A really beautiful cover, and a powerful telling of Batman’s origin in Detective 457 (March 1976), by Denny O’Neil and Dick Giordano. As well as introducing the character of Leslie Thompkins, this story gives the nickname Crime Alley to the place where Bruce’s parents were killed.
This story also introduces the idea that Batman makes a pilgrimage each year to the spot where his parents died. Curiously, Alfred is shown as having no idea where he is going. You’d think he would have figured it out.
Crime Alley is located in what is now a terrible slum. We meet Leslie Thompkins, who looks far older and more frail than in any of her later appearances. She faces the ghetto street kids with smiles and open good will, as Batman does all he can to protect her.
In the flashback to the parents’ murder, we see that Leslie was the woman who took care of Bruce in the immediate aftermath of the killing. She does not appear to have any legal function in this story, but later tales would amend this, giving her a medical background, and a social working role.
Leslie supplants the mother of Joe Chill as the woman who looked after young Bruce. She had only appeared in one story, in the mid 60s.
Leslie Thompkins would not appear for a few more years, but her second appearance is in the pages of Detective. This story gives no implication that Leslie might know that Bruce is Batman.
A fun second half to Bob Rozakis and Kurt Schaffenberger’s tale, which sees Sue Dibny con some thieves into thinking she has her husband’s powers.
The kidnappers force Ralph to send a note to Sue, insisting that she bring the substance that gives him his stretching powers, which the thieves intend to use themselves. Ralph’s not refers to tree bark, and Sue realizes that Ralph expects her to con the hoods.
She does a creditable job, and manages to get Ralph his gingold.
As well as showing Sue at her resourceful best, the story gives her a happy ending, as she finds her and Ralph on the list of most admired couples.
Babblings about DC Comics 
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