| Vicki Vale | |
|---|---|
The first appearance of Vicki Vale, in 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 Bill Finger |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Victoria "Vicki" Vale |
| Supporting character of | Batman |
Victoria Vale is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appears in Batman #49 (October/November 1948), and was created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger.
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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] Her role in the story consisted largely of reporting on Batman's activities for a newspaper (the Gotham Gazette).[3] 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, Julius 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.
Vicki Vale surfaced thirteen years later, in Batman Family #12 (June 1977). She was now married and known as Vicki Vale Powers. She was also mentioned in Batman Family #16. After that, she vanished for another five years.
She returned in February 1982 in Batman #344. 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 Mademoiselle Marie. (Julia Remarque was wiped from continuity after Crisis on Infinite Earths).
Vicki disappeared from the comics soon after the Crisis on Infinite Earths rebooted DC continuity, 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. When hospitalized after an attack by the Ventriloquist and Scarface, Bruce struggles over whether or not to tell her he is Batman, but decides not to, precipitating a break up. Bruce would later regret this when he descends into a brief depression following his defeat at the hands of Bane.
The character appeared again in the Wonder Woman title as one of the hosts of the television program The Scene (similar to The View). Her co-hosts included Lia Briggs, Tawny Young, and Linda Park. Two episodes are shown in which they interview Wonder Woman on her career.[4] In the "Black Glove" book she wishes Bruce and his new lady Jezebel Jet well on the air, albeit grudgingly and in a somewhat brisk manner.
Vicki shows up (as a blonde) in the first of the 2008 two-part story Two-Face: Year One. She interviews a corrupt mob lawyer named Weinstein, who is running for Gotham district attorney against Harvey Dent. She is also in part two of the story where Dent, now the disfigured gangster Two-Face, confronts Weinstein and Bruce Wayne at a party in Wayne Manor.
She plays something of prominent role in the 2009 Batman: Battle for the Cowl storyline, in a special issue entitled "Gotham Gazette" where she is stated to have figured out Batman's identity, having noted that both Bruce and Batman are missing. In it, Vicki is back at the Gotham Gazette after her TV career has ended in a horrible fashion. Vicki wants to know not what has happened to Batman, which is on everyone's mind, but what has happened to Bruce Wayne as he was last seen in Vietnam (actually Hush pretending to be Bruce). Vicki goes to Wayne Enterprises and speaks with Lucius Fox but still can not get a proper answer as to what happened to Bruce. She feels like a real reporter again and is thrilled when she receives an invitation to join Bruce (confirmation that he is alive at least) at the Robinson Ball as his date. In Battle for the Cowl #3, Vicki reports on the chaos that has been caused by Two-Face in the wake of Batman's disappearance.
In the next issue of Gotham Gazette, "Batman Alive", Vicki sees that Bruce is not present at the gala. While there, she observes the tension between Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon, as well as the scarring on Tim Drake, allowing her to discover the double lives they and Bruce have been leading. At the end of the story she is seen arranging pictures on her wall, connecting various members of the Batman Family to their secret identities, and declaring that she will prove her suspicions.
Vicki is set to be an important supporting player in the Red Robin series, starting at issue 6. In that issue she begins asking questions and is met by Bruce Wayne (Hush/Thomas Elliot in disguise). He agrees to an interview/date with her. This happens in issue 9 of Red Robin where Wayne/Elliot avoids questions. In Batman #703, Vicki finally gets her proof.
In Bruce Wayne: The Road Home, before she publishes Bruce's secret, Vicki wants to know the how and why he does this. She calls Wayne Manor and threatens to publish the article if Bruce does not meet with her to discuss it. Alfred sends a still masquerading Tommy Elliot to meet with her who tells Vicki after kissing her that he is not Batman. When she gets home, she realizes that was not Bruce Wayne,[5] and knowing that Dick Grayson is now in the role of Batman leads her to ask the question "Where is Bruce Wayne?". Holding the story until she uncovers the truth behind that, Vicki goes to Wayne Manor and tells Alfred that she knows all. Alfred tells her that Bruce, who was feared dead has returned, but has not told everyone yet.[6] While holding the story, she encounters Barbara Gordon to tell Miss Gordon that she knows and her ex-boyfriend Jack Ryder to ask him if she should publish the article and turn her career around.[7] Vicki sets up a sting with Commissioner Gordon but things do not go as they are planned,[8] which leads to Catwoman finding out, that she knows not just about the Bat-family, but also the Gotham Underground, especially Catwoman.[9] Vicki is eventually being hunted by the League of Assassins,[10] after Ra's al Ghul realizes that she knew Batman's secret. However, Vicki is eventually rescued by Bruce, and gives the immortal his words that she will never reveals his secrets. Vicki realizes that Bruce's mission is bigger than the truth she's seeking, and decides not to expose his secrets and becomes his ally. During the conflict, Ra's realizes that Vicki is a descendant of Marcel du Valliere, a French soldier and one of the few who challenged Ra's and his warriors centuries before Batman. Ra's claims that du Valliere stolen the woman he attempted to court with. Despite of having killed du Valliere a long time ago after their final battle, it is suggested that Ra's business with Vicki is not through yet.[11]
In Batman and Robin #18, another ex-Wayne Girl, now a villain called The Absence, comes looking to rip out Vicki's eyes. In the following issue, Batman and Robin rush to her apartment, only for Absence to reveal that Vicki is safely bound and gagged inside of a cabinet. Absence then explains that she never had any intention of killing Vicki, but that she had simply wanted to use her as bait to lure Batman into a trap.
In Batman #1, she greets Bruce at a party and introduces him to mayoral candidate Lincoln March.[12]
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.
In the introduction to Miller's Batman: Year One, Vicki Vale is a gossip reporter who flirts with the judge during a shoplifting trial. In DC: The New Frontier, the reader sees an article by Vicki Vale.
In the alternate timeline of the Flashpoint event, Vicki Vale is a television reporter on the wedding day of Aquaman and Wonder Woman.[13]
Vicki Vale was also portrayed by Brooke Burns in "Very Late" (AKA "Hot Date"), one of the "Batman" OnStar commercials that mimicked the look of the 1989 film.[14] In the commercial, Batman is fighting Penguin and contacts Vicki via OnStar to tell her that he will be 'very late'.
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