I'm sure there is a perfectly good explanation for this!

[ivan astikov]

Anyone want to take a stab at what it is?

[Marsilia]

Batmobile's in the shop? The Superfriends have quit crime fighting and started a circus?

[RabbitMage]

Explanation: Adam West.

[Zuul]

I think it's the fact that it's a baby elephant that makes it so odd.

[ivan astikov]

Got it, Zuul. C'mon Batman afficionados, WTF?

ps. The Adam West explanation presumes he was allowed to take his costume home from work!

[terrifel]

Is it a baby elephant? Maybe it's a really huge Batman.

The full story can be found in Detective Comics #243 (May, 1957):



Explanation? The Silver Age.

[ivan astikov]

It all makes perfect sense now.

[terrifel]

Or for those inclined to a (slightly) more prosaic explanation: in an interview with Bizarre magazine, Adam West mentions how he toured with a couple circuses in costume as Batman.

I did two circuses. I was in Detroit during the race riots, which wasn't fun. I did a lot of running, was shot out of canons, stunt fights, things like that.

I think everyone past a certain age remembers their reaction upon hearing the news bulletins that the Detroit race riots had been broken up by Batman, riding an elephant.

"Onward, faithful Bat-Elephant!" *BIFF* *POW* *TRUNK*

Adam West may have been through some rough times, but really we should all envy him such a sublimely goofy, coked-out life.

[Zuul]

I was in Detroit during the race riots, which wasn't fun. I did a lot of running, was shot out of canons, stunt fights, things like that.

Yes, I do believe Batman being fired out of a cannon while riding an elephant could stop any race riot.

[Marsilia]

Yes, I do believe Batman being fired out of a cannon while riding an elephant could stop any race riot.

Is there anything that couldn't stop?

[AndrewRyan]

Batman knows what happened to Superman when he rode a horse, so he decided to take a safer, slower route?

[Revs]

Well, you see it was the 60s...