Vicki Vale
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| Vicki Vale | |
 The first appearance of Vicki Vale. From Batman # 49. Art by Dick Sprang |
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| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Batman #49 (October/November 1948) |
| Created by | Bob Kane (with Bill Finger) |
| In story information | |
| Full name | Vicki Vale |
| Supporting character of | Batman |
Victoria "Vicki" Vale is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe, a newspaper reporter who is/was the most prominent, famous and longest-lasting love interest of Bruce Wayne and his alter-ego, Batman.
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[edit] In Batman comic books
[edit] 1940s-1960s
Vicki Vale first appeared in Batman #49 (Oct/Nov 1948), in a 12-page story entitled "Scoop of the Century!," written by Bill Finger, with art by Bob Kane and Lew Schwartz.[1] Her look is said to have been modelled by Kane on that of young model Norma Jean Mortensen, who would later become known as Marilyn Monroe.[2] Mortensen had signed with the Blue Book Modeling Agency in mid-1940.[3] Reputedly created to mirror the success of Superman/Clark Kent's reporter colleague and love-interest Lois Lane, her role in the story consisted largely of reporting on Batman's activities for a newspaper (the Gotham Gazette).[4] She was frequently romantically attracted to Batman (and Bruce Wayne on occasion also), and repeatedly suspected they were the same person.
Often the plot of a story featuring Vicki Vale revolved around her suspicions regarding Batman's identity. Batman would usually manage to fool her into concluding that he was not really Bruce Wayne by the end of the story, but then her suspicions would reemerge in a later story.
Vicki Vale remained a prominent character in Batman stories from Batman #49, in 1948, until Detective #320 in October 1963. In 1964, Julie Schwartz became the editor of the Batman-related comics. Schwartz dropped a number of Batman's Silver Age backing characters, including Vicki Vale, Batwoman, Bat-Girl, Bat-Mite, and Ace the Bat-Hound.
[edit] 1970s-1980s
Vicki Vale surfaced thirteen years later, in Batman Family #11 (June 1977). She was now married: Mrs. Vicki Vale Powers. She was also mentioned in Batman Family #16. After that, she vanished for another five years.
She returned around 1982 in Batman #344 (February 1982). The editor and writer were apparently unaware of her 1970s appearances, so there was no mention of her being married, and it was stated in a footnote that she had not appeared since Detective #320. Supposedly she had been in Europe for years, but now had returned to Gotham City. She became Bruce Wayne's romantic interest again, earning the wrath of Catwoman in Batman #355 (Jan 1983). She also had a rivalry for Bruce's affections with Julia Remarque, the daughter of Alfred Pennyworth and Mdme. Marie. (Julia Remarque was wiped from continuity after Crisis on Infinite Earths).
[edit] 1990s onward
Vicki disappeared from the comics soon after the Crisis, but returned in 1989/1990 in the Grant/Breyfogle era to coincide with the movie release. She once again began a romantic relationship with Bruce Wayne, but became upset over his frequent absences and when left hospitalised after an attack by the Ventriloquist and Scarface, Bruce struggles over whether or not to tell her he is Batman and then decides not to, thus they break up. Bruce would later regret this when he descends into a brief depression following his defeat at the hands of Bane.
She eventually became one of the hosts of the television program The Scene, which is similar to The View. Her co-hosts included Lia Briggs, Tawny Young, and Linda Park. Two episodes were shown in which they interviewed Wonder Woman on her career, which was shown in that title comic.
[edit] In other media
[edit] Live-action
[edit] Batman and Robin (serial film)
In the 1949 serial Batman and Robin, Vicki Vale was portrayed by Jane Adams. She is the principal love interest for Bruce Wayne and is deeply involved in the plot, which includes her brother Jimmy's involvement with a criminal gang.
[edit] Batman (1989 film)
Vicki Vale featured prominently in the 1989 film Batman, played by Kim Basinger. Sean Young was originally cast as Vicki before being forced to bow out due to a horseback riding related injury. Vicki was portrayed as a prize-winning photo journalist who attempts to uncover the secret of the mysterious Batman and inadvertently becomes the object of obsession for the Joker. The movie's Vicki Vale is actually a hybrid with 1970s Bruce Wayne girlfriend Silver St. Cloud, a name deemed too silly for a movie character.
[edit] OnStar commercials
Vicki was also portrayed by Texas-born Baywatch actress Brooke Burns in "Very Late" (AKA "Hot Date"), one of the "Batman" OnStar commercials that mimicked the look of the 1989 film.[5] In the commercial, Batman is fighting The Penguin and contacts Vicki via OnStar to tell her that he will be 'very late'.
[edit] Animation
Vicki Vale appeared in the direct-to-video film The Batman vs. Dracula, marking her first appearance in animation. She was voiced by Tara Strong, and is a reporter and Bruce Wayne's love interest, like previous versions. Instead of working for a newspaper, she is portrayed as a television reporter.
[edit] Music
On the 1989 Batman film soundtrack, a song by Prince entitled "Vicki Waiting" details Bruce Wayne/Batman's conflicted feelings for Vicki.
Vicki Vale is referred to as part of a love triangle between Batman and Aquaman in the song "Aquaman's Lament" by Mark Aaron James.
[edit] Other versions
[edit] Frank Miller's Dark Knight Universe
Vicki Vale plays the role of a romantic interest for Bruce Wayne in the new series All Star Batman and Robin, which is written by Frank Miller and drawn by Jim Lee as part of DC's All Star line of comics. This depiction of Vicki drew some criticism for its very sexualized depiction of her, specifically her introduction in the first issue alone in her apartment wearing nothing but a pink bra and equally pink panties with high heels.
In the introduction to Miller's The Dark Knight Returns, Vale is a gossip reporter who flirts with the judge during a shoplifting trial.
[edit] The Batman Strikes
Vicki Vale makes a brief appearance in The Batman Strikes! #15, which itself is a companion tale of The Batman VS Dracula.
[edit] References
- ^ The Grand Comics Database: Batman #49. Accessed April 5, 2008
- ^ Norma Jean Mortensen: Trivia. Accessed April 5, 2008
- ^ "A Model Girl: Norma Jeane". Accessed April 5, 2008
- ^ Comic Vine: Vicki Vale. Accessed April 5, 2008
- ^ Brooke Burns' filmography. Accessed April 6, 2008
[edit] External links
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