The Dark Knight makes his big-screen debut in Columbia Pictures's Batman, the first of two 1940s serials starring the Caped Crusader.
Batman (Lewis Wilson) and Robin (Douglas Croft) have been fighting crime for some time by the time the serial begins, and they face a new enemy - Dr. Tito Daka (J. Carrol Naish), a Japanese spymaster (who's also sometimes referred to as a prince). Daka has a number of scientific devices at his disposal designed to aid Japan's victory against the Allies, including a device that can brainwash men into mindless zombies. One of his newest zombie minions is Martin Warren, uncle of Linda Page (Shirley Patterson), Bruce Wayne's girlfriend (just as she was in the comics at the time). When Warren is abducted by Daka's men upon his release from jail, Linda asks Bruce for help. There's not much Bruce Wayne can do, but as Batman, he constantly thwarts Daka's various criminal schemes (mostly involving stealing radium to power a weapon he's stolen) and escapes from one perilous deathtrap after another.
Oh, and if certain someones out there were disappointed I didn't tear into this serial, just wait 'till I get to 1949's Batman & Robin!