I had a long drive yesterday and I used the time alone in the car to at long last listen all the way through to a radio drama I picked up a few years ago. It's a three-compact disk package featuring shows from The Adventures of Superman radio show from 1948. The story guest-stars Batman and Robin as they join forces with Superman to foil a plot to undermine The Marshall Plan.
The story titled "Batman's Great Mystery" begins with Robin seeking the aid of Clark Kent (who he does not know is Superman) to help him find a missing Batman. They soon find that Batman isn't missing, but rather seems to be making speeches in support of isolationist notions that undermine the then-current U.S. policy to help refinance the European reconstruction after WWII.
There's a great bit of activity back and forth as it's is learned this Batman is a fraud and Robin is put in danger. The real Batman is captive and the villains plan not only to use his image to put forward their political goals, but want to plunder Bruce Wayne's wealth.
It's not a bad story, but be warned that Batman and Superman don't actually meet up in this 11-part story much at all. Mostly Clark Kent and occasionally Superman chase after clues while Batman and Robin are tied up by the bad guys. It is funny how everyone keeps telling Robin to shut up!
The voice acting is lively enough with Bud Collyer as Superman and Clark Kent, Matt Crowley as Batman, and Ronald Liss as Robin.
One weird thing is that the shows are presented as originally aired, so there are long long lists of names read of kids who enterered a contest. This goes on through most of the episodes. Later these lists are replaced by outright pleas on the part of the producers to help support efforts to get aid to starving children in Europe. All in all the main focus of this radio show is never lost.
It's quite diverting and a made for a very pleasant drive.
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