Comic Title: Detective Comics #226
Publisher: DC (National Comics Publications, Inc.)
Address: 480 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: December 1955
Approx. On Sale Date: October 27, 1955 Copyright Date October 25, 1955
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1955
Until 1958 DC did not report actual on sale dates to the copyright office
The publication dates listed in LoC records are NOT release dates.

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.10
Page Count: 32
Editor: Jack Schiff

Title: "When Batman Was Robin"
Pages: 12

Feature(s):
Batman (of Earth-1)

Writer: Edmond Hamilton
Penciller: Dick Sprang
Inker: Charles Paris

Reprinted In:
Batman Annual #2 (1962)
Batman Annuals Vol. 1 HC (2009)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (last appearance in Batman #96; next appearance in Detective Comics #227)

Supporting Character(s)

• Robin (last appearance in Batman #96; next appearance in Detective Comics #227)
• Alfred Pennyworth (last appearance in Detective Comics #225; next appearance in World's Finest Comics #80)

Villain(s)

• Arthur Mellen and his hired thugs (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Harvey Harris (a detective; appears in flashback; revealed to be dead following the flashback in this story; no further appearances)
• Van Marden, Bellew, and Gerritt (collectors; no further appearances)

Flashback Appearance(s)

• Bruce Wayne (last appearance in Superboy Spectacular #1; next appearance in Batman #96)

Comments:
Bruce Wayne appears in flashback as the first Robin. The flashback takes place sometime in Bruce’s teen’s. The flashback indicates that Bruce’s parents are still alive at that time. This reference should be considered apocryphal, since it has been established that Thomas and Martha Wayne died years earlier.

Synopsis:
Bruce Wayne receives a package in the mail from detective Harvey Harris. The package contains a Robin costume.

Batman then explains to Robin that years before he became Batman, he wore the Robin costume and trained with Harris. Bruce wore the costume to protect his identity while learning to be a detective.

The package contains a letter explaining that Harvey had discovered Bruce was his pupil. He was then able to conclude Bruce became Batman years later. Harvey’s letter then explains that he kept the secret to himself and with his death, the secret went to the grave with him.