In March, Detective Comics will hit the monumental Issue #1000 like Action Comics did late last year. As of this post going live, Issue #996 has been released. In honor of this event I thought it would be interesting to look at this title since it began publishing back in 1937.

Detective Comics is a DC Comics monthly comic book title that has been published since 1937. Along with Action Comics, it has been one of DC’s signature titles; which featured early talents such as Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, Bob Kane, Sheldon Moldoff, Jerry Robinson and Bill Finger. When it was first published, Detective Comics featured such characters, such as Slam Bradley and the Crimson Avenger as part of its monthly anthology feature. With issue #27, the title became best known for the introduction of The Batman, who would eventually become the main feature.

Detective Comics was the final publication of the entrepreneur Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson, whose comics company, National Allied Publications, would evolve into DC Comics, one of the world’s two largest comic book publishers, though long after its founder had left it.

Before Detective Comics hit newsstands in 1937 Wheeler-Nicholson was in debt to printing-plant owner and magazine distributor Harry Donenfeld, who was also a pulp-magazine publisher and a principal in the magazine distributorship Independent News. Wheeler-Nicholson took Donenfeld on as a partner in order to publish Detective Comics #1 through the newly formed Detective Comics, Inc., with Wheeler-Nicholson and Jack S. Liebowitz, Donenfeld’s accountant, listed as owners. It wasn’t but a year later that Wheeler-Nicholson was forced out as an owner. Vin Sullivan, who also drew the debut issue’s cover, served as the editor for the series.

Detective Comics was originally an anthology comic, which was a common form of publishing comics at the time. Detective Comics #1 (cover date March 1937) featured stories from the “hard-boiled detective” genre, with stars such as Ching Lung (a Fu Manchu-style “Yellow Peril” villain); Slam Bradley (created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster before their character Superman saw print two years later); and Speed Saunders, among others.

The following is a look at Detective Comics in the Golden Age and tries to highlight key issues such as first appearances and classic covers during this time.*

To determine which issues to include I used the Key Collector Comics app which can be downloaded on Apple and Android platforms. I highly recommend this app, if nothing else, as a quick and easy way to look up facts such as first appearances and other important happenings for any character.

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DETECTIVE COMICS – The Golden Age

Pre-Batman issues of Detective Comics

Detective Comics #1

The first issue of Detective Comics featured stories using the hard-boiled detective genre, which was popular around that time. Some of the better-known characters in this publication were Slam Bradley, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster before they created the Superman character, Ching-Lung, an Asian character who was a villain; and Speed Saunders along with other characters.

The cover was created by Vin Sullivan, who was also the publication’s first editor.

The Balinoff Case

Writer: Jerry Siegel

Penciller/Inker: Joe Shuster

Synopsis:

The origin tale of Bart Regan and his fiancée Sally Norris. It shows how the duo first became spies for the US Government, and how they were sent up against Olga Balinoff and her gang of spies.

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This is the first of the Spy series, though not a fully integrated story arc, but more than a series of unconnected tales. Detective Comics would be the banner under which the Regan/Norris adventures would fly until issue #83.

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“The Streets Of Chinatown”

Writer: Jerry’ Siegel

Penciller/Inker: Joe Shuster

Synopsis:

Slam Bradley, a roughneck private investigator, is summoned by Police Captain Frawley to assist Rita Carlisle. Rita, the daughter of a chain-store owner wants Slam to guard her dog Mimi. Bradley is insulted by the job and rudely refuses her, but he tells Shorty Morgan, an admirer of Slam, to take the job.

Shorty guards the dog while Rita visits Chinatown. When she disappears, Shorty summons Slam to help locate her. Slam finds a secret passage in a china shop, which leads him to Chinatown leader Fui Onyui. Fui has kidnapped Rita, but Slam braves Fui?s deathtraps and rescues her. Shorty lays a trap of his own which snares Fui. Slam is impressed and takes Shorty as a partner.

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This is the 1st appearance of Slam Bradley These two stories demonstrated Siegel and Shuster’s considerable prowess for telling detective stories, which are generally obscured by the long shadow of their other creation, Superman. The series also presents a stark contrast with not only Superman but between the Slam/Shorty and the Regan/Norris stories as well, where Slam and Shorty are the working class private dicks, while Regan and Norris are their decidedly more upper-class counterparts.

Other stories in the issue:

“The Murders of Cap’n Scum” (Speed Saunders and the River Patrol) written and penciled by E.C. Stoner and inked by Creig Flessel.

Cyril Saunders (Speed Saunders ) gets a call from the chief of the River Patrol to investigate the deaths of four dead Chinamen in the bay.

“The Rhangwa Pearls” (Cosmo, The Phantom of Disguise) written, penciled and inked by Sven Elven.

Taro, the cleverest gem thief on two continents, attempts to steal some precious gems; a battle of the disguises is had.

“The Peruvian Mine Murders Part 1” (Bret Lawton) written by Unknown, penciled and inked by Creig Flessel.

The ace international detective is confronted with a series of baffling murders. Mystery and adventure lurk at every step as he penetrates the silent Peruvian jungles.

“The Claws of the Red Dragon Part 1” (Bruce Nelson) written by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson, penciled and inked by Tom Hickey

Hungering merely for some chow mein, Nelson arrives at an out-of-place Chinese restaurant where no one wishes to serve him. When a father and daughter also appear, tension continues to mount, until all three are attacked! (Features Vincent Sullivan Cover Character Chin-Lung/ Sen Yoi as the Villain)

“The Gotlotz Jewels” (Gumshoe Gus) written, penciled and inked by Bill Patrick. Gus keeps an eye out on Mrs. Gotlotz’s jewels, only to see them stolen by someone he eventually bops on the noggin

“The Gotrox Pearls” (Eagle-Eye Jake) written, penciled and inked by Russell Cole (aka ALGER). Jake is the last resort to solve the case of the missing Gotrox Pearls, only to realize “neither gems nor thief exist.

“Silly Sleuths” by Fred Schwab. A collection of one-panel jokes.

“The Bar S Rustlers” (Buck Marshall) written, penciled and inked by Homer Fleming.

Cattle thieves are terrorizing the country [and] Buck loses no time in responding to the Sheriff’s appeal for help.

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Other Pre-Batman issues of Detective Comics

Detective Comics #3

Scarce

Other “First Appearances”

Detective Comics #17

First appearance of Fu Manchu

Detective Comics #20 and #22

First appearance of the Crimson Avenger (#20)

Detective Comics #22

First cover appearance of the Crimson Avenger

Classic Covers and House Advertisements

Detective Comics #8

Classic cover art by Creig Flessel

Detective Comics #15 & 16

Full page interior advertisements for Action Comics #1

Detective Comics #18

Classic cover art by Creig Flessel featuring Fu Manchu

Detective Comics #26

Advertisement for Batman (not shown, text only) appearing in Detective Comics #27

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Batman Begins

Detective Comics #27

First appearance of Batman

First appearance of Commissioner Gordon

Detective Comics #29

Second cover appearance of Batman

First appearance of Doctor Death (1st Batman villain)

First time Batman uses his utility belt

Key Events and/or Appearances:

Detective Comics #31

First appearance of Monk, Batman’s first costumed enemy

First appearance of Julie Madison (Batman’s girlfriend)

The debut of the Batplane (called the Batgyro) and Batarang

Stories take place in NYC

Classic cover art by Bob Kane

Detective Comics #32

Batman shoots and kills Monk

Detective Comics #33

Origin of Batman

First appearance of Joe Chill

First appearance and death of Thomas and Martha Wayne

Cover art by Bob Kane depicts Batman with a gun

Detective Comics #36

First appearance and origin of Hugo Strange

Debut of Batman’s finned gloves

Detective Comics #37

Final Batman solo adventure in the Golden Age before Robin team-up

Detective Comics #38

First appearance and origin of Robin

First cover appearance of Robin

Detective Comics #40

First appearance and origin of Clayface (Basil Karlo)

First cover appearance of the Joker in Detective Comics

Detective Comics #41

First solo story featuring Robin

Detective Comics #45

First appearance of the Joker in a Detective Comics story

Detective Comics #46

Death of Dr. Hugo Strange

Detective Comics #48

First time the term “Batmobile” is used

First mention of Gotham City in Detective Comics

Detective Comics #58

First appearance of the Penguin

Detective Comics #60

First appearance and origin of AirWave (Larry Jordan)

Debut of the Bat Signal

Detective Comics #63

First appearance of Mr. Baffle

Detective Comics #64

First appearance and origin of Boy Commandos

Detective Comics #65

Second appearance of the Boy Commandos

First cover appearance of the Boy Commandos

Detective Comics #66

First appearance and origin of Two-Face

Detective Comics #67

First cover appearance of the Penguin

Detective Comics #68

Second appearance of Two-Face

First cover appearance of Two-Face

Detective Comics #73

First cover appearance of Scarecrow

Detective Comics #74

First appearance of Tweedledum & Tweedledee

Detective Comics #81

First appearance of Cavalier

Detective Comics #83

First appearance of Alfred reimagined as a thin man

Detective Comics #100

Anniversary of Detective Comics issue #100

Detective Comics #108

First cover appearance of the Bat-Signal

Detective Comics #122

First cover appearance of Catwoman

Detective Comics #135

Story featuring Frankenstein

Detective Comics #138

Origin of Robotman

Detective Comics #140

First appearance and cover appearance of the Riddler

Detective Comics #151

First appearance and origin of Pow Pow Smith

Detective Comics #153

First appearance of Roy Raymond

Detective Comics #156

Debut of a new Bat-Mobile (classic design)

Detective Comics #168

Origin of the Joker / Red Hood

Detective Comics #184

First appearance of Firefly

Detective Comics #190

Origin of Batman retold

Detective Comics #200

Anniversary of Detective Comics issue #200

Detective Comics #201

First appearance of Human Target (Fred Venable)

Detective Comics #205

Origin of the Batcave

Detective Comics #213

First appearance and origin of Mirror Man

Detective Comics #215

First team appearance of Batmen of all Nations: Ranger, Musketeer, Legionary, Gaucho, Knight and Squire

Detective Comics #224

Last Golden Age issue*

*While the Silver Age officially is recognized to begin with the publication of DC Comics’ Showcase #4 (Oct. 1956), which introduced the modern version of the Flash, some comic book historians argue that the introduction of the Martian Manhunter in Detective Comics #225, which predates Showcase #4 by almost a year, is the first Silver Age superhero.

Classic Covers and their creators:

Classic cover art by Batman co-creator Bob Kane:

Detective Comics #35 and 124

Robert “Bob” Kane, born October 24, 1915 and died November 3, 1998, was the writer and artist who co-created, along with Bill Finger, the DC Comics character Batman.

Classic cover art by Jerry Robinson:

Detective Comics # 62, 69, 71, 76



Jerry Robinson (Sherrill David Robinson) was born January 1, 1922, and died December 7, 2011. He is best known for his work on DC Comics’ Batman line of comics during the 1940s as the co-creator of Robin and the Joker.

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Classic cover art by Batman co-creator Bob Kane & Jerry Robinson:

Detective Comics # 80

Classic cover art by Dick Sprang:

Detective Comics #85, 91, 99, 102, 128

Dick Sprang (July 28, 1915 – May 10, 2000) was the comic book artist and penciller, best known for his work on the superhero Batman during the Golden Age of Comic Books. Sprang was responsible for the 1950 redesign of the Batmobile and the original design of the Riddler. Sprang’s Batman was also notable for his square chin, expressive face and barrel chest

Classic cover art by Jack and Ray Burnley:

Detective Comics #109

Jack Burnley was born January 11, 1911, and died December 19, 2006. He began his comics career working for the King Features Syndicate sports section. In 1938, Burnley began to freelance, producing “single-page sports fillers” for DC Comics, until they hired him hired in 1940. Burnley went on to provide uncredited artwork for Action Comics until 1947. In the 1945 Batman newspaper strips which Burnley penciled, the stylized Bob Kane signature logo appears, although Kane had not worked on the sequence.

Ray Burnley was the brother of Jack Burnley who was an aspiring fine artist who found more success as a cartoonist. He began by inking backgrounds for his brother in the 1930s. Throughout the 1940s he assisted his brother on titles such as Batman, Starman and Superman.



Classic cover art by Win Mortimer:

Detective Comics #114, 120, 180, 187, 193

Winslow Mortimer (May 1, 1919 – January 11, 1998) was a comic book and comic strip artist and a major illustrator of the DC Comics, especially Superman.

His first known comics work is as the penciler and inker of the 12-page lead Batman story, “The Batman Goes Broke” by writer Don Cameron, in Detective Comics #105 (Nov. 1945); which was credited to Bob Kane due to contractually agreements

The introduction of Batman’s Batboat in Detective Comics #110 (April 1946) was another Cameron/Mortimer collaboration. Mortimer launched a Robin feature in Star-Spangled Comics #65 (Feb. 1947)

Classic cover art by Jim Mooney

Detective Comics #137



James Noel Mooney (August 13, 1919 – March 30, 2008) was a comics artist best known for his long tenure at DC Comics and as the signature artist of Supergirl, as well as a Marvel Comics inker and Spider-Man. In 1946, Mooney began a 22-year association with the company that would evolve into DC. He began with the series Batman[12] as a ghost artist for credited artist Bob Kane.

During his tenure at DC Comics, Mooney would branch out to the Superboy series, and such features as “Dial H for Hero” in House of Mystery, and Tommy Tomorrow in both Action Comics and World’s Finest Comics.

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Next post will look at Detective Comics in the Silver Age starting with Issue #225 and running through the late 300s.