Timeline
May 9th, 1948: A young Marilyn Monroe meets cartoonist Bob Kane in California. After doing several sketches of her at the beach, Kane decides to create a comic book character in her image, and snoopy reporter Vicki Vale is born. The character is an instant success and appears prominently in the movie serial 'Batman and Robin' the following year.
August 23rd, 1953: Marilyn Monroe quarrels on the set of "River of No Return" with director Otto Preminger. Directed to do her own stunts in the film, Monroe suffers a broken leg.
June 16th, 1959: Writer Robert Condon is visiting the home of actor George "Superman" Reeves while working on a book. Police are summoned to a small party at the house during the wee hours of the morning. Upstairs, they find George Reeves lying dead on his bed. Although there are multiple bullet holes in the floor, the case is ruled a suicide. A planned 7th season of 'The Adventures of Superman" is scrapped.
August 15th, 1962: Three months after singing "Happy Birthday" to John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden, Marilyn Monroe is discovered dead, face-down on her bed. Although there are problems in how her overdose could have been self-administered, the case is ruled a suicide. The film she was working on, 'Something's Got to Give", is scrapped.
November 9th, 1966: Otto Preminger takes over the role of Mister Freeze, aka Dr. Shivel, in the Batman television series (stepping in for the late George Sanders). Several weeks later, Preminger's old flame, Gypsy Rose Lee, appears on the show.
May 18th, 1979: The film Winter Kills hits the big screen. Based on a book written by Richard Condon (brother of Robert), the film is a thinly veiled examination of those responsible for the JFK assassination. The film is shelved within days of its premiere and its producer is found murdered in his bed.
You are free to express the opinion that these are all unrelated, coincidental events. But we both know…they aren't.
(Bat Spin)
Scene: A dark interrogation room at Police Headquarters
Batman: Have a seat, reprobate! (hurls Mr. Freeze into a chair)
Harvey Dent: Now, you're going to sing for us, Mr. Freeze…starting now.
Mr. Freeze: What about my civil rights?
Commissioner Gordon: Look, our guest here is a constitutional expert. Want your rights, do you? Well, here's a right…
(slaps Freeze in the face)
and here's a left!
(slaps him again; pauses as his secretary enters)
Bonnie: Commissioner, your sexpot daughter is on line one. She wants to borrow money for cigars.
Commissioner Gordon: Now now! Can't you see I'm beating a suspect?
(Gordon draws his arm back again, but Freeze blocks the swinging wrist and seizes it)
Freeze: You can break every bone in my body…but you'll never break my spirit! I've survived years of debilitating misery...and now, the love of my life is depending on me!
Announcer: They froze his body…but they couldn't freeze his heart! In his big screen debut, Otold Shivel is…Mr. Freeze…in the film you dare not miss…CHILLED SCIENTIST!"
James Gordon sat in his daughter Barbara's living room, transfixed by what was transpiring on the television screen.
As the ad came to a close, a final title flashed across the screen. "Opens June 19th. A Wormer Bros. release."
The commissioner exchanged an incredulous look with his daughter.
"Of all the…!" he sputtered. "Shivel can't be serious! Does he think the public will buy tickets to this nonsense?"
"You have to admit, Daddy, Dr. Shivel has made quite a name for himself since hanging up his helmet as Mr. Freeze. He's gone from film special effects, to movie producing. Now he's even acting…even if just playing himself. And he's apparently willing to throw some of his artistic integrity away for the chance at revenge."
" …by way of character assassination! And only last week I was congratulating Warden Chrichton on the tremendous progress Shivel has shown since he was cured of his temperature disorder."
"Do you recall any situation that was even close to the scene in that commercial?" Barbara asked.
"None! Batman always obtained iron-clad evidence against him, so there was never any need to question the frosty hooligan. Harvey Dent wasn't even the District Attorney at the time!"
"You could take your case to the public, but even if you managed to make yourself heard over the advertising blitz the movie studio is bankrolling, you may just provide the film with even more publicity."
"Oh, the entire premise is preposterous!" The commissioner said, closing his eyes. "The actor playing me doesn't resemble me; you've never smoked cigars! Why, the thought of any reasonable person swallowing this is beyond belief!"
"Well, sometimes the movie-going public is just in the mood for anything that challenges the status quo. Oh, look," Barbara said, changing the subject as well as the channel. "That press conference is just starting."
A voice-over accompanied a wide camera shot of politicians on a stage: "Live from Metropolis, this is Barry Brown, your on-the-spot reporter, bringing you full coverage of today's event. This is the first press conference Governor Jefferson Fitzgerald Klintody has held in three months, and it comes amidst mounting criticism."
Flashbulbs went off as the Governor approached the microphone. "Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. I'm sure we're all aware of charges by some that I am out of touch with the people who elected me. To put that to rest, I'll be undertaking a five-stop tour of our state over the next week. I look forward to this opportunity to touch base with my constituents on a more personal level. I see you have questions? Ms. Lane?"
The picture switched to a close-up of a woman in the press gallery. Although it had been over a year since she had last teamed up with Lois Lane, Barbara noted that her reporter friend with the Daily Planet appeared to be staying in shape.
"Governor, you made a top priority of curtailing mob activity when you were elected," said Lois. "But today, mob bosses like Lou Cranek remain free. With police officials in the cities receiving a helping hand from costumed crimefighters, underworld figures have relocated to rural sections of the state. Even when they're taken into custody, their incarceration lasts no more than an afternoon. Have you given up for the time being on prosecuting these criminal figures?"
Miles away from Barbara Gordon's apartment, two bulky figures seated in front of a television set howled in laughter. Lou Cranek himself, accompanied by his aide, Curley, chuckled with glee as the camera switched back to the governor's unamused expression.
"Lookit! He's speechless!"
"Yeah, what's the matter, Jefferson?," Cranek said. "You have a change of heart about coming to get me?"
"Absolutely not, Ms. Lane," the Governor said. "You'll notice that I am joined on stage this afternoon by the district attorneys of no less than five different municipalities, and we are all in agreement that taking down the head of organized crime remains job number one! Each of these men is committed to seeing lawbreakers, such as the individual you mentioned, behind bars."
Governor Klintody pointed towards another upraised hand in the press gallery.
"Vicki Vale, Picture Magazine", announced a fashionably attired woman who brandished a tape recorder in one hand, a camera in the other. "I'd like to follow up on your statement with a question for Mr. Dent."
"Certainly." The Governor beckoned for Harvey Dent to step forward to the microphone.
"It came to light earlier this year, Mr. Dent, that you were briefly replaced as Gotham's District Attorney by the man on your left, Billy D. Kilrassian." Vicki gestured at a handsome, mustached African American standing beside Dent. The man dipped his head sheepishly.
Vale continued. "An article by Clark Kent claimed that Governor Klintody didn't feel someone with your prominent facial disfiguration was appropriate for such a high-profile position, and suggested you be replaced. The city went so far as to issue a press release announcing the change, and then hastily withdrew it when Kilrassian turned the job down to accept a post in Metropolis. Do you feel that your effectiveness has been hampered by the publication of that news?"
This question was also met with amusement by the two gangsters viewing the broadcast.
"Now, you can tell Harvey to his face he's a stumbling boob, but it isn't polite to remind him that he's ugly!" Cranek cackled.
Curley scratched his head. "Uhh, say, the guy who wrote the article….ain't Clark Kent the reporter who tracked your hideout down by plane right before you got sent to the joint?"
Cranek, his mood suddenly darkening, invited his aide to "watch the show and shut your stupid mouth."
District Attorney Dent composed himself for a moment before answering. "Ms. Vale, I had the pleasure of listening to the Governor talk at length this afternoon on his commitment to making our streets safe. I can tell you that we see eye to eye on every major issue relating to crime; whether that's stemming the tide of unsavory elements arriving from war-torn Nimpah, or finding a cure for the homicidal lunatics filling Arkham Asylum, Governor Klintody and I are united in our commitment to law and order"
"Then you're denying he tried to have you replaced?" Vicki asked.
"I'm not going to comment on inner personnel moves, especially ones that never occurred. I don't think there's any doubt in Gotham City who runs the District Attorney's office."
"What a load," Cranek said. "Just last month, Dent's office completely blew the Penguin prosecution. Batgirl provides him with an airtight case and he still screws it up."
Television reporter Barry Brown didn't wait to be called on.
"Governor, opinion polls indicate your latest round of budget cuts have weakened your support considerably. The Monarch party makes no secret of planning a recall effort against you. The names rumored to be contemplating a run against you range from former Governor Stonefellow to pop icons like movie mogul Otold Shivel. Is this whirlwind tour just an attempt to try to shore up your sagging approval ratings?"
Klintody scowled. "No, really, people, it's okay to start asking the tough questions any time you want. Anyone who doubts my standing in the Governor's Mansion should try asking one of my opponents next time they need the pothole in front of their driveway filled."
"Well, I think we should give him a break," Vicki Vale called out to her colleagues. "Who's with me?"
Surprised at a call for collegiality during the middle of a press conference, Lois considered whether to vocally support Vicki. She stood up just as Vale opened her mouth again.
"Forrrrrrrr, he's a jolly good fellow! For he's a jolly good fehhh-low!"
Lois slapped her hand to her head and promptly sat back down, scolding herself for having almost publicly associated herself with this fruitcake. She saw Barry Brown shaking his head in amazement at Vicki's song.
Governor Klintody laughed as Vale concluded the serenade. "Thank you! That's the first good thing that's ever happened to me at a press conference. Don't feel bad if this short-lived pleasantness ruined your chance to humiliate me, people – I'll be doing this again in Gotham City on Saturday. Thank you all for coming."
"So Klintody's taking his traveling sideshow to Gotham, eh?" Cranek said, pursing his lips. "Interesting."
