Julie Madison
Julie Madison | |
---|---|
Publication information | |
Publisher | DC Comics |
First appearance | Detective Comics #31 (September 1939) |
Created by | Gardner Fox (writer) Bob Kane (artist) Sheldon Moldoff (Illustrator) |
In-story information | |
Supporting character of | Batman |
Julie Madison is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with the superhero Batman. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #31 (September 1939) and was created by Gardner Fox, Bob Kane, and Sheldon Moldoff. She is best known as being Batman's first significant romantic interest.[1]
The character made her live-action debut in the 1997 film Batman & Robin, played by Elle Macpherson.
Publication history
Julie Madison first appeared in Detective Comics #31 (September 1939) and was created by Gardner Fox, Bob Kane, and Sheldon Moldoff.[2]
Fictional character biography
Original version
Only four issues after Batman's own debut, Julie Madison first appeared in
She is originally portrayed as an oft-imperiled socialite who is engaged to
Detective Comics #40 established her as an actress. In this issue she and her costars are targeted by the deranged actor Basil Karlo (aka the original Clayface) who is angry for not being given the chance to star in a remake of a movie he had previously appeared in.[4]
Julie makes her last appearance in the early series in Detective Comics #49. In this episode, the head of the film studio and his publicity agent get her to adopt the stage name "Portia Storme" (inspired by
Julie Madison reappeared in two World's Finest stories in the 1970s as Princess Portia, ruler of the fictional country of Moldacia.[5]
Post-Crisis
The six issue mini-series Batman and the Monster Men by Matt Wagner, published in 2006, is set early in (the current post-Crisis version of) Batman's career, and re-introduces Julie Madison. This version of the character is a law student, and the daughter of Norman Madison, a failing businessman who borrows money from mobster Sal Maroni. Bruce Wayne cares deeply for Julie, but is reluctant to tell her the secret of his nighttime activities. Julie herself suspects that Bruce is hiding something from her.[6]
Julie takes on further importance in Wagner's follow-up mini-series
In the Batman: Family miniseries, paparazzi ask Bruce Wayne if he is the "father of Julie Madison's baby".
Julie later makes a flashback appearance in Batman #682 as Darkseid's minions invade Batman's mind and distort his memories. In Batman's early days, she tells Alfred Pennyworth to inform Bruce she is leaving for Hollywood to try to make it as an actress; Batman later does not realize or recall that she has left.[8]
She appears in a bathtub towards the end of
The New 52
In "
In Batman (vol. 2) #43, Julie is the head of a clinic for underprivileged youth that Bruce Wayne is helping to finance and manage.[12] After the events of Batman: Endgame - which sees Bruce having been left with no memories of his life as Batman after his last battle with the Joker - Bruce has begun a relationship with Julie and works for her in the clinic. Together, they visit Wayne Manor, which Geri Powers has purchased and returned to Bruce, only to be attacked by the Riddler, Mr. Freeze, and Clayface.[13] In the course of their relationship, Julie reveals that her father was a former gunrunner who likely sold Joe Chill the gun that he used to kill Bruce's parents, but Bruce maintains that it doesn't matter, even expressing a desire to marry her.[14] When Bruce remembers his past as Batman and concludes that he must restore his memories, Julie helps Alfred complete the process that will restore Bruce's memories of Batman at the cost of destroying all the memories he gained during his amnesia. She expresses acceptance of the fact that Gotham needs Batman more than she needs Bruce, considering it appropriate in a twisted way that she should 'end' Bruce Wayne's new life just as her father contributed to his original end by selling Chill the gun that killed the Waynes.[15]
Other versions
Elseworlds
Julie Madison has been featured as a love interest for Batman in several Elseworlds stories:
- The Gotham by Gaslight sequel Master of the Future;[16]
- In Batman: Dark Knight Dynasty, the "Dark Present" storyline begins with Bruce marrying Julie and ends with his death at the hands of Vandal Savage. At the time of Bruce's death, Julie is pregnant with his child, allowing the Wayne family to continue into the next storyline, "Dark Future", when Bruce's descendant, Brenna Wayne, faces Savage again in A.D. 2500;
- The 1939 version of Julie appears in the Ultra Humanite robot.[17]
Legends of the Dark Knight
In Batman:
In other media
Julie Madison briefly appears in the 1997 film Batman & Robin, played by Elle Macpherson. Madison is Bruce Wayne's fiancée in the movie. She mostly appears in public with Bruce at events such as the unveiling of the giant telescope at the Gotham Observatory. Their relationship almost ends when Bruce, as Batman, falls under the spell of Poison Ivy.[19] The novelizations for the film features an additional scene where Bruce, under the influence of Poison Ivy's love dust, breaks up with Julie in public. She is the only Batman love interest to not know about Bruce Wayne's secret identity.
References
- ISBN 0-02-538700-6. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
- ISBN 9780345501066.
- ^ a b Detective Comics #49 (March 1941)
- ^ Detective Comics #40 (June 1940)
- ^ World's Finest #248 (January 1978); World's Finest #253 (November 1978).
- ^ Batman and the Monster Men #1-6 (January–June 2006)
- ^ Batman and the Mad Monk #1-6 (October 2006-March 2007)
- ^ Batman #682 (January 2009)
- ^ Red Robin #11-12 (June–July 2010)
- ^ Batman (vol. 2) #30
- ^ Batman (vol. 2) #33
- ^ Batman (vol. 2) #43
- ^ Batman vol. 2 Annual #4
- ^ Batman (vol. 2) #46
- ^ Batman (vol. 2) #49
- ^ Batman: Master of the Future (December 1991)
- ^ Superman & Batman: Generations #1 (January 1999)
- ^ Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #94 (May 1997)
- ^ Batman and Robin (1997 film)