1970s "Batman's Bureau of Missing Villains" feature from Batman Family series

[WonderScott]

I never knew The Bureau of Missing Villains existed - thanks Major Hoy!

I love these crazy Batman villains and want to revamp them all.

In the 70s when I was a kid, a friend had a Batman storybook and record set that was about Man-Bat and the "SCREEEEEEEEEECH" sound effect on the record for Man-Bat's echolocation was tErRiFyInG to me!

This reminds me that I have Terrible Trio storyline to work on and finalize, along with another Batman story that uses a lot of these more colorful and gimmicky characters, in the vein of King's work on Kite-Man.

[MajorHoy]

. . . This reminds me that I have Terrible Trio storyline to work on and finalize, along with another Batman story that uses a lot of these more colorful and gimmicky characters, in the vein of King's work on Kite-Man.

Don't forget we have this thread:

The Terrible Trio (Fox, Shark, and Vulture) Appreciation Thread
https://community.cbr.com/showthread...ciation-Thread

Also, the concept was later brought back in the three-issue Prestige Format Doctor Mid-Nite series by Matt Wagner and John K. Snyder III in 1999, as well as a teen female version in Gotham Academy Second Semester.

[MajorHoy]

One more:

from Batman Family #16 (February-March 1978)

As to that "only appearance" comment, that would change in Batman #312 (June 1979).

[signalman112]

BATMAN WIKI has an article of this concept, although they add more villains then actually appear in BATMAN FAMILY.

https://batman.fandom.com/wiki/Burea...ssing_Villains

[williamtheday]

The only missing villain these days is Ed Peale, aka The Gong.

[MajorHoy]

. . . It started out as a "Giant" comic book with a new story or two and a few reprinted stories, sometimes spotlighting different past villains with a "Villain of the Issue" feature.


from Batman Family #5 (May-June 1976)...

Others who got the "Villain of the Issue" treatment included . . . Cluemaster in Batman Family #2 (November-December 1975):

That story was originally printed in Detective Comics #351 (May 1966).

[MajorHoy]

Kite Man was the "Villain of the Issue" for Batman Family #3 (January-February 1976):




That story originally was printed in Batman #133 (August 1960), though for some reason Kite Man was not featured on that issue's cover.

[williamtheday]

The King of The Cats...isn't he supposed to be Selina Kyle's brother?

[Jim Kelly]

The King of The Cats...isn't he supposed to be Selina Kyle's brother?

Yes, he is--Karl Kyle.

[MajorHoy]

The "Villain of the Issue" for Batman Family #4 (March-April 1976) was . . . The Phantom General, an ex-Nazi General named Von Dort.




The story originally appeared in Detective Comics #343 (September 1965).


I'm not aware of him appearing in any further Batman stories.
However, in The Brave & the Bold #87 (December 1969-January 1970), Batman and Diana Prince met up with his son, but the name was spelled "Van Dort" in that issue. (General Van Dort / Von Dort was briefly seen in a flashback to his original encounter with Batman in the story.)

[RobinGA]

It was fun to follow this thread. Golden Age Batman and Robin
had their fun qualities. Robin's ability to squeeze a pun into
even the least likely of circumstances is amazing.

[MajorHoy]

As mentioned previously, Signalman was the "villain of the issue" for Batman Family #5.

. . . It started out as a "Giant" comic book with a new story or two and a few reprinted stories, sometimes spotlighting different past villains with a "Villain of the Issue" feature.


from Batman Family #5 (May-June 1976)

The story was originally printed in Batman #124 (June 1959), but Signalman was not featured on the cover.

Signalman had previously appeared in Batman #112 (December 1957).

[signalman112]

Signalman appeared in BATMAN #112, 124, and 139.
Returned in DETECTIVE COMICS #466.
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #195-197.
and finally DETECTIVE COMICS #526.

Signalman is one of my favorite C-List villains.
Was disappointed that he only got a quick cameo on B:TB&TB during the villain bar scene.

Signalman.jpg

[MajorHoy]

Signalman appeared in BATMAN #112, 124, and 139.
Returned in DETECTIVE COMICS #466.
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #195-197.
and finally DETECTIVE COMICS #526.

Signalman is one of my favorite C-List villains.
Was disappointed that he only got a quick cameo on B:TB&TB during the villain bar scene.

Signalman.jpg

Signalman never made the cover for those first three Batman appearances.

It wasn't until Detective Comics #466 (cover-dated December 1976) that he rated the cover for a new story (written by Len Wein, who brought back quite a few past Bat-villains when he wrote Batman).

[MajorHoy]

The Mad Hatter (II) was the "villain of the issue" for Batman Family #6 (July-August 1976).


That story was originally printed in Batman #161 (February 1964).