Blinded by the Science Fiction! Batman 156 Facsimile Reprint Review

Following the end of World War II, pop culture was all about Science Fiction. This may have coincided and collided with Frederick Wertham's Seduction of the Innocent, in which he made the claim that superhero comic books directly related to juvenile delinquency. Batman 156 is possibly evidence of a shift in tone and direction of Batman and Robin's adventures, maybe to confront both. Taking advantage of the growing popularity of Science Fiction and address Wertham's charges.

The issue opens with Batman going off on a "secret mission" and Robin encountering a new costumed individual - The Ant-Man! He is not who he seems to be! Robin solves the mystery pretty easily before catching up to The Caped Crusader. Batman has volunteered for some military project and undergoes tests to see how an individual will handle space travel.

It sounds very much like the debut episode of The Twilight Zone, featuring Earl Holliman as an astronaut undergoing mental tests for space flight. Holliman's character struggled with the isolation and loneliness. Batman suffers the same fate. He faces the illusion of an alien planet and creatures and the hallucination that Robin is killed by an alien giant. Following the conclusion of the tests, Batman still can't shake the hallucinations. Which complicates The Dynamic Duo catching the Gorilla Gang! Ace the Bat-Hound makes a strong appearance at both Robin's and Batman's side here.

Switching from fighting super-criminals to gorillas with a side of alien hallucinations Batman 156, the facsimile reprint earns four stars.