The Time Superman And Batgirl Went On A Blind Date

Yes, really. An honest to gosh blind date. And Superman struck out--hard.

We start as Batman and Superman wrap up an adventure--and when Batman finds out that Clark Kent's next assignment is in Washington D.C., he asks a "favor" of Clark:


"Come on, hey?" is Batman's best persuasive argument. No, really--it works!!

So why, exactly, is Batman pimping out Barbara Gordon? He has an ulterior motive:

Yeah, lighten up, Superman. Plus, no doubt, it will leave Bruce free to make a move on Lois...

But Clark is still hesitant:

Why does everyone have to mention that she's red-headed each time they bring her up? Still, if Clark doesn't know how much fun he can have with a red-headed congresswoman, maybe he does need some lightening up.

The set-up works, because the Bruce Wayne name carries a lot of weight with the ladies:

And how does the date go? Never has one caption so wryly described a blind date where the parties don't hit it off:

Clark, for his part, is duller than dishwater...

And Babs? Well, let's just say she's not lacking for a social life...

Clark...what the hell does that simile even mean in this situation? Is a U.S. Senator the catnip? Is Babs the kitten with the whip? Couldn't a kitten still be lonely, even with lots of catnip? You're supposedly a writer, Clark...you can do better.

Anyway, the date ends ("after midnight"!!)...And Barbara doesn't even try to let Clark down easily:

"Anything's possible, I suppose"????? Harsh, Barbara, harsh.

Of course, they then go on to have an adventure in their alter egos, busting up a "spy network" of "mercenary espionage agents," of course without realizing who the other really was.

See, that's why you need to keep secret identities, instead of having everyone know who everyone else is. Because how else can you have super-hero blind date stories??

I was really annoyed by how every single time people called her "Babs" in Superman #268 (1973).