. We didn’t give him a red costume — the original Batman (had) a red costume and a domino mask. But the tone, the tenet, the kinds of stories we tell. The left field wall of the ballpark was changed a little bit. No more science-fiction … bad time-travel stories, bad alien stories. … And I decided to — rat bastard that I am — take away Batman’s love life. Because...
Batman! Planet of the Apes! Fantastic Four! MORE!
BRONZE AGE BONANZA: An especially groovy collection this month…
Five decades of Sweet Christmas…
Scott and Dan hit up the comics racks from 37 years ago!
