This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Pulps1st (talk | contribs) at 23:43, 17 January 2006 (Beginning of Black Bat synopsis by Mark S. Halegua). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 23:43, 17 January 2006 by Pulps1st (talk | contribs) (Beginning of Black Bat synopsis by Mark S. Halegua)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)In the pulps there were 2 main characters called the Black Bat. The first was a man called Black Bat in the way Simon Templar was called the Saint. However none of the stories ever mentioned his real name.
His stories were published the Black Bat Detective Mysteries, a short lived pulp (6 issues) from 1933-1934. Murray Leinster wrote all 6 novelettes. The stories were interesting, but obviously didn't do enough to keep the title going.
In July 1939 Thrilling Publications introduced a new Black Bat in Black Book Detective. This was District Attorney Anthony Quinn.
In a clear departure from most pulp characters and heros, this was actually an origin story. Usually most characters were publshed as if they'd existed before, with just cursory info as to their beginnings, if at all.
In this first story, Quinn was prosecuting a racketeer when the crook tried to destroy the evidence with acid. Quinn attempted to save the evidence and the acid sprayed his face and eyes, blinding him.
Quinn resigned as DA and traveled the world in an attempt to restore his eyesight. Not succeeding, he became a recluse in his home.
One day a young woman came to him and told him there was a chance his eyesight could be restored. A midwestern lawman admired Quinn's efforts against crime and was dying of a gunshot. He wanted to donate his eyes and an unknown small town doctor whould perform the surgery. Being desperate for any possibility of regaining his eyesight, Quinn agreed.