Detective Comics #78
June 23, 1943
"The Bond Wagon"
Once again, we're getting a story dealing with the war effort but in the sense where it's undermining efforts to fund the war via war bonds compared to the more espionage stories of Superman. And what's even more ironic and sad is that the story opens with Dick pointing out to Bruce how America is fighting another revolutionary war once again as in his studies as the country has to put up with those who complain about sacrifices they have to make for the war effort such as rationing. It even more sad as the war continues today as we see a lot of selfish people complaining about things that are not exactly under our control at the moment, but happen because we are supporting the democracy of other counties.
It gets Bruce thinking to create a "Bond Wagon" a fund raising event where he asks for those who look like heroes of the American Revolution to participate. He's hoping reminding people of the sacrifices our forefathers made will get them to participate in the drive. The idea catches on and he quickly finds himself with plenty of volunteers. Some of them have questionable pasts, but Batman trusts his instincts when they protest their innocence. One is an ex-sea captain who is disgraced when his ship sank; another is a college football player accused of throwing his game.
And then comes an interesting bit. The day of the event, all are gathered, but the man playing Washington is late. He apologizes, saying he was coming in from Brooklyn and had to take the subway. Brooklyn? Once again, I have to wonder if this is really New York City and we're calling it Gotham as a nickname, but we have seen references to Gotham buildings.
The tour proves to be successful and catches the attention of Nazi spies in Gotham. They intercept the tour in Delaware where they capture actors Robin is working with. He is not known to the spies and so he pretends to be scared and they use him to make sure everything proceeds as they take the actors' places.
They plan to shoot Washington and his men as they arrive on show from crossing the Delaware. But Robin signals Batman via smoke signals from a fire they have made in the fireplace. He surprises them and a fight breaks out. At one point, one of the Nazis exclaims how a boy, Robin, is beating him, a member of the Master Race - a nice piece of propaganda there as he tries to stab Robin in the back. He's stopped by Batman and the gang rounded up.
The Nazis try again with new agents as they attack a mock Richard Bonhomme with a Nazi sub. It looks bad and our disgraced captain loses hope, but Batman snaps him out of it. As they fight back, Batman and Robin sneak aboard the sub. And in a scene that could be right out of the Batman 66 movie, they fight the Nazis on the deck and win.
The leader of the Nazi cell realizes the only way to defeat the Bond Wagon is to get them from within. He knows of the football player and figures he will betray his country as he betrayed his team for money.
He takes the man aside and offers him money to betray the wagon. Robin follows them back to the leader's hideout. He grabs a horse and rides like Paul Revere to warn Batman and the others. They storm the Nazi hideout and Robin gets a lesson on how to beat up a Nazi. They find the football player, shot. He wasn't going to betray his fellow Americans. He was just biding his time, but he asked too many questions and they got suspicious.
