Consume All Media! Batman: "Chapter Twelve: Embers of Evil"

Joseph Heath
Sep 4
2 min read

Joe Heath is a big fan of comic books and watching things in order. So they made this spreadsheet containing every serial, short, film, television episode, commercial, motion comic, and web series based on a comic book. Now they're watching them all. Previously, Joe watched the eleventh chapter of Batman. This time, they continue with the twelfth.

Batman: “Chapter Twelve: Embers of Evil” - 14:24 (Available on Archive)

Release date: October 1st, 1943

Okay, I thought Batman and Robin would just run out of the building through the unlocked front door... but they go through a trapdoor in the floor that leads to a secret entrance outside of the gate around the building? That seems overly complicated.

Anyway, Daka continues to get pissed at his henchmen’s incompetency and how they keep saying they killed the Batman. He also learns that “Chuck White” must have gotten his info from Marshall. So he sends one of his henchmen to deliver special cigarettes to Marshall.

Not sure why there’s a picture of the Sphinx on this package of Medusa cigarettes, but I’m here to talk about comic books, not mythology/history/the tobacco industry.

Bruce goes to the jail to identify Marshall as one of the men from the mine mixup (even though it’s been established that Bruce slept through it). While Captain Arnold takes some time to brag to Bruce about his special agent Batman, Marshall dies.

Smoking kills, kids.

Bruce takes the cigarette from the jail cell and studies it in his crime lab. He calls Captain Arnold and warns him that it’s been poisoned. Captain Arnold is stressed by this and to calm his nerves, he almost smokes a cigarette from the poisoned pack before catching himself. They truly are addictive.

In an effort to capture Batman, Daka again uses Linda’s uncle to lure Linda somewhere to kidnap her. Batman goes to the warehouse where she’s being held to try and save her. He sets off a smoke bomb and fights in the cloud cover.

In the scuffle, one of the henchmen drops his cigarette and the entire place catches on fire.

This is truly the weirdest Anti-Smoking PSA I’ve ever seen.

Should you watch it, though? Only if you want to teach children the dangers of smoking. Other than that, it’s pretty boring.

Tune in next time for Batman: "Chapter Thirteen: Eight Steps Down" (Available on Archive.)