Comic Title: Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams Vol. 1 TPB
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: 2012
On Sale Date: June 27, 2012 Direct Market Date June 27, 2012
Source: ComicList, New Comic Book Releases List for Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Direct Market Date June 27, 2012
Source: Previews, #282

Cover Price: $24.99
Page Count: 240
Editor: Robert Greenberger

See Also: The Guide to Graphic Novels and Collected Editions

Title: "The Angel, the Rock and the Cowl"
Pages: 24

Feature(s):
Batman (of Earth-1)
Sgt. Rock (of Earth-1)

Writer: Bob Haney
Artist: Neal Adams

Reprinted From:
Brave & the Bold #84 (1969)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (last appearance in Batman #212; next appearance in Justice League of America #72)
• Sgt. Rock (last appearance in Sgt. Rock #422; next appearance in Brave & the Bold #96)

Supporting Character(s)

• Easy Company (last appearance in Our Army at War #218; next appearance in Our Army at War #81)
• Bulldozer (last appearance in Our Army at War #218; next appearance in Our Army at War #95)
• Wild Man (last appearance in Our Army at War #218; next appearance in Our Army at War #113)
• Jackie Johnson (last appearance in Our Army at War #207; next appearance in Our Army at War #113)
• Little Sure Shot (last appearance in Our Army at War #218; next appearance in Our Army at War #127)

Villain(s)

• Colonel Von Stauffen and various Nazi soldiers (no further appearances)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Winston Chruchill (first Earth-1 appearance; last appearance in Blackhawk #251; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Digby Palmer (a British Intelligence officer; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Wyatt (a museum curator; no further appearances)

Flashback Appearance(s)

• Sgt. Rock (during World War II; last appearance in Our Army at War #218; next appearance in Our Army at War #81)

Comments:
The flashback in this story takes place prior to the D-Day Invasion of Europe.

Although it is commonly believed that Rock did not survive the World War II, his death has never been depicted. His appearance in this story as a 30-year army veteran confirms that Rock did survive the war.

This story presents a continuity discrepancy because it clearly shows Batman active during World War II. This story cannot be attributed to Earth-2 because Batman is wearing the costume with the yellow oval which was used only by the Earth-1 Caped Crusader. The story is often placed on Earth-B, but that Earth was never identified or named within a DC comic story.

One possible explanation for Batman's presence during the war is Professor Carter Nichols. Nichols often sent Bruce Wayne, and consequently Batman, into the past via hypnosis. Evidence supporting this theory is that Batman is wearing the yellow oval symbol during the war instead of the costume without the oval which he wore early in his career. Also Sgt. Rock is shown to have aged significantly since the war, while Bruce does not appear to have aged at all. For the purposes of this index, it is assumed that Nichols sent Bruce back in time to World War II where he met Rock and Von Stauffen. Sometime after the flashback portion of this story Bruce returned to his own time where he encountered older versions of the same men. It can therefore be concluded from this evidence that this story takes place on Earth-1.

Synopsis:
Bruce Wayne meets a museum curator to discuss an angel statue that was shipped to the United States from France during World War II. Bruce believes that the statue is a fake. When he announces his suspicions, a Nazi war criminal, Colonel Von Stauffen attacks them and knocks out the curator. Bruce recalls meeting Von Stauffen during World War II.

Bruce was in London during the war and witnessed his friend Digby Palmer die. Digby, an agent in British Intelligence, passes information to Bruce with his dying words. Bruce decides to take on Digby's mission to uncover the secret of the wine bottles in Chateaurouge.

Using the false name Jack Pimpernel, Bruce parachutes into occupied France with Sgt. Rock and Easy Company. Rock's mission is to blow up a bridge in time for the Allied Invasion. Bruce infiltrates the castle at Chateaurouge and discovers the wine bottles contain nerve gas. He and Easy Company then battle the Germans, and Bruce blows the bridge while the Nazis are transporting the bottles. Rock is angry that the bridge was blown too early, but then he sees that the invasion has already started.

Back in present day, Von Stauffen has Bruce at gunpoint. Sgt. Rock then appears and knocks out the Nazi. He explains that he spotted Von Stauffen on a plane and followed him. Bruce explains that the statue at the museum is actually made of gold that Von Stauffen smuggled out of Chateaurouge.