The Man Who Replaced Batman (Part 1): The Mandrake of Munitions

It's time to learn about

"THE MAN WHO REPLACED BATMAN!" (Batman #59)

And, no, I don't mean Scott Snyder.

It starts with Bruce & Dick taking a vacation from being Batman & Robin, something they often did in the Golden and Silver Ages (when the plot required it).

It's surprising that they would do this. Not because grim-dark Batman must patrol the city every night (Golden Age Batman was NOT like that AT ALL), but because it must have been simply mortifying for Bruce to have an exuberant circus boy gallivant around a luxury cruise ship with him.

"Good lord, did they pick the locks in steerage?!"
"It's Wayne's little project: the circus boy."
"That would explain why he's hanging from the yardarm."

Meanwhile, in Gotham City, another zillionaire is -- unlike Bruce -- hard at work on the next phase of his career.

"Would that you were to confine your marksmanship to that private shooting range. I shall call a mason about the repairs to the fireplace at once, sir."

This guy happily shooting out cigarette butts was nearly the mascot of the Forest Service instead of Smokey.

But at this point Smokey the Jacket is on to a new career...

as a fighter against crime!

"A burglary-- excellent!"
is really NOT the proper attitude of a fighter against crime.

"Deadshot".  So, um, a guy with a gun. Like a cop. Like a Western marshal in top hat in tails. Like Fred Astaire had a baby with Rose Hood.  Okay.  There's got to be more to it than that.

By 1950, the Gotham City police had become achingly blasé. 
"Hm, by the by, there's a guy in a top hat and tails shooting at criminals.  Whaddayaknow."

Oh, wait, I see now: he's a TRICK shooter.  He doesn't just shoot people in the leg; he debilitates them through elaborate trick shots.

Using a tiny little gun that would embarrass the Honourable Phryne Fisher.  

He's the Martian Manhunter of pistolry.  He's Green Arrow with a gun.  Well, even though Batman & Robin aren't around to stop him, there's still official law enforcement in town.  They can't let a private citizen with his own firearms run around shooting at suspected lawbreakers; this is Gotham City, not Texas.

Wait. What? I ... what? 

YES, THAT IS A THING YOU MUST CONSIDER, JIM....