With the beginning of the new decade, Batman and Robin made some new upgrades to their vehicles. They also first tangled with a contract killer who would become a rogue gallery regular.
In Detective Comics #156 (February 1950), Batman and Robin are chasing down thugs in the Batmobile when they come to a bridge that had been rigged with explosives. The Batmobile is destroyed, and Batman’s leg is crushed. Batman takes time to heal his leg, which allows Robin to work alone. During this time, Batman worked on upgrading the Batmobile with a new design and gadgets. Once Batman is healed and the upgraded Batmobile is ready to hit the streets, the Dynamic Duo resumes their crusade and capture the thugs that put Batman and the Batmobile out of commission.
In Batman #59 (June 1950), Batman and Robin came face-to-face with a perilous new villain in Gotham City. Deadshot arrived in Gotham under the guise of being a vigilante, intent on upstaging Batman. Watching Deadshot work, Batman didn’t trust him and went to Commissioner Gordon about his concerns. However, Gordon didn’t believe Batman’s suspicions. Batman was able to get a confession out of this so-called “vigilante” after Deadshot fought Batman and lost. In his first appearance, Deadshot is arrested, failing to become the new crime lord of Gotham City.
In Batman #61 (October 1950), Batman developed a new Batplane. The plane was used for military experiments when it lost control and landed in the hands of the Boley Brothers. The brothers seized control over the Batplane and created replicas of the craft to pull off crimes. During that time, Batman made a new Batplane and took to the sky. The new plane wasn’t a match for three of the old models though. Batman devised a new plan to take each plane down one at a time. With this plan of action, the Batplane II took to the skies, destroyed the old Batplanes, and landed the Boley Brothers behind bars.
Batman and Robin were on their way, fighting crime through a new decade with an improved Batmobile and Batplane.