Batman's Debt to The Spider

It is well-known that the comic book character Batman was inspired by the pulp character The Shadow. The very first Batman story, "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate," published in Detective Comics no. 27 (May 1939) was taken from The Shadow novel Partners of Peril by Theodore Tinsley (using the Street & Smith pen name Maxwell Grant) from The Shadow no. 113 (November 1936). While Batman owes an obvious debt to The Shadow, it seems to me that the superhero was also inspired largely by another pulp character, The Spider.

For those unfamiliar with The Spider, he was  a character published in the pulp magazine The Spider, published by Popular Publications. He first appeared in The Spider no.1 (October 1933). The first two issues of The Spider were written by R. T. M. Scott, most famous for having created "Secret Service Smith." In those first two issues "The Spider" was little more than a pseudonym for millionaire Richard Wentworth as he operated as an amateur criminologist. Popular Publications decided the first two Spider novels were too slow-paced, so writer Novell Page was brought into replace him. Norvell Page totally revamped The Spider. He was still millionaire Richard Wentworth, but now as The Spider he fought crime in a sallow fright mask complete with fangs, a black felt hat, and a black cape. What  is more, he had no compunctions about outright killing criminals,  although he scrupulously avoided killing law enforcement or ordinary civilians. As written by Norvell Page and such writers as Donald C. Cormack, Wayne Rogers, Emile Tepperman, and Prentice Wnchell, he proved to be success.

As stated above, The Spider's alter ego Richard Wentworth was a millionaire. From his first appearance in Detective Comics no. 27, Batman's alter ego Bruce Wayne is also described as a socialite and a millionaire. This is in sharp contrast to The Shadow, at least in the pulp magazine (the radio show is a different matter). The alter ego of Lamont Cranston, "wealthy man about town," is not The Shadow's real identity. In fact, the real Lamont Cranston  had a deal with The Shadow so that The Shadow could masquerade as him as he travels the world. The two men looked so much alike that the masquerade was successful. That Bruce Wayne is a millionaire may then owe a good deal to The Spider. Of course, both The Spider and Batman owe a good deal to Zorro, whose secret identity was that of Don Diego de la Vega, son of the wealthiest landowner in California.

The similarities between Batman and The Spider do not end with the fact that both are rich. Richard Wentworth's best friend is New York City Police Commissioner Stanley "Kirk" Kirkpatrick. Commissioner Kirkpatrick was certain that Richard Wentworth is The Spider, but was never able to prove it. He was certain to let Wentworth know that he ever learned the truth, he would arrest him. Like many pulp vigilantes, The Spider was wanted by the police (little wonder given his tendency to kill criminals). As to Batman, it is the very first panel of the very first Batman story that we are introduced to both Bruce Wayne and his friend Commissioner Gordon. Unlike Kirk in the Spider novels, Commissioner Gordon never suspects Bruce Wayne is Batman.

Of course, this brings us to another similarity between The Spider and Batman. As mentioned above, The Spider was wanted by the police. This was also true to a degree of Batman in his first year of appearance. In multiple issues of Detective Comics he finds himself falsely accused of a crime and must clear himself. Eventually, the Gotham City Police Department would become allies of Batman, so much so that Commissioner Gordon would summon him via the Batsignal.

One final similarity between Batman and The Spider is that both use gadgets. The Spider had a small array of gadgets, the best known of which was a gold ring with which he could imprint his symbol on the heads of criminals he killed so others would not be blamed for the crime. He also carried what he called his "web," a silken line that could hold a good deal of weight. He also had a powerful air pistol so that he could kill silently when the need arose. Of course, Batman's many gadgets are well-known. The Batarang first appeared in Detective Comics no. 31 (September 1931). Batarangs would be followed by a number of other gadgets, everything from tear gas pellets to torches. Of course, in using gadgets both The Spider and Batman owe a good deal to Doc Savage, who kept such gadgets as anesthetic gas grenades, a lock picking kit, a hypodermic kit with vials of truth serum, and other gadgets in his vest.

While Batman obviously owe a good deal to such characters as Zorro, The Shadow, and Doc Savage, it would seem he also owes a good deal to The Spider. Both are millionaires. In their secret identities, both have friends who are police commissioners. Both were wanted by the police at one time or another. And both use gadgets. Anyone familiar with both characters would probably notice the similarities.