"The Case Batman Failed To Solve!": Batman and four other famed detectives are invited to a conference by the greatest detective of all time Dana Drye, who is mysteriously murdered in front of their very eyes and they must work together to solve the mystery by midnig

Never thought I'd have any use for the Nazi swastika... but I've changed my mind! — Robin

Batman #14 is an issue of the series Batman (Volume 1) with a cover date of January, 1943. It was published on October 10, 1942.





Contents show]

Appearing in "The Case Batman Failed To Solve!"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Commisioner Gordon (Cameo)

Dana Drye (Only appearance; dies)

Antagonists:

Red Rip (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

Gotham City Police Department

Sheriff Ezra Plunkett (Single appearance)

Grace Seers (Single appearance)

Dr. Tsu (Single appearance)

Sir John Bart (Single appearance)

Locations:

Items:

Dana Drye's Diary (placed in Batman's Hall of Trophies)

Vehicles:

Synopsis for "The Case Batman Failed To Solve!"

Batman and four other famed detectives are invited to a conference by the greatest detective of all time Dana Drye, who is mysteriously murdered in front of their very eyes and they must work together to solve the mystery by midnight.

Following a trail of clues found by the other detectives, Batman is finally able to discover that Dana Drye planned his own death in a way that it would remain a mystery to some of the greatest detectives. Batman also learns that Dana Drye had discovered the secret identities of Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson as Batman and Robin three years ago, but never shared the secret with anyone. Out of respect for the late detective, Batman informs the other detectives that he couldn't solve the case and neither of them could either. Later that night, Batman takes the diary of Dana Drye to his Hall of Trophies in Wayne Manor.





Appearing in "Prescription For Happiness"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Mary Miller (Single appearance)

A.B. "Doc" Chalmers (Single appearance)

Patrolman Patton (Single appearance)

"One Round" Rickey (Single appearance)

Roy Ainsley (Single appearance)

Antagonists:

Pills Mattson (Single appearance) Varney (Single appearance) Pinky (Single appearance)



Other Characters:

Alphonse Gibbs (Single appearance)

Joe (Single appearance)

Locations:

Synopsis for "Prescription For Happiness"

Old Doc Chambers is the beloved owner of a drugstore in Gotham, but he loses everything when a group of crooks take over his shop as their base. With help from Batman, Robin, and some the usual customers, Doc Chambers manage to take away the gangsters and deliver them to justice. However, in the struggle, the drugstore was decimated and Doc Chambers doesn't have enough money to repair it.

Batman and Robin summon the people of the Gotham together to help the beloved shop owner and with their combined efforts, Doc Chambers' drugstore is restored and he is given a neon sign, which is what he always wanted.





Appearing in "Swastika Over the White House"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Mr. McCoy (Single appearance)

Matt Carson (Single appearance)

Tom Starr (Single appearance)

J. Peerless Morton (Single appearance)

Antagonists:

Nazi Spies Fritz Hoffner (Fred Hopper) (Single appearance) Count Felix (Single appearance) Heinrich (Single appearance)



Other Characters:

Adolf Hitler (In a photograph only)

Locations:

Items:

Vehicles:

Synopsis for "Swastika Over the White House"

Nazis succeed in getting one of their undercover men into a position as a photographer in order to infiltrate defense plants and take secret photos that will be used to sabotage America's war efforts. However, the secret spy is tasked to murder America's finest crime fighter: Batman.

The attempts to murder the dark knight are futile and after a few encounters with the Nazi spies, Batman and Robin discover the identity of the undercover spy as the phorographer. The dynamic duo are placed in a deadly trap, but they manage to escape and they follow the Nazis to their secret hideout, where they capture the entire party and deliver their secret sabotage plans to the federal authorities.





Appearing in "Bargains In Banditry"

Featured Characters:

Antagonists:

Penguin

Torchy Blaize (Only appearance; dies)

Hairless Harry Hix (Only appearance; dies)

Slippery Elmer (Single appearance)

Glitter Gleason (Single appearance)

One-Eye (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

Locations:

Items:

Vehicles:

Synopsis for "Bargains In Banditry"

Penguin decides to go into business for himself by offering pre-planned crimes to the Gotham City underworld at a discount price. But what the crooks don't know is that it will actually cost them 100% of their spoils and their lives. After a couple of unseccesful encounters with Penguin, Batman poses as a tough crook by the name of "Bad News" Brewster and offers better pre-planned crimes at a lower price in hopes to lure Penguin into a trap.

However, Batman is the one lured into a trap when he receives a message from Penguin, arranging a meeting between them. Batman and Robin arrive at the meeting place when they are trapped by a giant umbrella and knocked unconscious with knockout gas. Penguin then places Batman's head on a dart board and he starts tossing darts tipped off with poison to kill the caped crusader. Robin, who witness the scene while tied up, takes some of Penguin's Umbrellas and activates them, distracting Penguin from his murder game. Batman breaks free and attacks Penguin with the same dart board. After a short struggle, Penguin is finally captured by Batman and Robin and he is delivered to the GCPD Headquarters. Some time later, the news on the radio announce that Penguin has been sentenced to death, but Bruce wonders if it is actually the end of the Penguin.





Notes

This issue is reprinted in Batman: The Dark Knight Archives Vol 4.

Trivia

The Dairy of Dana Drye is later spotted in the Trophy Room, along with other trophies in Detective Comics #676.









See Also