365 Days of DC House Ads, Day 316: Could it be...Aunt Harriet?!?!

House ad for Batman #208 (January-February 1969); printed in Date with Debbi #1 (January-February 1969)
Comic cover art: pencils and inks by Nick Cardy, letters by Gaspar Saladino
Ad designed and lettered by Gaspar Saladino



Well, house ad, since you bothered to ask us...who is the most important woman in Batman's life?

Why, it's right there on page 1: long-time Batman supporting character and big fan favorite Mrs. Chilton. But you knew that already, didn't you, from her many popular appearances in Batman comics through the years, in the mega-million-dollar movies, and currently now appearing monthly in the various Batman titles of the New 52, right?


Splash page from Batman #208 (January-February 1969), script by E. Nelson Bridwell, pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Jack Abel
On the other hand, you may not know Mrs. Chilton, because I was making that all up above, and she only ever appears in one other Batman comic book. She is, of course...Joe Chill's mom.


That "only other comic book" I mentioned above? The first issue of the dated but excellent miniseries The Untold Legend of the Batman.

Panels from from The Untold Legend of the Batman #1 (July 1980), script by Len Wein, pencils by John Byrne, inks by Jim Aparo, colors by Glynis Wein, letters by John Costanza
Poor Mrs. C was no doubt wiped out in the Crisis on Infinite Earths (or possibly Zero Hour), because all this took place previous to the relatively modern retcon that Alfred served the Wayne family since before Bruce was born, and took over the responsibility of raising him...not Uncle Philip Wayne. Yeah, I agree with that. I'd much rather have Alfred as a father figure.

Special Bonus! Reprinted in this issue: this panel!


Panel from Batman #208, originally printed in "Batman Versus Eclipso" in The Brave and the Bold #64 (February-March 1966), script by Bob Haney, pencils and inks by Win Mortimer
Well, he did once upon a time promise